Kate Gosselin on ‘Larry King Live’ Aug. 25 — complete transcript
Read what Kate Gosselin had to say to talk show host Larry King last night (Tuesday, Aug. 25).
This transcript was provided by CNN and the “Larry King Live” show.
LARRY KING, HOST: Good evening.
Quite a lineup tonight.
Kate Gosselin was last on LARRY KING LIVE on May 10th. A little more than a month later, on June 22nd, Kate and her husband Jon filed for divorce, announced their split that same day in a special edition of “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ — a show that’s become phenomenal worldwide.
How are you doing, Kate?
Good to have you here.
KATE GOSSELIN: I’m good.
Thanks for having me.
KING: You feel good?
KATE: I do.
KING: How are the kids?
KATE: Wonderful, marvelous, gorgeous, lovely.
KING: All right. Now the twins are going to be nine in October.
The sextuplets were five in May.
How much do they know about what’s going on?
The 9-year-olds probably do, right?
KATE: As far as what is going on…
KING: You and Jon and…
KATE: …in our household, they understand the process.
They’re working through it, the same that Jon and I are. They’re doing remarkably well. This has opened up a lot of discussions between them and myself. A lot of questions come my way. And we’re dealing with it. They’re doing very well considering.
KING: Why — why did you agree to do this reality show in the first place?
KATE: In the very beginning, we started filming a one hour special. It was a way to document what was happening in our lives. At that time, there was a lot of local news stories. There were a lot of people in the country and the world, believe it or not, pulling for us.
As you know, sextuplets are not born every day, so there was a lot of interest.
We did the one hour special to show everyone — I always pictured like the little old lady that was sitting at home who was praying for us, rooting for us and needing to know what happened to those babies that were born. And so we did it for that reason, as well as to collect the memories for ourselves.
KING: And little did you think what would happen from that.
KATE: No way of knowing.
KING: Why did you agree to do a regular reality show?
You could have said that’s the special, here’s my life, good-bye.
KATE: I could have. At that point, the one hour special was a very good experience. The network, TLC, we were on Discovery Health at that time. Now, TLC is wonderful, supportive. And it was a great experience for us. So we, you know, really moved forward because of that reason. It was healthy and safe and fun.
KING: Do the kids talk to you about divorce?
KATE: They do. And as any child, you know, when their parents are divorcing, the goal is peace and we’ve achieved that numerous times. The Fourth of July we spent together as a family. And my goal is, no matter what the circumstance, no matter what place, you know, one of us is in, my goal is really peace and the best that it can be for the kids.
KING: Do they get counseling?
KATE: We have not started that process, but I feel like it is a very normal thing to do. And absolutely, when the time is right.
KING: All right. Jon is quoted in the new “Us Weekly”: “I wish I had a 9:00 to 5:00 job instead of the nightmare I’m living. This is 24/7. I don’t even want to do taping the show anymore.”
What’s your reaction to that?
KATE: Jon’s opinions and his goals are his. I know that, personally, for myself and the kids, this has been a good experience.
It continues to be a good experience. And, you know, really the network has been extremely supportive, above and beyond, I feel, what they need to be. And I only experience good things.
Everyone works. Everyone has a job. Everyone has what they’re dealing with. And, generally speaking, this is the most flexible, workable, wonderful job for myself. Remember, the kids are just playing in front of the cameras so.
KING: How long have you been doing it now?
KATE: We are in season five. We started filming in August of 2005.
KING: Why is it such a good thing to have a private life public?
KATE: It’s — it has been a source of huge — for whatever reason — inspiration for a lot of people. Many, many people — many parents feel that their decisions are maybe not great decisions — every parent has that, you know, parent guilt of my goal is to produce wonderful, productive individuals and put them out into society. That is the goal of a parent…
KING: Right. Of course.
KATE: …for us to show the world that we are not perfect, life is unpredictable, but life always goes on and there’s always, always, always something to look forward to. And for me, that is raising my children to the best of my ability.
KING: But as an intelligent person, you also know to all good things, there are down sides.
KATE: Absolutely. With every positive, there is a negative across the board in life. It’s about choosing to see the positive and working with the negative.
KING: So what happens now?
Are you and the kids going to do the show and Jon is out?
KATE: I don’t — I’m not the person to make that decision. I know that myself and the kids will continue the show.
KING: But if Jon says I don’t want to do it anymore, I don’t want to be part of it, I’m divorced, I don’t need this, will the network say it’s you and the kids?
I mean when…
KATE: That would be a question for the network.
KING: Will the name of the show change?
KATE: That would be a question for the network.
KING: And if they said forget it, that would be OK with you?
And if they said we’ll continue, that’s OK with you?
KATE: That will be their decision.
KING: So why are you letting the network run you?
KATE: I’m not letting the network run me. It’s — it’s a thing where we signed up for this.
And do I have my opinions?
Absolutely.
Do I need to discuss them?
Probably not. I know that I am going to — I signed my name to a contract and I am going to do my best to make that work, as long as it is healthy and safe for myself and the kids.
KING: You’ve become famous worldwide over this.
What’s the downside of that?
KATE: You know, I could really live without the — the following.
KING: Attention?
KATE: Yes. I could live my whole life — I would have to say that is absolutely the negative. I realize it comes with it. I know that it goes along with it. I — I’m smart enough to figure out that, you know, there’s interest. It’s going to be interest across the board. It’s another learning lesson.
KING: Do paparazzi follow you around?
KATE: Yes.
KING: You land at an airport, they’re there?
KATE: Yes.
KING: You and Jon renewed your marriage vows a year ago this month in Hawaii.
What happened?
How do you go from renewing vows to filing for divorce in a year?
KATE: It is a question I ask myself every day. I don’t have the answer.
KING: What happened?
KATE: I — I don’t — I don’t know. I — I…
KING: But he did — he made this decision?
KATE: You know, it’s just an issue that we discussed amongst ourselves. I don’t feel like that is something that we need to discuss the details of…
KING: Yes, but when you get so famous, you and him and the kids, and then you leave out those details, don’t you disappoint the audience that’s come to expect more?
KATE: My main concern is my kids. And I don’t want them to see or hear anything on TV that I didn’t discuss with them. And — and we discussed what they need to know at their developmental age groups.
But I don’t feel like I need to go any further than that at this time.
KING: Kate — that’s fine.
Kate said she had no choice but to file for divorce.
What was Jon doing that forced her hand?
We’ll ask after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY TLC)
JON GOSSELIN: Kate and I have decided to separate.
K. GOSSELIN: Yes. We have decided that we will separate.
J. GOSSELIN: I try to contemplate and think about it and would it be better for us. It’s just not good for our kids for us to be arguing in front of our kids. And it just — we can’t be cordial with one another and we decided to separate.
K. GOSSELIN: I’m not very fond of the idea, personally, but I know it’s necessary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: What were your feelings right then?
KATE: That was very hard to say. It was the first time, I think, having a reality show and knowing that something so huge and life-changing had taken place. And we did need to talk about it.
Choosing the correct words and hearing myself say it, it was very hard.
KING: There’s been different reports about who initiated it.
Can you tell us that?
Who — who said let’s separate?
KATE: It’s all in that vault.
KING: Mixed?
KATE: Yes, it’s all in that thing where, you know, it just kind of shook out the way it did. And…
KING: Do you take any responsibility?
KATE: Everyone who is in a divorce or has been is responsible to a degree.
KING: When you filed, though, you issued a statement — and this was public, because the public is interested in you — saying that Jon’s activities had left you no choice but to do so.
What were you talking about?
KATE: I am not at liberty to discuss that because, for the sake of my children, I only speak positive.
KING: But the implication is obvious, isn’t it, Kate?
KATE: There were — there were some details there that I’m
— I can’t share, but that did lead me to do that, yes.
KING: Police came to your home?
KATE: Yes.
KING: That’s always sad with kids around — called by you after an argument. He says you tried to come home when it was his time with the kids and he wouldn’t let you in, accusing you of crying it up with the cops.
Can you tell us what happened, because that’s what he said?
KATE: Well, number one, the tabloid and the whole media mess always makes it worse than it is. Remember that. It actually was not this huge fight. It was just a thing where I wanted to be there with the kids
and — as opposed to a babysitter. And he wasn’t fond of that idea.
And I just had a very rough day. I have good days and bad days.
This day was a rough day. I just wanted to be with the kids if he wasn’t going to be with them. And I did. I did it was not a 911 call.
It was the local routine police phone call.
KING: There was no violence?
KATE: No. No. Just to meet me there just in case things, you know, got ugly. I didn’t want them to get ugly in front of the kids. And the kids were not even around. And I left peaceably, knowing that — it’s true, it was his day to be there and…
KING: How does it work now?
You and Jon switch off going to the same house?
KATE: Yes.
KING: Jon doesn’t take them to his, where he’s living?
KATE: No.
KING: He comes to where you’re living?
How did that happen?
KATE: Because…
KING: I mean usually the — the person who has visitation takes the kids.
KATE: Correct. First of all, we have eight kids and, realistically, to pass them off and move them back and forth is not possible. Second of all, to have two houses that could hold eight kids was financially not possible. We bought that house for the kids. It is the kids’ house. And it is the most stable, normal thing for them to remain there. And I do live there with them. And he does when he has the kids.
KING: And you go where?
KATE: Elsewhere.
KING: I mean for days?
KATE: I do. I have to. That’s the hardest part of all of this.
KING: To leave?
KATE: Yes.
KING: And how does — is the visitation very well handled, I mean the time allotted?
KATE: We did it very peaceably amongst ourselves.
KING: You made your own agreement?
It wasn’t a court?
KATE: No. We did our own custody.
KING: A judge didn’t say he will have three days…
KATE: No.
KING: …you will have?
KATE: No.
KING: Is there a parenting schedule, too?
I mean do you — do you have all of this so worked out with eight, isn’t it hard?
KATE: Yes.
KING: Aren’t there days when two of the six say, no, I don’t want to — I don’t want to — I want to be with you today?
KATE: Whenever either one of us is away, they miss the opposite parent, which is normal. And it is what it is. They are always there. It’s just us that switch off. So it is a very — of all things, it is a very peaceful thing, custody.
KING: How are you so calm and so well within yourself when so much of this is known to people?
KATE: It has increased over four years. It was, you know, a few people knew who we were to the progression of this. I have learned a lot. My true nature is to freak out about everything — everything’s a big drama, everything’s, you know, the end of the world.
And I can honestly say that there is so much on my plate right now that I absolutely cannot react that way to every little thing that comes by — or big thing.
KING: So you’ve forced yourself to hold back what is your natural instinct?
KATE: Yes.
KING: That’s hard, isn’t it?
KATE: It is very hard. And I have my hard days. And I have days where, you know, I don’t always say the right thing or do the right thing or phrase things the way that I should. But generally speaking, my rule of thumb is I want to be positive, I want to look forward and I want the kids to look back on all that they’re going to see of me and know that I did my best.
KING: We reached out to Jon Gosselin. He declined to provide a statement at this time. He has a standing invitation to appear on this show.
And we’ll be back in 60 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We’re back with Kate Gosselin from “Jon & Kate Plus 8″.
Kate’s moving on — or trying to — during a difficult period.
Here’s a look at her new life raising all of those children alone.
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. GOSSELIN: This was my first official turn with the kids. It didn’t feel very much different. It just felt more like the future.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: This is my daddy.
K. GOSSELIN: They wanted to camp. And I mean, I agreed. I’m a good sport, you know. I’m trying to be, anyway.
I am now going to set up a tent. Da-da-da!
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Daddy knows how to camp.
K. GOSSELIN: Yes…
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: And daddy knows a…
K. GOSSELIN: And mommy has to learn.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Daddy knows it (INAUDIBLE).
K. GOSSELIN: Perfect.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: And daddy knows everything about this.
K. GOSSELIN: Wow! Well, he’s not here.
At this rate, we’ll have s’mores next week sometime. Please work.
Please work. Please work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Who’s with the kids now?
KATE: Jon.
KING: Do you think he’s watching?
KATE: I have no idea. He’s probably putting the kids to bed, actually.
KING: Yes, it would be bedtime…
KATE: Yes.
KING: …for them.
Is he a good father?
KATE: He is.
KING: Why the pause?
KATE: His decisions right now are not ones that I would necessarily make.
But down deep in his heart, I know that he is.
KING: You share the same faith?
KATE: Yes.
KING: So they will be raised in that same culture?
KATE: Absolutely.
KING: Do you agree on how school should be handled?
KATE: Yes.
KING: Those are two key things.
KATE: Yes.
KING: So that — that’s a plus.
KATE: There’s a lot we agree on.
KING: What do you disagree on?
KATE: I — I just think it’s more the — the current things.
KING: You mean day to day things?
KATE: Not so much the day to day. I think that I’m looking more toward the future and the decisions of today that affect tomorrow, more so than he is.
KING: Does Kate still think of herself as a married woman?
That’s next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY TLC)
K. GOSSELIN: The city meets the wild, wild West.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: It looks like a mountain rock. Ooh.
K. GOSSELIN: I’m the king of the world.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Do another one.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Eat me. Eat me.
K. GOSSELIN: It’s hot, though. Let it cool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: That was a preview of the next episode of “Jon & Kate Plus 8.” To see more, go to our blog at CNN.com/larryking. And, of course, you can see the entire show on TLC next week.
Do you have a say in what goes on?
KATE: As far as which order?
KING: You know, what — do they decide what goes on or do you say I don’t want that to run?
KATE: As far as editing?
KING: Yes.
KATE: No, they basically have the editing rights. I can, you know, submit my suggestions whenever. And they’re very good about listening to that. But no, I’m not an editor.
KING: Have you ever violently — not violently.
Have you ever really strongly disagreed with something they ran?
KATE: No.
KING: Do you feel married?
KATE: I am not yet divorced officially.
KING: How do you feel, though?
KATE: I don’t know. I’m kind of…
KING: Would you date?
KATE: No. Too busy. Sorry.
KING: Do you think — all right, let’s go on.
Do you think — you’re very attractive, young, do you think you’ll have a problem having eight kids to the prospective suitor?
KATE: I’m not worried about it.
KING: Don’t think about it?
KATE: No.
KING: Don’t you want companionship?
KATE: I’m lonely, but I’m — I’m very busy and, actually, I’m all right.
KING: On the show back in June, Jon talked about why he thought the marriage broke down.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. GOSSELIN: I was too passive. And I just let her rule the roost and do whatever she wanted to do and went along with everything. And now I finally stood up on my own two feet and I’m proud of myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Want to comment on that?
KATE: I don’t typically comment on our show. You know, that’s his opinion. Everybody has one and…
KING: Do you understand it?
KATE: I do. I do, to a degree that, you know, everybody has a part in a marriage breaking down.
KING: Do you want this show to go on and on and on?
KATE: Currently, I am happy doing the show, as are the kids. And as long as it goes on, it does.
KING: How long is it contracted for?
KATE: We do — we’re doing season five right now.
KING: Is there a season six contracted for?
KATE: Possibly.
KING: You mean you don’t know if there’s a season six?
KATE: There could be or there could not be. I — I hesitate to say that there will be anything because we take each season as we go and reevaluate — is it fine, healthy, acceptable and wonderful.
KING: Nothing’s in stone then?
KATE: Correct.
KING: So are you saying if it went on that would be fine, if it didn’t, life goes on?
KATE: Correct.
KING: OK.
When it ends, as all things do, what do you want to do?
KATE: I can’t say. I’ve got big dreams.
KING: What — what would be — would have been your profession had this show not occurred, other than being mother?
KATE: I would currently still be a nurse — a working nurse.
KING: You miss that?
KATE: The aspect that I miss of nursing is the interaction with my patients. That part, yes, I do miss.
KING: So would you go back to it?
KATE: If I had to, absolutely. I would go back to anything I needed to provide for my children.
KING: Does it hold you in good stead as a parent, your nursing background?
KATE: Absolutely. That’s probably the best benefit of it all. Yes.
KING: Especially if medical problems develop, right?
KATE: Yes. Absolutely.
KING: Are you concerned about Jon?
Would it bug you if he dated?
Suppose he brought a — a date over to the house when he has the children.
KATE: These are all things that everybody who has been or will be or is in the middle of a divorce…
KING: Thinks about.
KATE: …goes through. And it’s just — it’s that, you know me, I have to have control. It’s just a control issue.
KING: You are a control freak?
KATE: I’ve been known to be one, yes.
KING: All right. Control — people who are control freaks put pressure on themselves, don’t they?
I mean they worry about things that don’t even involve them, right
— why is he doing that over there?
Why can’t I stop him from going there, right?
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Doesn’t it drive you a little nuts to be a — wouldn’t you rather not be a control freak?
KATE: There are very good aspects of being a control freak.
I’m very driven. I don’t — I don’t stop. Nothing less than the best.
Keep moving. Keep moving. And I think that’s a great aspect. I enjoy that part of my personality. I persevere. I will not lay down and die.
However, those issues you just mentioned, yes, I’ve had to relax about. And, actually, over this last year or — or, actually, truly, since my six were born, life has been pretty out of control.
KING: Do you think having this show affected the marriage?
KATE: No. No.
KING: Nothing would — it would have been the same…
KATE: Yes.
KING: …had they never been on television?
KATE: Correct.
KING: Had we never known you?
KATE: Correct. Firmly.
KING: How do the older children deal with it?
KATE: The process?
KING: Yes.
KATE: They’re doing very well. It’s — it’s a lot of…
KING: They’re how old?
KATE: Eight, almost nine. Obviously, again, this is not an ideal situation. Nobody goes into a marriage or has kids, you know, planning a divorce. It’s not what I consider success, really. I’m not a quitter, so this is difficult to me, because this feels like something that, you know, possibly was not in my plans.
But they’re doing very well considering. They’re great kids.
KING: Do you have help?
KATE: We do. We do.
KING: You need that?
KATE: Yes.
KING: No one could — this would be inhuman to do eight kids, right?
KATE: I — I did it for a long time. For the last year, we’ve had very steady help. And it’s necessary — whatever the kids need. And that is necessary to have — I mean my goodness, six 5-year-olds could dismantle your house in an hour if you didn’t know where they all were.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: I would say.
Thanks, Kate.
KATE: Thank you very much, Larry.
KING: Good luck.
You’re back next week, right?
KATE: Oh, I am?
KING: Well, no. Not you’re back here. You’re on the air next — if you want to come back, come back. You want to host this show, take over. But I mean…
KATE: I’ll do it.
KING: I mean the show is on, actually.
KATE: Yes. We are.
KING: Thanks, dear.
KATE: Thank you.
# # #
Several networks adjust schedules for Presidential News Conference on Wednesday
CBS and NBC had repeats scheduled,
so the decision to carry President Obama’s news conference live from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday was fairly easy.
ABC had to juggle its schedule to accomodate the conference, however, and Fox decided to stay with original programming.
It is not known when the networks were made aware of the news conference, but the first one to issue a release about it was CNBC, and that was Monday afternoon. Fox News was the second network to announce plans to pre-empt programming to carry the presidential address live.
Because Fox News is providing coverage, Fox decided to stick with its two-hour live broadcast of “So You Think You Can Dance.” The network did not carry President Obama’s last address to the country on April 29 due to a scheduling confict with a new episode of “Lie to Me.”
To make room for Wednesday’s address, ABC will slide new episodes of “Wipeout” and “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” back one hour and move the ABC News special “Over a Barrell: The Truth About Oil” to 9 p.m. Friday.
PBS and CNN will also carry the news conference live. PBS will move the new episode of “Time Team America” to 4 a.m. Monday (July 27), while CNN will push the premiere of “Black in America 2: Tomorrow’s Leaders” back one hour to 8 p.m Wednesday (repeats at 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.) The second “Black in America 2″ installment titled “Today’s Pioneers,” will air at 7 p.m. Thursday, with repeats at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
–Penny TV
Top 55 TV Programs for July 19-25, 2009
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 July 19:
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
SUNDAY, JULY 19
◊“AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute to Michael Douglas” (8 p.m. on TV Land): Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Matthew McConaughey, Tobey Maguire, Martin Sheen, Oliver Stone, Benicio Del Toro, and Kathleen Turner are among those honoring Michael Douglas as the American Film Institute’s 37th recipient of the award. His father Kirk Douglas, the 1991 AFI honoree, also makes an appearance.
◊“Held Hostage” (6 p.m. on Lifetime Movie Network): Three masked men break into the home of Michelle Estey (Julie Benz, “Dexter”), an asistant bank vice president, and hold her and her daughter captive. It is part of the network’s “Best Seller Summer” and is based on the novel by Michelle Renee.
◊“Hell Hounds” (8 p.m. on Syfy): After his bride (Amanda Brooks, “Flightplan”) is poisoned at their wedding, a young Greek warrior (Scott Elrod, “Men In Trees”) risks a journey to Hades to rescue her from the God of the Underworld and bring her back to life. When he leaves with her, Hades sends his hellhounds to track them down and kill them. Ricky Schroeder (“Strong Medicine”) directed the movie.
◊“HGTV Design Star” (9 p.m. on HGTV): The competition series is back for Season 4 with 11 creative finalists and a judging panel featuring Genevieve Gorder (Dear Genevieve), Candice Olson (Divine Design) and Vern Yip (Deserving Design). The finalists must navigate demanding design challenges and dazzle the judges with creativity until one wins their own show on HGTV.
◊“Labor Pains” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): This new original movie stars Lindsay Lohan as an assistant at a publishing company who pretends to be pregnant in order to avoid being fired by her boss. Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Chris Parnell (“Saturday Night Live”), Luke Kirby (“Tell Me You Love Me”), Kevin Covais (“American Idol”) and Janeane Garofalo (“24”) also star.
◊“Life After Film School” (6:30 p.m. on Fox Movie Channel): Film students interview Barry Josephson, producer of the 20th Century Fox release “Aliens in the Attic.” He discusses his new film starring Ashley Tisdale, Kevin Nealon, Doris Roberts and a group of kids who confront
aliens invading their vacation home. The movie opens in theaters July 31.
◊“Masterpiece Mystery!” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): In the new installment “They Do It With Mirrors,” Miss Marple must summon all her uncanny attention to detail to solve the case of a murder that takes place during the confusion that ensues when the power goes out during a rehearsal for an amateur show.
◊“Merlin” (7 p.m. on NBC): Arthur becomes love-struck with a mysterious girl and stands to lose more than just his heart.
◊“Most Popular” (9 p.m. on WEtv): Graham Norton (“The Graham Norton Show”) hosts this new series that will test an audience of 100 women on snap-judgments that could cost one of seven contestants a cash prize of $10,000. The show kicks off with a special bridal episode featuring brides from the sixth season of “Bridezillas.”
◊“NewNowNext” (11 p.m. on Logo): This new special features an intimate interview with award-winning music artist Stevie Nicks. She discusses various aspects of her career as a solo artist and part of legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac. Nicks also opens up about her own inspirations and future projects.
◊“Pawn Star$” (9 p.m. on History): This new series takes viewers inside the doors of the only family-run pawnshop in Las Vegas, where three generations of men from the Harrison family – grandfather, father and son – amusingly clash while running the business together. Each episode features an array of quirky characters attempting to sell, purchase or pawn items.
◊“Shark Therapy” (8 p.m. on Smithsonian): In an attempt to overcome her shark phobia, Tanya Streeter travels to the shark hot-spot, the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. In this difficult personal journey, she freedives at night amongst feeding white-tips, discovers the curious deep-living zebra shark and comes face to face with the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark.
◊“State of Creativity” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): To prove that Oklahoma lives up to the show’s title, the producers picked one county from which to features stories. The result is 10 stories demonstrating creative ideas from Noble County, including a segment on Travis Brorsen from Perry. Last summer, he showed TV viewers that he has the “Greatest American Dog” by winning the CBS competition series and $250,000.
MONDAY, JULY 20
◊“The Closer” (8 p.m. on TNT): A major shootout leaves two patrol cops and an 18-year-old boy dead with lots of unanswered questions as to what happened and who else might have been involved. The investigation is made all the more difficult by the involvement of Capt. Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell, “Battlestar Galactica”) of the Force Investigation Division.
◊“Dating in the Dark” (9:02 p.m. on ABC): In this new reality series, three men and three women share a house in which they are sequestered from the opposite sex apart from an opportunity to “date” in a completely dark room. After several days of this blind dating, each participant will pick one member of the opposite sex to be revealed in the light.
◊“Great American Road Trip” (7 p.m. on NBC): The families leave Missouri and head out into the prairies of Kansas and Oklahoma to see buffao and the actual setting of “Little House on the Prairie.” The dad must step up to the plate at the “King of the Road: BBQ challenge.
◊“History Detectives” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Items investigation include a recording that may have played a part in the World War II treason trial of Tokyo Rose and a diary of a World War II pilot.
◊“Moonshot” (8 p.m. on History): This new special puts viewers in the cockpit alongside the crew of Apollo 11 at the moment when man first lands on the Moon. The dramatization of the Apollo 11 flight is combined with original NASA archival footage converted to high definition, news footage from around the world, mission transcripts, background interviews and other source materials.
◊“Prom Night in Mississippi” (8 p.m. on HBO): This documentary chronicles the historic journey of Charleston High School in Mississippi that that holds its first integrated senior prom in 2008. In 1997, Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman (??), a Charleston resident, offered to pay for the prom, under one condition: that it be integrated. Though his offer was ignored, he made it again in 2008, and this time, the school accepted.
◊“Raising the Bar” (9 p.m. on TNT): Moments after being acquitted on a weapons charge, one of Jerry’s clients is re-arrested on a parole violation for weapons possession.
◊“Rules of Engagement” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Much to Audrey’s dismay, Jeff’s chauvinist father, who expects Audrey to wait on him hand and foot, extends his visit after spraining his ankle. Brian Dennehy (“Murder in the Heartland”) guest stars.
◊“Solved” (8 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): This series, back for its second season, goes deep undercover to expose some of the career-defining cases of police officers and FBI agents. Each episodes features a mysterious murder case told through first person accounts.
◊TCM Goes to the Moon: Atronaut Buzz Aldrin joins TCM host Robert Osborne to introduce an evening of movies commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The movie lineup includes 1989′s “For All Mankind” (7:15 p.m.), 1983′s “All the Right Stuff” (9 p.m.) and 1969′s “Marooned” (12:30 a.m.).
◊“Three Sheets” (9 p.m. on FLN): This series, entering its fourth season, follows comedian Zane Lamprey as he engages in drinking customs around the world and befriends the people who take part in them. This season, Zane, who can say “I’m buying” in more than 37 languages, will visit Poland, Iceland, Lithuania, St. Martin, New Zealand, Panama, Namibia, Tuscany, Barbados, New Castle, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Tanzania.
◊“Torchwood: Children of Earth” (8 p.m. on BBC America): In this five-part miniseries, airing over consecutive nights, the future of the human race is in danger as every child in the world stops his routine to announce, ‘‘We are coming.” As Torchwood investigates, a trap closes around Captain Jack (John Barrowman) and sins of the past return as long-forgotten events from 1965 threaten to reveal an awful truth.
◊“Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): Convinced that Alan’s family doesn’t fully appreciate him, Melissa invites Alan to live with her and her mom. Carol Kane (“Taxi”) guest stars.
◊“Wake Up With Al” (6 a.m. on The Weather Channel): In this new weekday morning show, Al Roker (“Today”) will explore all aspects of the day’s weather. He will appear both in the studio, interacting with guests and viewers, and in the field, reporting on the most compelling weather stories of the day.
◊“The Wanted” (9 p.m. on NBC): This new series brings together an elite team with backgrounds in intelligence, unconventional warfare and investigative journalism. It focuses on real operators in search of real targets — all in an effort to see individuals brought to justice.
◊“Yard Crashers” (8 p.m. on DIY): In this series, now in its third season, professional landscape contractor Ahmed Hassan waits at home improvement stores looking for the perfect weekend warrior who could use his help. Once he finds his target, Ahmed and his team follow the surprised shoppers home and transform their yards.
TUESDAY, JULY 21
◊“18 Kids and Counting” (8 p.m. on TLC): While in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., the Duggars meet Dolly Parton (“9 to 5”), who is a Duggar fan. And what will the Duggars and Dolly do when they meet? Sing, of course.
◊“California in Crisis” (8 p.m. on CNBC): The world’s eighth largest economy is on the brink. This news special takes viewers inside the budget impasse, speaking to government officials, CEOs and bondholders. The ramifications of a financial failure here will impact the entire US economy as well as companies and investors worldwide.
◊“The Colony” (9:01 p.m. on Discovery): This new series challenges 10 strangers in a controlled experiment that attempts to determine exactly what it would take to survive and rebuild a functioning new society when the world has been destroyed. With no electricity, no running water and no communication with the outside world, all they have to work with are their skills and whatever tools and supplies they scavenge from their surroundings.
◊‘Hawthorne” (8 p.m. on TNT): The ER is plunged into chaos when the hospital director agrees to take on extra patients because another local ER is closed down. Among the patients is a study partner of Christina’s daughter, Camille.
◊“Hell’s Kitchen” (7 p.m. on Fox): Chef Gordon Ramsay welcomes 16 aspiring chefs to a sixth course of his unscripted series that begins with a two-hour season. Unlike past seasons, the signature dish challenge becomes a team challenge, pitting the men against the women. After the signature dishes of each team are presented to Gordon, one team will receive a coveted special prize, while the others will experience the agony of losing in Gordon’s kitchen.
◊“Moving Up” (7 p.m. on TLC): Hosted by Doug Wilson, this series follows along as three people move into new homes and renovate and redecorate them. Then, they have a chance to revisit their former house and see the changes – will they like what the new owners have done, or will they regret moving out of their house? In addition to great design tips, this season Doug has some surprises in store for the homeowners that help make the transformation complete. The new series premiere Tuesday, July 21 at 8 PM.
◊“NOVA scienceNow” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): This installment looks at the science of picky eaters, capturing carbon and talking walruses.
◊“NYC Prep” (8 p.m. on Bravo): In the season finale, Kelli works on her singing career by meeting with a prominent voice coach, Taylor has her hands full with schoolwork and social activities and Jessie works on the benefit for Operation Smile.
◊“P.O.V.” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): Filmmaker Ellen Kuras made her directing debut with “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon),” a harrowing, Oscar-nominated account of how her co-director, Thavisouk Phrasavath, and his family escaped from Laos during the Vietnam War. Their arrival in their new home, however, forced them to face a different kind of war.
◊“Ruby & the Rockits” (7:30 p.m. on ABC Family): This new series stars Patrick Cassidy (“I’ll Do Anything”) as a former teen idol whose quiet life with his wife and two sons is upset when his former Rockits bandmate and brother, played by David Cassidy (“The Partridge Family”), shows up unexpectedly with his newfound teenage daughter, Ruby. Alexa Vega (“Spy Kids”) plays Ruby and also sings the opening title song written by Shaun Cassidy.
◊“Saving Grace” (9 p.m. on TNT): Graces chases after a rape and kidnapping suspect on foot and suddenly disappears, possibly becoming his latest victim. But nothing about the situation seems to make any sense, including Earl’s activities close to the investigation.
◊“Starz Inside: Zombiemania” (9 p.m. on Starz): This special traces the evolution of the zombie from its roots in African folklore and Haitian Voodoo to its curent role as pop culture icon. It features clips from a vast library of zombie films and zombie experts.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
◊“Black in America 2″ (7 p.m. on CNN): In the first installment of this two-part special, CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien reports on how community organizers across the country are creating progress and improvements at a local level. Part two airs at 7 p.m. Thursday and focuses on solutions aimed at developing black leaders of tomorrow.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): When the Mayor’s dead body falls from the ceiling at a charity fundraiser, Stella and her date find themselves in the middle of the crime scene. Craig T. Nelson (“Coach”) guest stars.
◊“Dark Blue” (9 p.m. on TNT): Team leader Carter has less than 12 hours to wrangle $100,000 in order to save the life of one of his undercover officers.
◊“Deadly Dance Under the Sea” (8 p.m. on Science Channel): This marine wildlife documentary film features breathtaking underwater combat scenes where all marine creatues hunt, feed, attack, bite, swallow, hide and fear. From the tiniest creatures to the monster with razor sharp teeth, each has its own hunting and suvival strategy.
◊“Leverage” (8 p.m. on TNT): When the Leverage crew tries to get a corrupt mixed martial arts promoter to invest everything he has in a fake cable television network, their con is discovered. Now, Eliot must throw a fight in order to save the day. Professional mixed martial arts fighters Ed Herman (“The Ultimate Fighter 3”) and Matt Lindland (“Ultimate Fighting Championship”) guest star.
◊“Over a Barrel: The Truth About Oil” (9 p.m. on ABC): With Americans facing yet another summer season of rising gas prices, ABC News’ Charlie Gibson has traveled the country to uncover some of the little known secrets of the oil industry, including why prices fluctuate so much and who exactly is pulling the strings. One of his stops is at a remote outpost in Cushing, where the price of a barrel of oil there dictates the price nationally.
◊“The Philanthropist” (9 p.m. on NBC): Teddy takes his ex-wife on a journey as he tells her about his business venture to Kosovo, a country full of depression and poverty since the 1990s when the Serbian army attacked the Albanian Muslims, who make up the majority of the population.
◊“Radical Hollywood Remedies” (9 p.m. on E!): This special takes an inside look at the trends and treatments found at the most elite Hollywood spas and doctor’s offices. It examines the ins and outs of the elaborate and sometimes scary treatments that have helped make the stars who they are.
◊“Time Team America” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The team digs into the lives of freed slaves at the site of an Illinois town founded by a freed slave.
◊“Toddlers and Tiaras” (9 p.m. on TLC): This chronicles the lives of tiny beauties and their passionate parents as they stop at nothing to win the ultimate crown at America’s top child beauty pageants. Season 2 will feature more state and national level competitions, including the several pageants by Gold Coast Pageants — the pageant system that inspired the movie “Little Miss Sunshine.”
◊“Wide Angle” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): This new documentary “The Market Maker” follows an Ethiopian economist, who sets up her country’s first commodities exchange in hopes of revolutionizing Ethiopia’s market system and end its food shortages. Unfortunately, she hadn’t counted on the disastrous collapse of the global financial market.
THURSDAY, JULY 23
◊“16 & Pregnant” (9 p.m. on MTV): The finale special hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky will feature all six teen mothers profiled in the first season. Dr. Drew will discuss each girl’s episode and update viewers on what’s going on in their lives now. This open discussion will address the controversial topics from Season 1, including birth control, adoption, abortion, marriage, religion, gossip, finances, high school graduation and employment.
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): When the CSIs are called to a murder scene at a familiar motel, Nick is thrown for a loop as he pieces together three separate murder investigations that all took place at the same establishment over the course of a year. Taylor Swift (best-selling musical artist of 2008) guest stars as Haley Jones, a teenaged girl whose family runs the seedy Vegas motel.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Derek’s confidence is shaken like never before as he faces off with Addison over what course is best for their dying pregnant patient; Cristina calls the abilities of a renown surgeon into question after she botches a standard procedure; and Bailey, who has decided to pursue a fellowship in Pediatrics, is appalled by the Chief’s less-than-stellar recommendation letter. Faye Dunaway (“Network”) guest stars.
◊“How Do I Look?” (8 p.m. on Style Network): The series returns for a 10th season of giving the fashion challenged a brand new look and a stronger sense of style. The series gets its own makeover, as it moves into a chic new penthouse loft, debuts some cool high-tech tools and spices up each big reveal with celebrity stylist and fashion guru Jeannie Mai as the new host.
◊“The Listener” (9:01 p.m. on NBC): When it appears a serial rapist has struck again, Toby senses Detective Marks’ guilt over failing to convict him on a previous occasion.
◊“Samantha Who?” (7 p.m. on ABC): Sam discovers that billionaire Winston Funk’s (Billy Zane, “Titanic”) ex-wife, Gigi (Angie Harmon, “Law & Order”), played an important role in her life before the accident.
◊“So You Think You Can Dance” (8 p.m. on Fox): On the show’s 100th episode, two of the final eight dancers will be sent home.
◊“Soundstage” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): With their stadium rock riffs and anthem choruses, Chicago-based Fall Out Boys offers up unparralleled energy in this set that includes their recent hits “America’s Suitehearts” and “I Don’t Care.”
◊“Southern Belles: Louisville” (9 p.m. on SoapNet): Shea’s perfect life is turned upside down when she receives some shocking news that no one saw coming on the Season 1 finale.
Also, Kellie makes several impulsive decisions regarding her boyfriend Jeff, and Hadley questions her relationship with bad boy Russ.
◊“Wild Russia” (7 p.m. on Animal Planet): This new six-part documentary reveals the fierce beauty of the country and the animals that have adapted to survive there. It was filmed over three years and focuses on the brown bear, sea eagle, Amur tiger and arctic fox.
FRIDAY, JULY 24
◊“According to Jim” (8:30 p.m. on ABC): When Jim chokes on a shrimp puff, he dies and arrives at Heaven’s gate. With Jim on trial to prove his selfless acts on earth, best friend Andy is summoned to heaven to defend him. As Jim attempts to prove his good works to God (Lee Majors, “The Fall Guy”), his sister-in-law Dana represents the Devil (Erik Estrada, “CHiPs”), arguing that Jim’s selfishness should mean a certain trip to hell.
◊“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (7 p.m. on Fox): Celebrity contestants Bill Goldberg (??) and Sugar Ray Leonard (??) return to the classroom to test their knowledge of elementary school subjects ranging from geography and art to math and history. Find out how much information these stars have retained – or forgotten – since their grade-school days.
◊“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (7 p.m. on AMC): Paul Newman and Robert Redford star in this quirky 1969 Western as turn-of-the-century outlaws who become the targets of a posse after committing one too many train robberies. Oscars went to Burt Bacharach and Hal David for their score and the song ‘‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” as well as to screenwriter William Goldman and cinematographer Conrad L. Hall.
◊“The Chopping Block” (7 p.m. on NBC): The remaining two couples battle it out one last time to win the competition. In order to succeed they must remodel the restaurants, come up with a menu and provide service that is above and beyond anything they have achieved so far. Piers Morgan (“America’s Got Talent”) guest stars.
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): In this episode directed by series star Jennifer Love Hewitt, Melinda confronts a crisis that grips the whole town — the unearthing of a grave that leads to a mass haunting. But that’s not nearly as scary to her as the woman who shows up to accept the engagement ring Sam bought for her.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): The team has only four hours to stop a group of hijackers who take a bus full of Hollywood tourists hostage. Fisher Stevens (“Early Edition”) guest stars.
SATURDAY, JULY 25
◊“5 Ingredient Fix” (11:30 a.m. on Food Network): Chef Claire Robinson returns for a second season of straightforward cooking that proves delicious dishes need no more than five ingredients – making cooking easier and faster.
◊“Being Human” (8 p.m. on BBC America): This new series revolves around three twenty-somethings and their secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. Russell Tovey (“Doctor Who”), Lenora Crichlow (“Doctor Who”) and Aidan Turner (“The Clinic”) star as housemates trying to live normal lives, despite their strange and dark secrets.
◊“The Bill Engvall Show” (8 p.m. on TBS): Bill gets upset when he finds out Susan and her friends discuss their husbands during girls-only game night, and he’s determined to find out what has been said about him.
◊“Dances With Wolves” (7 p.m. on AMC): Kevin Costner directed and starred in this 1990 Academy Award winner for best picture. Costner plays an idealistic Civil War lieutenant who befriends a Sioux tribe. The picture also won Oscars for best director, screenplay, cinematography, film editing, music and sound.
◊“Dirty Sexy Money” (9 p.m. on ABC): Now a partner with Simon Elder, Tripp asks Patrick to try to reverse Congressman Charles Whatley’s (John Schneider, ??) standing against Simon’s bio-fuel that Tripp had helped influence many years earlier. And Simon tells Nola that he suspects that Jeremy’s amnesia isn’t real.
◊“Discover Oklahoma” (6:30 p.m. on KWTV-9): The locally-produced show seeks out wheelchair accessible tourists destinations and explores Robbers Cave State Park on horseback.
◊“GoldenEye” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Pierce Brosnan makes his entrance as dashing Agent 007 and does a credible job filling the natty shoes of his predecessors. Perhaps even more importantly, the special effects, gags and drop-dead gorgeous women appearing in this recent James Bond outing live up to the high standards of previous films.
◊“Kings” (7 p.m. on NBC): In the series finale, Jack and William make plans for Jack to take his father’s place as King of Gilboa. To everyone’s surprise, Silas is alive and David escapes Shiloh to warn Silas about the chaos to come. Macauley Culkin (“Home Alone”) guest stars.
◊“Primeval” (7 p.m. on BBC America): In the Season 3 finale, Helen Cutter decides the only way to stop the destruction of life on Earth is to stop humans ever evolving. So she goes back in time to the Pliocene period, intent on poisoning the very first humans that evolved in the Rift Valley in Africa.
◊“The Star Wars Spectacular” (1 p.m. on G4): This two-hour special will feature never-before-seen footage, breaking news, surprise announcements, guest stars and more. In addition, G4 will present three hours of live coverage from the San Diego Comic-Con floor beginning at 3 p.m.
◊“True Jackson, VP” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): True finds out that she will be helping the Mad Style team create a window display for the fanciest department store in New York City. True is especially excited about this assignment since it has been a childhood dream of hers. Willow Smith (daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith) guest stars.
–Penny TV
TV coverage of Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor
CNN and OETA Oklahoma (OETA’s
digital channel DT2) will carry the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor live starting at 9 a.m. Monday (July 13.
Coverage will continue at 8 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and could extend to Thursday. The hearings are expected to run until around 4 p.m. daily, depending on how the events transpire.
Wolf Blitzer (“The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer”) will report for CNN and Judy Woodruff (“NewsHour” senior correspondent) will anchor OETA’s coverage live from the hearing room in the Hart Senate Office Building.
Viewers can also watch gavel-to-gavel coverage of the hearings online at www.newshour.pbs.org and www.CNN.com.
–Penny TV
TV Tributes for Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett
Several networks will honor the
memory of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett with special broadcasts.
Fawcett died at 9:28 a.m. Thursday in the intensive care unit of Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., with longtime companion Ryan O’Neal and friend Alana Stewart by her side. She was 62.
Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. Thursday at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 50.
CBS aired an hourlong tribute to Jackson Thursday night. NBC turned Thursday’s “Dateline” into a two-hour tribute to Fawcett and Jackson. CNN’s “Larry King Live” featured the show’s host interviewing colleagues and friends of Jackson live at 8 and 11 p.m. Thursday.
More specials and tributes to these two entertainment icons are in the works. Here is what networks have already announced:
TV Tributes for Michael Jackson
and Farrah Fawcett
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
••5 p.m. on MTV — “A Celebration of Michael Jackson on MTV.” This special will feature Jackson’s greatest moments on MTV, as well as messages from artists expressing their thoughts and memories of Jackson.
••7 p.m. on TV One – “The Michael Jackson Story.” This hour-long documentary celebrates the career of the international superstar, from his start in Gary, Indiana with the Jackson Five to the announcement of his 2009 World Tour. TV One airs on channel 157 on U-verse, 167 on Cox Digital Cable, 328 on DirecTV.
••8 p.m. on ABC — “20/20 – Michael Jackson: The Man and His Music.” Anchored by Elizabeth Vargas, the special will trace Jackson’s career, from his 1968 Motown audition tape to his 18 No. 1 singles and his tremendous influence on music, dance and pop culture.
••8 p.m. on NBC — “Farrah’s Story” (originally aired May 15). This two-hour documentary tells Fawcett’s story in her own words as she explains her battle and her journey with cancer. It was shot with her own video camera over the past two-and-a-half years, and it is her narration that tells this story.
••9 p.m. on NBC — “Michael Jackson — The King of Pop.” NBC News’ Ann Curry will anchor the hour-long look at Jackson’s legacy as a musician and cultural icon.
••9:30 p.m. on VH1 — “Michael Jackson: King Of Videos.” Word is that when this two-hour video tribute originally premiered, Jackson himself called the producers to thank them for their work.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
••9:30 a.m. on E! — “E! News Special: Michael & Farrah: Lost Icons.” This 30-minute special chronicles the lives of two famous American icons that the world lost on Thursday.
••11 a.m. on E! — “True Hollywood Story: Michael Jackson.” This two-hour documentary about the life of Jackson charts his journey from childhood to superstardom. It will air again at noon Sunday (June 28).
••2:30 p.m. on Oxygen — “Farrah’s Story” (originally aired May 15 on NBC). Shot with her own video camera, the intimate and emotional footage served as Fawcett’s video diary in which she shared her thoughts and feelings about her battle with cancer, as well as what treatments she received in the U.S. and Germany.
••8 p.m. on TV Land — “Chasing Farrah” episodes 1 and 2 (originally aired in 2005). TV Land produced seven episodes of this series that gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the actress and her travels, both in and out of the spotlight.
In episode 1, Ryan O’Neal spends the day with Farrah and the show’s director to capture what she’s truly like. In episode 2, Farrah and her actress-friend Alana Stewart go to a party. There she talks to her tennis coach about her controversial appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” in June 1997.
••8 p.m. on WGN – “Charlie’s Angels” mini-marathon. It begins with the first episode from Season 1 titled “Hellride,” in which Sabrina becomes a race driver while Kelly, Jill (Farrah Fawcett) and Bosley assume unusual disguises to learn why a pretty woman driver lost control of her car and died in a flaming wreck. That episode is followed by No. 4 from Season 1 titled “Angels in Chains.”
••9 p.m. on BIO — “BIO Remembers: Michael Jackson.” This profile covers Jackson’s days as a child star growing up in Indiana, through his formative years at Motown, his emergence as the King of Pop, the difficulties faced more recently and his tragic sudden death. Includes interviews with Jackson’s family, friends and colleagues.
••7 p.m. on CNN — “Michael Jackson – The Man in the Mirror.” CNN’s Don Lemon reports on the extraordinary life and unexpected death of Michael JacksonThe documentary includes new interviews with music artist Usher and producer and close family friend Rodney Jerkins, who collaborated with Jackson on his last finished album.
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
••1 p.m. on TV Land — “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” This 1992 TV miniseries based on the Jackson’s true story takes viewers through five decades of the Jackson Family’s career– from their early beginnings in the mid-western steel town of Gary, Indiana to their quick rise to stardom. Cast includes: Lawrence Hamilton Jacobs, Angela Bassett, Jason Weaver, Jermaine Jackson II, Holly Robinson and special appearances by Billy Dee Williams and Vanessa Williams. Featured music sung by The Jackson 5, Boyz II Men, Jermaine Jackson & Syreeta Wright and Jason Weaver and includes the hits, “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “The Love You Save,” “ABC,” “Beat It,” “Billy Jean,” and “I’ll Be There.”
••5 p.m. on WGN — “Charlie’s Angels” marathon (eight episodes from Season 1). Hosted interstitials recalling highlights of Farrah Fawcett’s career will air in between the episodes. The marathon lineup features “The Killing Kind” (episode 6), “Lady Killer” (episode 8), “Bullseye” (episode 9), “Consenting Adults” (episode 10), “Angels on Wheels” (episode 12), “Terror on Warn One” (episode 18), “Dancing in the Dark” (episode 19) and “Blue Angels (epsiode 22).
MONDAY, JUNE 29
••7 p.m. on Fox — “American Idol: Michael Jackson-themed Performance Show.” In this encore presentation from March, the Top 13 contestants perform music from Michael Jackson’s songbook, including “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Black or White,” “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” “Remember The Time” and “Beat It.”
••9 p.m. on BIO — “BIO Remembers: Farrah Fawcett.” Through archival footage and interviews with family members, friends, journalists and colleagues, this documentary chronicles Fawcett’s rural upbringing in Corpus Christi, Texas, her breakout roll as private detective Jill Munro in “Charlie’s Angels” and her life spent under the public eye.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
••7 p.m. on My Network TV — “2006 World Music Awards.” The event marked one of Michael Jackson’s first public appearances in nine years and one of his last onstage performances. He was also honored with the Diamond Award, presented to him by Beyonce, which is given to artists who have sold over 100 million albums. And Jackson helped close the show with a choir of fans performing “We are The World.”
••9 p.m. on E! — “E!ES Michael Jackson.” This documentary, made with full cooperation from Sony, Michael Jackson and the Jackson organization, charts the life journey of the international superstar. It features personal home videos and interviews with Jackson, his family and friends, including a comment from the choreographer who taught the pop icon how to do his trademarked Moonwalk.
–Penny TV
Pictured above:
Michael Jackson in a Nov. 14, 1996 file photo. He performs during his first Australian concert in Sydney. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, file).
Farrah Fawcett in an Aug. 29, 2004 file photo. She arrives for the MTV Video Music Awards in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, file).
Top 30 Guest Stars on TV Shows
airing April 12-18, 2009
Bob Barker revisits "The Price is Right" (CBS Photo)
Friday is when The Oklahoman posts a list of the top guest stars (and all the premieres and finales, see separate blog) appearing on TV next week.
And here are 30 celebrities making special TV appearances the week of April 12.
If a well-known personality was missed, feel free to add his or her name in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
GUEST STARS
••Scott Bakula (“Quantum Leap”) on “Chuck,” 7 p.m. Monday on NBC.
••Bob Barker (former “The Price is Right” host) on “The Price is Right,” 10 a.m. Thursday on CBS.
••Steven Bauer (“Traffic”) on “Cold Case,” 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
••Elizabeth Berkley (“The L Word”) on “CSI: Miami,” 9 p.m. Monday on CBS.
••Kelly Blatz (“Aaron Stone”) on “Sonny With a Chance,” 7 p.m. Sunday on Disney.
••Jordana Brewster (“The Fast and the Furious”) on “Chuck,” 7 p.m. Monday on NBC.
••Brooke Burns (“Miss Guided”) on “CSI: Miami,” 9 p.m. Monday on CBS.
••Lance Burton (magician) on “Head Case,” 9 p.m. Friday on Starz.
••Jessica Capshaw (“The Practice”) on “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
••Ciara (Grammy winner) on “America’s Next Top Model,” 7 p.m. Wednesday on CW.
••Diablo Cody (“Juno”) on “90210,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on CW.
••Macaulay Culkin (“Party Monster”) on “Kings,” 7 p.m. Sunday on NBC.
••Elisha Cuthbert (“Are You Afraid of the Dark?”) on “24,” 8 p.m. Monday on Fox.
••Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) on “SpongeBob SquarePants,” 7 p.m. Friday on Nickelodeon.
••Annie Duke (“The Celebrity Apprentice”) on “National Heads-Up Poker Championship,” 11 a.m. Sunday on NBC.
••Nora Dunn (“Saturday Night Live”) on “NUMB3RS,” 9 p.m. Friday on CBS.
••Stephen Fry (“Kingdom”) on “Bones,” 7 p.m. Thursday on Fox.
••Janeane Garofalo (“24″) on “Greek,” 7 p.m. Monday on ABC Family.
••Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) on “National Heads-Up Poker Championship,” 11 a.m. Sunday on NBC.
••Kathie Lee Gifford (“Live With Regis and Kathie Lee”) on “Live With Regis and Kelly,” 9 a.m. Tuesday on KWTV-9.
••Tim Gunn (“Project Runway”) on “The Biggest Loser,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.
••Julie Hagerty (“Airplane”) on “Cupid,” 9:02 p.m. Tuesday on ABC.
••Cheryl Hines (“In the Motherhood”) on “Hannah Montana,” 6:30 p.m. Friday on Disney.
••Adhir Kalayan (“Aliens in America”) on “Rules of Engagement,” 8:30 p.m. Monday on CBS.
••Lisa Leslie (WNBA player) on “WCG Ultimate Gamer,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on SCI FI.
••Vanessa Marcil (“Las Vegas”) on “Without a Trace,” 9:01 p.m. Tuesday on CBS.
••Marlee Matlin (“The L Word”) on “Larry King Live,” 8 p.m. Monday on CNN.
••Darius McCrary (“Family Matters”) on “Cold Case,” 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
••Isaac Mizrahi (“Isaac”) on “Head Case,” 9 p.m. Friday on Starz.
••Shalim Ortiz (“Heroes”) on “Cold Case,” 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
••Kathleen Quinlan (“Family Law”) on “Prison Break,” 8 p.m. Friday on Fox.
••Tori Spelling (“Beverly Hills, 90210″) on “90210,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on CW.
••Eric Stoltz (“Mask”) on “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
••Sharon Stone (“Huff”) on “Larry King Live,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on CNN.
••Tabatha Coffey (“Tabatha’s Salon Takeover”) on “The Biggest Loser,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.
••Lee Tergesen (“Life on Mars”) on “Cupid,” 9:02 p.m. Tuesday on ABC.
••Donald Trump (“The Apprentice”) on “Larry King Live,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on CNN.
••Kate Vernon (“Battlestar Galactica”) on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 8 p.m. Thursday on CBS.
••Spud Webb (former NBA player) on “WCG Ultimate Gamer,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on SCI FI.
••Andrew J. West (“Privileged”) on “Greek,” 7 p.m. Monday on ABC Family.
••Henry Winkler (“Happy Days”) on “NUMB3RS,” 9 p.m. Friday on CBS.
••Stevie Wonder (Grammy-winning artist) on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC.
••Billy Zane (“Titanic”) on “Samantha Who?” 7:30 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
And the 2009 NAMIC Vision Awards go to …
Never heard of the NAMIC Awards? The event’s been around for 15 years. And it is the entertainment industry’s way to recognize quality multi-ethnic and cross-cultural television programming.
The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Commincations (NAMIC) singled out 35 networks for achievements in programming diversity. BET received the most nominations with six.
Here are the nominees for the 15th Anniversary NAMIC Vision Awards that will be presented April 17 at a luncheon ceremony hosted by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson.
ANIMATION
“Handy Manny” (Disney Channel)
“Soy Mono: Words” (MTV TR3S)
El Tigre “The Grave Escape” (Nickelodeon)
BEST PERFORMANCE – COMEDY
Tracy Morgan – “30 Rock” (NBC)
LaVan Davis – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
Demetria McKinney – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
Keshia Knight Pulliam – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
Larramie Doc Shaw – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
BEST PERFORMANCE – DRAMA
Benito Martinez – “The Shield” (FX)
Felicia Pearson – “The Wire” (HBO)
Tristan Wilds – “The Wire” (HBO)
Raymond Cruz – “The Closer” (TNT)
Robert Gossett – “The Closer” (TNT)
CHILDREN’S
“Wizards of Waverly Place” (Disney Channel)
“Ni Hao, Kai-Lan” (Nickelodeon)
“Go, Diego, Go” (Nickelodeon)
“Dora The Explorer” (Nickelodeon)
“Degrassi: The Next Generation” (The N)
COMEDY
“Ugly Betty” (ABC)
“Somebodies” (BET)
“The Game” (CBS)
“Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger” (HBO)
“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
DIGITAL MEDIA – LONG FORM
“Americlef” (MTV On-Air Promotions)
“Time Warner Cable’s Futbol Mania” (Time Warner Cable)
DIGITAL MEDIA – SHORT FORM
“Ugly Betty Presents: Mode After Hours” (ABC.com)
“MTVU’s Stand In: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf” (MTVU)
“DIG: Lyrics Born” (MYX-ABS CBN International)
“Extra on Essence” (Telepictures Productions)
“Yes We Can,” Essence Election ’08 (Telepictures Productions)
DOCUMENTARY
“Nanking” (Cinemax Reel Life)
“CNN Presents: Black in America” (CNN)
“Fuga De Las FARC” (Discovery Latin America)
“Joe Louis: America’s Hero (HBO)
“VH1 Rock Doc: The Night James Brown Saved Boston” (VH1)
DRAMA
“Lincoln Heights” (ABC Family)
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Private Practice” (ABC)
“In Plain Sight” (USA Network)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
“Futbol Mania” (Time Warner Cable)
“Sucker Free Latino Unscripted: Wisin y Yandel” (MTV TR3S)
“Asi Paso” (ESPN)
LIFESTYLE
“Fashion Blackout” (BET News)
“National Body Challenge: Twins Edition” (Discovery Health Channel)
“World in America” (Ebru TV)
Down Home With The Neelys – “Pass It On” (Food Network)
HGTV “Deserving Design” (HGTV)
NEWS / INFORMATIONAL
“Black in America: Suicide Survivor” (CNN)
“Anderson Cooper 360: Race in America” (CNN)
“CNN Special Projects: To The Top” (CNN)
“Showbiz Tonight: Black in Hollywood” (CNN)
“In Conversation: The Michelle Obama Interview” (TV One)
ORIGINAL MOVIE OR SPECIAL
“The Best Shorts” (BET J)
“Cheetah Girls: One World” (Disney Channel)
“The Africa Channel Presents: A Night of Tribute” (The Africa Channel)
REALITY
“College Hill: Interns” (BET)
“Spring Break Diaries: Spelman College” (BET News)
“The mun2 Hook Up: Frankie J” (mun2)
“Student Body” (The N)
“VH1′s The Cho Show” (VH1)
SPORTS
“C. Vivian Stringer’s Big Ten Legacy” (Big Ten Network)
“ESPN Outside the Lines: Dodgertown” (ESPN)
“The Secret Game” (ESPN)
“Our Heroes: A Black History Month Special” (Fox Sports North)
“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (HBO)
VARIETY / TALK SHOW
“The BET Honors” (BET)
“Harlem to Hollywood: Diddy” (BET)
“Hip Hop vs. America” (BET)
“Sunday Best” (BET)
“TV One on One: Tyler Perry” (TV One)
Program Planner: Dec. 28-Jan. 3
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. 28:
SUNDAY, DEC. 28
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): The team searches for a serial bomber whose latest pipe bomb maimed the wrong target and whose three previous bombings, in 1999, 2001 and 2003, collectively blinded a man and killed two others. Timothy Omundson (“Jericho”) guest stars as the missed targtet of the latest bombing.
◊“Nick News With Linda Ellerbee” (8 p.m. on Nickelodeon): The new installment “Boys and Girls: In a Class of Ther Own?” visits several schools to get the students’ view on whether a single gender education is better.
◊“Summer Heights” (9:30 p.m. on HBO): In the first-season finale, Mr. G revels in the premiere of his musical and Jonah gives a gift to the students and teachers of Summer Heights High as the semester ends.
MONDAY, DEC. 29
◊“100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs” (9 p.m. today through Friday on VH1): In addition to counting down the 100 best guitar-driven, head-banging jams in rock history, this five-night compilation will feature updates on where various rock idols are today.
◊“The City” (9 p.m. on MTV): Whitney Port (“The Hills”) chases big dreams in the Big Apple in this new reality series. She strikes out on her own for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work at global design house Diane Von Furstenberg in New York City.
◊“Greatest Holiday Moments: Hilarious Home Video Countdown” (7 p.m. on NBC): This special will rank the best amateur footage America has to offer, from memorable moments to classic Christmas chaos.
◊“Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven” (7 p.m. on HBO): This new documentary tells the story of one of New York’s premier restaurants, which has occupied three different Manhattan locations since opening in 1974.
◊“Momma’s Boys” (9 p.m. on NBC): Food Network chef Tyler Florence presents the women with their next suitability challenge – a cooking competition in which they must make either the boys’ favorite meal or impress them with their own personal recipes.
◊“Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film” (7 p.m. on TCM): Oklahoma-born Ron Howard, who went from child star (“The Andy Griffith Show”) to Oscar-winning director (“”A Beautiful Mind”) sits down with film critic and documentarian Richard Schickel (“Spielberg on Spielberg”) for an in-depth interview. The special will be followed by an airing 1977′s “Grand Theft Auto,” which was Howard’s directorial debut.
TUESDAY, DEC. 30
◊“The 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors” (8 p.m. on CBS): Caroline Kennedy returns as host of the event that recognizes recipients for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. This year’s recipients are actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, choreographer Twyla Tharp, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of the Who, and singer-actress-producer-director Barbra Streisand.
◊“Happy New Year, Charlie Brown” (7 p.m. on ABC): Chad Allen (“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”) provides the voice of Charlie Brown in this 1986 “Peanuts” special. Over Christman break, Charlie Brown has to read “War and Peace” and write a report out it, But holiday distractions keep getting in the way.
◊“Leverage” (9 p.m. on TNT): To retrieve the money promised to the family of an innocent man who took the fall for a Mafia boss, the Leverage team poses as the wedding planners for the don’s only daughter on her big day. Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”) and Nicole Sullivan (“The King of Queens”) guest star.
◊“One Life to Live” (1 p.m. on ABC): The rock band Puddle of Mud will help the citizens of Llanview ring in the New Year with a performance of their hit single, “We Don’t Have to Look Back Now.” Lead singer Wes Scantlin will also act in scenes with Rex and Gigi.
◊“Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (7:30 p.m. on ABC): The world’s most famous reindeer must help find Baby New Year before midnight. Red Skelton (“Three Little Words”), Frank Gorshin (“Batman”) and Morey Amsterdam (“The Dick Van Dyke Show”) provide voices for characters.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Arkansas in men’s college basketball airing live at 7 p.m. on KAUT-43.
Games from the boys high school basketball Tournament of Champions will air live at 6:30 p.m. on Cox.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31
◊“NBC’s New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly” (9 p.m. on NBC): The fifth-annual event, which will be broadcast for the first time with one hour airing in primetime and one hour in late night, will feature performances by Elton John, Ludacris, Katy Perry, The Ting Tings and T.I. NBC News correspondent Luke Russert and Saturday “Today” co-anchor Amy Robach will report from various locations.
◊“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest” (9 p.m. on ABC): Co-hosts (and executive producers) Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest will lead America into the New Year with three-and-a-half hours of specials and the famous countdown to midnight from New York City’s Time Square. Kellie Pickler (“American Idol”) will be the Times Square correspondent, Fergie will host the West Coast party. Scheduled performers include Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boys, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange, Lionel Richie, will.i.am and Robin Thicke.
◊“Live From Lincoln Center” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The New York Philmarhomic ushers in 2009 with mezzo-soprano Susan Graham. Renee Fleming hosts the show, which marks Maestro Lori Maazel’s last as music director of the Philharmonic.
◊“Lucy’s New Year’s Eve Countdown” (7 a.m. on TV Land): This 13-hour marathon will feature the top “I Love Lucy” episodes that were voted on by viewers — from from Lucy’s “Vitameatavegamin” commercial to Lucy and Ethel’s candy factory debacle.
◊“New Year’s Eve Live” (11 p.m. on Fox): Spike Feresten (“Talkshow With Spike Feresten”) and Mark Thompson (“Hole in the Wall”) co-host the celebration live from the Mirage in Las Vegas. “American Idol” Season 7 winner David Cook and Grammy-winning musician Scott Sweiland are scheduled to perform, while daredevil Robbie Knievel will attempt a 200-foot motorcycle jump over Mirage’s renovated volcano.
◊New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin” (10 p.m. on CNN): The CNN host and the comedienne will report on celebrations worldwide. Musical guests will include Li’l Wayne, My Morning Jacket, Coolio, 3 Doors Down and the Oklahoma band Hinder.
◊“Red Bull: New Year: New Year. No Limits” (10 p.m. on ESPN): The sports network will air two stunts live from Las Vegas. Rhys Millen will attempt to do a complete back-flip of an off-road truck, while Robbie Maddison will try to land his motorcycle on top of the Arc de Triomphye replica in front of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.
◊“Totally New Year” (5 p.m. on Disney): “Wizards of Waverly Place” cast members Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin and Jennifer Stone will co-host this 6 1/2-hour programming block that will feature viewers’ favorite Disney Channel episodes, moments and music videos.
THURSDAY, JAN. 1
◊“The 120th Tournament of Roses Parade” (10 a.m. on NBC and HGTV): This year’s theme is ‘‘Hats Off to Entertainment,” and the grand marshal is Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Cloris Leachman. Al Rocker (“Today”) and Nancy O’Dell (“Access Hollywood”) co-host NBC’s coverage. Gardening expert Paul James from Tulsa will be part of HGTV’s broadcast team.
◊“Cinema’s Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood” (8:30 p.m. on OETA-13): Sigourney Weaver (“Aliens”) narrates this documentary about the German film professionals who fled Hitler’s Germany and escaped to Hollywood.
◊“Dear Genevieve” (noon on HGTV): Get a sneak peek at the new series featuring popular designer Genevieve Gorder (“Trading Spaces”). She will delve into viewer-submitted emails and demonstrate the answers in-person for a lucky online user who submitted his or her design dilemma to www.HGTV.com/deargenevieve/. The series will air Mondays at 7:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 5.
◊“Great Performances” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Julie Andrews (“The Sound of Music”) hosts the 25th annual holiday celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic.
◊“Desperate To Buy” (2 p.m. on HGTV): This new docu-drama follows desperate homebuyers and their real estate broker through the high-stress process of finding the perfect home fast. The series will air Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. beginning at Jan. 7.
◊“HGTV Dream Home 2009″ (8 p.m. on HGTV): This special offers a private tour inside this year’s luxurious HGTV Dream Home, located in Sonoma, Calif.
◊“Income Property” (3 p.m. on HGTV): Renovation expert Scott McGillivray hosts this new series that will help homeowners with high mortgage payments and low cash flow create “rental suites” in their homes as a way to help cut monthly expenses. The series will air Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 7.
◊“The Property Shop” (9 p.m. on HGTV): This new series follows Realtor-turned-broker Tatiana Londono as she competes head-to-head with major real estate agencies to rise to the top of the real estate world. The series will air Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 8.
◊“The Unsellables” (1 p.m. on HGTV): In this new series, property guru and British TV personality Sofie Allsopp, along with contractor Anthony Sayers, will show viewers how to tackle cluttered kitchens, messy bedrooms and outdated design to create real estate gems out of homes considered “unsellable.” The series will air Fridays at 9:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 9.
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
◊“Blame It on Fidel” (9 p.m. on Sundance): Set in Paris in 1970, this insightful comedy unfolds from the perspective of Anna, 9, who has to make adjustments when her parents plunge full-time into leftist activism.
◊“Everybody Hates Chris” (7 p.m. on CW): Chris is determined to spend New Year’s Eve in Times Square, but Rochelle says Chris can only go if he finds a responsible adult to accompany him. The only problem is that the only people Chris can find to be his chaperone are two ex-convicts, Peaches (Tisha Campbell-Martin, “Rita Rocks”) and Malvo (Ricky Harris, “Moesha”).
◊“The Game” (8:30 p.m. on CW): Tasha and Malik are totally freaked out when it is accidentally revealed that Tasha’s boyfriend, Rick (Rick Fox, “Dirt”), and Malik’s wife, Robin (Robin Givens, “Courthouse”), have a past together.
◊“Janis Ian Love From Grand Center” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): The Grammy winner performs 15 songs from her 40-year career. The special also features archival footage, including Ian singing “Society’s Child” at age 15.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): Don and the team come under pressure when a former FBI subcontractor (Enrico Colantoni, “Veronica Mars”) shoots an agent inside the FBI headquarters and takes one of their own as a hostage, leaving them with a severely restricted plan of action.
SATURDAY, JAN. 3
◊“Everyday Food” (10 a.m. on OETA-13): Back for a fifth season are the show’s five hosts who present step-by-step instruction of reciped featured in Everyday Food magazine.
◊“Game Show in My Head” (7 p.m. on CBS): Joe Rogan (“Fear Factor”) hosts this new hidden camera game show in which contestants compete for the chance to win $50,000 by completing outrageous challenges in public.
◊“Huntik” (9:30 a.m. on CW): This new animated series focuses on a group of seekers who travel the world in search of an ancient amulet with the power to control monsters.
◊“Nanny Express” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): Vanessa Marcil (“Las Vegas”) is a nanny with a knack for healing a hurting family in this new movie that co-stars Dean Stockwell (“Quantum Leap”), Stacy Keach (“Prison Break”) and Brennan Elliott (“Strong Medicine”).
◊“RAH! Paula Abdul’s Cheerleading Bowl” (11 a.m. on MTV): This 90-minute special spotlights five collegiate squads hand-selected by Paula Abdul (former Los Angeles Laker Girl) as they travel to New York City to compete in the ultimate cheerleading competition.
◊“Underdog to Wonderdog” (7 p.m. on Animal Planet): This new series follows the Doggie Wonder Team made up of a trainer, groomer, carpenter and host, as they use their canine expertise to revamp down-on-their-luck shelter pups just in time to place them in a good home.
◊“Smother” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): After losing his job, a man (Dax Shepard) deals with pressure from his wife (Liv Tyler), who wants to have a child, and from his mother (Diane Keaton), who moves in.
–Penny TV
Program Planner: Nov. 23-29
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. 23:
SUNDAY, NOV. 23
◊2008 American Music Awards (7 p.m. on ABC): Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel returns as host of the 35th annual event. Top nominees are Alicia Keys (5), Coldplay (4), The Eagles (4). Nominees with Oklahoma ties are Garth Brooks (favorite male artist, favorite album), Reba McEntire (favorite female artist), Carrie Underwood (favorite female artist, favorite album), Brooks & Dunn (favorite band, duo or group), Rascal Flatts (favorite band, duo or group, favorite album).
◊“24: Redemption” (7 p.m. on Fox): Here’s a two-hour prequel to the events of Season 7 (scheduled to begin January 11 and 12). Counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is in South Africa dealing with an international crisis as the United States prepares to inaugurate a new president, Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones).
◊“Al Roker Reporting: Armed in America” (9 p.m. on MSNBC): Al Roker (“Today”) teams up with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to find out how this federal agency is working to eliminate gun crimes in the United States.
◊“A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” (9 p.m. on Comedy Central): Stephen Colbert (“The Colbert Report”) hosts this holiday special featuring musical guests Toby Keith, Feist, John Legend, Willie Nelson and Elvis Costello, along with former “Daily Show” colleague Jon Stewart.
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): Lilly and the team re-open the 1953 case of a pin-up girl when a fan’s crime scene photo provides new evidence in the case. Tania Raymonde (“Lost”) joins the cast as Frankie Rafferty, a smart and feisty lab technician.
◊“Masterpiece Special: The Unseen Alistair Cooke” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): To mark the centenary of Alistair Cooke’s birth in 2008, this documentary traces the brodcaster’s life using his own words, comments from those who knew him and his own home movies dating back to the 1930s.
◊“True Blood” (8 p.m. on HBO): In the first-season finale, Sookie finds a link to the murders in Bon Temps and lands in the killer’s sights. Bill makes a risky move to save her.
◊“Wizards of Waverly Place” (7:30 p.m. on Disney): While attending PopCon, Alex reveals to her best friend, Harper, that she and her brothers are wizards-in-training. Lee Meriwether (“Batman”) guest stars as a TV Battle Diva attending the comic book convention.
MONDAY, NOV. 24
◊“The Rape of Europa” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Joan Allen (“The Contender”) narrates this new documentary that chronicles the efforts of scholars, governments and others to locate the millions of pieces of art stolen by Germany’s Third Reich during World War II.
◊“Samantha Who?” (8:32 p.m. on ABC): Sam’s decision to invite boyfriend Owen (James Tupper, “Men in Trees”) for dinner to meet her parents turns into a disaster when Owen’s philosophy about chicken farms rubs chicken farm owner Howard the wrong way.
◊Steven Seagal movie marathon (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on SPIKE): See the action movie actor, who is a 7th-dan black belt in aikido, in four back-to-back films: 2005’s “Today You Die” (8 a.m.), 2007’s “Urban Justice” (10 a.m.), 2003’s “Out for a Kill” (noon) and 2003’s “Belly of the Beast” (2 p.m.).
◊“Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): Jake disappears with the daughter of Charlie’s neighbor, and Charlie is left to cover his back. Michael Clarke Duncan (“The Green Mile”) guest stars.
TUESDAY, NOV. 25
◊“The Biggest Loser 6” (7 p.m. on NBC): Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito (“Dancing With the Stars”) helps the contestants make a healthy version of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
◊“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (7 p.m. on ABC): This classic Peanuts special from 1973 signals the start of the holiday season. It will be followed by another Peanuts cartoon, “This Is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers.”
◊“Dancing With the Stars” (8 p.m. on ABC)(ABC Photo above features “Dancing With the Stars” contestants Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson): The winner of the seventh season is announced. All the eliminated celebrities return for one last spin across the floor.
◊“Frontline” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): The new report “The Hugo Chavez Show” profiles Venezuela’s controversial and outspoken president and the revolution he claims is turning his country into an anti-capitalist beacon for Latin America.
◊“House” (7 p.m. on Fox): Dr. House and Thirteen are taken hostage by a man willing to kill for a diagnosis. Zeljko Ivanek (“Damages”)guest stars.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): The team must relay on information from some questionable individuals to stop a criminal bent on stealing government secrets. David Eigenberg (“Sex and the City”) guest stars.
◊“The Real Housewives of Orange County” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Tamra Barney, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough and Lauri Peterson return for a fourth season that is laced with searing emotion and high drama. Posing an immediate threat is Gretchen Rossi, a new housewife on the block.
◊“The Shield” (9 p.m. on FX): In the series finale, the Barn looks into a woman’s disappearance and the arrival of a major drug shipment.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Ricardo Montalban was born on this day in 1920, and TCM celebrates by airing four of his films, including 1949’s “Neptune’s Daughter” (7 a.m.) and 1952’s “My Man and I” (10:30 a.m.).
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26
◊“The 2008 World Magic Awards” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”) hosts the event that honors today’s best magicians. Scheduled to perform are Lance Burton and The Amazing Jonathan.
◊“Dirty Sexy Money” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): While the Darlings are away for Thanksgiving, Clark the chauffeur offers his version of various Darling family rumors to a persistent reporter. Donna Mills (“Knots Landing”) guest stars.
◊“Gary Unmarried” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Allison wants the family to celebrate Thanksgiving at her house, but Gary insists on holding the feast at his place. Jane Curtin (“Kate and Allie”) and Martin Mull (“Roseanne”) guest star as Allison’s parents.
◊“Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): In the second hour of the miniseries’ finale, Queen Elizabeth II’s children, grandchildren and other relatives talk about their lives and roles in the “family business.”
◊“Private Practice” (8 p.m. on ABC): Addison receives a surprise visit from her brother (Grant Show, “Melrose Place”). His presence not only causes trouble for Addison, but for Naomi and Sam, as well.
◊“Rosie Live” (8 p.m. on NBC): Emmy winner Rosie O’Donnell (“The Rosie O’Donnel Show”) returns to television with a live variety special showcasing a wide array of celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a giant giveaway for both the in-studio and home audiences.
◊“That Moment! With Jake Steinfeld” (7 p.m. on WGN): Jake Steinfeld, motivational coach, bestselling author, fitness expert and founder of Major League Lacrosse and ExerciseTV, interviews Harrison Ford (“Indiana Jones” movies), Pastor Joel Osteen and The Jonas Brothers.
◊“Top Chef” (9 p.m. on Bravo): The contestants join the Grammy winning rock Band Foo Fighters for a tour stop in Rochester, NY.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Marist in women’s college basketball action airing live at 7 p.m. on Cox.
THURSDAY, NOV. 27
◊“CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” (8 p.m. on CNN): CNN anchor Anderson Cooper hosts the second annual event that spotlights ordinary citizens who accomplished extraordinary deeds. Among the 10 finalists for the Hero of the Year award (which includes a $100,000 cash prize) is Tad Agoglia, founder of First Response Team of America that goes into disaster sites and helps clean up in the immediate aftermath. Agoglia and his team traveled to Picher following the deadly May 10 tornado.
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): Grissom and his team battle the flu when they are called upon by Deputy District Attorney Madeline Klein (Bonnie Bedelia, “The Division”) to investigate the deaths of several key witnesses for a grand jury case against a Las Vegas gang.
◊“Dirty Jobs” marathon (8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Discovery): Join host and perpetual apprentice Mike Rowe for this 18-hour marathon featuring viewers’ favorite episodes.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8:02 p.m. on ABC): A freak ice storm not only nrings trauma patients to Seattle Grace, it brings a mysterious military doctor as well. Kathy Baker (“Picket Fences”), Mariette Hartley (“One Life to Live”) and Bernadette Peters (“Living Proof”) guest star.
◊“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (8 a.m. on NBC): “Today” personalities Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer and Al Roker co-host the 82nd annual parade in New York City. The trip down Broadway will feature Oklahoma actress Kristin Chenoweth, Miley Cyrus, Trace Adkins, David Archuleta, The Cheetah Girls, James Taylor and Andy Williams, as well as 13 giant character helium balloons, 10 marching bands, 28 floats and more than 1,700 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers.
◊“The National Dog Show Presented By Purina” (11 a.m. on NBC): John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld”) returns as host of the purebred canine competition that is expected to feature more than 2,000 of the nation’s leading dogs representing more than 150 breeds.
◊“The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS” (7 a.m. on CBS): “The Early Show” anchors Dave Price and Maggie Rodriguez will cover the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live from New York’s Time Square. Clay Aiken (“American Idol”), Jessica Leccia (“Guiding Light”) and Julie Pinson (“As The World Turns”) will drop by to chat with Price and Rodriguez during the broadcast.
◊“VH1 Storytellers” Kid Rock” (8 p.m. on VH1): Kid Rock performs songs off of his latest double platinum-selling album, Rock ‘N Roll Jesus, in addition to past hits, backed by his Twisted Brown Trucker Band. Kid Rock will also share his inspiration and the stories behind his songs.
◊Oklahoma State University takes on Gonzaga in men’s college basketball action airing live at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
FRIDAY, NOV. 28
◊“25 Great Holiday Ideas” (8 p.m. on HGTV): Designers Angelo Surmelis and Erinn Valencich will demonstrate how to recreate 25 decorating and entertaining ideas that were submitted online by viewers.
◊“Abby in Wonderland” (5 a.m. on OETA-13): Follow “Sesame Street” characters Abby and Elmo down the rabbit hole in this re-imagining of Lewis Carrol’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Grover plays the Mad Hatter, the Cookie Monster is the Cheshire Cat and Bert and Ernie are Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
◊“Deadlist Catch” marathon (8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Discovery): Go on an 18-hour voyage with the captains and crews who do one of the deadliest jobs in the world — crab fishing in the Bering Sea.
◊“Forbes Top 20 Celebrity Cash Couples: Crazy Double Incomes” (7 p.m. on E!): Brad or Angelina? Beyonce or Jay Z? Seal or Heidi? Find out which half of these mega-star duos is making the most money.
◊“Monk” (8 p.m. on USA): In the new holiday episode titled “Mr. Monk and the Miracle,” three homeless men seek out Monk’s services. Natalie convinces the private detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder to investigate the death of their friend.
◊“Psych” (9 p.m. on USA): Shawn and Gus help a little girl get a “mall Santa” out of jail in time for Christmas in this new holiday episode. But they soon realize that their clients are con artists who have a big score planned. Phylicia Rashad guest stars as Gus’ mom.
◊“SpongeBob SquarePants” marathon (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Nickelodeon): The day-long marathon concludes with four new episodes: “The Slumber Party/Grooming Gary” (7 p.m.), “Porous Pockets” (7:30 p.m.), “Krusty Krushers/The Card” (8 p.m.) and “Dear Vikings/Ditchin” (8:30 p.m.). Also look for a preview of Nickelodeon’s new series “The Penguins of Madagascar” at approximately 7:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOV. 29
◊“The Comedy Festival Presents: Funniest Movies of the Year 2008” (9 p.m. on TBS): Impressionist Frank Caliendo (“Frank TV”) hosts this countdown of the year’s funniest movies. Viewers voted for the Top 10 comedies of 2008 on www.tbs.com.
◊“Ellen’s Even Bigger, Really Big Show” (8 p.m. on TBS): Emmy winner Ellen DeGeneres (“The Ellen DeGeneres Show”) hand-picked the performers appearing in this variety show. As host, Ellen will also perform her own stand-up comedy and take part in several humorous vignettes.
◊“Moonlight & Mistletoe” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): Tom Arnold (“Roseanne”) and Candace Cameron Bure (“Full House”) star in this new holiday family film. What begins as a simple effort to pull her dad out of debt ends up rekindling his daughter’s belief in the magic of Christmas.
◊“Sputnik Mania” (9 p.m. on History): On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into space. This new special tells the story of the launch and includes a collection of interviews and recently declassified insights into the high-level decisions that followed the dawn of the space age.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Oklahoma State Univertsity in college football action airing live at either 2:30 or 7 p.m. on ABC.
–Penny TV
Candidates making the talk show rounds
Network News Releases …
◊“Larry King Live” (8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, on CNN): Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and host Larry King will discuss the election and the quest for the presidency.
◊“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, on Comedy Central): Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama will appear via satellite from Florida where he continues his campaign with less than one week until Election Day.
◊“The Rachel Maddow Show” (8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, on MSNBC): Host Rachel Maddow will interview Barack Obama.
◊“The Situation Room” (3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, on CNN): Host Wolf Blitzer will sit down with Barack Obama, and the interview will air throughout the three-hour telecast. Viewers can submit questions for Obama online at www.iReport.com/Obama.
