TV tonight: 'Big Brother,' Travel's 'Top Spot'

By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY

Posted July 11, 2012

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Julie Chen hosts 'Big Brother.' The reality show is back, but it's played out. (Credit: By Bill Inoshita, CBS)

•Remember all the fuss CBS made over ABC's The Glass House, the Big Brother ripoff most viewers ignored?

Well, if you were one of the few who watched, you can now compare the copy to the original as Big Brother (tonight, 9 ET/PT) returns.

Or better yet, you can just skip them both. There really is nothing about the played-out original that is worth copying. Or watching.

•POV examines one of popular literature's hottest products with Guilty Pleasures (PBS, 10 ET/PT, times may vary). The film takes a look at romance novels around the world.

•Travel Channel introduces Top Spot (10 ET/PT), which lets people test three hotels in a prime vacation spot before making their choice — starting with Miami and London.

It sounds like Top could be guilt-free, voyeuristic fun. It also sounds a lot like a hit show on Travel's sister station, House Hunters— so let's hope Top is more upfront and honest about what it's doing than House Hunters has been.

•It's not just tourists who are headed for Miami.

So is Louis C.K. for tonight's episode of Louie (FX, 10:30 ET/PT). Should also be a fun trip, if a less well-behaved one.