Off the Wall: Putting 'real' in reality

Off the Wall likes its shows either really brainy or really dumb.

SMART NEW SERIES We would never call these

arriving shows "reality,"

because they're, ahem, real. Henry Rollins hosts the new season of "10 Things You Don't Know About" (Saturday night at 9, H2), which promises presidential assassination surprises. Then "Breaking Bad" titan Bryan Cranston narrates "Big History" (Saturday at 10 and 10:30, H2), explaining how key historical events are connected through science. In tonight's premiere episodes, that means through salt and horses. Video at

history.com/h2.

MARATHONSRoseanne has picked her 12 favorite episodes of "Roseanne" (Sunday noon-6 p.m., Logo). Also stacked up are miniseries -- 2011's "The Kennedys" (Sunday noon-8 p.m., Reelz), with Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes, and the 1983 sci-fi fave "V" (Sunday 10 a.m.- 1:25 p.m., Encore; sequel "V: The Final Battle" follows Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.).

SIGNING OFF Ending their seasons are scripted series "Drop Dead Diva" (Sunday at 9 p.m., Lifetime), just renewed for a sixth season, and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (Wednesday at 10 p.m., FX). Competitions wrapping up include "Face Off" (Tuesday at 9 p.m., Syfy) and "America's Next Top Model" (first part Friday at 9 p.m., ending Nov. 15, CW/11).

GREAT GUESTS Is it time for a ratings sweep? Hmm. November. Big names in fresh episodes. Bingo. Among the cool folks to catch -- "Fringe" fave John Noble on "Sleepy Hollow" (Monday at 9 p.m., Fox/5), series pilot player Damon Wayans Jr. back on "New Girl" (Tuesday at 9 p.m., Fox/5), "Justified" star Timothy Olyphant on "The Mindy Project" (Tuesday at 9:30 p.m., Fox/5), Bob

Newhart and Bill Nye on "The Big Bang Theory" (Thursday at 8 p.m., CBS/2), glam Adam Lambert on "Glee" (Thursday at 9 p.m., Fox/5), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on "The Michael J. Fox Show" (Thursday at 9:30 p.m., NBC/4) and those "Shark Tank" biz biggies on "The Neighbors" (Friday at 8:30 p.m., ABC/7). Plus, there's the whole "Arrested Development" gang on a new "Inside the Actors Studio" (Thursday at 8 p.m., Bravo).

MAKING MUSIC First, there's Cher. The surgically ageless diva plays guest judge on "Dancing With the Stars" (Monday at 8 p.m., ABC/7). Then, a timeless guitar god gets a new "American Masters" portrait, "Jimi

Hendrix: Hear My Train a-Comin' " (Tuesday 9-11 p.m., PBS/13). Finally, Robin Roberts visits contenders' homes in "Countdown to the CMA Awards" (Tuesday at 10 p.m., ABC/7), the night before the star-studded "47th CMAAwards" (Wednesday 8-11 p.m., ABC/7), at which Kenny Rogers gets the lifetime achievement salute. More at

cmaworld.com.

SEEDY STUFF Well, sorta. But these documentaries cover real-life things, demonstrating why fiction can never be stranger than fact. "Tales From theOrgan Trade" (Monday 9-10:30 p.m., HBO) gets under the skin of trafficking in body parts. "Living Dolls" (Monday at 10 p.m., Logo) visits collectors who prefer their dolls life-size. And "Filthy Gorgeous" (Friday at 11 p.m., Epix HD) traces the rise and fall of gaudy Penthouse magazine founder Bob Guccione.

Movie-centric Epix is also available online; visit

epixhd.com/freetrial.