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Program Planner: Nov. 9-15

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 Nov. 9:
 
SUNDAY, NOV. 9
◊“America’s Veterans: A Musical Tribute” (6 p.m. on OETA-13): Clint Black, Patti LaBelle and the United States Air Force Band are among the performers in this concert honoring veterans in all five branches of the U.S. military.
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): Lilly and the team reopen the 1969 case of a murdered 12-year-old boy after a toy rocket bearing his name is given to the retired cop who worked on the case. Greg Evigan (“My Two Dads”) guest stars.
◊“Entourage” (9 p.m. on HBO): Eric’s new client (Bow Wow) gets his pilot script picked up, but the studio wants to cast Eric’s arch-nemeses, Seth Green, in the lead role.
◊“Masterpiece Contemporary” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment “God on Trial” tells the story of a group of concentration camp inmates who, while facing extermination in Auschwitz, charged the Lord with abandoning His chosen people.
◊“Summer Heights High” (9:30 p.m. on HBO): Series creator and writer Chris Lilley stars in this unconventional new comedy series from Australia that looks at high school life through the lens of fictional documentary filmmakers. Real high school students and faculty interact with the show’s three characters, all played by Lilley.
◊“Witness to Jonestown” (8 p.m. on MSNBC): This new special that coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Jonestown massacre in Guyana features rarely-seen footage that was shot inside the Peoples Temple in the eve and day of the disaster.
◊“Orangutan Island: Cheating Extinction” (6 p.m. on Animal Planet): Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”) narrates this special that focuses on Lone Droscher-Nielsen, a former flight attendant who has dedicated her life to saving orangutans. She is the pioneer and founder of the largest primate rescue project in the world, the Nyaru Menteng Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
 
MONDAY, NOV. 10
◊“Boston Legal” (9:02 p.m. on ABC): Jerry Espenson insists on defending himself in court when he’s accused of aggravated assault after a run-in with a bully. Roma Maffia (“Nip/Tuck”) guest stars.
◊“Chuck” (7 p.m. on NBC): Chuck runs into his ex-girlfriend (Jordana Brewster, “As the World Turns”) while on a Nerd Herd call. In an attempt to save face, he tells her that he is more successful than he really is.
◊“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): A man is found handcuffed and stabbed in his hotel room, while a prank at the lab causes a rift in the CSI team and threatens their investigation. Lucy Lawless (”Xena Warrior Princess”) guest stars.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Lily enlists Ted and Robin to help her make a life-changing decision to have a baby. Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”) guest stars.
◊“Inside the Actors Studio” (7 p.m. on Bravo): In this 200th episode hosted by comedian Dave Chapelle, regular host James Lipton is the one being interviewed.
◊“Journey to Palomar” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): This special tells the story of American astronomer George Ellery Hale’s public and private struggle to build the four largest telescopes in the world, which set the stage for space exploration throughout the 20th century.
◊“Samantha Who?” (8:32 p.m. on ABC): While completing community service, Sam meets a troubled young woman (Mary-Kate Olsen, “So Little Time”) and and feels it’s her duty to help turn her life around.
 
TUESDAY, NOV. 11
◊“Blush: The Search for the Next Great Make-Up Artist” (9 p.m. on Lifetime): Vanessa Marcil (“Las Vegas”) hosts this new reality competition series in which contestants compete for a contract as a professional artist with Max Factor, a cash prize of $100,000 and the opportunity to be the make-up artist for an upcoming In Style photo shoot. 
◊“Body of War” (6 p.m. on Sundance): Written, produced and directed by talk show host Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, this award-winning documentary explores the experience of Iraq War veteran Tomas Young, whose spine was severed by a sniper’s bullet within a week of arriving in Iraq, leaving him paralyzed for life at age 25.
◊“Cha$e” (9 p.m. on SCI FI): Trey Farley (“Bend It Like Beckham”) hosts this new reality competition series that features a group of contestants trying to stay “alive” while being pursued by “hunters” through a variety of Los Angeles locations. The longer they stay in the game, the more difficult it gets, but the money piles up for every second they remain standing.
◊“Extreme Trains” (9 p.m. on History): Train conductor Matt Bown hosts this new series that reveals the inner workings and past lives of locomotives that haul huge loads across the nation and deliver passengers to their destinations.
◊“Heroes at Home” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Howie Long (“Fox NFL Sunday”) hosts this Veteran’s Day special in which six military heroes share their experiences of service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
◊“REHAB: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel” (9 p.m. on truTV): This new series gives viewers exclusive access to the world-famous pool party Rehab in Las Vegas. It follows the fun and action poolside, as seen from the perspectives of a no-nonsense staff.
◊“Transcending Bonds: The 75th Infantry NETA Division” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): In May 2004, 10 members of the 75th Infantry Division returned to Belgium to see where the unit fought in the Battle of the Bulge. This new film documents the enduring bond of friendship between the American veterans and Belgian citizens.
 
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12
◊The 42nd Annual CMA Awards (7 p.m. on ABC): Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, the reigning CMA male and female Vocalists of the year, will co-host this year’s event live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Kenny Chesney received the most nominations with seven, followed by Jennifer Nettles with six and George Strait and Sugarland with five each.
◊“Estate of Panic” (9 p.m. on SCI FI): Steve Valentine (“Crossing Jordan”) hosts this new reality competition series in which large quantities of cash are hidden in a massive estate and seven strangers are invited to find the money. The contestants will be challenged throughout the mansion to overcome the terrors that await them.
◊“Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): This new six-part miniseries goes behind the scenes with the royal family and its staff for an unprecedented look at life in the palace and beyond. The first two installments follow the preparations as four localities get ready for a visit from the queen.
◊“Top Chef: New York” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Season 5 features 17 new chef’testants who will be skewered down week by week as they compete to out-cook each other to claim $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant. Host Padma Lakshmi returns along with head judge Tom Colicchio (chef/owner of Craft Restaurants).
 
THURSDAY, NOV. 13
◊“30 Rock” (8:31 p.m. on NBC): Liz and Jenna’s friend Claire (Jennifer Aniston, “Friends”) visits New York and falls hard for Jack.
◊“Dirty Driving: Thundercars of Indiana” (9 p.m. on HBO): This new documentary visits Anderson, Ind., the town that lost 33,000 jobs when General Motors closed its plant there. Many people have left, but for those who stayed, the Friday night races at Anderson Speedway are a welcome distraction.
◊“ER” (9 p.m. on NBC): Anthony Edwards, whose character Dr. Mark Greene succumbed to a brain tumor in 2002, returns as a guest star. He appears in flashbacks revealing that the hospital’s new chief of staff, Cate Banfield (Angela Bassett), had a past with him.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): One of Meredith’s oldest friends (Melissa George, “Alias”) becomes an intern at Seattle Grace, causing turmoil at the hospital and in Meredith’s personal life.
◊“Life on Mars” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Sam Tyler finds it difficult to separate a life-and-death hostage situation taking place at County Hospital from his own strange circumstances. Bill Irwin (“Sesame Street”) guest stars.
◊“My Name Is Earl” (7 p.m. on NBC): When Earl’s more successful and handsome cousin (Jason Priestly, “Tru Calling”) shows up on his wedding anniversary, Earl feels like a less-than-adequate husband.
◊“This Old House Hour” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): In an effort to help homeowners dealing with high heating and cooling bills, the show’s experts will devote an entire episode to making homes energy efficient.
 
FRIDAY, NOV. 14
◊“A/K/A Tommy Chong” (6:30 p.m. on Showtime): This 2005 documentary revisits the arrest of Tommy Chong — best known as half of the stoner comedy duo Cheech & Chong — for dealing in drug paraphernalia.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): While investigating the death of a former pro surfer-turned- park ranger, the team uncovers a shocking connection to another crime. Pro Surfer Brad Gerlach guest stars in the episode directed by Emilio Estevez (”The Breakfast Club”).
◊“Super-Manny” (8 p.m. on ABC): This new spin-off of the hit reality series ‘‘Supernanny” features Mike Ruggles, a developmental therapist who stresses the importance of calm and consistent discipline in taming unruly children. If enough viewers watch this special, ABC may turn it into a series.
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): While coping with changes in her personal life, Melinda struggles to help a teenage ghost. Joanna Cassidy (”Six Feet Under”) guest stars.
 
SATURDAY, NOV. 15
◊“Accidental Friendship” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): Chandra Wilson (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and Kathleen Munroe (“Beautiful People”) star in this true story about a homeless woman and the Los Angeles police officer who tethers her to a lifeline.
◊“The Bill Engvall Show” (7:30 p.m. on TBS): Bill is excited about Christmas and tries to spread the holiday spirit to his children. Just when it seems as though Bill will never get his perfect Christmas, miserly neighbor Mr. Faulkner (Brian Doyle-Murray, “Yes, Dear”) shows up with some unexpected surprises.
◊“Ricky Gervais: Out of England — The Stand-Up Special” (8 p.m. on HBO): British comic Ricky Gervais, star of ‘‘Extras” and creator and star of the British version of ‘‘The Office,” offers his unique take on such issues as fund-raising, fame, nursery rhymes and obesity. The special was taped last summer before a live audience at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden.
◊“The Two Mr. Kissels” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): This new docudrama is based on the true story of millionaire brothers Andrew and Robert Kissel (John Stamos, Anson Mount). Within three years of each other, both men were murdered.
 
–Penny TV

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