Tak and the Power of Juju

• 6 p.m. Friday, Nickelodeon

The show: Any kid who's being honest will tell you: A cartoon show that makes good use of the word pupununu is worth checking out. Tak and the Power of Juju is just such a show. Adapted from the popular video game, this new Nickelodeon series follows teenage jungle boy Tak and his fellow Pupununu villagers as they face various wacky challenges.

They're sometimes helped, sometimes hindered by the strange and mystical Jujus, magical beings with whom Tak has a special bond. But since he's a rambunctious kid, Tak sometimes makes a mess of his Juju power.

With computer-generated animation and top-notch voice talent (including Maurice LaMarche, John DiMaggio and Patrick Warburton), the show is "colorful, chaotic fun," says Associated Press TV critic Frazier Moore. (And you know how the kids like chaos.) And if one is good, more is better: The series premieres with back-to-back episodes Friday.

Today

The Life of Ryan

• 8:30 p.m., MTV

The show: Ryan Sheckler, a 17-year-old skateboarding phenom, has already traveled the world and even owns a Range Rover. So, naturally, he's perfect for MTV's latest reality show. Watch as he looks for the right girl! Hang out with his buddies! Live from San Clemente, Calif.!

Tuesday

Life After Katrina

• 8 p.m., KRMA-Channel 6

The show: Here's another chance to see this worthy entry in the growing file of Hurricane Katrina documentaries. Produced by High Noon Entertainment, a local production house, the show examines the efforts of six homeowners working to rebuild homes in New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss. Unlike numerous Katrina documentaries, this hour provides an optimistic perspective as dedicated families work to restructure their lives.

Wednesday

Crazy Sexy Cancer

• 7 p.m., TLC

The show: On Valentine's Day 2003, Kris Carr, right, was diagnosed with a rare and terminal cancer. A few weeks later, the 31-year-old actress-photographer began filming her story. The result is an irreverent, witty documentary following this young woman's journey as she searches for a cure and finds a lot more. Why the sassy title? "To challenge the perceptions, to poke fun and to bring humanity to a disease that is still so misperceived and feared," replies Carr.

Thursday

World's Funniest Commercials

• 7 p.m., TBS

The show: It's new! It's free! It will make you attractive to the opposite sex (well, that part's a lie). The latest edition of this program, hosted by funnyman Kevin Nealon, left, and wife Susan Yeagley (Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm), goes global to showcase clever and humorous spots from Sweden, Argentina, Japan, Romania and other countries. It's the sort of program that could really bewilder your ad-skipping DVR, so you might just watch it the first time it airs to be sure you see it.

Saturday

College football

• 6 p.m., 7News

The show: If this is a Saturday in September (and this is the first Saturday in September), it's time for college gridiron action to heat up. And coach potatoes everywhere get a good first course, to boot: Perennial power Tennessee travels west to take on California. Last year the Vols whipped the Golden Bears badly in Knoxville, so payback figures into the equation.

Sunday

Saturday Night Live in the '80s

• 8 p.m., 9News

The show: Having trouble staying up late enough to actually watch SNL in recent years? (Don't embarrass yourself by answering - that's a rhetorical question.) This repeat offers a more time-friendly chance to catch up with the show. Despite some serious lows during the decade, the '80s also boasted Dana Carvey, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal and more. You can be sure they'll focus more on laughs than gaffes.

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