Ox Notes: July 30, 2009

There's exciting stuff happening on TV this weekend. Saturday marks the start of TCM's month-long Summer Under the Stars. Each day in August will feature the films of a different actor, starting with Henry Fonda. The ad campaign for the event, featuring new posters for old movies, is getting some positive press.

Sunday, August 2, marks the return of Shark Week to Discovery.

Sunday's also the last day to bid on a package of tickets to see Dancing with the Stars' Samantha Harris perform in the musical Chicago.

In other DwtS news, judge Carrie Ann Inaba has been hired to host TV Guide Network's red carpet coverage alongside Bachelor host Chris Harrison.

Karina Smirnoff told People that she hopes Vera Wang participates in DwtS 9 so that she can beg the designer for a wedding dress.

When Who Wants to Be a Millionaire returns to primetime on August 9, it will feature an "Ask the Expert" lifeline. Among the celebrity "experts" available for help are Al Sharpton and Connie Chung.

Starting in October, ESPN will air an ambitious film project called "30 for 30", which will feature 30 short films about sports topics like BMX racing and Marion Jones' steroid use. Some of the filmmakers already attached to the project include director Peter Berg and my favorite Canadian point guard, Steve Nash.

Maureen Ryan, better known as The Chicago Tribune's The Watcher, wrote about a day in the life of a TV critic.

My brother will appreciate this Where Are They Now post about the cast of Night Court since I'm pretty sure he still carries a torch for Markie Post.