Princess’ real life makes for bad television

Maybe in the future, everyone will not only have their 15 minutes of fame, but they will hire producers to stretch it into hours of reality doldrums. Exhibit A: “I Married a Princess” (7 p.m., Lifetime), “starring” real-life married couple Catharine Oxenberg and actor Casper Van Dien.

Oxenberg is the princess of the title. She is descended from some vague European dynasty but is most famous for a brief reign on “Dynasty” that culminated in her fairy-tale wedding being ruined by Moldavian terrorists. Van Dien was perfectly cast in the 1997 sci-fi satire “Starship Troopers.” He also starred in director Tim Burton’s “Sleepy Hollow” and the 2000 primetime soap “Titans,” produced by “Dynasty” mastermind Aaron Spelling.

“Princess” chronicles the day-to-day, and often minute-to-minute, lives of these two impossibly attractive people and their blended family. Both had two children by previous marriages and have since had two more children. And even the most ardent “Real World” viewer must know that that adds up to six.

As someone who grew up in a family of seven children, two parents and a grandmother, my foggy memories consist chiefly of an eternal wait, or continual battle, for access to our one bathroom. The drama on “Princess” is hardly so prosaic.

  • Five suburban youths try to kick their addictions at a California treatment center in the documentary “Rehab” (7:30 p.m., HBO).
  • “Taboo: Extreme Cuisine” (7 p.m., National Geographic) explores delicacies from around the globe, including New Guinea roasted bat, Filipino duck fetus and the Explorer’s Club’s favorite appetizer: tarantula tempura served with crackling cockroach. I’ve heard it tastes just like chicken.

Tonight’s other highlights

  • Ray criticizes Amy on “Everybody Loves Raymond” (8 p.m., CBS).
  • Shocking news about Horatio’s brother on “CSI: Miami” (9 p.m., CBS).
  • Jury selection may go beyond Alison’s talents on “Medium” (9 p.m., NBC).
  • The sketch series “Comedy Inc.” (10:30 p.m., Spike) debuts.