Must See HDTV (December 12th - 18th)

This week sees even more shows saying goodbye before a holiday break, but as usual cable and reality TV are around to try to pick up the slack. While Fear Factor returns on network TV, Discovery fans can check out the season premiere of Dirty Jobs. The Blu-ray release schedule has a little something for everyone as well, with cult classic The Rocketeer joining City of God and two very different 3D flicks in Kung Fu Panda 2 and Fright Night. Check below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listings of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

City of God
When Lionsgate announced its deal to distribute Miramax's movies in the US, long delayed Blu-ray releases like Pulp Fiction (deservedly) received a lion's share of the attention, but this week another one of our favorites, City of God, emerges from the vaults at last. Released in 2002 and previously available in HD internationally, this Brazilian flick tells the story of two boys growing up in Brazil's slums as one grows up to lead one of the local gangs and the other becomes a photographer. A crime epic on par with any of the other classics, it has characters that will stick with you long after the movie is over, and has a story that unfolds with more layers than can be described in this space. If you're not familiar, check out the trailer after the break.
(December 13th, $14.99 on Amazon)

Fear Factor
One of the shows that started off the reality TV craze is back this week, as Fear Factor returns on NBC. Airing for the first time in HD, host Joe Rogan will once again cajole, encourage and tease a group of contestants through a series of increasingly gross / thrilling / dangerous stunts until they are eliminated. High-brow entertainment it ain't, but it can still be a fun watch. Check out a trailer showing what's in store this season embedded after the break.
(December 12th, NBC, 8 & 9PM)

Always Sunny in Philadelphia
This week sees the season finale of Always Sunny, and as usual the gang is up to no good. This is the second of a two-part episode as they attend a high school reunion, and to recap, Dennis misguidedly believes he was one of the cool kids and is ducking his dead-toothed ex wife, Dee unsuccessfully tried to infiltrate the cool table by slinging insults around, Mac's real name has been revealed and Charlie is unconscious after huffing chemicals. So, they're up to their usual antics.
(December 15th, FX, 10PM)

Blu-ray & Games
Rise of the Planet of the ApesKung Fu Panda 2 (3D)Fright Night (3D)City of GodThe Rocketeer (20th Anniversary Edition)Heavenly CreaturesVelvet Goldmine

Monday

Fear Factor (season premiere), NBC, 8 & 9PMStephen King's Bag of Bones Part 2 of 2 (series finale), A&E, 9PMEnlightened (season finale), HBO, 9:30PMRams/Seahawks Monday Night Football, ESPN, 8:30PM2 Broke Girls (fall finale), CBS, 8PMTwo and a Half Men (fall finale), CBS, 9PMMike & Molly (fall finale), CBS, 9:30PMHawaii Five-0 (fall finale), CBS, 10PMTerra Nova, Fox, 8PMThe Closer, TNT, 9PMWWE Raw, USA, 9PMAmerican Chopper: Senior vs. Junior, Discovery, 9PMYou Deserve It, ABC, 9PMRizzoli & Isles, TNT, 10PMAmerican Guns, Discovery, 10PMRock Center with Brian Williams, NBC, 10PM

Tuesday

Dirty Jobs (season premiere), Discovery, 9PMGood Morning Killer (special presentation), TNT, 9PMKnights of Mayhem (season finale), National Geographic, 9PMLast Man Standing (fall finale), ABC, 8 & 8:30PMNCIS (fall finale), CBS, 8PMNCIS: LA (fall finale), CBS, 9PMUnforgettable (fall finale), CBS, 10PMGlee, Fox, 8PMNew Girl, Fox, 9PMRaising Hope, Fox, 9:30PMFlashpoint, Ion, 10PMBomb Patrol: Afghanistan, G4, 10PM

Wednesday

The Real World (season finale), MTV, 10PMPsych (fall finale), USA, 10PMCriminal Minds (fall finale), CBS, 9PMCSI (fall finale), CBS, 10PMDebra DiGivoanni: Single, Awkward, Female (special presentation), Showtime, 10PMAmerica Caught on Camera, Travel, 10PMSurvivor, CBS, 8PMThe X-Factor, Fox, 8PMInside The NFL, Showtime, 9PMI Hate My Teenage Daughter, Fox, 9:30PMState of Play, BBC America, 10PMMoonshiners, Discovery, 10PMAmerican Horror Story, FX, 10PM

Thursday

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (season finale), FX, 10PMRules of Engagement, CBS (fall finale), 8:30PMPerson of Interest (fall finale), CBS, 9PMBurn Notice (fall finale), USA, 10PMThe Mentalist (fall finale), CBS, 10PMJaguars/Falcons Thursday Night Football, NFL Network, 8PMThe X-Factor, Fox, 8PMThe Year The Earth Went Wild (special presentation), Discovery, 9PMLess Than Kind, DirecTV 101, 9PMCall Me Fitz, DirecTV 101, 9:30PMPrime Suspect, NBC, 10PMBeavis & Butt-head, MTV, 10 & 10:30PMBig Shrimpin', History, 10PMGood Vibes, MTV, 11, & 11:30PMThe League, FX, 10:30PM

Friday

Christmas in Washington (special presentation), TNT, 8PMChuck, NBC, 8PMGrimm, NBC, 9PMWWE SmackDown, Syfy, 8PMThe Take (part 3 of 4), Encore, 9PMSanctuary, Syfy, 10PMInvention USA, History, 10PMX-Men Anime, G4, 11PM

Saturday

Cowboys/Buccaneers football, NFL Network, 9PMEarth's Final Hours (special presentation), Syfy, 9PMPrimeval (season finale), BBCA, 9PMWWE Salute to the Troops (special presentation), NBC, 9PMSaturday Night Live: Jimmy Fallon / Michael Buble, NBC, 11:30PM

Sunday

Survivor (season finale), CBS, 8PMAllen Gregory (season finale), Fox, 8:30PMDexter (season finale), Showtime, 9PMHomeland (season finale), Showtime, 10PMLuck, HBO, 10PMRavens/Chargers football, NBC, 8:15PM60 Minutes, CBS, 7PMLeverage, TNT, 9PMHell on Wheels, AMC, 10PMPan Am, ABC, 10PMSurvivor: The Reunion, CBS, 10PMAll-American Muslim, TLC, 10PM