TV critic's picks: Wednesday

"American Idol," "Life to Dance" and "Unforgiven"

January 18, 2011 at 8:35PM

Judging J.Lo and a Toxic Twin Steven Tyler or Jennifer Lopez? Who has better hits? Who has better hair? Who is the better new judge on "American Idol" (7 p.m., KMSP, Ch. 9)? Be prepared to discuss after the opening night of auditions on the 10th season.

Opposites attract Do you miss Paula Abdul? She has her own talent show, "Live to Dance" (7 p.m., WCCO, Ch.4), opposite "Idol." Never has Paula been a better cheerleader. She once again leaves the meanness to the other judges, ex-Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and Travis Payne, Michael Jackson's longtime choreographer.

Great western If you dig the Coen brothers' terrific new "True Grit," you should check out the last great western before it. In fact, Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" (8 p.m., CMT), which won the Oscar for best picture of 1992, has a similar story line about an ex-gunslinger lured into a bounty hunt. Eastwood had a great supporting cast, including Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris and Gene Hackman, who took the Oscar for best supporting actor.

about the writer

about the writer

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

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