"Toddlers & Tiaras"

Credit: TLC

This is a continuation of a story that ran on Friday. To read the first half, click here. 

 "That can get ugly in adulthood." 

 "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

Credit: Bravo

Ah, the ugliness of game night continues on "The Real Housewives of the 'Maury Povich Show,'" I mean, "The Real Housewives of Beverly HIlls." Truly, as nasty as things have gotten among the wives in the past, Brandi's addition to the fold has somehow pushed the show dangerously close to chair-tossing territory. While this is undoubtedly dramatic, it's also a bit unnerving, like watching beauty queens rip out one another's extensions while using their stilettos to poke holes in their rivals' Spanx. Hopefully someone will brush her extremely long and probably fake hair out of her eyes and apologize before someone loses an eye. 

 "Dancing with the Stars"

Credit: ABC

 Our stars are getting rad for '80s week. That gag-o-licious statement is not of my own creation, mind you, but how ABC is plugging tonight's episode of "Dancing with the Stars." I'm fine with '80s week and suspect this might actually be fun, but if I'm going to have to listen to retro lingo all night, count me out. 

 "Dance Moms"

Credit: TLC

 Casually spinning through the TV dial, it's easy to find reality programming featuring the younger set; shows ranging from "Toddlers & Tiaras," "Dance Moms," "19 Kids and Counting" and even competition shows like "The X Factor" and "America's Got Talent" puts kids in the spotlight. But as children become more of a fixture in the reality TV landscape (and, as in "Toddlers" and "Dance," their presence in the spotlight becomes more squirm-inducing), the question of what impact reality television will have on them into adulthood becomes more pressing. "'The Truman Show' anticipated something none of us knew was coming," says Dr. Ramani Durvasula, professor of psychology at California State University, Los Angeles and licensed clinical psychologist. "It's not normal for kids to see their lives played out on a public stage. It's a completely artificial way to live."

 "Long Island Medium" 

Credit: TLC

I've always considered myself a skeptic. I've written about con artistry, I know the basics of sleight of hand, and I'm all too familiar with the tricks so-called psychics use to read minds and "conjure" the dead. I've always figured that, if Houdini's spirit never returned to deliver that secret, agreed-upon phrase to his widow during one of her many seance attempts, it was probably a pretty good indication the master magician had been right about psychics and mediums all along -- they were no more magical than, well, magicians. 

 "The Vampire Diaries"

Credit: CW

It's not likely that this episode will end well, as we've been slowly inching toward Elena accepting the incontrovertible truth that Stefan is, despite his best efforts, not going to be able to ensure that love conquers all, at least in the short run (I suspect many a plot twist will ultimately bring these two crazy kids back together). Still, it isn't going to happen soon, and certainly not before Elena grieves and possibly moves on. It's going to be a hard lesson for Elena to learn, but it's probably for the best. Loving an addict, I mean, a vampire is always going to be a struggle for her, and now that Stefan's dealer, I mean Klaus, has taken over, even Stefan's best efforts aren't going to amount to much. I'm hoping that Katherine's plan to off Klaus comes to fruition, as that's looking like Stefan's only path back to Elena. That is, if Damon doesn't block his way. 

 "Project Runway"

Credit: Lifetime Television

We're down to the final five, and I'm guessing all the hugging and loving of past episodes is about wrapped up,  no matter how much Anya tries to keep things positive. It's getting down to the wire, and God knows that Josh M. is nothing but a big, pouty baby when he hasn't won a challenge (and a haughty bully when he has), so there's simply no way to keep the tension out of the workroom this week. But let the games begin -- we can only hope Josh M. gets his walking papers at last. 

 "The View"

Credit: ABC

We can always count on the ladies of "The View" to dispel interesting morning chatter, whether it's insight into world events or just gross TMI about their bathroom habits. This morning, we were able to enjoy (I use that word loosely) both. Read and be enlightened. Or something. 

 "Sister Wives"

Credit: TLC

Watching "Sister Wives" (Sundays at 9 p.m. ET) can be a deeply unnerving experience. Like a lot of people, I've never exactly cottoned to the idea of polygamy. I'm happy to share lots of things -- sandwiches, sweaters, tabloid gossip -- but husbands I prefer to keep to myself. Selfish, I know. It doesn't help, of course, that in my mind the word polygamy is inextricably tied to the sordid and deeply creepy trial of Warren Jeffs and the less creepy but no less chaotic HBO series "Big Love." On some level, polygamy just gives me the willies. So why, at the end of most episodes, do I (very briefly) find myself thinking, well, maybe having a few spouses isn't such a bad thing after all (though personally I'd prefer polyandry, as I suspect that if I had three or four husbands at least one of them would know how to fix a damn faucet)?