Tuning In

'Joan's' independence

Every teen rebels at some point, even one who's got a pipeline to the Lord Above.

Tonight's "Joan of Arcadia" finds our heroine lying to her parents in order to go on an overnight trip. She rationalizes her deceit after having a conversation with God about free will.

The episode features the Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am and "Napoleon Dynamite's" Haylie Duff in supporting roles.

"Joan of Arcadia" airs at 8 p.m. Friday on CBS.

A 'Simpsons' outing

Having a character from a long-running show come out of the closet sounds like a "jump the shark" maneuver to us.

So it's sad to report that's the big news on this weekend's new installment of Fox's "The Simpsons."

Geeky Internet types the world over have been arguing just who will declare their homosexuality at 8 p.m. Sunday, but for true blue "Simpsons" fans the news will be greeted with a shrug.

It's yet another sign the once great show is settling for conventional sitcom gimmicks.

The episode will feature a same-sex "marriage" overseen by Homer Simpson, who becomes a minister via an online course thinking marrying homosexuals could be a lucrative side business.

The show's Waylon Smithers, by the by, seems the logical choice given his slavish devotion to Mr. Burns. But the show's creators wouldn't be that obvious, would they?

Buffet's paradise found

Professional beach bum " and music mogul " Jimmy Buffett lets viewers into his curious life during a new special on CMT spun from his recent "60 Minutes" interview.

"Jimmy Buffett Uncut: 60 Minutes Special" features outtakes from the CBS show's interview with correspondent Steve Kroft. The singer shares his life story, including his early days in Mobile, Ala., and his ties to the legion of fans known as Parrotheads.

The singer started his musical days in Nashville, but when that didn't work he drifted toward Key West, where he penned a little ditty called "Margaritaville."

Mr. Buffett's latest album, "License to Chill," debuted at No. 1 on both the pop and country charts.

The special debuts at 8 p.m. tomorrow on CMT.

UPN's funny twosome

UPN is looking across the pond for inspiration.

The network has given the green light to "20 Things to Do Before You're 30," based on the British series of the same name, Reuters News Agency reports.

"20 Things to Do," which aired on Britain's Channel 4, revolves around four 20-something friends who create a list of 20 things they want to do before they are 30 and set out to accomplish them.

The network's other new comedy pilot, "Friends in the AM," is executive produced by "Friends" star Courteney Cox and her husband, eccentric actor David Arquette.

Their sitcom chronicles the brutally frank and fiercely loyal on- and off-camera exploits of the three female hosts of a morning talk show.

Compiled by Christian Toto from staff and wire reports