Programming Alert: Supernatural Marathon on TNT Today 

There’s roughly two months until the CW’s Supernatural drops season nine on the masses — one week earlier than originally announced. While that’s good news, we are still in the midst of a painful hellatus. But today TNT is helping us fans out by airing a marathon of season seven episodes. It all starts this morning at 9/8c.

But before we get to the lineup, let’s touch on how the series seems to be doing really well in repeats on TNT. On any given day, the show that stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins, pops up on the top 100 cable shows. In fact, on Wednesday, July 31, all three airings of Supernatural (9AM, 10AM and 11AM) appeared on the list.

The fact that TNT often airs three episodes back-to-back-to-back, can only mean the show is a positive addition to the network’s schedule. And it also means that more people have to be discovering the show. Now all we’re wondering is when TNT will start airing season eight.

The TNT August 2 Supernatural Marathon (*** = standout episodes)

9AM “The Mentalists”
Synopsis: Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate the gruesome murders of resident mediums in Lily Dale, the most “psychic” town in America. They discover that an angry spirit is killing off the psychics one by one, but in a town full of people who claim to be summoning spirits, they have a little trouble identifying the medium controlling the ghost. Mike Rohl directed the episode written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker.
Keep An Eye Out For: Dean and Melanie. Melanie rocked.

10AM “Season 7, Time for a Wedding!”
Synopsis: While on a hunt, Sam (Jared Padalecki) runs into someone from his past and a confrontation ensues. Meanwhile, Dean reluctantly teams up with a quirky, laid-back hunter named Garth (guest star DJ Qualls), when he finds himself in a situation that he just cannot explain. Tim Andrew directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin.
Keep An Eye Out For: Dean in a sweater vest. So hot. It’s also Garth’s first episode. And he likes to hug.

11AM “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters”
Synopsis: Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Bobby (Jim Beaver) become actual hunters, in the true sense of the word, when they set up camp in a New Jersey state park to track a creature that has been attacking people in the woods. The townsfolk claim it is the real Jersey Devil. Meanwhile, Dean is beyond thrilled to find a Biggerson’s restaurant in town, but is devastated when he discovers the restaurant’s special sandwich seems to be making people crazy. Guy Bee directed the episode written by Ben Edlund.
Keep An Eye Out For: Stoned Dean. Sam and Bobby dealing with Stoned Dean that comes courtesy of a Turducken sandwich. So hilarious.

Noon “Death’s Door”***
Synopsis: As Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) race the clock on a high-stakes mission, Bobby (Jim Beaver) seeks the help of an unlikely old friend to solve one of the most personal cases of his life. Robert Singer directed the episode written by Sera Gamble.
Keep an Eye Out For: A great Jim Beaver performance. A Rufus sighting. Bobby’s last memory is of Sam and Dean being all cute and argumentative with each other. They were debating the merits (or lack of merits in Sam’s case) of licorice. According to Sam, “it tastes like dirt.” Plus, Sam called Dean an “asshat.” Classic.

1PM “Adventures in Babysitting”
Synopsis: Still reeling after what happened to Bobby, Dean becomes dangerously obsessed over finding a way to take down Dick Roman (guest star James Patrick Stuart). Meanwhile, Sam decides to help a teenage girl (guest star Madison Mclaughlin) look for her father (guest star Ian Tracey), a hunter who has gone missing. Sam traces his last steps to a truck stop where the help (guest star Meghan Ory) turns out not to be so friendly. Jeannot Szwarc directed the episode written by Adam Glass.
Keep an Eye Out For: A Meghan Ory appearance. Would have loved her character to do more but love the Dark Angel connection. She once played Jensen’s love interest on that show. The very awesome Krissy was introduced as well. Loved her interactions with both Sam and Dean.

2PM “Time After Time”***
Synopsis: Sam and Dean tangle with the God of Time (guest star Jason Dohring), who sends Dean back to 1944, where he is immediately arrested by none other than the one and only Eliot Ness (guest star Nicholas Lea). While trying to figure out how to retrieve his brother, Sam is surprised by the reappearance of an old friend. Phil Sgriccia directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson.
Keep An Eye Out For: Everything. Specifically Sam and Sheriff Mills quality bonding time and Dean in ’40s clothes bonding with Eliot Ness. Strong guest performance from Nicholas Lea and loved that Veronica Mars star Jason Dohring was a part of the action as well.

3PM “The Slice Girls”
Synopsis: Sam and Dean investigate a case where the victims’ hands and feet have been severed and each have been branded with a strange symbol. While Sam does some research at a local university, Dean heads to one of his favorite places to investigate – the town bar. Dean strikes up a conversation with a local named Lydia (guest star Sara Canning, “The Vampire Diaries”), and the two go back to her place. Sam discovers the symbol on the bodies is a sign of Amazon warriors. Jerry Wanek directed the episode written by Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner.
Keep An Eye Out For: Shirtless Dean.

4PM “Plucky Pennywhistle’s Magical Menagerie”
Synopsis: CLOWNS, UNICORNS AND SHARKS, OH MY! – Sam is forced to confront a childhood fear when a case takes him and Dean to Kansas to investigate Plucky Pennywhistle’s Magical Menagerie, a local pizza chain that hosts children’s birthday parties. Sam and Dean discover that the victims’ children had recently been to the restaurant and drawn a picture of their worst fear, which then came to life to kill their parent. While Dean confronts the man behind the magic, Sam is left to deal with some very angry clowns. Mike Rohl directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin.
Keep an Eye Out For: Sam’s raging fear of clowns returns. But the last Sam and Dean scene when Sam shows up after battling clowns was amazing. Sam’s all glittered up and Dean can’t help but laugh at his brother. Also, Sam gives Dean a giant slinky. It was one of our rewind and repeat moments for sure. I still occasionally have to watch this scene. It’s so good.

5PM “Repo Man”
Synopsis: our years ago, Sam and Dean helped a woman named Nora (guest star Nicole Oliver) exorcise a demon that was systematically killing women in a small town. They managed to save the postal worker, Jeffrey (guest star Russell Sams), while vanquishing the demon but now it seems the black-eyed monster has reared his ugly head and returned for a second helping. The brothers visit Jeffrey, who has been locked in a psych ward since the incident, to see if he can remember any of the demon’s plans while he was possessed. Thomas J. Wright directed the episode written by Ben Edlund.
Keep an Eye Out For: The Great Go-To Guest Star Mark Pellegrino. Poor Sam — his hellucinations become way too much to handle. And in a flashback, we actually see Dean with his amulet on. That amulet (or as some call it — the Samulet) needs to make a comeback big time. I’ll never not stop wishing for that to happen.

6PM “Out with the Old”
Synopsis:  After a ballerina is found dead from dancing herself to death, Sam and Dean look into the case and discover the ballet slippers she wore were cursed. When Dean accidentally touches the shoes the power of the curse starts to take hold of him. John Showalter directed the episode written by Robert Singer & Jenny Klein.
Keep an Eye Out For: Sam finally being up front with Dean regarding his Lucifer/hellucination issues.

7PM “The Born-Again Identity”
Synopsis:  Lucifer (guest star Mark Pellegrino) drives Sam to the breaking point and Sam ends up in a mental hospital. Desperate to save his brother, Dean calls every hunter he knows for help. One of the hunters gives him the name of a healer who turns out to have a very familiar face (guest star Misha Collins). Robert Singer directed the episode written by Sera Gamble.
Keep an Eye Out For: Misha Collins finally returns to the show after pretty much the entire season out. What he does for Sam takes care of a big problem. So glad Cas helped Sam out. Also loved when Cas got his memories back while he was dealing with demons.

Supernatural repeats air weekday mornings on TNT. The next new season of the show returns to its old Tuesday night time slot of 9/8c on the CW starting October 8.

Here’s something else to help you guys through this latest hellatus. We hit the Supernatural press room at this summer’s Comic-Con and were able to talk to Jensen, Jared, Misha, Jeremy Carver and Robert Singer. Just click here.