Food Network

Food Network, “The Big C” – Get ready for a provocative new series about finding the humor in cancer. The luminous Laura Linney plays Cathy Jamison, a repressed woman, play-IT-safe and a mother who receives a strong call for attention in the form of stage 4 melanoma. Initially, friends and family kept in the dark about fatal diagnosis, choosing instead to adopt an approach of go-for-the-taste for life has a way of acting in ways that baffle the known. The excellent cast also includes Oliver Platt and Gabourey Sidibe. 22:30 Monday, Showtime.

Other bets:

TONIGHT: In the 6th season finale of “The Next Food Network Star”, the other three contestants are in for a surprise as Rachael Ray joins them to direct their pilot episodes. Then a focus group is set to provide feedback 9 pm, Food Network.

TONIGHT: There are more problems for Jane (Brooke Elliott) on “Drop Dead Diva.” While attending an awards banquet that is stunned when a woman accused of stealing her husband. 9 p.m., for life.

TONIGHT: What happens when the trouble Hoff? Find out when David Hasselhoff receiving treatment in “The Comedy Central Roast.” Pamela Anderson, Hulk Hogan and Jerry Springer are among those turning up the heat. 10 pm, Comedy Central.

Monday: Mary-Louise Parker is still smokin hot, but “Weeds” remains

addictive? The comedy starts what will surely be another season of outrageous – and often ridiculed – stories. 10 p.m., Showtime.

Tuesday: Forget what you learned in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” A new documentary, “The Gates of Hell”, travels the world to explore six places, according to myths and religious beliefs, are the entrances to know where. Includes: a volcano in Iceland and a spooky cave in Central America. 8 pm, History Channel.

Tuesday: Two former child star – Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence – title of the new comedy “Melissa & Joey.” We can only hope the series plots have more imagination than its title. 20:30, ABC Family.

Wednesday: All we know tonight’s episode of “Plain Jane” is a woman who jumps into a tank of sharks, but that’s enough to grab our attention. Not that we are bloodthirsty or anything. 9 pm, Channels 31 and 44 (CW).

Wednesday: “Surviving the Cut” is a documentary series that chronicles the harsh demands and conditions facing the candidates for the elite combat units. But do not worry, you are entitled to see, even if you can not do a single pull-up. 10 p.m., the Discovery Channel.

Thursday: Season 2 of “Extreme Cuisine With Jeff Corwin” opens in New Zealand, where our host samples and Colonial Goose hunting fin eels and prawns green monster – all this while we eat our Hamburger Helper. 8 p.m., Food Network.

FRIDAY: “The Short List,” a new series countdown, rattles of the “10 most awkward celebrity moments.” Our first thought: How in the world can reduce the list to 10? 9 pm, VH1.

Saturday: In the news documentary “New Orleans Rising,” Soledad O’Brien reports on the reconstruction efforts taking place in Pontchartrain Park. The middle-class black neighborhood five years ago was devastated during Hurricane Katrina. 8 pm, CNN.