Program Planner: Dec. 14-20
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. 14:
SUNDAY, DEC. 14
◊“The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics” (6 p.m. on TCM): Angela Lansbury narrates this new special devoted to Disney’s classic live-action movies. Stars including Kurt Russell (‘‘The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes”), Dean Jones (‘‘The Love Bug”), Tim Conway (‘‘The Apple Dumpling Gang”) and Karen Dotrice (‘‘Mary Poppins”) share their memories.
◊“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (6 p.m. on ABC): Someone will go home with $100,000 in prize money. Clips in the running include footage of a toddler with a special dance for each state of the union, a cat resisting a bath, an over-eager tot trying to blow out the birthday candles too soon, a toddler making a break from his crib, a hula-hoop-challenged three-year-old, two boys mocking their sister’s dance routine, and a four-year-old’s musical tribute to Barry Manilow.
◊“Californication” (9 p.m. on Showtime): In the season finale, Hank finishes Ashby’s biography, but his celebratory mood is dampened by Karen’s announcement that she’s taking a job in New York.
◊“Chicano Rock! The Sounds of East Los Angeles” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Edward James Olmos (“Battlestar Galactica”) narrates this documentary that tells the story of generations of young Mexican-Americans who expressed their identity through music.
◊“Skins” (9 p.m. on BBC America): In the season finale, the gang is moving on from high school but first they must come together one last time to say a final goodbye to Chris.
◊“Snow 2 Brain Freeze” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): Tom Cavanagh (”Ed”) reprises his role as Nick Snowden in this sequel to ABC Family’s 2004 original movie “Snow.” In the rush to get his reindeer ready for Christmas, Nick jumps through his magic mirror and hits his head upon landing, causing him to lose his memory and forget who he is.
◊“Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2008″ (8 p.m. on SPIKE): The sixth annual event airing live from Los Angeles celebrates the entertainment revolution of video games and provides a glimpse at the future of gaming.
◊“Survivor: Gabon” (7 p.m. on CBS): The winner of the $1 million grand prize is determined in a last Tribal Council in this two-hour finale. Host Jeff Probst presides as those previously voted out of the game return to pass judgment. An hourlong reunion special follows.
◊“Unwrapping the Shroud: New Evidence” (9 p.m. on Discovery): This special examines the findings of Ray Rogers, a chemist who was a member of the original team of scientists who examined the Shroud of Turin. After hearing that the test sample used in 1988 had been taken from a section of the Shroud that had been repaired in the 16th Century, Rogers went back to examine the Shroud.
◊“The White House: America’s Most Famous Home” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): This new documentary recounts highlights of the White House — from George Washington’s first design decisions to an exclusive tour of the private residence given by First Lady Laura Bush.
◊Oklahoma State University takes on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in men’s college basketball action airing live at 3 p.m. on KOCB-34.
MONDAY, DEC. 15
◊“Antiques Roadshow” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): This new special edition of “Trash or Treasure” highlights relics from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall mansion, destined for demolition until salvaged by a carpenter, valued at $80,000 to $100,000.
◊“Cat Dancers” (7 p.m. on HBO): This new documentary profiles Ron Holiday, Joy Holiday and Chuck Lizza, who were one of the world’s first exotic-tiger entertainment acts. Tragedy struck in 1998, when a tiger killed Chuck and then Joy a few weeks later.
◊“Drama High: The Making of a High School Musical” (8 p.m. on ABC): When a predominantly white high school in Virginia decides to stage “The Wiz” — the black musical version of the “Wizard of Oz” — over 100 kids audition. Viewers get to see up close the high-stakes high school game of who’s in and who’s out, as the students make their way from the auditions to the final performance.
◊“I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!” (7 p.m. on ABC): This 2003 animated special centers on ReRun, Linus and Lucy’s little brother, who turns to to Snoopy for holiday cheer.
◊“Intervention” (8 p.m. on A&E): Returning for a sixth season is the three-time Prism Award-winning series that profiles people who are struggling with addictions and the friends and family members who are seeking to help them.
◊“Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade Holiday” (7 p.m. on Food Network): The bestselling author and Food Network star will show viewers how to create a holiday party with ease using her trademark concept of preparing meals with 70% store-bought products and 30% fresh ingredients. Her holiday spread includes a polar espresso, sausage stuffed mushrooms and wreath cupcakes.
◊“White House Tours by Presidents and First Ladies” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): Get an exclusive look at the White House private residence in this new tour with First Lady Laura Bush. Also see a tour filmed in 1968 with Lady Bird Johnson and Jackie Kennedy’s 1962 White House tour.
TUESDAY, DEC. 16
◊“According to Jim” (8 p.m. on ABC): Jim’s desire to make enough money to give his five children a decent Christmas leads him to cast the twin babies in a movie opposite Steve Guttenberg (played by himself).
◊“Behind the Scenes: The Working White House” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): Take a tour of the Oval Office with White House Curator Bill Allman. Also see other areas of the White House at work, including the chocolate shop, the calligrapher’s office and the White House theater.
◊“The Biggest Loser: Families” (7 p.m. on NBC): While only one contestant in this reality series takes home the $250,000 grand prize at the end of the two-hour season finale, you could say that everyone who took part in the competition was a winner. All received expert diet help and fitness training that can only benefit them as they continue working toward their goal weights.
◊“Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football” (9 p.m. on HBO): This new documentary chronicles the integration of college football in the South, focusing on the Civil Rights movement of the ’60s and its effect on the racial status quo of college athletics.
◊“Independent Lens” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The new documentary ‘‘Wonders Are Many: The Making of Doctor Atomic” follows composer John Adams and director Peter Sellars as they turn the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, architect of the Manhattan Project, into a musical production.
◊“Momma’s Boys” (9 p.m. on NBC): This new reality dating show centers around three possessive, yet loving mothers who must help their complacent sons choose the perfect woman — and ultimately poses the question: “Who is really the most important woman in every man’s life?”
◊“Spirit of Christmas” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): This two-hour special is filled with holiday-themed performances by some R&B legends, including Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and Brian McKnight.
◊“Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen” (9 p.m. on Starz): Host Richard Roeper examines some of the most daring cross-sexual performances in Hollywood history.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17
◊“Christmas in Washington” (7 p.m. on TNT): Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw return as hosts of this holiday music concert benefiting the National Children’s Medical Center. Featured performers include Tony-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth from Broken Arrow, rising country star Julianne Hough, Grammy winner Darius Rucker, Christian music group Casting Crowns and a cappella sensations Straight No Chaser.
◊“Christmas is Here Again” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Jay Leno (”The Tonight Show”) narrates this animated holiday special that follows a young orphan girl and a band of adventurers who team up to recover Santa’s magical toy sack.
◊“The White House Gardens and Grounds” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): A look at the beauty and history of the 18 acres inside the President’s Park, featuring White House grounds superintendent Dale Haney.
◊“Great Performances” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): In ‘‘Dance in America: San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker,” Maria Kochetkova and Davit Karapetyan dance the lead roles of Clara and the Prince, with Vanessa Zahorian as the Sugar Plum Fairy. This production relocates the action to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, held in San Francisco in 1915.
◊“L.A. Holiday Celebration 2008″ (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Ex-Doors drummer John Densmore will kick off this year’s performance with his group Tribaljazz. The special highlights the largest multi-cultural holiday show in the country, performed before an audience of 9,000-plus in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles, home to 166 ethnic cultures.
◊“The Money Chase: Inside Harvard Business School” (9 p.m. on CNBC): CNBC reporter Carl Quintanilla takes a special look inside the “West Point of capitalism” as it celebrates its centennial.
◊“A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” (7 p.m. on NBC): In this new holiday special, Kermit and company accidentally intercept three children’s letters to Saint Nick. They vow to hand-deliver them to the North Pole themselves with a little help from co-stars Whoopi Goldberg (”The View”), Nathan Lane (”The Producers”) and Uma Thurman (”Kill Bill”).
◊“Oklahomans” (8 p.m. on KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City and KOTV-6 in Tulsa): Becky Dixon hosts this bi-annual special that has been profiling the state’s most celebrated sons and daughters for 18 years. Featured in this holiday edition are Megan Mullally (former soloist with the Oklahoma City ballet who won Emmys for “Will & Grace” in 2000 and 2006); Wes Welker (led Heritage Hall High School to a state football championship in 1998 and tied a Super Bowl record with 11 catches); and Sarah Coburn (Muskogee native who received rave reviews with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera and the Chicago Opera Theater).
◊“Pushing Daisies” (7 p.m. on ABC): When Emerson turns down Vivian’s request to look into the sudden disappearance of Dwight Dixon, she turns to another private investigation team, lead by Emerson’s bitter rival, Magnus Olsdatter (guest star Orlando Jones).
◊“White House Christmas 2008” (8 p.m. on HGTV): Host Sabrina Soto (“Get It Sold”) gives viewers an exclusive look at what it takes to decorate the hokme of the president and the first lady for the holidays.
THURSDAY, Dec. 18
◊The 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations (8 a.m. on TNT): Angela Bassett (”ER”) and Eric McCormack (”Will & Grace”) will join Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg (”The Guardian”) to announce nominees for the 15th annual SAG Awards. The awards ceremonies will be broadcast Jan. 25 live on TNT and TBS.
◊“The Lincoln White House” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): An evening at Lincoln’s White House, featuring an interview from the Lincoln Bedroom with Lincoln historian Harold Holzer.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Wilhelmina, prepping her first issue of the magazine as editor, tries to lure Betty over to the dark side by offering her a job at Mode as her assistant.
◊Tulsa Edison takes on Tulsa Memorial in high school basketball action airing live at 6:30 p.m. (girls) and 8 p.m. (boys) on Cox.
FRIDAY, DEC. 19
◊“Essence of Emeril” (9:30 a.m. on Food Network): Chef Emeril Lagassi creates a menu for entertaining family and friends. He starts with a cinnamon-citrus glazed ham and prepares corn pudding and bruzzels sprouts gratin on the side.
◊“Faith Hill: Joy to the World: A Soundstage Special Event” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Faith Hill presents favorites from her holiday album Joy to the World. The progarm was taped over two nights at the Chicago-area Sears Centre Arena.
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): Melinda assists a ghost who must face hard facts about her marriage. Rena Sofer (“Blind Justice”) guest stars.
◊“Whale Wars” (8 p.m. on Animal Planet): The Sea Shepherds find the most important ship in the Japanese waling fleet, the Nisshin Maru factory ship. And despite warnings from the Japanese whalers, the Sea Shepherds strike.
SATURDAY, DEC. 20
◊“Christmas in Wonderland” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): Christmas mayhem is afoot when a family stumbles onto a couple of bumbling crooks at the local mall in this new holiday movie starring Patrick Swayze (”Ghost”), Carmen Electra (“Summerland”), Tim Curry (“Family Affair”) and Chris Kattan (“Saturday Night Live”).
◊“Our First Christmas” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): This new holiday movie stars Julie Warner (”Tommy Boy”) and Steven Eckholdt (”Secret Santa”) as newlyweds whose children want to spend Christmas with their respective grandparents (Dixie Carter, “Designing Women,” and John Ratzenberger, “Cheers”).
◊“A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Joanna Garcia, Luke Perry and Helen Shaver star in this 2008 holiday movie. A twenty-something wedding planner disapproves of her mother’s whirlwind romance. Unable to stop her mother’s wedding, she decides to take control of it.
◊“WWE Tribute to the Troops” (8 p.m. on NBC): WWE Chairman Vince McMahon along with today’s top WWE Superstars and Divas will visit forward operating bases, meet the troops and perform in front of a military crowd in Iraq.
◊Oklahoma State University takes on Rhode Island in men’s college basketball action airing live at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN Classic.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on VCU in men’s college basketball action airing live at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
–Penny TV
Related posts:
- Program Planner: Jan. 4-10
- Program Planner: Jan. 11-17
- Program Planner: Dec. 7-13
- Program Planner: Dec. 28-Jan. 3
- Program Planner: Jan. 18-24
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment