TV Daily

Prime Pick

Photo: The History Channel

Capitalizing on the post-apocalyptic gloom of "I Am Legend," the History Channel wanders into similar territory with "Life After People" (9 p.m. EST), a look at what Earth might look like if human beings died off suddenly. The breathless tone and poetic flourishes make this two-hour "TV event" a delightful exercise in gloom and doom, replete with CGI effects of the Eiffel Tower collapsing and lions roaming city streets. But will the animals of the world party like it's 2099 when we're gone? Not necessarily. One dog expert assures us that once humans are gone, the world's handbag dogs are dead meat. Fifi, cover your ears!

-- H.H.

Also…

A mystery lady makes a visit on "Prison Break" (8 p.m. EST on Fox), while Sundance repeats "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" (8 p.m. EST). Danny "borrows" baby Perry to meet chicks on "Notes From the Underbelly" (9:30 p.m. EST on ABC), and some of the best bodies in history are on display in a repeat of E!'s Looky-Lou extravaganza, "25 Most Memorable Swimsuit Moments" (9 p.m. EST). "American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver" (10 p.m. EST on PBS, check listings) profiles Maria Shriver's dad, a onetime vice-presidential candidate who helped to start the Special Olympics, the Peace Corps and Head Start, while "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" (10 p.m. EST on Travel) looks at the food and night life of Vancouver, B.C.

Friday night

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On the talk shows

Contributors: Megan Doll, Molly Eichel, Heather Havrilesky, Amy Reiter

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