Prime choices for prime time

Despite the realistic sex, it ain’t no “Sex and the City.” In fact, it’s stark and often bleak. But trust us, once you start, you can’t stop watching. Check out “Tell Me You Love Me” this week (and catch up using on-demand).

(HBO, 9 p.m.)

We hated “Jesse.” But we loved “Anchorman.” So we’re going to try out the new Christina Applegate comedy, ”Samantha Who?” Applegate, below, plays a woman with amnesia who’s on a quest to figure out if she’s a good girl or a naughty one.

(ABC, 9:30 p.m.)

In “Cheney’s Law,” the season premiere of “Frontline,” the documentary series examines the controversial doings of the vice president.

(KCET, 9 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY

More people have been watching the BET Hip-Hop Awards 2007 every year. They can’t be worse than last month’s MTV VMAs.

(BET, 9 p.m.)

Let’s get this straight: Hugh Jackman is not a regular on “Viva Laughlin,” which stars Lloyd Owen, below. He’s just entertaining us for the premiere. Still, we hear this new drama is a more-than-decent flashy gambling show.

(CBS, 10 p.m.)

“The Next Great American Band,” with host Dominic Bowden, below, could be awesome or a total disaster. It’s from the folks behind “American Idol,” though, so we’re guessing it’s going to be awesome.

(Fox, 8 p.m.)

It’s musicals night on TCM. Find out why “My Fair Lady” is a classic and hang around for the rest of the Lerner-Loewe marathon: “Brigadoon,” “Paint Your Wagon” and “Gigi.”

(TCM: ‘Lady,’ 5 p.m.; ‘Brigadoon,’ 8 p.m.; ‘Wagon,’ 10 p.m.; ‘Gigi,’ 12:30 a.m.)