Program Planner: July 13-19
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of July 6:
SUNDAY JULY 13
◊“The American Dream with Jim Cramer” (6 p.m. on NBC): Hosted by Jim Cramer (CNBC’s “Mad Money”), this special features behind-the-scenes access to NASCAR to help viewers discover the wealth of money-making opportunities in the number one spectator sport in the country.
◊“Big Brother” (7 p.m. on CBS): Julie Chen returns as host for the 10th installment of the reality series. Be prepared for all new twists and turns.
◊“Challenge: Pillsbury Bake-Off” (7 p.m. on Food Network): Find out who has the best dish in the country when the winner takes home the $1 million prize.
◊“Earth: The Biography” (8 p.m. on National Geographic): This five-part miniseries hosted by scientist Iain Stewart covers all the continents and gets up close and personal with volcanoes, glaciers, oceans and more.
◊“Generation Kill” (8 p.m. on HBO): This new miniseries is based on a nonfiction book by Evan Wright about the U.S. Marines’ First Reconnaissance Battalion, part of the first wave of the invasion of Iraq. Wright, a Rolling Stone reporter, was embedded with the unit, and his fictional counterpart appears in the miniseries.
◊“Masterpiece” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Michael Kitchen returns as World War II-era sleuth Christopher Foyle in a new series of ‘‘Foyle’s War” mysteries. In ‘‘Plan of Attack,” Foyle has resigned from his police position, but a murder at the station has him returning to work to help crack the case.
◊“Miss Universe 2008″ (8 p.m. on NBC): Jerry Springer (”America’s Got Talent”) and Mel B (”The Singing Office”) will co-host the 57th annual event live from Vietnam. Riyo Mori of Japan is the retiring queen and Crystle Stewart from Texas will represent the USA.
◊“The Next Food Network Star” (9 p.m. on Food Network): The remaining four finalists meet celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Paula Deen for an intimate dinner at Mesa Grill in Las Vegas.
◊“Picture This!” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): Ashley Tisdale (‘‘High School Musical”) stars in this new comedy as an unpopular teen who manages to score a date for the biggest party of the year with the most popular boy on campus. The only problem is, she’s grounded. So she uses a video phone to outsmart her overprotective dad (Kevin Pollak).
MONDAY JULY 14
◊“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): The remaining 10 installments from the third “Avatar” book will premiere this week, beginning today with “Western Air Temple.” It will be followed by “The Firebending Masters” (Tue.), “The Boiling Rock” (hour-long special on Wed.), “The Southern Raiders” (Thu.), “The Ember Island Players” (Fri.) and “Sozin’s Comet” (two-hour movie on Sat.).
◊“China’s Stolen Children” (8 p.m. on HBO): Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley narrates this new documentary that tells the heartbreaking stories of lives devasted by China’s one-child policy.
◊“The Closer” (8 p.m. on TNT): Award-winning actress Kyra Sedgwick returns for a fourth season as Brenda Johnson, the Los Angeles deputy police chief with the unconventional approach but excellent crime-solving record.
◊“History Detectives” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Objects examined include a balloon scrap that may be a missing piece of a secret Japanese weapon and a letter from President Reagan that links a Navy captain to the development of Camp David.
◊“Path of Purpose” (9:30 p.m. on Sundance): This new documentary follows surfing star Laird Hamilton as he pledges to heighten awareness of autism and raise money by embarking on a bike and paddleboard journey from London to Paris.
◊“Saving Grace” (9 p.m. on TNT): Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter (”The Piano”) is back for a second season as Grace Hanadarko, an Oklahoma City police detective with a troubled past and a guardian angel named Earl.
◊“Top Gear” (7 p.m. on BBC America): In the sixth-season premiere of this International Emmy-winning car show, the hosts test drive the Mercedes CSL, review the Honda Element and play soccer in the Toyota Aygo.
TUESDAY JULY 15
◊The 79th annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game (7 p.m. on Fox): Sportscaster Joe Buck hosts the pre-game introductions and ceremonies, and he is later joined by analyst Tim McCarver to call the game live from Yankee Stadium. This marks the fourth time the stadium has hosted the All-Star Game — the previous ones being in 1977, 1960 and 1939.
◊“The Cleaner” (9 p.m. on A&E): This new drama series stars Benjamin Bratt as a recovering addict who now devotes his life to helping other people kick their addictions. It is inspired by the true story of extreme interventionist William “The Cleaner” Banks.
◊“P.O.V.” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment titled “The Last Conquistador” looks at the controversey surrounding sculptor John Houser’s statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate that was commissioned by the city council in El Paso, Texas.
◊“Rock the Reception” (7:30 p.m. on TLC): This new series follows two engaged couples as they rehearse a professionally choreographed production number as their surprise first dance for their wedding reception. Teaching the couples their moves are husband and wife choreography team Napoleon and Tabitha D’Umo (”So You Think You Can Dance”).
◊“Say Yes to the Dress” (7 p.m. on TLC): Brides-to-be make the rite-of-passage to the famed Kleinfeld bridal salon in New York in search of their perfect wedding dress in the second season of this reality series, This season showcases every type of bride who is on the hunt to find the dress that fits her style, personality and budget.
◊“From G’s to Gents” (9 p.m. on MTV): This new series from executive producer Jamie Foxx features 14 young men trying to shed their bad boy image and win $100,000. Recording artist Fonzworth Bentley serves as mentor and life coach.
WEDNESDAY JULY 16
◊“Celebrity Circus” (9 p.m. on NBC): For five weeks, seven celebrities attempted death-defying stunts in a head-to-head competition. See who is voted the best act in the season finale.
◊“Costas Now” (8 p.m. on HBO): This special live edition hosted by broadcaster Bob Costas explores the state of major league baseball. Segments will be devoted to specific topics, with each featuring a different panel of former players, baseball experts and industry observers.
◊“Dog the Bounty Hunter” (8 p.m. on A&E): After a recording of him using an ethnic slur was made public, Duane ‘‘Dog” Chapman’s show was taken off the air. But now he’s back, tracking bail jumpers with the help of his team. In the season premiere, ‘‘Girl Trouble,” Dog’s team uncovers some dirty secrets in a seemingly quiet suburban neighborhood while searching for a female fugitive and her lover.
◊“Family Foreman” (9 p.m. on TV Land): This new six-episode series provides an intimate look at George Foreman, the former heavyweight boxing champ who reinvented himself as a successful businessman and pitchman.
◊“Project Runway” (8 p.m. on Bravo): Returning to the runway for a fifth season is host and supermodel Heidi Klum. She heads a panel of industry luminaries, including designer Michael Kors and fashion expert Nina Garcia, as they decide who is “in” and who is “out.” Tim Gunn, chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne, will once again act as a mentor to the designers.
◊“Run’s House” (9 p.m. on MTV): Led by patriarch Rev Run, the Simmons family opens their doors to TV cameras for a fifth season.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Ginger Rogers: The late actress was born on this day in 1911, and the network celebrates by airing five of her films — 1955’s “Tight Spot” (9 a.m.), 1947’s “It Had To Be You” (11 a.m.), 1935’s “Roberta” (1 p.m.), 1934’s “The Gay Divorcee” (3 p.m.) and 1936’s “Swing Time” (5 p.m.).
THURSDAY JULY 17
◊“American Originals: Budweiser” (8 p.m. on CNBC): This special reveals how Anheuser-Busch cultivated its Budweiser brand to remain a leader in the beer industry even as it was losing market share.
◊“Fear Itself” (9 p.m. on NBC): The installment titled “New Year’s Day” stars Briana Evigan (”Step Up 2: The Streets”) as a young woman who wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies.
◊“The Gong Show With Dave Attell” (9 p.m. on Comedy Central): Dave Attell hosts this new revival of the 1970s classic game show. Each half-hour will feature eight to 10 acts that will be judged by a panel of three revolving celebrity judges.
◊“Live From Abbey Road” (9 p.m. on Sundance): The music series taped at London’s Abbey Road Studios features performances by Sheryl Crow and Diana Krall.
◊“Reality Bites Back” (9:30 p.m. on Comedy Central): Michael Ian Black hosts this new competition series in which comedians battle each other in weekly parodies of popular reality shows. The premiere is a ‘‘Big Brother” parody called ‘‘Big Mother,” in which the comedians have to live with one another’s moms.
◊“Soundstage” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): The concert series devotes two episodes to Stevie Nicks’ first filmed solo performance since 1987. In the first installment, Nicks shares songs from her retrospective album, ‘‘Crystal Visions.” She also performs ‘‘Sara,” which she almost never performs without Fleetwood Mac.
◊“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (10:30 p.m. on NBC): Musical group Coldpay performs during an outdoor concert held in the NBC Studio midway in Burbank.
FRIDAY JULY 18
◊“Monk” (8 p.m. on USA): Tony Shalhoub’s obsessive-compulsive, multiphobic detective is back for a seventh season of adventures guaranteed to take him out of his comfort zone. Emmy-winning actor Hector Elizondo joins the cast as Monk’s therapist, a role that was left vacant with the unexpected death of Stanley Kamel (who played Dr. Charles Kroger) in March.
◊“Psych” (9 p.m. on USA): James Roday is back as police consultant Shawn Spencer for a third season. Golden Globe-winning actress Cybill Shepherd joins the cast as Shawn’s mother, Madeleine, a private practice psychologist who works freelance for the Santa Barbara Police Department.
◊“Today” (7 a.m. on NBC): Natasha Bedingfield performs live from Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Red Skelton: The late actor was born on this day in 1913, and the network celebrates by airing nine of his films — 1941’s (Whistling In the Dark” (5:15 a.m.), 1942’s “Whistling in Dixie” (7 a.m.), 1943’s “Whistling in Brooklyn” (8:15 a.m.), 1942’s “Maisie Gets Her Man” (9:45 a.m.), 1946’s “The Show-Off” (11:15 a.m.), 1948’s “The Fuller Brush Man” (12:45 p.m.), 1951’s “Excuse My Dust” (2:30 p.m.), 1953’s “The Clown” (4 p.m.) and 1954’s “The Great Diamond Robbery” (5:50 p.m.).
SATURDAY JULY 19
◊“Freaky Friday” (7 p.m. on ABC): Jamie Lee Curtis earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as 40-ish psychotherapist who switches bodies with her rebellious teenage daughter (Lindsay Lohan) in this 2003 remake of the 1976 Disney comedy.
◊“Robin Hood” (8 p.m. on BBC America): The series wraps up its second season with the episode “We Are Robin Hood.” Robin and his outlaws are treated as traitors when the go to The Holy Land to warn the King of an impending threat to his life.
◊“Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m. on NBC): This rebroadcast from April features guest host Christopher Walken and musical guest Panic at the Disco.
◊“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (7:30 p.m. on Disney): In the new episode titled “Benchwarmers,” Zach tries out for the high school basketball team. Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan (”The Green Mile”) guest stars as the in-your-face coach.
◊The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz take on the Tulsa Talons in arena2 football action airing live at 7:05 p.m. on KSBI-52.
–Penny TV
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