Rueben's Ramblings

Here is a list of the programming options to expect on TV this week:

The History Channel two-night event Houdini will start on September 1 at 9 PM. Adrien Brody will star as Erik Weisz (aka Harry Houdini) in this biopic that follows the man behind the magic as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists and encounters the greatest names of the era. The mini will chronicle the life of a man who could defy death through his stunts, his visions and his mastery of illusion. Kristen Connolly will star as Houdini’s wife Bess and Evan Jones will play Jim Collins.

Also on September 1, The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story will debut on Lifetime at 9 PM. This made-for-TV movie will delve into the experiences of six unknown young actors placed into the Hollywood spotlight, exposing the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny while trying to maintain the squeaky clean image of their popular characters both on and off-screen. The cast will include Dylan Everett (Degrassi: The Next Generation) as Mark-Paul Gosselaar in the role of Zack Morris; Sam Kindseth (Shameless) is Dustin Diamond, in the role of Screech; Julian Works (Modern Family) as Mario Lopez in the role of A.C. Slater; Alyssa Lynch (The High Jumping Witch) as, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, the one and only Kelly Kapowski; Tiera Skovbye (Supernatural) as Elizabeth Berkley in the role of Jessie Spano and Taylor Russell McKenzie (Blink) as Lark Voorhies in the role of Lisa Turtle.

The season finale of Mistresses will also air on September 1 on ABC at 10:01 PM.

The season finale of Royal Pains will air on September 2 on the USA Network at 9 PM.

The Lifetime biopic The Brittany Murphy Story will debut on September 6 at 8 PM. Amanda Fuller (Last Man Standing and Grey’s Anatomy) will portray Brittany Murphy, with Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks and Ray Donovan) set to play her mother, Sharon Murphy. The movie will recount the story of Brittany’s younger years, including her mother’s efforts to turn her talented daughter into a star in the 1980s and ’90s, leading up to her unexpected death.

And on September 7, Boardwalk Empire will start its fifth and final season on HBO at 9 PM as well as the two-hour season finale of Falling Skies on TNT at 9 PM.

Mark your calendars!