Look no further for lighthearted summer TV fare than ABC's Bet on Your Baby.
Season 2 of the too-cute game show debuts at 7 p.m. Saturday. If my Facebook friends are any indication, the show should be a rousing success. Half their postings are of kids and grandchildren.
Sometimes pets. Sometimes kids with pets.
All parents think they know their baby well. And, of course, their child is the cutest, smartest, most adorable child to grace the planet. Now they can put their money where their hearts are.
Saturday night is the perfect time for the series as Melissa Peterman, star of ABC Family's sitcom Baby Daddy, hosts the game show "that challenges parents to try to predict their child's next move in an effort to win money for their child's education."
That's always a good incentive.
There will be eight episodes this season. In the first outing we meet 3-year old Nyla and her parents, Calee and Arthur King, who hope she'll pick up the phone within 6 rings to win $5,000 in the game "Pickup Line."
Then there are the Hahn triplets, Jacob, Tyler and Audrey, who play "TP Takeoff." Can they empty three rolls of toilet paper within 90 seconds?
Four-year-old Rozlynn loves playing "Dress Up" with her mom, Wanda Cohill, while Grandma Tajee wagers on which costume her granddaughter will select.
If it's a costume from Frozen, it's a cinch.
Finally, 4-year-old A.J. Rodriguez plays "Peanut Putter," a mini-golf game, with his dad, Lupe, while mom Angela guesses how many holes in one he'll land in the oversized cup.
At the end of the episode, all the parents return for a high-stakes game of "Baby Talk," in which they guess the mystery word Melissa and their children are describing. One family moves on to try to "break the piggy bank" and win a $50,000 college fund.
What'll $50,000 get you these days? A freshman year? Maybe two at a community college?
• More silliness. Wait! ABC has more Saturday fillers for us.
Sing Your Face Off, based on the international hit show Your Face Sounds Familiar, debuts at 8 p.m. Saturday. ABC says two new episodes will air back to back from 8 to 10 p.m., making for all-original programming on Saturday nights on the network.
Sing Your Face Off is a talent/variety competition featuring celebrities who are transformed and coached to perform as a legendary musical icon.
The five celebrities are rock star Sebastian Bach, basketball star Landry Fields, comedian Jon Lovitz, Disney star China Anne McClain and soap star Lisa Rinna.
Each will spend hours in the makeup chair and with vocal coaches to take on the identity of a famous singer. Each show will feature the complete transformations. Viewers will see each of the celebrities portray multiple musical performers during the series. Examples: Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Pavarotti, Pitbull and Tina Turner.
Teaser: Included in the first episode is Rinna becoming Dolly Parton and Britney Spears.
John Barrowman (Arrow) is the host. Debbie Gibson and Darrell Hammond are the primary judges for the results, while guest judges along the way will include David Allen Grier, RuPaul, Carnie Wilson, Richard Simmons, Tom Arnold and Carmen Electra.
• More Kleenex. Saturday night is also a good time to settle back and have a good cry. If you get the Hallmark Movie Channel, then set aside 8 p.m. Saturday for an "inspirational, touching and real" tearjerker.
The Color of Rain was inspired by the true story of Gina Kell and Michael Spehn and their 2011 New York Times best-selling book of the same name.
The film tells the tale "of an unexpected new beginning in the face of unimaginable loss." Lacey Chabert (Party of Five) and Warren Christie (Alphas) star as Gina and Michael in a story of two families becoming one after cancer tragically claims Gina's husband and Michael's wife just six weeks apart.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Weekend on 05/29/2014