Program Planner: Sept. 7-13

   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 Sept. 7:

SUNDAY SEPT. 7
◊“2008 MTV Video Music Awards” (8 p.m. on MTV): British comedian Russell Brand will host the 25th annual event live from Hollywood. Artists nominated for best female video include Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Jordin Sparks and Katy Perry.
◊“25 Biggest Renovating Mistakes” (7 p.m. on HGTV): This new special counts down the most common errors that homeowners make in undertaking remodeling projects. A panel of experts explains how to correct the mistakes and offers tips for avoiding more of them in the future.
◊“America United: In Support of Our Troops” (8 p.m. on ABC): Toby Keith, Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Pamela Anderson, Clint Black, D.L. Hughley and Z.Z. Top are among the performers appearing during the show, which also includes troop tributes and human interest stories.
◊“Entourage” (9 p.m. on HBO)(HBO Photo above): In the fifth-season opener, Vince (Adrian Grenier) must find a way to rejuvenate his career after a disastrous screening of his movie “Medellin” at the Cannes Film Festival.His half brother Drama (Kevin Dillon) continues his successful television career while experiencing problems in his love life. ◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Toby Keith performs for the Lucas family of Cullen, Va., in this installment that originally aired in March.
◊“The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle” (8 p.m. on Sundance): This six-part comedy series stars Jennifer Saunders (“Ab Fab”) as Vivienne Vyle, a daytime talk show host who approaches her troubled and unstable guests with honesty and unflinching directness.
◊“Pinky Dinky Doo” (6 p.m. on Noggin): The animated series based on the popular books by Jim Jinkins opens its second season with back-to-back episodes. Each episode consists of two stories with a break in between where Pinky leads viewers through interactive games  designed to enhance literacy and expand vocabulary.
◊“Play It Back: ‘70s Game Shows” (6 p.m. on GSN): Carolina Rhea (“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”) hosts three retrospective specials about classic game shows. This week’s installment focuses on “Match Game,” “The Dating Game,” “The newlywed Game,” “Hollywood Squares” and “Family Feud.”
◊“Sandhogs” (9 p.m. on History): This 11-episode series focuses on the men and projects integral to maintaining New York City’s infrastructure. They are the builders of water and sewage tunnels, subway systems and bridge footings.
◊“ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway” (6 p.m. on Showtime): This 2005 documentary from Dori Berinstein follows four productions from the 2004 Broadway season from the audition and rehearsal stage through the Tony Awards.
◊“True Blood” (8 p.m. on HBO): In this new series from “Six Feet Under” creator Alan Ball, Oscar winner Anna Paquin (“The Piano”) plays Sookie Stackhouse, a young waitress with telepathic powers who finds herself attracted to a handsome vampire (Stephen Moyer).

MONDAY SEPT. 8
◊“The Bonnie Hunt Show” (1 p.m. on KFOR-4): Bonnie Hunt welcomes fellow actor and comedian Robin Williams as the first guest on her new syndicated talk show. She worked with Williams on the movie “Jumanji.”
◊“CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” (8 p.m. on ABC): Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Trace Adkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Jewel, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Dwight Yoakam are among the performers appearing during the show, which also includes stories of deserving fans who are rewarded with personal attention from their idols.
◊“Deal or No Deal” (2 p.m. on KOCB-34, 5 p.m. on KOKH-25): In the new half-hour syndicated version of the game show, which will also be hosted by Howie Mandel, contestants can win up to $500,000 each weekday. Other differences? Contestants (not models) will be holding the cases (22 instead of 26).
◊“The Doctors” (3 p.m. on KWTV-9): This new syndicated talk show will provide viewers with a source of medical and health advice despensed daily by emergency room physician Travis Stork (and former ABC “Bachelor” in Paris), obstetrician and gynecologist Lisa Masterson, pediatrician Jim Sears and plastic surgeon Andrew Ordon.
◊“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (9 a.m. on KOCO-5): The talk show host opens season six in a new studio on the Warner Bros. lot. Her guests include Michelle Obama and the Jonas Brothers.
◊“Faldo-Azinger: Captain’s Challenge” (6 p.m. on Golf Channel): In this two-part special which concludes Sept. 15, Ryder Cup captains Nick Faldo (Europe) and Paul Azinger (USA) will go head-to-head in a three-competion challenge — fly fishing, poker and golf.
◊“Family Court With Judge Penny” (4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52): Presiding over this new syndicated court show is Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, who focuses mostly on family and relationship matters.
◊“High School Musical: Get In the Picture” (7 p.m. on ABC): Four finalists are narrowed down to one, with the winner getting a music video in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” as well as a recording contract for two digital singles with Walt Disney Records.
◊“Inside the Box” (3:30 p.m. on KFOR-4):5 and 7 p.m. on KSBI-52): This new syndicated game show hosted by actor/comedian Sam Kalilieh has a similar format to “20 Questions” with a few minor twists.
◊“Jeopardy!” (3:30 p.m. on KFOR-4): The quiz show hosted by Alex Trebek will kick off its 25th season in syndication with a special “Kids Week Reunion.” It will bring back 15 players, who were 10-12 years old when they competed in the first Kids Week shows in 1999 and 2000.
◊“Judge Karen” (2:30 p.m. on KOKH-25): Judge Karen Mills-Francis is the first black judge from the South Florida area to have a nationally syndicated show. She will hear small claim matters on her court series.
◊“Judge Mathis” (11 a.m. on KOKH-25): Judge Greg Mathis begins his 10th season. He vows to inject more social commentary into the show.
◊“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” (7 p.m. on Fox): John’s 16th birthday forces him to confront the reality of his destiny in the second-season premiere. Shirley Manson (“Garbage”) joins the cast as Catherine Weaver, the chief executive of a high-tech corporation.
◊“Wheel of Fortune” (6:30 p.m. on KOCO-5): The stakes have been raised for the game show’s 26th season. A new $1 million Bonus Wedge will be in play through the first three rounds.
◊“The Wonder Pets!” (7 p.m.on Nickelodeon): In this new Bollywood-themed episode titled “Save the Bengal Tiger,” Indian actress Nandita Das provides the voice of the bengal tiger and sibling duo Salim and Sulaiman Merchant compose the musical score.

TUESDAY SEPT. 9
◊“Debating Our Destiny II” (8 p.m. on PBS): This new documentary special revisits presidential and vice presidential debates from more recent election years, starting with the first George W. Bush-Al Gore face-off in 2000. Veteran debate moderator Jim Lehrer interviews Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic candidates John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman.
◊“Fashion Rocks” (8 p.m. on CBS): Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”) hosts the fifth annual event that benefits Stand Up To Cancer. Taped at Radio City Music Hall in New York, the event merges performances by such stars as Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake, Lil’ Wayne, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and others with designs by icons of the fashion world.
◊“Fringe” (7 p.m. on Fox): This new series from “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams of ‘‘Lost” stars Anna Torv as FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham who investigates an airplane that landed at Boston’s Logan Airport with everyone aboard mysteriously dead.
◊“Kicking It” (8 p.m. on ESPN2): Colin Farrell (“Phone Booth”) narrates this new documentary that chronicles the personal struggles and triumphs of seven soccer players from six countries who participated in the 4th Annual Homeless World Cup.
◊“Privileged” (8 p.m. on CW): Based on the best-selling book “How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls” by Zoe Dean, this new series stars JoAnna Garcia (“Reba”) as a live-in tutor to wild and wealthy teenage twin sisters in Palm Beach.
◊“The Rachel Zoe Project” (10 p.m. on Bravo): In the series premiere, celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is under pressure to find the perfect red carpet gown for actress Joy Bryant .
◊“Somebodies” (9:30 p.m. on BET): This new comedy written, directed and starring Hadjii follows a black undergraduate student at a large unversity is who is trying to figure out his place in the world. His housemates are preparing to transition out of college and into the real world.
◊“Weird, True & Freaky” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): In the series premiere, true stories of two-headed animals are featured.

WEDNESDAY SEPT. 10
◊“Do Not Disturb” (8:30 p.m. on Fox): Jerry O’Connell (“Sliders”) and Niecy Nash (“Reno 911!”) star in this new comedy that focuses on the staff at one of New York City’s hippest hotels, The Inn.
◊“Great Performances” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti died a year ago thsi month at age 71. This new installment titled ‘‘Pavarotti: A Life in Seven Arias” uses some of his most memorable performances as a framework to trace the tenor’s career.
◊“The Human Camera” (8 p.m. on BBC America): This new documentary profiles British artist Stephen Wiltshire, who can look at a building and sketch it from memory in almost photographic detail. He is also autistic.
◊“Inside the NFL” (8 p.m. on Showtime): Former NFL players-turned commentators Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth will co-host the football show along with Emmy-winning studio host James Brown.
◊“The Next GAC Star” (8 p.m. on GAC): Recoring artist Jack Ingram, who won the 2008 Academy of Country Music’s Best New Male Vocalist award, will be a celebrity judge and offer advice to the six contenders during the finale. The winner gets a record/artist development deal with Original Signal Recordings and a music video played on GAC.
◊“Til Death” (8 p.m. on Fox): Kenny moves in with Joy and Eddie in the third-season premiere.But Kenny’s annoying habits have Joy desperately trying to re-connect him and his ex-wife.

THURSDAY SEPT. 11
◊“102 Minutes That Changed America” (8 p.m. on History): This new special revisits the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Center, reconstructing the events in chronological order using footage from more than 100 sources — amateur and professional.
◊“Dragons’ Den” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Five multimillionaires looking to invest in new ideas hear pitched for a Japanese grill set and a new pooper scooper.
High School Football: Bixby vs. Glenpool at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Hole in the Wall” (7 p.m. on Fox): Brooke Burns (“Dog Eat Dog”) and Mark Thompson (“Guinness World Records: Primetime”) co-host this new body-bending game show that is a hit in Japan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. See special previews of the show at 7 p.m. Sunday and 8:35 p.m. Tuesday.
◊“MTV’s Top Pop Group” (9 p.m. on MTV): Mario Lopez (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) hosts this new lie music competition series that sets out to find the next pop sensation.
◊“Portraits of a Lady” (6:30 p.m. on CInemax): In October 2006, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor posed for her portrait before 25 members of the Painting Group, an organization of artists that meets weekly in New York City. This documentary chronicles the project, that resulted in vastly different images O’Connor by the painters.

FRIDAY SEPT. 12
◊“The 2008 ALMA Awards” (7 p.m. on ABC): Eva Longoria Parker (“Desperate Housewives”) hosts the ?-annual event that honors Hispanic achievement in entertainment. Special honors will be presented to America Ferrera, Linda Ronstadt and Shakira, whose collective work has impacted the entertainment industry and influenced American culture.
◊“Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (8 p.m. on Fox): Will a roller-derby queen from Cincinnati skate her way to $1 million? Find out on the second-season premiere episode.
◊“Gym Teacher: The Movie” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) stars as a humiliated former gymnastics gold medal contender-turned gym teacher who gets a shot at redemption as he vies for the Gym Teacher of the Year award.
◊High School Football: Bishop McGuinness vs. on Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Jenks vs. Tulsa Union at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.

SATURDAY SEPT. 13
◊“Coco Chanel” (7 p.m. on Lifetime): Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine (?) stars as the groundbreaking fashion designer attempting a comeback after 15 years in exile. When the new collection flops, Chanel flashes back to her humble beginnings and her rise to fame in the fashion world. Barbora Bobulova (‘‘In Love and War”) plays Coco as a young woman.
◊“MAD TV” (10 p.m. on Fox): Season 14 of the sketch comedy series opens with four cast additions: Erica Ash (‘‘The Big Gay Sketch Show”), Eric Price (‘‘Reno 911!”), improv artist Lauren Pritchard and stand-up comedian Matt Braunger. Returning cast members are Bobby Lee, Nicole Parker, Crista Flanagan, Arden Myrin, Keegan-Michael Key and Johnny Sanchez.
◊“Saturday Night Live” (10:29 p.m. on NBC): Michael Phelps, who swam his way to Olympic gold eight times at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, will host the 34th season premiere. Also making his “SNL” debut will be hip-hop superstar Lil Wayne.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Washington in college football action airing live at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN.

–Penny TV

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