TV Talk: Dec. 14-20
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 Dec. 14:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: Set your alarm for 8 a.m. Thursday for our No. 10 pick. That is when TNT will air the nominations for the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Angela Bassett from “ER” and Eric McCormack from “Will & Grace” will announce the nominees for the SAG awards that will be handed out Jan. 25.
P: Kristin Chenoweth from Broken Arrow could receive a nomination for “Pushing Daisies.” We nominated her for our No. 9 pick, which is “Christmas in Washington” at 7 p.m. Wednesday on TNT. Kristin will be a featured performer for the annual holiday music concert hosted by Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw.
H: Five other specials set in Washington rank as No. 8 on our list. White House Week on C-Span will include “America’s Most Famous Home” at 8 p.m. Sunday, “White House Tours by Presidents and First Ladies” at 8 p.m. Monday and “The Working White House” at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
P: Rounding out the C-Span specials are “The White House Gardens and Grounds” at 8 p.m. Wednesday and “The Lincoln White House” at 8 p.m. Thursday.
H: Our next two picks are new holiday movies premiering on ABC Family. No. 7 is “Snow 2 Brain Freeze” at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tom Cavanagh from “Ed” reprises his role as Nick Snowden in this sequel to 2004’s “Snow.” In the rush to get his reindeer ready for Christmas, Nick jumps through his magic mirror, hits his head and loses his memory.
P: No. 6 is “Christmas in Wonderland” premiering at 7 p.m. Saurday. 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 from “Ghost”, Carmen Electra from “Summerland” and Chris Kattan from “Saturday Night Live”.
H: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on five primetime shows. On Tuesday, see Lauren Conrad from “The Hills” on “Privileged” at 8 p.m. on The CW and Mary Gross from “Saturday Night Live” on “According to Jim” at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.
P: On Wednesday, President Bill Clinton will be interviewed on “Spectacle” with Elvis Costello at 8 p.m. on Sundance and Martha Stewart will pop in on “Top Chef” at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
H: And finally, Chuck Woolery from “Love Connection” will compete on “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” at 8 p.m. Friday on Fox.
P: No. 4 is the season finale of “The Biggest Loser: Families” at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC. While only one contestant takes home the $250,000 grand prize, everyone who took part in the weight-loss show is a winner.
H: Three Oklahomans rank No. 3 on our list. They will be interviewed in the December edition of “Oklahomans” at 8 p.m. Wednesday on KWTV-9. They are actress Megan Mullally, a former soloist with the Oklahoma City ballet who won Emmys for “Will & Grace”; New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker from Heritage Hall High School; and opera singer Sarah Coburn from Muskogee.
P: No. 2 is the season-finale of “Survivor: Gabon” at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS. The winner of the $1 million grand prize is determined in a last Tribal Council in this two-hour finale, which is followed by an hourlong reunion.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count Saturday’s OU and OSU men’s basketball games airing respectively on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic, is “A Muppets Christman: Letters to Santa.”
P: The new Muppets special premieres at 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC. It follows Kermit and company as they hand-deliver letters to Santa. Helping the Muppets along the way are celebrities including Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, and Uma Thurman.
H: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Heather, this is Penny, thanks for your time.
ENDINGS
“Survivor: Gabon,” 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS (17th-season-finale).
“The Biggest Loser: Families,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC (sixth-season finale).
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.
“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.
“The White House: America’s Most Famous Home” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): This 90-minute 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.
MONDAY, DEC. 15
“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.
“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.
TUESDAY, DEC. 16
“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.
“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.
“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.
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.
“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.
“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.
FRIDAY, DEC. 19
“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.
“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
“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.
Related posts:
- TV Talk: Dec. 7-14
- TV Talk: Dec. 21-27
- TV Talk: Nov. 23-29
- TV Talk: Top 10 Shows for Feb. 15-21
- TV Talk: Jan. 11-17
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I love the appeal of the Muppets. Even after all these years they still draw the attention of old and young alike. Long live the muppets.