Program Planner: Dec. 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 Dec. 7:
SUNDAY, DEC. 7
◊“BCS Selection Show” (7 p.m. on Fox): Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson will be analysts for this live show that will reveal the 2009 Bowl Championship Series match-ups for the Orange Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl (Jan. 1), Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2), Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 5) and BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 8).
◊“Front of the Class” (8 p.m. on CBS)(CBS Photo pictured above): This new fact-based Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation tells the story of Brad Cohen (Jimmy Wolf, “The Spiral Project”), a young man with Tourette’s syndrome who defies all odds to become a teacher.
◊“House of Saddam” (8 p.m. on HBO): This new four-part miniseries charts the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein. Israeli actor Igal Naor (”Munich”) plays Saddam, with Shohreh Aghdashloo (”House of Sand and Fog”) as his first wife.
◊“Jump!” (4 p.m. on Showtime): Kamikaze, Destroyer and Lawn Moe-er are just a few of the extreme tricks practiced and performed in this new documentary that follows five teams competing for the World Rope Skipping Championship.
◊“Leverage” (9 p.m. Sunday on TNT): Timothy Hutton (”Ordinary People”) leads the cast of this new drama series about a team of thieves, hackers and grifters who seek revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize others. Norman High School graduate Christian Kane plays Eliot Spencer.
◊“The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice” (7 p.m. on TNT): Noah Wyle (”ER”) returns in this new adventure tale as Flynn, a library worker who must overcome his fears and protect a sacred cup made from Judas’ infamous 30 silver pieces.
◊“Top 10 Christmas Towns” (7 p.m. on HGTV): This new special takes viewers to 10 unique holiday celebrations across America — from an Ozarks Christmas in Mountain View, Ark., to a Christmas by the sea in Kennebunkport, Maine.
◊“Ty Pennington: Behind the Scenes” (6 p.m. on ABC): The designer, author and host of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” has logged 1,825 days, 43,800 hours and 100,000 miles in making over 133 homes. In this new special, Pennington shares some of the funniest moments, bloopers and near-miss design disasters that happened off camera.
MONDAY, DEC. 8
◊“Boston Legal” (8 p.m. on ABC): The drama series ends its five-season run with the two-hour episode “Made in China/Last Call” that finds Crane Poole & Schmidt in dire financial straits — possibly forcing the firm to find a buyer.
◊“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (7 p.m. on ABC): Celebrate the holidays with this 1965 animated classic created by the late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. It will be followed by a series of Christmas-themed animated stories titled “Charlie Brown Christmas Tales” in which each of the Peanuts characters – Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and Sally – star in his or her own animated vignette.
◊“Cranberry Christmas” (6:30 p.m. on ABC Family): This new animated special is based on the classic 1976 children’s book of the same name. It features two original songs performed by Grammy winner Barry Manilow.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Ted and Barney pick a fight with a group of guys in order to change their friends’ perception of them. Will Sasso (”MADtv”) guest stars.
◊“In Prison My Whole Life” (8 p.m. on Sundance): Colin Firth (“Mamma Mia!”) executive produced this documentary about award-winning journalist Mumia Abu Jamal, who has been on death row since 1981.
◊“Wheel of Fortune” (6:30 p.m. on KOCO-5): It’s Pet Lovers Week on the popular game show, and the five shows airing today through Friday will feature photos of contestants and their pets. Betty White (”The Golden Girls”), who is a pet enthusiast and animal welfare activist, will make a special appearance this week.
◊“The Wiggles” (6 a.m. central time on Disney): The world’s most successful preschool group, which has sold more than 21 million DVDs and 5 million CD’s worldwide, begins its sixth season on TV. Sam Moran will also make his debut as the new Yellow Wiggle, replacing Greg Page who suffers from Orthostatic Intolerance and chose to retire from the group in order to better manage his health.
◊“The Wonder Pets” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): The new episode “Save the Nutcracker” is infused with the familiar music of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and invites preschoolers to enter a magical world with sugar plum fairies, dancing dolls and a mouse king.
TUESDAY, DEC. 9
◊“Independent Lens” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment titled “Doc” is a biography of Harold Louis ‘‘Doc” Humes, who wrote two novels, founded the literary magazine Paris Review, led protests and riots, managed a mayoral campaign, advocated for medical marijuana and much more. Mental illness messed with his mind but didn’t dull his brilliance.
◊“American Cinematheque Tribute: Samuel L. Jackson” (9 p.m. on AMC): Samuel L. Jackson (”Pulp Fiction”) will receive the 23rd annual award that is presented to an extraordinary artist who is committed to making a contribution to the art of the motion picture. Eddie Murphy received the first American Cinematheque Award in 1986. Last year;s honoree was Julia Roberts.
◊“Eli Stone” (9 p.m. on ABC): As Eli and Keith defend Patti’s daughter against drug charges, Eli believes she is innocent while Keith has his reservations. Meanwhile, Matt scores two tickets to Seal’s concert for him and Taylor.
◊“Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force” (9 p.m. on A&E): Through unprecedented access, this new series takes viewers on the hunt with the elite agents of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force as they track the nation’s most dangerous felons. The task force is made up of multiple federal, state and local agencies and has the ability to transcend jurisdictions in order to work together to catch criminals on the run.
◊“A Double Shot at Love” (9 p.m. on MTV): Season 3 of the dating show returns with a twist. Instead of a group of suitors vying for the affection of Tila Tequila, the men and women this season will take part in a number of romantic challenges in an effort to win the affection of bisexual twin sisters Ricki and Vikki, known as the “Ikki Twins.”
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Kirk Douglas was born on this day in 1916, and TCM celebrates by airing seven of his films, including 1947’s “Out of the Past” (5 a.m.) and 1953’s “The Story of Three Loves” (12:30 p.m.).
◊Deer Creek takes on Carl Albert in high school basketball action airing live at 6:30 p.m. (girls) and 8 p.m. (boys) on Cox.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10
◊“Little Spirit: A New York Christmas” (7 p.m. on NBC): This new holiday special features the voice of Danny DeVito as a New York cabbie who tells the tale of a boy looking for his lost dog with the help of a magical imp. It blends the look of traditional painting with contemporary 3-D technology.
◊“P.O.V.” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): The new documentary titled “Inheritance” is the story of Monika Hertwig, the daughter of concentration camp commander Amon Goeth. She seeks out Helen Jonas-Rosenzweig, who was enslaved by Goeth and one of the few living eyewitnesses to his brutality.
◊“Private Practice” (8 p.m. on ABC): Charlotte’s rival practice, Pacific Wellcare, opens its doors and the competition with Oceanside Wellness begins, as Sam and Pete steal one of their clients, a favorite patient of Addison’s goes to a Pacific Wellcare doctor for a second opinion. David Sutcliffe (“Gilmore Girls”) Guest Stars as Officer Kevin Nelson.
◊“Pushing Daisies” (7 p.m. on ABC): Ned and Chuck deal with the traumatic return of someone from their past, while Emerson, assisted by Olive, investigates the odd death of lighthouse keeper Nora McQuoddy, whose murder could expose some of Papen County’s stranger secrets. Tulsa native Mary Kay Place (”Big Love”) guest stars as Annabelle Vandersloop.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Maine in men’s college basketball action airing live at 7 p.m. on KWTV-9.
THURSDAY, DEC. 11
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): When a new murder leads to a connection with an infamous serial killer, Grissom secretly joins the class of well-known criminal pathologist Dr. Raymond Langston (new cast member Laurence Fishburne, “The Matrix”), to gain access to the killer and get a crack in the case.
◊“Eleventh Hour” (9:01 p.m. on CBS): When spring break revelers are mysteriously exposed to a deadly flesh-eating bacteria, Dr. Jacob Hood must find the cause and the cure. Edmond native Danny Weaver guest stars as Seth Sandel.
◊“Homeward Bound: John Mellencamp” (8 p.m. on Biography): This 90-minute documentary takes viewers back to the Indiana roots of rock star John Mellencamp to meet the people who inspired his music. The special culminates with a performance at Indiana’s historic Crump Theatre.
◊“The Sarah Silverman Program” (9:30 p.m. on Comedy Central): In the Season 2 finale, Sarah mocks the institution of marriage by announcing that she and her dog, Doug, are engaged.
◊“Very Young Girls” (7:30 p.m. on Showtime): This documentary profiles Rachel Lloyd, the organization she founded — Girls Educational and Mentoring Services — and the girls she helps. She’s on a one-woman crusade to rescue young prostitutes from the streets and from their pimps.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Betty makes a moving decision about what to do with her life. Guest starring are Lindsay Lohan as Kimmie and Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, who appear as themselves.
◊“Valparaiso University Christmas Concert” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The University ensembles sing familiar hymns and Christmas carols during this campus concert that celebrates both the Advent season and the Indiana institution’s 150th anniversary.
FRIDAY, DEC. 12
◊“The 12 Days of Redneck Christmas” (8 p.m. on CMT): Tom Arnold (“Roseanne”) hosts this special that spotlights redneck families with over-the-top decorations and wacky holiday traditions.
◊“Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (8 p.m. on Fox): Susan Powell (Miss Oklahoma/Miss America 1981) is one of three Miss Americas competing to win money for the Miss America Scholarships Fund. Joining her in the holiday episode are Kirsten Haglund (Miss Michigan/Miss America 2008) and Heather French Henry (Miss Kentucky/Miss America 2000).
◊“The Family Entertainment Awards” (8 p.m. Friday on CW): Tyler James Williams (“Everybody Hates Chris”) hosts the 10th annual event that honors quality family programming. Celebrities scheduled to appear include Blake Lively (“Gossip Girl”), Jennifer Love Hewitt (“Ghost Whisperer”) and Simon Cowell (“American Idol”).
◊“Frosty the Snowman” (7 p.m. on CBS): Jimmy Durante (“Melody Ranch”) narrates this 1969 holiday classic that features comedian Jackie Vernon as the voice of Frosty.
◊“Frosty Returns” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Jonathan Winters (“Mork & Mindy”) narrates this 1992 special that features John Goodman (”Roseanne”) as the voice of Frosty.
◊“Greatest Holiday Moments: Songs of the Season Countdown” (7 p.m. on NBC): This musical medley counts down the best of both classic and contemporary Christmas songs, such as Gene Autry’s “Frosty the Snowman” and John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas.”
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): When the death of a family friend is ruled an accident, Don and Charlie investigate, only to make a startling discovery. Pro surfer Brad Gerlach guest stars in the episode directed by Emilio Estevez (”The Breakfast Club”).
◊“South of Nowhere” (7 p.m. on The N): In the series finale, Spencer must make decisions about college and her future with Ashley. The final episode will be followed by two mini flash forward episodes titled “The Next Day” and “5 Years Later.”
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Frank Sinatra was born on this day in 1915, and TCM celebrates by airing seven of his films, including 1944’s “Higher and Higher” (5:45 a.m.) and 1955’s “The Tender Trap” (12:30 p.m.).
SATURDAY, DEC. 13
◊“The 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship” (1:30 p.m. on NBC): This 90-minute special highlights the intense back-and-forth competition between the world’s top professionals, as well as several unique competitors who defined the meaning of courage.
◊“Kamen Rider Dragon Knight” (9:30 a.m. on KOCB-34): Get a sneak preview of this new live-action series for youngsters that will premiere Jan. 3. It follows the heroic adventures of teenager Kit Taylor, who discovers a mysterious deck of Advent Cards that grant him the power to transform into an ancient armored warrior called a Kamen Rider.
◊“A Miser Brothers Christmas” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): This new animated holiday special is based upon the characters originally appearing in the Rankin-Bass Christmas classic “The Year Without Santa Claus.” Mickey Rooney returns as the voice of Santa Claus and George S. Irving returns as Heat Miser in a tale of how Santa throws out his back and is unable to deliver gifts for Christmas.
◊“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): A crafty uncle (Henry Winkler, “Happy Days”), a snowbound stranger (Warren Christie, “October Road”) and young boy (Connor Levins, “Eight Below”) may just have what it takes to remind one crazed woman (Brooke Burns, “Miss Guided”) what the holiday season is all about.
◊“Ride of Their Lives” (8 p.m. on CMT): Kevin Costner (“Dances With Wolves”) narrates this new film that tells the story of how family dynamics weaved a thread through a half-century of NASCAR racing. The film includes interviews with NASCAR personalities Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Utah in men’s college basketball action airing live at 3 p.m. on ESPN2
–Penny TV
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