Ear on TV: The week of June 16

I have to admit, I've been on the fence about Fuel TV since it's launch nearly five years ago as 'the only 24/7 action sports network.' Is there really a need for an ESPNX? Lately, though, the program The Daily Habit has had a rotation of great indie and/or punk bands appearing on the program, in concert with pieces on surfers, skateboarders, snowboarders and the like. The lineup this week, for instance, is incredible: L.A. punkers No Age (Monday,) nob-twisters MGMT (Wednesday,) and international hip-hop assasin M.I.A. (Thursday) all lend some adrenaline to the program. It's almost enough to have me contact my provider and press them to include the network... that is until I remember it's a sister network to FOX News. Oh Rupert Murdoch... why are you such a contradiction?

Speaking of sports and rock and roll, this Friday on Letterman is the network debut of the new baseball fan supergroup of The Baseball Project, which features Peter Buck (R.E.M.,) Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate,) Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5) and Linda Pitmon (Zuzu's Petals). For Friday's appearance, McCaughey sings "Past Time," which reads like a laundry list of things we miss about baseballs' past, like "the sideburns of Pepitone and Oscar Gamble's afro." Singing songs about baseball's rich history never sounded so good... someone needs to give Peter Gammons a call, and get them in ESPN's battle of the bands.

Finally, Live From Abbey Road returns for it's second season on the Sundance channel, getting it's world debut stateside this time (appearing on Channel 4 a couple weeks later, featuring a lineup of Mary J. Blige, Dashboard Confessional and James Blunt. While the behind the scenes look at the famous studio is always fascinating -- the best part always seems to be the featured archived video, usually of The Beatles -- the lineup can sometimes be a disappointment in comparison. Just typing James Blunt's name in conjunction with fab four made me throw up in my mouth a little. Yuk. I guess that's what the fast forward button is for.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, June 16
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Adele
FUEL: The Daily Habit: No Age
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Amos Lee
Tuesday, June 17
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Chromeo
CBS: The Early Show: Dan Zanes
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Dr. John, Stevie Wonder
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: John Hiatt
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Carly Simon (REPEAT)
Wednesday, June 18
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Martha Wainwright
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Fratellis
FUEL: The Daily Habit: MGMT
NBC: The Today Show: Carly Simon
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Game
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Duffy (REPEAT)
Thursday, June 19
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lil' Wayne
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Boxmaster
FUEL: The Daily Habit: M.I.A.
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Mary J. Blige, Dashboard Confessional
Friday, June 20
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Baseball Project
NBC: The Today Show: Rihanna
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Time
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: My Morning Jacket
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Neil Diamond
Saturday, June 21
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Scouting For Girls
PBS: Austin City Limits: Gretchen Wilson, Miranda Lambert