I'm going to experiment with a slightly different format for this week's TV listings. Instead of trying (and failing) to list every single thing on U.S. television, I'm going to try a format more like what Graeme does with his weekly comics recommendations. For each day, I'll single out one or two must-watch items and exhort you to watch them with all my powers of persuasion.

So tonight, the History Channel is re-running its ultra-controversial documentary "Last Days On Earth," all about seven possible disasters that could bring an end to the human race in the very near future. You'll be shocked to learn that one of the seven disasters involves global warming, and that's the main reason why it's so controversial. Just read the comments on this message board, including:

"The so-called #1 threat—global warming—was not only insulting, but also frightening. Why the History Channel would air such obvious political propaganda, thinly disguised as science, is shameful and irresponsible."

"The History Channel ought well might wish to rethink its propensity for fear-mongering of global catastrophe as has apparently become its wont. This network is sinking into a morass of such negativity and hysteria that it would not be surprising to hear of individuals viewing such programming to descend into clinical depression, or worse."

Also, at 9 on Fox, there's a new New Amsterdam, for those of you who consider it science fiction. John's first partner has been shot in the line of duty, and his dying wish brings back memories of John's early days as a detective. It even provides some clues to John's search for mortality. But it also leads to run-ins with the Russian mafia. The season (and probably series) finale of airs next week, so you could say his quest for mortality will prove quite successful.

Tuesday, the History Channel has our backs once again, with a new episode of The Universe, this time all about scientists studying the atmospheres of other planets. Unlike the "Last Days" special, nobody's accusing this episode of carrying water for Al Gore or trivializing the Holocaust. But it still might be pretty interesting. Also, TMC has Aeon Flux at 10 PM.

Wednesday — and I swear I'm not getting paid by the History Channel here — there's a new UFO Hunters on the History Channel at 10 PM. It's called "2008 Texas UFO," and it's about pretty much what you'd expect. It seems to involve the same sighting shown in this recent Texas newscast. But could it possibly be as entertaining as this clip?

Thursday may be your last chance to develop an appreciation for the canceled Flash Gordon TV series. The Sci Fi Channel is having a Flash marathon all day, so leave lots of room in your DVR. To be fair, it was a pretty horrendous show, but you have to admire the gutsiness of making a space opera without any space. And it's worth checking out some of the later episodes just to see the costumes get more and more ridiculous. Plus, bird men! And matriarchal women's societies that threaten to castrate Flash! Mutant almost-incest! This show wasn't afraid to go in some ridiculous directions.

And if that doesn't excite you, Sci Fi is also showing Asteroid at 7 PM, followed by The Abyss at 11.

Friday, Sci Fi has the first episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures, the best Doctor Who spin-off, at 7:30. I'm a huge fan of this show, which successfully channels a lot of old-school Doctor Who feeling, without quite so much soap opera as the new Who or Torchwood. I should caution, however, that the pilot episode, "Invasion of the Bane," is by far the weakest installment of the show. It features one of Russell T. Davies' least thought-out plots, about an evil soft-drink company that wants to take over the world or something. Also, one of the supporting characters is intensely annoying, but luckily she gets dropped after this episode. Here's a trailer:

And then at 10, Sci Fi has the second episode of the new Battlestar Galactica season. It's the beginning of a Cylon civil war, over whether to continue lobotomizing the centurions and raiders. And the Cylons start dealing with the issue of what to do about the final five, who are in the fleet. Meanwhile, Starbuck is still freaking out:

And then on Spike at 8, there's the basic cable premiere of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, otherwise known as Star Wars.

Saturday, there's a new Spectacular Spider-Man on the CW at 10 AM. Spidey meets the Green Goblin. And then on the Cartoon Network at 10:30, there's the season premiere of Transformers: Animated, which comes just a week after the previous season's finale. (If only every show worked that way.) The Cybertron Elite Guard comes to Earth looking for the Allspark.

And then at 9 PM there's a new Torchwood on BBC America. The team gets caught in a nasty trap, and then everybody except for Gwen relives how they joined the team. It's actually quite a good episode, and leaves you feeling more interested in the gang than ever before. Shame it's almost the last episode of the season, and the third season is rumored to see some drastic changes in the show's lineup.

Meanwhile, Spike is showing Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back for the first time, at 8 PM. It's also re-running A New Hope at 5 PM.

Sunday, Spike finishes up its Star Wars marathon with Return of the Jedi at 8 PM. It all makes sense, if you watch all six movies back to back. You'll see facets and hidden depths you never glimpsed before. Actually, I'm just guessing that's what would happen.

Tonight, there's a new New Amsterdam on Fox at 9 PM. John investigates the death of a young man who resembles the son he lost in the early 1900s, and he starts questioning his past actions and the consequences they have on the people around him.

Also, FX is showing Terminator 3 at 8 PM, in case you want to compare its timeline with that of The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

It's also worth mentioning that as you read this, the Sci Fi Channel is having a Battlestar Galactica marathon that's going to carry on all week, from 8 AM to 6 PM every day. For some reason, the only episodes Sci Fi isn't showing are the first miniseries and the start of season one. Why, Lords of Kobol, why?

Tuesday, Nova investigates the possibility of life on Saturn's moon Titan, with "Voyage To The Mystery Moon," on PBS at 8 PM. (Check your local listings.) And in the companion website, NASA's Carolyn Porco (an advisor to the new Star Trek movie) discusses the water plume on another moon, Enceladus. And in case you need more Moon action, some PBS stations are also showing a rerun of American Experience: Race To The Moon.

And at 9 PM, the History Channel features a new The Universe, all about "Nebulas," which are the "crown jewels" of the universe, and the places where stars are born and die.

But that's not the end of Tuesday's science fictional documentary action. At 10 PM, ABC News has a special called Live To Be 150... Can You Do It? The bad news: Barbara Walters is going to live to be 150 as well, and she'll keep lisping at you from the nursing home TV set.

During the day, AMC is showing Escape From The Planet of the Apes, followed by Beneath The Planet of the Apes and the Poseidon Adventure. It all starts at 8 AM. And in the evening, FX has Terminator 3 again, followed by The Day After Tomorrow.

I'm not going to make any snarky comments about how Flip That House should be considered science fiction in today's housing market.

Wednesday there's more documentary action with a new UFO Hunters on the History Channel at 10. This time around, it's "Alien Contact." We meet people who claim to have had intimate contact with aliens, and then the experts determine what, if anything, really happened. Somehow it lasts a whole hour.

And at 1 AM Weds. morning, AMC has Species. Although honestly, I'm sort of intrigued by the probably-not-scifi Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?, on Oxygen at the same time. Also, at 8 PM, FX has Terminator 2. And The Day After Tomorrow is on FX once again, at 5:30 PM.

Thursday there are Smallville and Lost reruns. It's your chance to get caught up on Smallville, if you've been skipping it. This is the episode featuring superhero Black Canary as a New Wave, knife-throwing, leaping Ann Coulter clone. That's got to be worth a look, right?

And for those of you who telecommute or have a TV in your office, AMC is at it again, with Enemy Mine followed by The Thing, starting at 8 AM. And then at 5 PM, AMC has Terminator 2 again. Also, FX has Jonathan Demme's Manchurian Candidate twice, at 8 and 11 PM.

At midnight, FX is showing White Chicks, possibly the most disturbing scifi movie of all time.

And then on Friday at 10 PM, you finally remember why you even own a television set. Battlestar Galactica returns to Sci Fi with "He That Believeth In Me." The episode picks up right where season three ended, and it's a pretty intense ride from beginning to end. To recap: Starbuck is back from the dead and claims she's been to Earth. Two beloved characters, and two not-so-beloved ones, have turned out to be Bob Dylan-loving Cylons. And the other Cylons are about to trash the humans once and for all. Here's a promo clip:

Meanwhile, Spike has the basic cable premiere of Star Wars Episode 1 at 8 PM, part of a Star Wars marathon that carries on this weekend and next weekend.

Also, AMC has the original Planet of the Apes at 11 PM and FX is once again showing the retina-scorching White Chicks at 9.

Saturday morning, there's the final ever episode of Legion of Superheroes, "Dark Victory Part 2," at 9:30 on CW, followed by a new Spectacular Spider-Man, featuring the Rhino. And then at 10:30 on Cartoon Network, there's a new Transformers Animated: "Megatron Rising, Part 2." Which sounds like good news for Megatron, and maybe not such great news for Optimus Prime. The Autobots fail to protect Earth from the Decepticons, and have to fight harder than ever to safeguard the Allspark.

And then in the evening, Torchwood bounces back from its circus lowpoint, with a really quite decent episode. Gwen is determined to investigate the disappearance of a teenager, even after Jack tells her to leave it alone. What she discovers makes her see Torchwood in a whole new light. That's on BBC America at 9 PM.

Meanwhile, Spike continues its celebration of having bought the rights to the Star Wars movies, re-running The Phantom Menace at 5 PM and then showing the basic cable premiere of Attack of the Clones at 8 PM.

And on Sunday, Spike finishes its first weekend of Star Wars, showing Clones again at 4:30, followed by the broadcast premiere of Revenge of the Sith at 8 PM. And here's a nifty trailer: