TV Party for Friday, June 24th

We start out our night with a spooky visit to the south courtesy of the Coal Miner’s Daughter herself, Loretta Lynn. At 8 tonight Loretta takes Travel Channel viewers on a tour of Hurricane Mills, her haunted plantation in the hills of Tennessee. After taking possession of the historic home in 1966, the Lynn Family discovered the grounds were haunted by Confederate Civil War ghosts and a mysterious woman in white. In my research I was unable to learn whether the ghosts enjoy Ms. Lynn’s music or not.

At 9 you’ve got a choice to make: Comedy or drama. In the Drama category is Bravo’s airing of Billy Bob Thornton’s break-out movie “Sling Blade” in which Billy Bob plays a mentally impared man with a violent past who befriends a boy and his widowed mother. Billy won the Best Screenplay Oscar for his adaptation of the story, and was nominated for Best Actor but lost to Geoffrey Rush for his portrayal of another head case in “Shine”. Billy Bob became the media’s darling for a year or so, until he hooked up with Angelina Jolie and the world realized what a couple of freaks they were.

If Comedy is more your style, head down to, where else, Comedy Central for the premier of a new comedy show, “Stella,” billed as “dumb comedy dressed up in a suit. Stella features the comedic trio of Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain as three characters whose travels through everyday life are unlike anything else on television. With a perfect blend of cleverness and absurdity, Stella satirizes everyday experiences like finding an apartment, hanging out at a coffee shop, going camping and trying to meet women. What are common, normal situations for most people quickly end up in the most unexpected realms when these guys are at the helm.

Even though they're always dressed in suits, their maturity level doesn't always fit their attire. These modern day Marx Brothers spread their non-sensical comedy to everyone they meet and everywhere they go. Their sensibilities are tinged with both sarcasm and wit; the characters, and the show in general, find a way to be both smart and sophomoric.

At 9:30 head over to MTV2 for a blast from the 90s, “Bevis and Butt-head”. Tonight’s classic episode – although they’re all classic, really – features Bevis breaking telemarketing records and saving Butt-head's life.

Finally, at 10 relax with some music. Celtic music, that is. Tune over to KCTS for “Celtic Woman” The program brings five exceptional new Irish stars to your screens in a spectacular performance recorded live at Dublin's prestigious Helix Centre. The women all sing individual numbers, then perform together in David Downes' unique arrangements of songs including, Somewhere from West Side Story, Orinoco Flow, the very moving One World and You Raise me Up. This wonderful show will stun the audience with its beauty as well as its ethereal and emotional feel.

That’s your TV Party for Friday, June 24th, I’m Scott Chicken.