Quite a deal for “Days Of Our Lives” fans
Here’s a good reason to plan a trip to Hollywood, especially if you are a big “Days of Our Lives” fan.
NBC is hosting a “Day of Days” on Nov. 1. That’s when fans can meet and greet members of the “Days” cast.
Several other activities are being planned for the event, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Universal Studios Hollywood’s CityWalk (1000 Universal City Plaza).
The names of the “Days” stars planning to take part has not yet been announced. More details will be made available in the near future on www.nbc.com/Days_of_our_Lives/.
–Penny TV
And the Emmy goes to …
Winners in 28 categories were revealed during Sunday’s 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.
Here is a complete list of winners. Hopefully, those who filled out Emmy ballots did better than me — I was 6-for-28.
–Penny TV
Words to live by: The Emmys opened with current celebrities quoting famous TV lines, and Oklahoma actress Kristin Chenoweth gave it her best Jan Brady when she said, “”Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.”
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
◊Jeremy Piven, Entourage (HBO)(winner, also won in 2007, 2006)
Kevin Dillon, Entourage (HBO)
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)(Penny’s pick)
Rainn Wilson, The Office (NBC)
Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
◊Jean Smart, Samantha Who? (ABC)(winner)
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies (ABC)(Penny’s pick)(she didn’t win, but she looked stunning)
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Holland Taylor, Two And A Half Men (CBS)
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty (ABC)
(two categories, two commercials. It could be a long night)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
◊Zeljko Ivanek, Damages (FX)(winner)
William Shatner, Boston Legal (ABC)(won in 2005)
Ted Danson, Damages (FX)(Penny’s pick)
Michael Emerson, Lost (ABC)
John Slattery, Mad Men (AMC)
(all the “Desperate Housewives” actresses presented the supporting actor in a drama series award, which was won by a first-time Emmy nominee with a difficult name to pronounce)
Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program
◊80th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)(winner, and he was busy producing the Emmy show)
Great Performances: Company (PBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)(Penny’s pick)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
(Ricky Gervais, 2007 winner for best actor in comedy series, finally got his Emmy back from Steve Carell, who accepted it for Gervais last year)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
◊Dianne Wiest, In Treatment (HBO)(winner)
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal (ABC)
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)(Penny’s pick)
(Dianne Wiest was not there to accept her award, so presenter Conan O’Brien said he would give it to Steve Carell)
Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program
◊The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)(winner)
Late Night With Conan O’Brien (NBC)(won in 2007)
Late Show With David Letterman (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)(Penny’s pick)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
◊Laura Linney, John Adams (HBO)(Penny’s pick)(winner)
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin In The Sun (ABC)
Catherine Keener, An American Crime (Showtime)
Susan Sarandon, Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Dame Judi Dench, Cranford (PBS)
(I am now 1-for-7 on my Emmy picks)
Sock It To Me Moment: Kristen Chenoweth was one of the actors who delivered that famous “Laugh In” line, and she got a boxing glove to the face.
Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
◊The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)(winner)(also won in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003)
Late Show With David Letterman (CBS)(won in 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1994)
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)(won in 1993)(Penny’s pick)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
(Jon Stewart’s show tied David Letterman’s with six wins in the variety, music or comedy series category. But Stewart has won it the last six years.)
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
◊Pushing Daisies (ABC)(winner)
30 Rock (NBC)(Penny’s pick)
Entourage (HBO)
Flight Of The Conchords (HBO)
The Office (NBC)
(Lee Pace and Kristin Chenoweth, both actors with Oklahoma ties, clapped and smiled with delight when Barry Sonnenfeld won for directing an episode of “Pushing Daisies.”)
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
◊30 Rock, “Cooter” (NBC)(winner)(Tina Fey got the Emmy for writing this episode)
30 Rock, “Rosemary’s Baby” (NBC)
Flight Of The Conchords (HBO)
Pushing Daisies (ABC)(Penny’s pick)
The Office (NBC)
Outstanding Made For Television Movie
◊Recount (HBO)(winner)
A Raisin In The Sun (ABC)
Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO)(Penny’s pick)
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (Lifetime)
(Penny’s Emmy picks update: 1-for-11)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
◊Tom Wilkinson, John Adams (HBO)(winner)
David Morse, John Adams (HBO)(Penny’s pick)
Stephen Dillane, John Adams (HBO)
Denis Leary, Recount (HBO)
Bob Balaban, Recount (HBO)
Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
◊Recount (HBO)(winner)(second Emmy win of evening for Jay Roach, who attended the event with a former Bangle)
Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO)
John Adams (HBO)(Penny’s pick)
The Company (TNT)
Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
◊John Adams (HBO)(winner)
Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Cranford (PBS)
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO)(Penny’s pick)
Recount (HBO)
(Music cut off the Emmy winning writer for “John Adams.” But they need to speed things up a bit. We’re only halfway through the 3-hour show with an hour to go)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
◊Dame Eileen Atkins, Cranford (PBS)(winner)
Audra McDonald, A Raisin In The Sun (ABC)
Ashley Jensen, Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO)
Alfre Woodard, Pictures Of Hollis Woods (CBS)(Penny’s pick)
Laura Dern, Recount (HBO)
Tulsa native Alfre Woodard had the winning hairdo on Emmy night, but she did not take home an Emmy. She has four already though, and this was her 15th nomination. Alfre’s previous Emmy wins:
1984 for Hill Street Blues (supporting actress in drama)
1987 for LA Law (guest performer in drama)
1997 for Miss Evers’ Boys (lead actress in miniseries or special)
2003 for The Practice (guest actress in drama)
Outstanding Reality-competition Program
◊The Amazing Race (CBS)(winner)(also won in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003)(Penny’s pick)
American Idol (Fox)
Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Bravo)
Top Chef (Bravo)
(what an amazing ride “The Amazing Race” is enjoying in the reality-competition category. That show is 6-for-6, and I am now 2-for-16 on Emmy picks)
Outstanding Miniseries
◊John Adams (HBO)(winner)(Penny’s pick)
Cranford (PBS)
The Andromeda Strain (A&E)
Tin Man (Sci Fi Channel)
Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program
◊Don Rickles, Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (HBO)(winner)
Jon Stewart, 80th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
David Letterman, Late Show With David Letterman (CBS)
Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live (NBC)(Penny’s pick)
Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Bitter, Party of 2: Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris (pictured in ABC Photo above) had their comedy bit cut for time. Still, they got to present the Emmy to Mr. Warmth, Don Rickles.
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
◊House (Fox)(Penny’s pick)(winner)
Boston Legal (ABC)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Damages (FX)
Mad Men (AMC)
(Penny’s Emmy Picks: 4-for-19)
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
◊Mad Men, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” (AMC)(winner)
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi Channel)
Damages (FX)(Penny’s pick)
Mad Men, “The Wheel” (AMC)
The Wire (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
◊Paul Giamatti, John Adams (HBO)(Penny’s pick)(winner)
Ralph Fiennes, Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Ricky Gervais, Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (HBO)
Kevin Spacey, Recount (HBO)
Tom Wilkinson, Recount (HBO)
(According to Paul Giamatti, he is living proof that anybody can play the president. He won an Emmy for his portrayal of John Adams. )
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
◊Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC)(winner)
Tony Shalhoub, Monk (USA)(won in 2006, 2005, 2003)
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Steve Carell, The Office (NBC)(Penny’s pick)
Charlie Sheen, Two And A Half Men (CBS)
(Lee Pace, who was born in Chickasha, didn’t win, but he could in a future season. It was Alec Baldwin’s seventh nomination and his first Emmy win.)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
◊Glenn Close, Damages (FX)(winner)
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters (ABC)(won in 2007)
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU (NBC)(won in 2006)
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace (TNT)(Penny’s pick)
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer (TNT)
(WOW, so pressed for time are the Emmy producers that they cued the music while Glenn Close was in the middle of her acceptance speech for best actress in a drama.)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
◊Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)(winner and nominee who most resembled the Emmy award–bald)
James Spader, Boston Legal (ABC)(won in 2007, 2005, 2004)
Michael C. Hall, Dexter (Showtime)
Hugh Laurie, House (Fox)(Penny’s pick)
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment (HBO)
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
◊Tina Fey, 30 Rock (NBC)(Penny’s pick)(winner)
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? (ABC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures Of Old Christine (CBS)(won in 2006)
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty (ABC)(won in 2007)
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds (Showtime)
(Tina Fey’s second Emmy win this evening, which boosted Penny’s Emmy picks to 6-for-25)
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality – Competition Program
◊Jeff Probst, Survivor (CBS)(winner)
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol (Fox)(Penny’s pick)
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
Howie Mandel, Deal Or No Deal (NBC)
Heidi Klum, Project Runway (Bravo)
(OK, it was worth rushing things a bit to get in the reality host bit. The show even took a commercial break to keep the nominees in suspense.)
Outstanding Comedy Series
◊30 Rock (NBC)(winner)(also won in 2007)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Entourage (HBO)
The Office (NBC)(won in 2006)(Penny’s pick)
Two And A Half Men (CBS)
(Tina Fey reminded viewers to tune in to NBC Oct. 30 for the season premiere of “30 Rock”)
Outstanding Drama Series
◊Mad Men (AMC)(winner)
Boston Legal (ABC)
Damages (FX)
Dexter (Showtime)
House (Fox)(Penny’s pick)
Lost (ABC)(won in 2005)
Note to Emmy show producers: Present more of the main categories earlier in the telecast so the winners most viewers tune in to see are not rushed off the stage at the end.
ABC offering cash ‘Opportunity’
Want an opportunity to win $1,000? How about $150,000?
ABC is giving everyone a chance to win cash in its “Opportunity Knocks” online game. But that chance ends Tuesday, so act now.
Go to www.abcopportunityknocksinstantwin.com/ and click on the correct door. After registering, you’ll have the opportunity to win $1000 along with a $150 Hotels.com gift certificate.
Each entry will also give participants the chance at the grand prize drawing worth $150,000 dollars. The grand prize winner will be announced on the series premiere of “Opportunity Knocks,” airing at 7 p.m. Tuesday on ABC.
Ashton Kutcher (remember him from “That ’70s Show”?) is an executive producer for the new game show. In an ABC press release, he said, “Every door could be your next opportunity. KNOCK!”
–Penny TV
Presidential appearances
President Clinton is making the talk show rounds next week.
He will be on “The View” and “Letterman” on Monday (Sept. 22) and on “The Daily Show” on Tuesday (Sept.23).
One thing he will be talking about is the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which brings together global leaders to address world problems like global public health, the alleviation of poverty and resolving religious and ethnic conflict. He launched CGI in 2005.
It will be President Clinton’s first appearance on “The View” (10 a.m. on ABC). He will be the only featured guest and will be interviewed by the show’s co-hosts Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd.
“The Late Show With David Letterman” (10:35 p.m. on CBS) welcomes President Clinton back for his fifth appearance (see CBS Photo above). His previous visits were Sept. 4, 2007; June 16, 2005; August 3, 2004; and Sept. 11, 2002 (the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks).
And it will be his fourth appearance on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m. on Comedy Central). He was also a guest on Sept. 20, 2007; Sept. 18, 2006; and Aug. 9, 2004.
–Penny TV
TV Talk: Sept. 21-27
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Sept. 21:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 progams worth watching — or at least setting the VCR or DVR for.
H: No. 10 is the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars at 7 p.m. Friday on My Network TV. Olympian and Edmond native Shannon Miller will make a special appearance during this hour-long special. 2008 Olymmpic medal winners taking part include Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson and former OU gymnast Jonathan Horton.
P: Two daytime programs airing weekdays on KOCB-34 tie for No. 9. The new court show “Judge Jeanine Pirro” premieres at 3 p.m. Monday. The new game show “Trivial Pursuit” hosted by Christopher Knight from the Brady Bunch starts at 11 a.m. Monday.
H: Tying for No. 8 are two CBS Monday night shows that have added new cast members. Sara Gilbert from “Roseanne” will be Leonard’s on-again, off-again love interest on “The Big Bang Theory” which begins its second season at 7 p.m. And Megalyn Echikunwoka is the new medical examiner on “CSI: Miami,” which starts is seventh season at 9 p.m.
P: No. 7 is a three-part “American Masters” presentation airing at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on OETA-13. Clint Eastwood narrates the program that celebrates 85 years of the motion picture company Warner Bros.
H: Tying for No. 6 are two shows that open the season with special guest stars. Lindsay Lohan will reprise her role as Betty’s high school nemesis on “Ugly Betty” at 7 p.m. Thursday on ABC. And Emmy winner Mary Tyler Moore will play the mom to Brooke Shields’ character on “Lipstick Jungle” at 9 p.m. Wednesday on NBC.
P: Putting his life on the line for the No. 5 spot is “David Blaine: Dive of Death.” Blaine will attempt to hang from a wire five stories in the air for three days, with the final hours airing live at 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC.
H: No. 4 are four series premieres. “Worst Week” is a new comedy airing at 8:30 p.m. Monday on CBS. “The Mentalist” is a new drama airing at 8 p.m. Tuesday on CBS. “Gary Unmarried” is a new comedy airing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on CBS. And “Knight Rider” is a revival of the 1980s action series that premieres at 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC.
P: No. 3, which is also featured on the cover of The Oklahoman’s TV Week, is “Heroes.” Since it’s been nine months since a new episode aired, NBC will start with an hourlong clip show at 7 p.m. Monday and follow that up with the two-hour Season 3 premiere.
H: No. 2 is a tie (imagine that) between two popular reality shows. “Dancing With the Stars” kicks off Season 7 at 7 p.m. Monday on ABC. And “Survivor: Gabon” begins its 17th installment at 7 p.m. Thursday on CBS.
P: Hosts Tom Bergeron from “Dancing With the Stars” and Jeff Probst from “Survivor” also have a hand in the No. 1 pick of the week, The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. They will co-host the event along with the other nominees for the new reality/competition host category.
H: The Emmys air live at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC. Nominees with Oklahoma ties are Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth for “Pushing Daisies”; Tulsa native Alfre Woodard for “Pictures of Hollis Woods”; Lee Pace for “Pushing Daisies” (he was born in Chicasha); and Holly Hunter, who plays Oklahoma City police detective in “Saving Grace.”
P: Well, that’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newok.com/tv. Thanks for your time.
TV Preview Podcast: ‘Criminal Minds’
"Criminal Minds" cast (CBS Photo)
Each week, The Oklahoman TV Editor Penny Soldan hosts an audio podcast discussing an upcoming TV premiere.
This week’s premiere is Season 4 of “Criminal Minds” on CBS.
To hear her discussion with Don P. Brown, features copy editor for The Oklahoman, click here.
Great quotes from the “Greatest American Dog” winner
Want to know how Travis Brorsen of Perry plans to spend the $250,000 he and his pooch, Presley, won on the CBS series “Greatest American Dog”?
For that answer, see the story on Friday’s TV page in The Oklahoman (and on newsok.com/tv). This blog will touch on other fun facts that Brorsen shared about his Canine Academy days during a 45-minute phone conversation earlier this week.
But first, Brorsen was happy to announce that the fundraiser he co-hosted before the Los Angeles screening of the “Dog” finale raised more than $3,000 for the Best Friends Animal Society. Helping Brorsen with the effort was Laura — she and Preston, the Pomeranian, clicked with the two Perry natives on the show.
♦ “A lot of people wanted Laura and me to come out and say we’re dating. But we’re just really good friends, and that’s something that will last a lifetime.”
♦ “I also became good friends with Brandy. She is very sweet, and the editing did their job of catching all those moments that don’t define Brandy as a person.”
♦ “Teresa was one of my favorite persons on the show. She gave Presley a toy after the loyalty challenge where Presley broke is stay and ran around. We all thought I was going home, and she gave Presley one of Leroy’s favorite toys.”
♦ “One reason we did so well is because every day we tried to make the most of it. That way, if we went home that day, I could look back and say, ‘OK, we were the fourth ones out, but of the days we were there, we took full advantage of it and don’t regret any of it.’ ”
♦ A week before the show’s finale, Brorsen got together with Matt Cline from Broken Arrow and Lisa Mills of Oklahoma City and co-wrote the song “Presley, King of Rockin’ Dogs.” Cline, who wrestled at Oklahoma State, does the singing and Dave Guy does the guitar playing. Mike Trozzo took the above photo.
♦ “A lot of people wonder if the show will help out my acting career. I think the exposure is nice, but I didn’t do it to help my acting career. I did it because I had no acting going on at the time, this came along and I thought, ‘What the heck, what a great time to spend with Presley.’ ”
♦ “Bill and Star, we became really good friends. We’re going to get them up here to Perry to do some hunting on the ranch. That’s the one thing he promised Star — that he’d get her some good hunting in before her days were over.”
♦ “I had 273 emails and 94 text messages all within 10 minutes of the show being over. I told all my friends that I didn’t realize I had so many friends. They said, ‘Yeah, when you win a quarter-million dollars, your friend-meter goes up a little bit.’ ”
♦ Brorsen’s sisters, Anna-Marie and Laura, attended the L.A. screening. Laura was joined by her husband, Ryan, and son, Tucker. Anna-Marie and her fiance, Jake, got their plane tickets to the event as a wedding gift from Brorsen.
♦ “My home town of Perry is doing a proclomation — Travis and Presley day. They’re giving us our own day sometime in October. And the Oklahoma State University alumni office is paying for our transportation back to to OSU for homecoming (Oct. 18).”
♦ “Presley and I are hoping to spend much of October in Oklahoma traveling around. We want to let people meet Presley and see if we can help any local dog rescues.”
♦ “One main concern of boxer owners is they want people to know that not all boxers are like Presley. They’re not all calm like he is. But he was not that calm before the competition, either. Working with him 24 hours a day for six weeks got him to where he is.”
–Penny TV
Program Planner: Sept. 21-27
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. 21:
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
◊“The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” (7 p.m. on ABC): Kristin Chenoweth, who grew up in Broken Arrow and graduated from Oklahoma City University, is a nominee (for “Pushing Daisies”) and a presenter (with nominee Neil Patrick Harris). Other nominees with Oklahoma ties are Alfre Woodard (born and raised in Tulsa, nominated for “Pictures of Hollis Woods”) and Lee Pace (born in Chicasha, nominated for “Pushing Daisies”).
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (“Will & Grace”) guest stars as a narcotics cop in a rebroadcast of the fifth-season finale. The show begins its sixth season Sept. 28.
◊“Countdown to the Emmys” (2 p.m. on TV Guide Channel, 4 on Cox Cable, 117 in Dish Network, 237 on Direct TV): Chris Harrison, a former News 9 sportscaster and host of “The Bachelor,” will team with Maria Sansone (“Gladiators 2000”) for three hours of live coverage from the Red Carpet to catch all the pre-show hoopla before the celebrity arrivals begin.
◊“Jimmy Kimmel’s Big Night of Stars” (6 p.m. on ABC): The late-night talk show host interviews the Emmy nominees for the new reality/competition host category, who will also co-host the event. They are Tom Bergeron (“Dancing with the Stars”), Heidi Klum (“Project Runway”), Howie Mandel (“Deal or No Deal”), Jeff Probst (“Survivor”) and Ryan Seacrest (“American Idol”) — all pictured above in ABC Photo.
◊“Live at the Emmy Awards” (5 p.m. on TV Guide Channel): Lisa Rinna (“Days of Our Lives) and Joey Fatone (“Dancing With the Stars”) will interview TV’s biggest stars as they make their way down the Red Carpet during this two-hour pre-show. Rinna will return at 7 p.m. Monday with “Emmy Awards Fashion Wrap.”
◊“Play It Back: ’90s Game Shows” (6 p.m. on GSN): Host Carolina Rhea (“Sordid Lives: The Series”) spotlights 1990s favorite game shows, including “Wheel of Fortune,” “Hollywood Squares,” “Family Feud” and Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”
MONDAY, SEPT 22
◊“The Big Bang Theory” (7 p.m. on CBS): In the second-season premiere, Penny’s first date with leonard goes awry, and she shares her frustration with Sheldon. Sara Gilbert (“Roseanne”) joins the cast as Leonard’s on-again-off-again love interest, Leslie Winkle.
◊“Boston Legal” (9 p.m. on ABC): Alan Shore tackles a big tobacco company and discovers that the defense attorney is an old flame (Ally Walker, “Profiler”) on the fifth-season premiere.
◊“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): Last season ended with head CSI Horatio Caine being gunned down on an airstrip. In the seventh-season premiere, the CSI team will stop at nothing to find who shot him. Megalyn Echikunwoke joins the cast as the new medical examiner, Dr. Tara Price.
◊“Dancing With the Stars” (7 p.m. on ABC): Season 7 welcomes 13 new stars to the ballroom floor. Among them are Cloris Leachman (“The Facts of Life,” the oldest competitor to date) and Cody Linley (“Hannah Montana,” the youngest contestant ever).
◊“Heroes” (7 p.m. on NBC): It’s all about “Heroes” today, beginning with an hourlong clip show that recaps all the action to date. At 8 p.m., Season 3 opens with a two-hour episode. Sylar is back in action and badder than ever.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Stella responds to Ted’s proposal and Barney realizes that he’s in love with Robin on the fourth-season premiere.
◊“Judge Jeanine Pirro” (3 p.m. on CW): The former New York district attorney brings her no-nonsense attitude and compassionate approach to this new courtroom show. She will also take viewers into her chambers to show how the court works behind the scenes.
◊“Ralph Rucci: A Designer and His House” (6 p.m. on Sundance): Martha Stewart (“Martha”) narrates this documentary that captures the American designer as he created his Spring 2008 ready-to-wear and Fall 2008 couture collections.
◊“Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): In the sixth-season premiere, Charlie (Charlie Sheen) encounters an ex-girlfriend (Rena Sofer, “Coupling”) whose son looks an awful lot like him.
◊“Trivial Pursuit: America Plays” (11 a.m. on CW): Christopher Knight (“The Brady Bunch”) hosts this new game show that launches in national syndication on the 25th anniversary edition of the popular board game. The show features a unique twist by allowing viewers to drive the action by submitting video questions online.
◊“Worst Week” (8:30 p.m. on CBS): This new comedy follows Sam Briggs, an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please his girlfriend’s parents. But he becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he’s around them.
◊“Yo Gabba Gabba” (10:30 a.m. on Nickelodeon): In the second-season premiere, guest star Melora Hardin (“The Office”) teaches the Gabba gang a Conga dane. Musical guests The Ting Tings perform Altered Images 1980’s classic “Happy Birthday.”
TUESDAY, SEPT 23
◊“American Masters” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Clint Eastwood (“Unforgiven”) narrates this new three-part program that celebrates 85 years of the legacy and evolution of Warner Bros. Clips from hundreds of films and archival interviews will be featured. Parts 2 and 3 air Wednesday and Thursday.
◊“The Biggest Loser 6″ (7 p.m. on NBC): Chef Rocco Dispirito (“The Restaurant”) teaches contestants how to shop for and make healthy, tasty and affordable meals.
◊“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m. on NBC): Sara Gilbert (“The Big Bang Theory”) and Luke Perry (“Jeremiah”) guest star in the 10th-season premiere, in which an abused foster child leads detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to reexamine a cold case involving a rape victim.
◊“The Mentalist” (8 p.m. on CBS): This new drama stars Simon Baker (“The Guardian”) as a former celebrity psychic who uses his observational skills to help the California Bureau of Investigation solve crimes.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): The surprising secret behind Director Vance’s decision to split of Gibb’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service team is revealed on the sixth-season premiere.
◊“Opportunity Knocks” (7 p.m. on ABC): J.D. Roth serves as executive producer and host for this new game show that tests how well people know their family.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Mickey Rooney was born on this day in 1920, and TCM celebrates by airing four of his films — 1952’s “Sound Off” (11:30 a.m.), 1953’s “All Ashore” (1 p.m.), 1938’s “Boys’ Town” (2:30 p.m.) and 1939’s “Babes in Arms” (4:30 p.m.).
◊“Without a Trace” (9 p.m. on CBS): In the seventh-season premiere, the New York Missing Persons Squad seached fo a man who’s missing daughter was never found. Steven Weber (“Brothers & Sisters”) guest stars.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): The Behavioral Analysis Unit team must respond to the aftermath of a terrorist bombing in New York City on the fourth-season premiere. Michael Steger (“90210″) guest stars.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): In the aftermath of a bank heist gone bad, Mac is taken hostage and wakes up in a submerged car with no memory of how he got there in the fifth-season premiere.
◊“David Blaine: Dive of Death” (8 p.m. on ABC): David Blaine, known for his headline-making spectacles of physical, emotional and mental endurance, will attempt to hang from a thin wire five stories in the air – with no safety net or airbag to break his fall – in Central Park’s Wollman Rink for three days and nights. Using electro-magnetic boots, Blaine will walk on and under the wire during more than 60 hours of the challenge, with the final hours airing live during this special.
◊“Gary Unmarried” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Jay Mohr (‘‘Ghost Whisperer”) has the title role in this new sitcom. He plays a newly divorced dad dealing with child custody issues, his ex-wife’s (Paula Marshall) impending wedding and his own love life.
◊“The Hunt for Black Gold” (8 p.m. on CNBC): Business news reporter Maria Bartiromo follows the flow of oil from the moment it comes on line, into the supertankers, into the refineries and finally pumped into the consumer’s gas tank.
◊“Knight Rider” (7 p.m. on NBC): The classic 1980s action series was revived as a TV movie last winter. Now it debuts as a weekly series starring Jason Bruening a former Army Ranger assigned to keep superintelligent car KITT out of the wrong hands. Val Kilmer (“The Saint”) provides the voice of KITT.
◊“Late Show With David Letterman” (10:35 p.m. on CBS): Jamaican runner Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals and broke three world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, makes his first U.S. talk show appearance.
◊“Lipstick Jungle” (9 p.m. on NBC): Emmy winner Mary Tyler Moore (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) guest stars in a multi-episode arc starting with today’s second-season premiere. She will play a retired high-powered business executive who forces Wendy (Brooke Shields), her studio-head daughter, to re-evaluate the work vs. family dilemna.
◊“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7 p.m. on CBS): Christine proposes to save her best friend, Barb, from being deported to the Bahamas on the fourth-season premiere.
◊“Project Runway” (8 p.m. on Bravo): LL Cool J serves as a guest judge as the designers tune in to their musical side for a musical genre challenge.
◊“Top Design” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Jeff Lewis (“Flipping Out”) serves as a guest judge as the contestants re-design the bachelor pads of three men on a limited budget.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
◊“Dragons’ Den” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Five multimillionaires looking to invest in new ideas hear pitches for an exercise stimulator and a garmant to train breathing muscles.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Kevin McKidd (“Rome”) guest stars as a mysterious military doctor in the two-hour fifth-season premiere. Also guest starring are Bernadette Peters (“Pennies From Heaven”), Kathy Baker (“Boston Public”) and Mariette Hartley (“WIOU”).
◊High School Football: Norman vs. Putnam West at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“My Name Is Earl” (7 p.m. on NBC): Seth Green (“Gour Kings”) guest stars in the fourth-season premiere. He plays Buddy, who asks Earl to produce a low-budget action movie. The premiere episode is followed by another new episode that is titled “Vote for This and I Promise to Do Something Crazy at the Emmys.”
◊“The Office” (8 p.m. on NBC): In the fifth-season premiere, see what happens over eight weeks of the summer, as a Dunder Mifflin weight loss initiative causes the branch to diet and become obsessed with their weight.
◊“Survivor: Gabon — Earth’s Last Eden” (7 p.m. on CBS): Eighteen contestants will embark on an African adventure in the 17th installment, which will be presented in high-definition.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Lindsay Lohan (“Mean Girls”) will reprise her role as Betty’s high school nemesis, Kimmie, on the third-season premiere. Regis Philbin and kelly Ripa (“Live With Regis and Kelly”) appear as themselves.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
◊“2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Shannon Miller will make a special appearance during this hour-long special featuring 2008 Olymmpic medal winners Jonathan Horton, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Alicia Sacramone and Raj Bhavsar.
◊“America’s Toughest Jobs” (7 p.m. on NBC): The eight remaining contestants travel to Saint Angelo, Texas, to become professional bullfighters. They learn the seriousness of the job as they hop into a barrel and allow the bull to knock them around.
◊High School Football: Edmond Memorial vs. Midwest City at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Broken Arrow vs. Sapulpa at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“The Suite Life on Deck” (7 p.m. on Disney): This new series, a spin-off of the Emmy-nominated “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” finds Zack and Cody aboard the SS Tipton, a luxury passenger cruise liner owned by London’s father. The ship cruises the world with tourists and students who attend classes at Seven Seas High, the one high school that London’s dad thinks will make his daughter a better student.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
◊“Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger” (8 p.m. on HBO): This new special showcases the comic’s adults-only take on dozens of social and political issues. It features footage from performances at New York’s Apollo Theatre, the Carling Apollo Hammersmith in London and South Africa’s Carnival City Casino.
◊“CMT Crossroads: 38 Special and Trace Adkins” (9:30 p.m. on CMT): Southern rock and country collide when 38 Special take the stage with country star Trace Adkins. They play together, swap stories and share theic common love of music.
◊“GOGORIKI” (7:30 a.m. on CW): This new animated series follows a circle of bets friends and their zany adventures. The GOGORIKI are animal-like beings, each with a cute round shape and a unique personality.
◊“My Friends Tigger & Pooh” (7:40 a.m. on Disney): The animated series designed to teach and entertain preschoolers returns for a second season. The series features A.A. Milne’s characters Winnie the Pooh and Tigger and introduces a 6-year-old girl named Darby.
◊“Trial by Fire” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Brooke Burns (“Miss Guided”) stars as a fire fighter who sets out to become the first woman to be accepted into the elite Missoula Smokejumpers. Oklahoma actor Rex Linn (“CSI: Miami”) also stars in the 2008 drama.
◊The University of Oklahoma will take on Texas Christian in college football action airing live at 6 p.m. on FSNSW.
–Penny TV
“Saving Grace” renewed for Season 3
Earl the Angel will get more time to work with Oklahoma City police detective Grace Hanadarko. TNT has renewed the drama series “Saving Grace” for a third season.
Holly Hunter (in TNT Photo at right) earned Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for her portrayal of Grace, a top-notch investigator with a wild streak. When her life took a wrong turn in Season 1, an unconventional angel named Earl (played by Leon Rippy) was assigned to help guide her.
Seven episodes into Season 2, Grace is still far from being saved. An additional eight episodes have been filmed and will return in early 2009, but it looks like Grace could use the help of an additional 15-episode season.
In a press release, David Madden, executive vice president of programming for Fox Television Studios, said: “We are proud to continue our relationship with TNT and grateful for their gracious (pun intended) support. “This is a remarkable series with an extraordinary group of talented people making it, and we look forward to a long life.”
Michael Wright, senior vice president in charge of the Content Creation Group for TNT, TBS and TCM, said: “In ‘Saving Grace,’ Holly Hunter and creator Nancy Miller have fashioned one of television’s most complex and compelling characters. Few series on television are as daring as this one, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming it back for another outstanding season.”
“Saving Grace,” which was created by Oklahoma native Nancy Miller, averaged 4.4 million viewers this summer. Miller also serves as executive producer on the series.
TNT also announced the renewal of “Raising the Bar” for a second season. The series starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek follows the lives and cases of young lawyers who work on opposite sides – the public defender’s office and the district attorney’s office – as well as those who sit in judgment on their cases.
–Penny TV
Oklahoman wins Emmys
Matthew Mungle, who graduated from Atoka High School in 1975, collected two Emmys at the 2008 Creative Arts Emmy Awards handed out Saturday in Los Angeles.
Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Sarah Chalke (“Scrubs”) co-hosted the event that mostly recognizes excellence in key technical disciplines and behind-the-scenes crafts essential to television production.
Mungle, one of Hollywood’s premiere special makeup effects artists, won Emmys for his work on Showtime’s “Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union” (outstanding makeup for a single-camera series, non-prosthetic) and HBO’s “John Adams” (outstanding prosthetic makeup for a series, miniseries, movie or special).
Mungle (pictured above) now has five Emmys to his credit, as his prosthetic creations also earned him statuettes in 2003 (TNT’s “Door to Door”), 2001 (Fox’s “The X-Files”) and 1993 (HBO’s Citizen Cohn”).
The Creative Arts Emmy ceremony was not broadcast live, but E! Entertainment had cameras rolling and will air the awards show as a two-hour special at 7 p.m. Saturday. (The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air live at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC).
Other recognizable winners at the Creative Arts Emmys included:
◊Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Tim Conway for “30 Rock” (NBC).
◊Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Kathryn Joosten for “Desperate Housewives” (ABC).
◊Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Glynn Turman for “In Treatment” (HBO).
◊Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Cynthia Nixon for “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC).
◊Outstanding Reality Program: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo).
◊Outstanding Animated Program (less than an hour): The Simpsons (Fox).
◊Outstanding Animated Program (an hour or more): South Park (Comedy Central).
◊Outstanding Children’s Program: Tie, Classical Baby (HBO) and Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (Nickelodeon).
◊Outstanding Nonfiction Series: American Masters (PBS).
Outstanding Nonfiction Special: Autism: The Musical (HBO).
–Penny TV
