What was on TV? Thurs, April 7, 2005

20 years ago, Joss Whedon was writing a Wonder Woman movie, and everyone was so excited!

9:00 The OC (recorded)

2x18 "The Risky Business" (record Survivor on CBS)

The problems with season 2 of The OC are legion, but the whole thing would have gone down a lot smoother with more jokes and whimsy. So tonight's episode involving a charity auction full of suburban floozies, the glass egg from Risky Business was more than welcome. Even the '80s movie references were fun! This was part of the first wave of '80s nostalgia, before it became tired and lazy.

9:00 Survivor (recorded)

10x08 "Neanderthal Man"

With only two members of Ulong left, the legend of Stephanie LaGrossa grows. The producers knew they'd struck gold with Stephanie's "last woman standing" storyline; that's why they brought her back the very next season. But the legend of Stephanie LaGrossa still has currency all these years later, it carried her to an appearance on The Traitors and the upcoming Survivor 50.

In this episode you can see why. The image of her trekking off into the jungle alone is very powerful. And I'm sure a lot of women identified with her disgust with Bbby Jon and as he became the "Neanderthal man" that gives the episode its title. That dilemma is very relatable.

10:00 Project Greenlight on Bravo

3x04 "Cast Apart"

I can't believe they dragged the casting process across three episodes. Thank goodness production starts next episode. But this episode is still compelling since director Gulager isn't really the main character, casting director Michelle Morris is. This episode is really the story of her quest to get Navi Rawat cast in the lead role by any means necessary. I really like Rawat, both in her role as Theresa on The OC and in the forgotten failed TV pilot turned TV movie Thoughtcrimes, so I was really rooting for Morris. The producers and writers seem really stupid, lazily dismissing Rawat, not listening to a literal casting expert, and chasing pie in the sky dreams of casting actual movie stars. Morris is dogged and a little underhanded, but she's right and she prevails, and it is very satisfying.

What Else Was On

• Before they were famous: Kevin Hart was on the John Stamos sitcom Jake in Progress.
• A Discovery Channel special wondered: Does Europe Hate Us? Then and now, the answer is yes.

Late Night

The bit after the first interview is always the weirdest and best part of Conan. Tonight they staged a fake biblical epic about April Fools day? Amazing

TiVo Status

A Frontline documentary and the TV movies Sucker Free City, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Ladies Night, the miniseries Fingersmith, and one episode each of American Dreams, Desperate Housewives, The Starlet, and The West Wing. 16 hours total.

Music, 20 years ago

This song is over 40 years ago, but it's still the best needle drop in this episode of The OC.