The latest television news from NewsOK.com

Program Planner: Nov. 2-8

   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. 2:

SUNDAY NOV. 2
◊“All the President’s Men” (7 p.m. on TCM): John Dean, former White House counsel to President Nixon, sits down with TCM host Robert Osborne for an interview introducing a special presentation of the 1976 film that follows Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) as they uncover the Watergate scandal.
◊“Beer for My Horses” (6 p.m. on CMT): See Toby Keith’s summer theatrical release on TV before it hits DVD shelves (Nov. 11). The Oklahoma superstar co-wrote the movie with comedian Rodney Carrington from Tulsa, and they play best friends who work together as deputies in a small town.
◊“Brotherhood” (7 p.m. on Showtime): The drama series about an Irish-American family in Providence, R.I., returns for a third season. In the premiere episode titled ‘‘Uneasy Lies the Head,” Tommy (Jason Clarke) thinks about taking the plunge into a new career.
◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): The team will rebuild a 200-year-old farm house owned by a former boxer who runs a gym for underprivileged teens. Making appearances on the episode are boxing champions Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman and Oscar De La Hoya.
◊“Gone Missing” Vanished in Papua” (9 p.m. on Travel): This program documents the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, son of New York governor Nelson Rockefeller, who vanished in New Guinea on Nov. 18, 1961.
◊“The Simpsons” (7 p.m. on Fox): Three new bone-chilling tales will be told in “Treehouse of Horror XIX,” including one that parodies the classic Charlie Brown Halloween special.

MONDAY NOV. 3
◊“Antiques Roadshow” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Items evaluated in this “Politically Collect” edition include a collection of campaign buttons valued at $2,000 and signed photos of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson worth $75,000.
◊“The Bob & Tom Show” (11 p.m. weeknights on WGN): Hosts Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold bring their popular morning radio show  —  a mix of comedy, notable guests and entertaining conversation —  to TV.
◊“Boston Legal” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Alan and Denny sue the government when cattle rancher Carol Hober (guest star Valerie Bertinelli, “One Day at a Time”) accuses the USDA of not allowing her to test all of her cows for Mad Cow Disease.
◊“Deal or No Deal” (7 p.m. on NBC): The game show’s 200th episode will feature special speed rounds, in which each contestant will have only 20 seconds to decide if they want to take the banker’s offer. 
◊“Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): This new hourlong movie based on the popular primetime show takes preschoolers on a magical snowy adventure with Dora.
◊“First Class All the Way” (8 p.m. on Bravo): Sara Duffy, founder of a Los Angeles-based multi-million dollar travel concierge business, takes viewers inside the world of high-end luxury travel.
◊“Raising the Bar” (9 p.m. on TNT): In the first-season finale, a racially-charged case involving a firefighter forces Roz and Balco back into Judge Kessler’s courtroom.
◊“Samantha Who?” (8:31 p.m. on ABC): Sam teams up with Regina to start a real estare business and ends up falling for their first client (guest star James Tupper, “Men in Trees”).
◊“Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008” (8 p.m. on NBC): This new election-eve special featuring the best “SNL” political sketches, including Amy Poehler’s impersonation of Hillary Clinton and Fred Armisen’s take on Barack Obama.
◊“Sesame Street” (9 a.m. on OETA-13): Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”) guest stars as the Fairy Cookie Person, who grants the Cookie Monster a wish. Jessica Alba (“Dark Angel”) presents the word of the day  —  scrumptious.
◊“Worst Week” (8:30 p.m. on CBS): Sam loses one of the wedding rings that Mel’s grandmother gave to him to use on their wedding day. Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis (“Moonstruck”) guest stars as Mel’s Grandmother, June.
◊“WWE Monday Night Raw” (7 p.m. on USA): World Wrestling Entertainment superstars and divas will take part in this three-hour special celebrating the show’s 800th episode (but this will actually be the 806th installment). 

TUESDAY NOV. 4
◊“Recount” (5 p.m. on HBO): This 2008 docudrama revisits the 2000 presidential election in which ambiguous results from Florida kept the outcome uncertain for weeks. Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey plays Ron Klain, Al Gore’s former chief of staff.
◊“WordGirl” (4:30 p.m. on OETA-13): “A Vote for Becky” is a special Election Day episode that introduces young viewers to the concept of voting. It centers on a fifth-grade class president race and includes a funny take on events from real-life presidential campaigns.

WEDNESDAY NOV. 5
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): While investigating the kidnapping of a young boy in Las Vegas, Dr. Reid begins to have dreams that may help reveal some buried memories from his childhood,. Jane Lynch (“Two and a Half Men”) guest stars as Dr. Reid’s mother, Diana Reid.
◊“Dirty Sexy Money” (9:02 p.m. on ABC): While constantly being challenged in court by prosecutor Nola Lyons, Nick is facing an uphill battle defending Letitia in the murder case. Ron Glass (“Barney Miller”) guest stars as D.A. Dennis Ford.
◊“Law & Order” (9 p.m. on NBC)(NBC Photo above features cast members  S. Epatha Merkerson, Anthony Anderson and Jeremy Sisto): The longest-running crime series returns for its 19th season. Detectives Cyrus Lupo and Kevin Bernard return to investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of precinct lieutenant Anita Van Buren.
◊“Medal of Honor” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Oklahoma native Alfre Woodard (“My Own Worst Enemy”) narrates this new documentary that traces the history of the nation’s highest military honor back to the Civil War. It also profiles 18 recipients, including a Vietnam-era Army chaplain who returned his medal.
◊“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7 p.m. on CBS): Barb and Christine prepare for a non-relationship-seeking double date, but jealousy arises when one date goes better than the other. Tim DeKay (Bizarro Jerry on “Seinfeld”) reunites with Julia Louis-Dreyfus as her date.

THURSDAY NOV. 6
◊“50 Cent: The Money and the Power” (9 p.m. on MTV): Rapper 50 Cent (born Curtis Jackson) schools 14 aspiring business moguls in the art of success. Each week, the rapper will test the candidates on the knowledge he has taught them while pushing them to their limit. The candidate with the best business flair, strength, ambition and fearlessness will receive $100,000 from 50 Cent. 
◊“30 Rock” (8:31 p.m. on NBC): Liz flies to Chicago to get out of jury duty and on her return flight ends up with an asigned seat next to Oprah Winfrey.
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): When the CSI team investigates a case involving the world of domination, Grissom pays a visit to Lady Heather to help find some answers. Melinda Clarke (“The O.C.”) returns as Lady Heather. Grammy-winning rock band Linkin Park’s new hit single “Leave Out All the Rest” will be prominently featured in the episode.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Erica discovers a shocking connection between a longtime patient and one her her surgical residents. Kevin McKidd (“Rome”) guest stars.
◊High School Football: Edmond Santa Fe at Moore, 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Life on Mars” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): A racial war is sparked when a young black girl is murdered, and Sam and the detectives at the 1-2-5 face off with the neighborhood and each other. Whoopi Goldberg (“The View”) guest stars as Disc Jockey Brother Lovebutter.

FRIDAY NOV. 7
◊“CMT Crossroads” (8 p.m. on CMT): Country music singer Taylor Swift, 18, takes the stage with British rock band Def Leppard, whose members range in age from 45 to 50. Taylor and Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott swap lyrics on such hit songs as “Photograph,” “Hysteria,” “Picture to Burn” and “Love Story.” 
◊“Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (8 p.m. on Fox): The original members of the female R&B vocal quartet En Vogue reunite to lock in the lyrics for charity.
◊“Henry Rollins: Uncut From New Orleans” (9:30 p.m. on IFC): Three years after the destruction from Hurrican Katrina, the opinionated former lead singer of Black Flag ventures to New Orleans to examine the city’s current condition first hand.
◊High School Football: Edmond North at Westmoore, 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Claremore at Sapulpa, 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Survivorman” (8 p.m. on Discovery): Survival expert Les Stroud is back for a third season of intense temperatures, frustrations and challenges as he attempt to deliver episodes that demonstrate key survival skills.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): Don and the team investigate the disappearance of a magician after she mysteriously vanishes during an illusion. Magician Penn Jillette guest stars as himself.
◊“Whale Wars” (8 p.m. on Aninmal Planet): Join Captain Paul Watson and his conservation Society, Sea Shepherd, as they lead crusades against alleged illegal whaling operations, all documented in this new series.

SATURDAY NOV. 8
◊“Mail Order Bride” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): Daphne Zuniga (“Melrose Place”) stars as con artist Diana McQueen, who escapes from her boss (Greg Evigan, “My Two Dads”) by posing as her recently deceased friend who was moving to Wyoming as a mail order bride.
◊“True Jackson, VP” (8:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Keke Palmer (“Akeelah and the Bee”) stars in this new family-friendly sitcom as a smart-beyond-her-years teen heroine who is tapped to head the youth division of a major fashion label.
◊“Tasty Time With Zefronk” (5:25 a.m. on Disney): This new animated series for preschoolers features ZeFronk, a French Dachsund, who hosts a cooking show from his doghouse. He whips of healthy snacks for friends with the help of a bird named Sue.

–Penny TV
 

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Program Planner: Oct. 26-Nov. 1

   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 Oct. 26:

SUNDAY OCT. 26
◊“Brothers & Sisters” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Chad Lowe (“Life Goes On”) directs today’s episode titled “You Get What You Need,” in which Nora and Holly discuss William’s long lost son.
◊“Cities of the Underworld” (8 p.m. on History): Host Don Wildman is once again tearing through the streets of the world’s most famous cities to uncover secrets hundres of feet beneath the pavement. The Season 3 premiere stops in London.
◊“Entourage” (9 p.m. on HBO): Jamie-Lynn Sigler (“The Sopranos”) guest stars as herself in the new episode “First Class Jerk.” She finds herself next to Turtle on a plane, and he makes a mile-high claim his friends don’t buy.
◊“The Ghost of Mae Nek” (11 p.m. on Sundance): In this new take on a scary Thai legend, a pair of young newlyweds acquires an abandoned house in Bangkok that is the domain of a vengeful spirit.
◊“Mad Men” (9 p.m. on AMC): The Emmy-winning drama series starring Jon Hamm and John Slattery concludes its second season with the episode titled “Meditations on an Emergency.”
◊“Nature” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): “White Falcon, White Wolf” follows the perilous parenthood of two species  —  white gyrfalcons and Arctic wolves  —  that raise their families on Canada’s remote Ellesmere Island, where June is spring, July is summer and August is autumn.
MONDAY OCT. 27
◊“Boston Legal” (9:02 p.m. on ABC): Alan Shore and Denny Crane saddle up at a dude rance, but they find themselves at odds with their fellow horse enthusiasts and in court. Betty White (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) guest stars.
◊“Car Toons” (5:56 p.m. today through Wednesday on Toon Disney, channel 151 on Cox Digital Cable, 174 on Dish Network, 292 on Direct TV): This new animated short series features Mater, the rusty firetruck from the film “Cars.” All three short films will air throughout the day Saturday on the Disney Channel.
◊“Chuck” (7 p.m. on NBC): Life in espionage takes its toll on Chuck, who tries to explain his unusual behavior to the Buy More efficiency expert (Tony Hale, “Arrested Development”).
◊“How to Make a Hole-in-One” (10 p.m. on Golf Channel): Nick Faldo, who has made 11 aces, provides instruction in this humorous look at how to make golf’s toughest shot.
◊“Lisa Williams: Voices From the Other Side” (10 a.m. today through Friday on Lifetime): English clairvoyant Lisa Williams returns with a new five-episode special programming event airing this week. Each episode will feature Williams doing one-on-one readings in a studio and impromptu meetings with people on the street.
◊“Primal Fear” 8 p.m. on History): This two-hour special explores human fears, such as being buried alive, getting bit by a snake and drowning. The special will replay at 9 p.m. Friday. 
◊“Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): This rebroadcast from May was directed by series star Jon Cryer (Alan) and features guest star Susan Blakely (“Rich Man, Poor Man”).

TUESDAY OCT. 28
◊“Billy Wilder Speaks” (5:45 p.m. on TCM): This documentary uses footage from interviews director Billy Wilder gave over the years to tell the story of the man behind “Sunset Boulevard,” “Some Like It Hot,” “The Apartment” and other classics.
◊“Coolio’s Rules” (9 p.m. on Oxygen): Hip-hop star Coolio returns from life on the road and tries to get his family life in order in this new six-episode reality series.
◊“Dirty Jobs” (8 p.m. on Discovery): Host Mike Rowe teams up with the boys from Bartos Bait & Fish in Waubun, Minn., to catch leeches that will later be sold for fish bait.
◊“Greek” (8 p.m. on ABC Family)(ABC Family Photo above features Spencer Grammer, Lauren Conrad and Amber Stevens): Lauren Conrad (“The Hills”) guest stars as a spiritual adviser to Casey (Spencer Grammer) in the show’s second-season finale.
◊“Independent Lens” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Directors Sabiha Sumar and Sachithanandam sit down with Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf to address his ideas of a democratized society in their country.
◊“Nova” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The revolutionary new branch of math called fractals is the subject of the new episode “Hunting the Hidden Dimension.” It looks at how this “new math” could change our understanding of life.

WEDNESDAY OCT. 29
◊“Biography” (8 p.m. on Biography): Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama will be featured in back-to-back profiles.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): A serial killer who jumps trains and targets people living near the railway is the subject of a Behavioral Analysis Unit manhunt.  Meta Golding (“Eli Stone”) guest stars.
◊“Ghost Hunters” (8 p.m. on SCI FI): Colin Ferguson (“Eureka”) joins the TAPS team to investigate the historic USS Hornet aircraft carrier in San Francisco.
◊“Pushing Daisies” (7 p.m. on ABC): Ned is startled when a mysterious man (Stephen Root, “The West Wing”) appears at the diner claiming to be an old friend of his dad’s and asks for his help in finding him.
◊“A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Rick Sebak, inventor of the public television nostalgia documentary, takes viewers on an armchair trip on the United States’ first transcontinental highway, built in 1913.
◊“Shaken Not Stirred” (8 p.m. on My Network TV): This new series of specials morphs the old-school roast with edgy nighttime talk. The first installment welcomes Rev. Al Sharpton and “toasters” Anthony Anderson, D.L. Hughley, Paul Rodriguez and John Salley.
◊“Top Design” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Jeff Lewis (“Flipping Out”) is back to judge part one of the Season 2 finale, in which each designer is given one room in a house to create the best possible space.

THURSDAY OCT. 30
◊“30 Rock” (8:31 p.m. on NBC): In the third-season premiere of the two-time Emmy winner for best comedy series, Liz tries to keep the TGS (“The Girlie Show”) staff from ruining her chances at adoption when an evaluator (Megan Mullaly, “Will & Grace”) drops by the job.
◊“Austin City Limits” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Wallflowers leader Jakob Dylan showcases tunes from his debut solo album “Seeing Things.”
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): The CSI team investigates the suspicious death of a young woman who turns out to be the daughter of a wanted criminal. Nicholas Turturro (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”) and Jason Lewis (“Sex and the City”) guest star.
◊“Eleventh Hour” (9:01 p.m. on CBS): When a deadly virus infects a demolition site in Pittsburgh, Dr. Hood is called in to contain a potentially lethal outbreak. Oded Fehr (“Sleeper Cell”) guest stars.
High School Football: Norman North plays Edmond Santa Fe at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Iconoclasts” (9 p.m. on Sundance): This installment of the series that pairs together two leading innovators from different fields to discuss their passions features skateboarder Tony Hawk and actor Jon Favreau.
◊“Jacked: Auto Theft Task Force” (9 p.m. on A&E): In the season finale, the force gets a computerized license plate reader and takes it out for a spin/
◊“Life on Mars” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Sam is pulled back into his childhood when he becomes entangled in a local gangster’s assault on a young woman, who turns out to be his mother. Robert Klein (“The Stones”) guest stars as a mob boss.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Betty finds herself competing with Kimmie (Lindsay Lohan, “Georgia Rule”), who finally shows her true colors. Ralph Macchio (“The Karate Kid”) guest stars as a new customer at Hilda’s shop.

FRIDAY OCT. 31
◊“100 Scariest Moments” and “Even Scarier Movie Moments” (3 to 10 p.m. on Bravo): These back-to-back specials count down the most bone-chilling scenes in cinematic history. What will the scariest movie moment of all time be?
◊“Die, Monster, Die!” (8:30 p.m. on TCM): In this 1965 adaptation of a story by H.P. Lovecraft, Boris Karloff plays an Englishman whose household is being destroyed by a mysterious meteor that crash-landed nearby.
◊“Doomed to Die? 13 Most Shocking Hollywood Curses” (7 p.m. on E!): This hourlong countdown examines the mysteries, misfortunes and uncanny coincidences surrounding some of Hollywood’s most famous curses.
◊“Ghost Hunters Live” (6 p.m. on SCI FI): The TAPS team led by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson returns to the Fort Delaware for this live Halloween special. During their last visit in June, they experienced a variety of paranormal encounters.
◊High School Football: Choctaw plays Stillwater at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Sapulpa plays Sand Springs at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“True Hollywood Story” (8 p.m. on E!): Star Jones, whose publicized feuds with her former co-hosts on “The View” made her a household name, is profiled.

SATURDAY NOV.1
◊“Archangel” (7 p.m. on ION): Daniel Craig (“Casino Royale”) stars in this three-hour thriller that was adapted from author Robert Harris’ novel of the same name. The movie revists the stark landscape of Communist Russia and takes place over four days in the life of former Oxford historian Fluke Kelson (Craig).
◊“Center Stage: Turn It Up” (7 p.m. on Oxygen): This sequel to the 2000 feature film reunites Peter Gallagher (“The O.C.”) and ballet star Ethan Stiefel. They reprise their roles as Academy Artistic Director Jonathan Reeves (Gallagher) and teacher Cooper Nielsen (Stiefel) at the
fictitious New York City American Ballet Academy.
◊“Legend of the Seeker” (5 p.m. on KOKH-25): This new syndicated fantasy series follows the extraordinary travels of woodsman Richard Cypher (Craig Horner), who must stop a ruthless tyrant from unleashing an ancient evil and enslaving the world. The series kicks off with a two-hour premiere.
◊“Gladiators” (3 p.m. on BBC America): This British version of the popular competition series features 12 new Gladiators who rule the arena and control the fate of the contenders.

–Penny TV
 

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Program Planner: Oct. 19-25

   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 Oct. 19:

SUNDAY, OCT. 19
◊“Futurama” (7 p.m. on Comedy Central): The Emmy Award winning animated series begins a new four-part adventure titled “Beast With a Billion Backs.” Philip J. Fry and
the crew at Planet Express discover a giant hole in the universe and a one-eyed tentacular alien on the other side.
◊“Pulling” (8 p.m. on Sundance): This six-episode British series has been added to the network’s lineup. It follows a bride-to-be who realizes that getting married to her long–term boyfriend isn’t the best of ideas.
◊“Storm Chasers” (9 p.m. on Discovery): Reed Timmer, a PhD candidate in Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma, joins noted research meteorologist Dr. Joshua Wurman and filmmaker Sean Casey for the show’s second season. They provide a first-hand look at tornadoes demonstrate how research is helping improve early warning systems.

MONDAY, OCT. 20
◊“American Experience” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): ‘‘Beautiful Texas/My Fellow Americans,” Part 1 of the two-parter ‘‘LBJ,” paints an intricate portrait of President Lyndon B. Johnson via family movies, rare photos and interviews.
◊“Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” (9 p.m. on Travel Channel): For Season 4, Anthony Bourdain spans the far reaches of the globe to bring viewers a diverse selection of sights, smells, sounds and tastes.
◊“Boston Legal” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Annie Potts (“Designing Women”) guest stars as Jerry Espenson’s sister who needs his help to find out the identity of the father of her son.
◊“Chuck” (7 p.m. on NBC): Chuck learns more about Sarah’s past when they run into her old high school nemesis, Heather Chandler (Nicole Richie, “The Simple Life”). Ben Savage (“Boy Meets World”) guest stars as Heather’s nerdy husband.
◊“El Rostro de Analia” (8 p.m. on KTUZ-30): This new series, which translates to “The Face of Analia,” follows a woman whose face is reconstucted in the image of her murderer, and she returns from the dead to re-claim what is hers.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): After Stella and Ted make the spontaneous decision to get married in three days, the presence of their exes destroys what was to be the happiest day of their lives. Sarah Chalke (“Scrubs”) and Jason Jones (“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart”) guest star.
◊“Jose Canseco: Last Shot” (9 p.m. on A&E): This new special focuses on Jose Canseco, the Cuban-born baseball player who admitted to using steroids and named other players who did in his 2005 autobiography. Now in his 40s, he’s still taking the drugs and wants to get clean.
◊“Real Chance of Love” (8 p.m. on VH1): Bachelor brothers Real and Chance, who were not lucky in love on “I Love New York,” get a second chance in this new reality series. They are the ones in countrol this time as 17 women move into their ranch house to fight for their hearts.
◊“Rita Rocks” (7:30 p.m. on Lifetime): This new sitcom stars Nicole Sullivan (‘‘MADtv”) as the title character, who’s suffering from a case of ‘‘having it all syndrome.” Oklahoma City-born actress Tisha Campbell-Martin (‘‘My Wife and Kids”) co-stars.
◊“Scream Queens” (9 p.m. on VH1): This new series follows 10 unknown actresses in search of their big break as they compete for a role in the upcoming movie “Saw VI.”
◊“Ski Patrol” (7 p.m. on truTV): This new series spotlights an elite group of patrollers from Crystal Mountain, Wash., and Blue Mountain, Pa., who keep the ski slopes safe. Their special training makes them part mountain recuers, part medical technicians and part cops.

TUESDAY, OCT. 21
◊“Eli Stone” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Katie Holmes (“Batman Begins”) guest stars as an attorney whose mysterious fate leads her to Eli.
◊“Frank TV” (10 p.m. on TBS): Comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo’s late-night series returns with new episodes and two new regulars: fellow impressionists Mike MacRae and Freddy Lockhart.
◊“The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” (9 p.m. on Oxygen): The models hit the runway for a green fashion show in the season finale. A “Reunion” show follows and features some never-before-seen spy camp footage.
◊“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m. on NBC): Detectives Stabler and Benson investigate the case of a baby infected with AIDS. Martin Mull (“Mrs. Doubtfire”) guest stars as a homeopathic doctor who goes on trial for the death of a young girl with AIDS.
◊“Living With the Wolfman” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): This new series chronicles the adventures of Shaun, a wolf expert who’s spent the past several years raising a wild pack of the beasts in an English wildlife park.
◊“Nova” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): In the new episode ‘‘Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives,” Mark Oliver Everett (E of the band the EELS) travels across American to learn about the father he never knew — Hugh Everett III, one of America’s top quantum physicists who, in 1957 came up with a revolutionary theory that predicted the existence of parallel universes.
◊“Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film” (7 p.m. on TCM): Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”) narrates this new documentary that traces the growth of the crime movie genre.
◊“Rookies” (9 p.m. on A&E): This new series follows a new class of cadets as they graduate from the police academy in Tampa, Fla., and begin 12 weeks of street patrol in a city where the crime rate is sky-high.
◊“Scream 2008″ (8 p.m. on SPIKE): This awards show honors the best in horror, science fiction, fantasy and comics. Leading the way for the third annual event is the summer blockbuster ‘‘The Dark Knight” with 21 nominations.
◊“Without a Trace” (9 p.m. on CBS): The team investitages when the teenage son of a Secret Service agent disappears. Steven Weber (“Brothers & Sisters”) returns as Clark Medina, the new head of the Missing Persons Squad.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): The Behavioral Analysis Unit team hunts for a serial killer who stages car accidents to hide the true nature of his crimes. William Mapother (“Lost”) and Wil Wheaton (“Stand By Me”) guest star.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): The murder of a corporate fixer takes the investigators into the disparate worlds of political corruption, personal betrayal and silicone dolls. Mykelti Williamson (“Forrest Gump”) guest stars as chief od detectives Brigham Sinclair.
◊“Dirty Sexy Money” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Former CBS news anchor Dan Rather modorates a debate bwteen senatorial candidate Patrick Darling and his opponent.
◊“Independent Lens” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The new season opens with “Chicago 10,” which combines animated segments with archival footage to revisit the infamous trial of eight men accused of incitement to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
◊“Pushing Daisies” (7 p.m. on ABC): When the most popular escort at a rent-a-friend agency turns up dead, the team investigates who killed him, including the guy’s antisocial taxidermy-loving roommate (David Arquette, “Scream”).

THURSDAY, OCT 23
◊The Third Annual BET Hip Hop Awards (7 p.m. on BET): Katt Williams (“Norbit”) hosts the event that pays homage to urban music and culture. Lil’ Wayne received 12 nominations, followed by Kanye West with eight and Jay Z with six.
◊“Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” (9 p.m. on VH1): Celebrity patients joining Dr. Drew Pinsky in his show’s second season include Sean Stewart (“Sons of Hollywood”), Tawny Kitaen (“The New WKRP in Cincinnati”) and Steven Adler (Guns n Roses). Gary Busey (“Into the West”), who is 13 years sober from his cocaine addiction, will share his experiences with the others.
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): The CSI team investigates a series of victims found frozen in place after death. Lauren Lee Smith (“The L Word”) joins the cast as CSI Riley Adams.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Bailey spearheads a domino surgery in which each procedure depends on the success of the one before it. Kevin McKidd (“Rome”) and Carl Lumbly (“Alias”) guest star.
High School Football: Norman vs. Westmoore at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Tulsa Edison vs. Tulsa Central at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Iconoclasts” (9 p.m. on Sundance): This installment of the series that pairs together two leading innovators from different fields features fashion designer Stella McCartney (daughter of Paul McCartney) and artist Edward Ruscha (born in Nebraska and raised in Oklahoma City).
◊“Johny Cash’s America” (8 p.m. on Bio Channel): Chris Cooper (“American Beauty”) narrates this two-hour documentary that sheds new light on the life and times of the “man in black.” Included are interviews with Cash’s family, Al Gore, Sheryl Crow and more.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Lindsay Lohan (“Mean Girls”) returns as Kimmie Keegan, who asks for Betty’s help in finding a job.

FRIDAY, OCT. 24
◊High School Football: Putnam North vs. Mustang at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Midwest City vs. Putnam City at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“True Hollywood Story: Heidi Klum” (8 p.m. on E!): Heidi Klum, a supermodel whose list of accomplishments also includes designer, producer and mother, is profiled.

SATURDAY, OCT. 25
◊“America’s Toughest Job” (7 p.m. on NBC): The final four contestants revisit the most challenging jobs of the season — logging, oil rigging and crab fishing — to decide who takes home the cash prize. The winner gets the combined first-year salary of all the jobs completed this season.
◊“Generation Gap” (8 p.m. on Hallmark)(Pictured above in Hallmark Channel Photo): Ed Asner (“Lou Grant”) stars as a crusty veteran taking care of his rebellious grandson (Alex Black) for the summer. Oklahoma native Rue McClanahan (“The Golden Girls”)  plays a waitress who pursues Asner’s character and Ralph Waite (“The Waltons”) plays his war buddy.
◊“Giada at Home” (noon on Food Network): Chef Diada De Laurentiis shares her recipes for Halloween spice cake with orange butter cream and chocolate-dipped nougat with dried apricots.
◊“Paula’s Party” (7 p.m. on Food Network): Chef Paula Deen makes baked pumpkin ziti with fitness guru Richard Simmons, pumpkins cakes with Anna Gasteyer (“Saturday Night Live”) and a spicy vampire dip with Kyle Massey (“Cory in the House”).
◊“Rocco Gets Real” (noon on A&E): This new series follows celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito as he travels the country to help those who are clueless in the kitchen through everyday cooking dilemmas.
◊“Saturday Night Live” (10:29 p.m. on NBC): Today’s host is Jon Hamm, who won a Golden Globe and received SAG and Emmy nominations for his role on “Mad Men.” Coldplay is the
musical guest.
◊“The World’s Ugliest Dog Competition” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): Beth Ostrosky (“Filter”) hosts this special that follows contestants as they prepare for the annual event in Petaluma, Calif.
–Penny TV

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Program Planner: Oct. 12-18

   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 Oct. 12:

SUNDAY OCTOBER 12, 2008
◊“Army Wives” (9 p.m. on Lifetime): Rumer Willis (daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis) guest stars as the wife of a young soldier injured in Iraq.
◊“The Chef Jeff Project” (9 p.m. on Food Network): This new reality series follows Chef Jeff Henderson, a former prison inmate turned executive chef, as he attempts to transform the lives of six troubled young adults through the power of food.
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): John Finn, who plays Lt. John Stillman, directed today’s episode titled “Wednesday’s Women.”
◊“Collaboration Now” (7 p.m. on CNBC): Donny Deutsch hosts this five-hour series that is designed to help organizations navigate the new waves of collaboration to help them implement effective collaborative strategies.
◊“Yard Sale ‘08″ (7 p.m. on HGTV): In this annual evet, hosts Steven Lee and Elyse Luray search out incredible deals along the world’s longest yard sale — a 630-mile stretch of Route 127 between Alabama and Ohio.
◊“Frosted Pink With a Twist” (3 p.m. on KOCO-5): Olympic champions Shannon Miller and Scott Hamilton co-host this event that features performances by 2008 men’s and women’s U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams paired with Grammy Award-winning singers Carole King and Cyndi Lauper.
◊“Hannah Montana” (7 p.m. on Disney): Corbin Bleu (“High School Musical”) returns to the guest starring role he played in the series pilot. Also guest starring are Ray Romano (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), Donny Osmond (“College Road Trip”) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Barbershop”).
◊“The Pickup Artist 2″ (9 p.m. on VH1): World renowned pickup guru Mystery returns for a second season to teach nine socially awkward students the art of wooing women.
◊“Rock of Love: Charm School” (8 p.m. on VH1): In this new series, Sharon Osbourne (“America’s Got Talent”) will teach notorious contestants from “Rock of Love With Bret Michaels” the art of becoming more lady-like.
◊TCM Tribute — Paul Newman: To honor the career of Paul Newman, who died Sept. 26, TCM will air 11 of his films, including “Torn Curtain” (9 a.m.), “Hud” (5 p.m.) and “Cool Hand Luke” (9 p.m.).

MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2008
◊“Arthur” (3:30 p.m. on OETA-13): Cyclist Lance Armstrong guest stars in the episode “Room to Ride” about the importance of bike safety and good citizenship.
◊“Chuck” (7 p.m. on NBC): Morgan faces a challenge at Buy More when he must deal with a gang of bullies from a neighboring sporting goods store. Former New York Giants player Michael Strahan guest stars as Mitt, the leader of the bullies.
◊“Koppel on Discovery: The Last Lynching” (9 p.m. on Discovery): Discovery Channel managing editor Ted Koppel and his team examine America’s recent history of racial violence.
◊“My Own Worst Enemy” (9 p.m. on NBC)(NBC Photo above features show’s cast): Christian Slater stars in this new series as a guy with two identities: a mild-mannered efficiency expert named Henry and a covert operative named Edward who’s trained to kill. Tulsa native Alfre Woodard plays Edward’s boss, Mavis Heller.
◊“Raising the Bar” (9 p.m. on TNT): Jerry’s latest client becomes a victim of internal judicial politics. Tempestt Bledsoe (“The Cosby Show”) guest stars.
◊“Samantha Who?” (8:31 p.m. on ABC): In the second-season premiere, Samantha teams up with her mother for a dance competition in order to beat Regina’s nemesis, Paula Drake (Cybill Shepherd, “Moonlighting”). But Paula hires Mateo Ballas (“Dancing With the Stars”) as her dance partner — a ringer who may help her win the contest.
◊“Secrets of Body Language” (8 p.m. on History): The role and influence of body language, from a historical perspective through today, is explored in this new two-hour special.
◊“Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery” (8 p.m. on HBO): This documentary takes an intimate look at the burial grounds of the U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
◊“SpongeBob SquarePants” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Ray Liotta (“Goodfellas”) provides the voice of the Bubble Poppin’ Boys leader in the new special titled “WhoBob WhatPants?” The special is preceded by a four-hour “SpongeBob SquarePants: marathon from 3 to 7 p.m.
◊“Top 10 Holes-in-One” (10 p.m. on Golf Channel): This special counts down the top holes-in-one, including Fuzzy Zoeller’s gravity defying ace at the Allianz Championship and Rich Beem’s shot that earned him a new car.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2008
◊“The Cleaner” (9 p.m. on A&E): Guest starring in the first-season finale are Kim Fields (“The Facts of Life”), Malcolm Jamal Warner (“The Cosby Show”) and Ralph Waite (“The Waltons”).
◊“Eli Stone” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Oscar winner Sigourney Weaver guest stars as a therapist in the Season 2 premiere.
◊“Frontline” (8 p.m. on OETA-13) The season premiere installment titled “The Choice 2008” profiles presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain to discover how they arrived at this moment and what their different candidacies say about America.
◊“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m. on NBC): Detective Elliott Stabler’s job and personal life become intertwined when he discovers his daughter is the suspect. Ellen Burstyn (“That’s Life”) guest stars as Stabler’s estranged mother.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): A murder investigation leads to the town where NCIS Special Agent Jetrho Gibbs grew up. Ralph Waite (“The Waltons”) guest stars as Gibbs’ father.
◊“NOVA” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Through interviews with astronauts, their families and members of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, this installment gives viewers a new look at the Columbia space shuttle tragedy.
◊“The Nuclear Option” (8 p.m. on CNBC): This new special explores how nucler power works and looks at the benefits and the challenges of this energy source.
◊“Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod” (9 p.m. on Discovery): This new 6-part series spotlights the grueling 1,150 mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. It was filmed in March 2008 and tells stories through the eyes of the competitors.
◊“Wheel of Fortune” (6:30 p.m. on KOCO-5): History will be made on today’s episode. That is all that is known, as Pat Sajak, Vanna White and the entire “Wheel of Fortune” crew are keeping their lips sealed.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2008
◊“Chocolate News” (9:30 p.m. on Comedy Central): David Alan Grier hosts this new character-driven sketch magazine series that presents a hilarious take on pop culture events.
◊Presidential Debate (8 p.m. on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, OETA-13, C-Span, Fox News and CNN): Bob Schieffer (“Face the Nation) moderates the third debate between John McCain and Barack Obama that is being held at Hofstra University on New York’s Long Island.
◊“Parking Wars” (9 p.m. on A&E): The Philadelphia Parking Authority are back for a second season of ticketing, booting and towing cars.
◊“Project Runway” (8 p.m. on Bravo): It’s time to discover who has made the cut in the Season 5 finale. The winner will walk away with a cash prize of $100,000 in seed money from TRESemme professional hair care to start their own line.
◊“Prototype This” (8 p.m. on Discovery): This new series features a dream team of electronics specialists, engineers, professors and special effects experts who combine their skills to invent completely new technology.
◊“Time Warp” (7 p.m. on Discovery): In this new series, MIT scientist and engineer Jeff Lieberman uses state-of-the-art camera equipment and editing techniques to reveal things that are normally beyond our senses because they take place too quickly or slowly.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 16, 2008
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): A hypnotist who uses her powers of persuasion to rob banks becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Glenne Headly (‘‘Mr. Holland’s Opus”) guest stars.
◊“ER” (9 p.m. on NBC): Angela Bassett (“Meet the Browns”) joins the cast as Dr. Cate Banfield, a tough-as-nails attending physician whose arrival shakes up the ER.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Eric Stoltz (“Chicago Hope”) directs today’s episode in which Meredith struggles with the discovery of her mother’s long-lost diary.
◊High School Football: Tuttle vs. Newcastle at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Carl Albert vs. Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Iconoclasts” (9 p.m. on Sundance): The series that pairs together two leading innovators from different fields to discuss their passions and creative processes begins its fourth season. The premiere features Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.
◊“The Office” (8 p.m. on NBC): Michael practices for the birth of Jan’s baby by having Dwight go over possible birthing scenarios. Meanwhile, Michael tells Holly (guest star Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”) that he will pretend to dislike her for Jan’s benefit.
◊“P.O.V.” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): In the new installment titled “Soliders of Conscience,” eight soldiers reveal the tension between spiritual values and military orders.
◊“Speeders Fight Back” (7:30 p.m. on truTV): This new series sdetails the fascinating and often hilarious things people say and do in court in desperate attempts to get out of tickets. Chief Magistrate Brenda Di Ioia keeps everyone honest as they have their day in court.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 17, 2008
◊“Crash” (9 p.m. on Starz, channel 390 on Cox Cable, 350 on Dish Network, 520 on Direct TV): The cable network’s first original scripted drama will focus on social and racial tolerance through a diverse group of characters, including a maverick record producer played by Dennis Hopper (“Speed”).
◊“Crusoe” (7 p.m. on NBC): Philip Winchester (“Flyboys”) stars in this new series as Crusoe, the 17th-century shipwrescke survivor living on an island with his native companion, Friday (Tongayi Chirisa).
◊High School Football: Heritage Hall vs. Fairview at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Coweta vs. Tulsa East Central at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): When eight people, including two police officers, are executed in a coffee shop, an Los Angeles police detective gets the team on the case. D.B. Woodside (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) and Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”) guest star.
◊“True Hollywood Story” (8 p.m. on E!): Oprah Winfrey, who continues to inspire through her charitable works and highly-rated talk show, is profiled.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 18, 2008
◊“Giada at Home” (noon on Food Network): Chef Giada De Laurentiis expands beyond her Italian cooking repertoire with this new daytime series. It showcases her other culinary specialties, as she finds inspiration from local influences and Southern Californian ingredients.
◊“Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling” (7 p.m. on CMT): Hulk Hogan (“American Gladiators”) returns to the ring as host and judge of this new series that features 10 celebrities attempting to become professional-quality wrestlers. Contestants include NBA player Dennis Rodman, Erin Murphy (“Bewitched”), Todd Bridges (“Diff’rent Strokes”), Danny Bonaduce (“The Partridge Family”) and pop singer Tiffany.
◊“Ladies of the House” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): Donna Mills (“Knot’s Landing”), Pam Grier (“The L Word”) and Florence Henderson (“The Brady Bunch”) star as three friends who take on the rebuilding of a run-down house. They also discover that their own lives require an equal amount of renovation.
◊“Living Proof” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Harry Connick Jr. (“South Pacific”) stars as Dr. Dennis Slamon, the UCLA doctor who helped develop the breast cancer drug Herceptin. Also starring in the fact-based film are Amanda Bynes (“Hairspray”), Tammy Blanchard (“Sybil), Jennifer Coolodge (“Joey”), Angie Harmon (“Women’s Murder Club”), Regina King (“Ray”), Swoosie Kurtz (“Pushing Daisies”), Amy Madigan (“Carnivale”) and Bernadette Peters (“Pennies From Heaven”).
◊“The Naked Brothers Band” (7:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon): The mockumentary series kicks off its third season with an hourlong movie titled “Mystery Girl.” Miranda Cosgrove (“iCarly”) guest stars.
–Penny TV

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Program Planner: October 5-11

   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 Oct. 5:

SUNDAY OCTOBER 5, 2008
◊“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (6 p.m. on ABC): Host Tom Bergeron is back to introduce new footage for the show’s 19th season. The winner of this year’s best video will receive a membership in the Disney Vacation Club for 50 years.
◊“Easy Money” (8 p.m. on CW): This new drama about a family that runs a high interest loan business stars Laurie Metcalf (“Roseanne”), Jeff Hephner (“The O.C.”) and Judge Reinhold (“Swing Vote”).
◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): The Jonas Brothers and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo make special appearances in this installment devoted to the Akers family of West Chester, Ohio.
◊“Female Forces” (9 p.m. on Bio Channel): This new series rides shotgun with female officers from the Naperville, Ill., police department.
◊“First Annual Worldwide Fido Awards” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Fred Willard (“Best in Show,” Pictured above in Nickelodeon Photo) hosts this event that showcases talented canines in six categories, including best voice, best trick and cutest dog.
◊“The Girls Next Door” (9 p.m. on E!): Hugh Hefner and his three lovely companions — Holly, Bridget and Kendra — are back in action for another season. Their adventures kick off with a celebration of the Playboy magazine mogul’s birthday in Las Vegas.
◊“In Harm’s Way” (6 p.m. on CW): This new reality series focuses on people who risk their lives in a multitude of life-threatening jobs.
◊“Masterpiece Contemporary” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The new five-part miniseries “The Last Enemy” follows a British mathematician (Dominic Cumberbatch) who returns from abroad to find his country transformed into a hyper-paranoid surveillance society plagued by terrorists, fugitives and spies.
◊“Studio DC” (7 p.m. on Disney): Selena Gomez (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) and the Muppets co-host this music-filled sketch comedy special that will feature guest appearances by Disney Channel stars. The Cheetah Girls perform a Bollywood dance number with Miss Piggy and Demi Lovato (“Camp Rock”) sings a song with Beaker.
◊“Valentine” (7 p.m. on CW): In this new romantic comedy starring Jaime Murray (“Dexter”) and Autumn Reeser (“The O.C.”), the Valentines do whatever it takes to bring soulmates together, all the while keeping their true identities secret.

MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2008
◊The Fifth Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors (9 p.m. on VH1): Tracy Morgan hosts this tribute to hip hop luminaries who broke new ground and pioneered the genre into a cultural phenomenon. This year’s honorees include Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature, Slick Rick and Too $hort.
◊“14 Women” (8 p.m. on Sundance): This documentary, which was filmed from 2004 to 2006, provides an intimate portrait of the 14 women serving in the United States Senate. It is directed by Mary Lambert, whose sister is Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln.
◊“American Experience” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The installment titled ‘‘Jimmy Carter” profiles the former Georgia Democratic governor who was elected president of the United States in 1976. Among those interviewed are Carter’s wife, Rosalynn, son Chip, former Vice President Walter Mondale and press secretary Jody Powell.
◊“Chuck” (7 p.m. on NBC): Chuck must go undercover to retrieve the Cipher from the Black Widow. Melinda Clarke (“The O.C.” guest stars as the Black Widow and John Larroquette (“Night Court”) guest stars as debonair spy Roan Montgomery.
◊“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): When the daughter of Delko’s therapist is murdered, Horatio and the CSI team must find the killer before Delko’s darkest secrets are exposed. Gail O’Grady (“American Dreams”) guest stars.
◊“Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed” (8 p.m. on My Network TV): More than 120 of magic’s most memorable illusions will be unveiled, including the “Milk Can Escape,” “Flying,” “Walking on Water” and “Crushed by a Steamroller.”
◊“My Big Amazing Renovation” (8 p.m. on HGTV): This new series captures the thrill of extreme home renovating, as homeowners transform their ordinary residences into unbelievable homes.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2008
◊“Dirty Jobs” (8 p.m. on Discovery): Host and creator Mike Rowe is back with new fourth-season episodes that spotlight the dignity of a hard day’s work. In today’s episode, Rowe works as a tar rigger.
◊“NOVA” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The season premiere installment titled “Arctic Dinosaurs” breathes tlife into the polar dinosaurs’ lives and environment with the help of computer-generated imagery.
◊Presidential Debate (8 p.m. on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, OETA-13, C-Span and Fox News): Tom Brkoaw moderates this debate airing live from Belmont University in Nashville. This is the second debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
◊“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (8 p.m. on Bravo): This new series will follow five women from Atlanta’s social elite — including NBA and NFL wives — as they juggle their careers and home lives.
 
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2008
◊“60 in 30: Holes-in-One” (8 p.m. on Golf Channel): This fast-paced special will feature 60 holes-in-one in 30 minutes. Among those featured making golf’s most famous shot are Tiger Woods and Gene Sarazen.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): Prentiss and Reid are taken hostage by an underground cult during a federal raid. Luke Perry (“Beverly Hills, 90210″) guest stars as cult leader Benjamin Cyrus.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): Mac processes a mile-high crime scene when an air marshal is murdered on board his plane shortly after takeoff. Recording artist Nelly guest stars.
◊“Dirty Sexy Money” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Recording artist Kenny G performs on the episode titled “The Family Lawyer.”
◊“Latinos ’98″ (8 p.m. on OETA-13): This documentary examines how today’s candidates and advocacy groups are trying to mobilize and attract Latino voters.
◊“Myths and Legends” (9 p.m. on TV Land): More Hollywood mysteries will be explored in the show’s second season. One topic addressed in the premiere is whether comedienne Phyllis Diller is the mother of Susan Lucci (“All My Children”).
◊“Project Runway” (8 p.m. on Bravo): Finalists showcase their designs for the competition’s final challenge — the runway show during Fashion Week at Bryant Park in New York City. Tim Gunn (“Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style”) served as a special guest judge on the episode, which is the first installment of the two-part finale.
◊“The Tony Rock Project” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Chris Rock’s younger brother hosts this new series. Through man-on-the-street style interviews and hidden camera segments, Rock observes the hilarious habits of regular people.
◊“World’s Funniest Moments” (8 p.m. on My Network TV): Arsenio Hall (“Coming to America”) hosts this new series that features life’s most outrageous moments caught on tape.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2008
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): The CSI team deals with the aftermath of Warrick’s shooting on the ninth-season premiere. Jorja Fox reprises her role as Sara Sidle.
◊“Eleventh Hour” (9 p.m. on CBS): This new drama series follows Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell), a biophysicist and special science advisor to the FBI, who investigates scientific crimes and crises. In the premiere, Dr. Hood investigates an attempt at human cloning.
◊High School Football: Mustang vs. Norman North at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Edmond North vs. Putnam City at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Kath & Kim” (7:30 p.m. on NBC): Molly Shannon and Selma Blair play the mother and daughter in this American adaptation of the Australian hit comedy series. Kath is a 40-something divorcee, and Kim is her self-absorbed daughter, who moves back in with her after a failed marriage.
◊“Life on Mars” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Based on a popular British series, this new drama stars Jason O’Mara (‘‘Men in Trees”) as New York police detective who’s injured in an accident and wakes up in 1973. He’s still on the force, but  has to adjust to his outdated surroundings and police methods of a by-gone era.
◊“My Name Is Earl” (7 p.m. on NBC): Earl attends cheer camp with Randy to check No. 45 off his list. Jenna Elfman (“Dharma & Greg”) guest stars as the camp owner.
◊“The Office” (8 p.m. on NBC): Following Ryan’s recent scandal at corporate, Holly (guest star Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”) must hold a business ethics seminar.
◊“Testees” (9:30 p.m. on FX): This new comedy series stars Canadian newcomers Steve Markle and Jeff Kassel as roommates who who work as test subjects for a product testing facility. They try to live their lives while waiting for the side effects from the untested products to wear off.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Mark Consuelos (“For the Love of Grace”) guest stars as a police detective who investigates an accident at Mode magazine.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 10, 2008
◊“Ben 10: Alien Force” (8:30 p.m. on Cartoon Network): The animated series continues with new episodes. Ben Tennyson chooses to once again put on nthe Omnitrix, and he discovers that it has reconfigured his DNA and can now transform him into 10 brand-new aliens.
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): An unexpected death of a former classmate pulls Melinda into the dark past of a group of friends. Rachael Leigh Cook (“She’s All That”) guest stars as one of Melinda’s former high school friends.
◊High School Football: Clinton vs. Tuttle at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Yukon vs. Tulsa Union at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Most Haunted Live: Gettysburg” (7 p.m. on Travel Channel): This seven-hour live broadcast will feature the “Most Haunted” team, lead by Yvette Fielding, conducting in-depth paranormal investigations at five historic locations in Gettysburg, Pa.
◊“The Starter Wife” (8 p.m. on USA): The 2007 miniseries is back as a 10-episode series. Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”) returns as Molly Kagan, a Hollywood divorcee who is beginning a new chapter in her life.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): The team investigates an increase in ATM kidnappings when one of the adbucted women is murdered. Keith Carradine (“Deadwood”) guest stars as Carl McGowan, the FBI investigator who will determine the fate of Charlie’s security clearance.
◊“The Ex List” (8 p.m. on CBS): Bella reunites with Jake, a former former homebody turned fitness fanatic, who plans strenuous activities for their dates to prove he isn’t a slacker anymore. Eric Winter (“Brothers & Sisters”) guest stars as Jake.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 11, 2008
◊“Dogs 101/Cats 101” (7 p.m. on Animal Planet): This new 10-episode series provides the most comprehensive look at dogs and cats on television. The first eight episodes explore popular dog breeds, while the final two focus on popular feline breeds.
◊“The Graham Norton Show” (9 p.m. on BBC America): The British talk show host returns for a fourth season of comedy monologues and celebrity chats.
◊“Little Einsteins” (7 a.m. on Disney): Ethan Bortnick, a 7-year-old piano prodigy, performs Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 21″ in this new episode of the art-filled preschool series. Bortnick taught himself how to play piano at age three after listening to the “Baby Einstein” DVDs.
◊“Macys Passport Celebrity Catwalk Challenge” (7 p.m. on NBC): Tori Spelling (“Tori and Dean”) hosts this special featuring NBC stars walking the runway for Macy’s signature passport fashion show. Among the celebrities strutting their stuff are Jerry Springer (“America’s Got Talent”), Jack Coleman (“Heroes”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”).
◊“Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi” (5:15 p.m. on Showtime): This 2006 documentary chronicles the career of Christian Hosoi, one of the stars of the sport in the 1980s. Fellow skateboarder and rival Tony Hawk is among those weighing in on Hosoi, who descended into drug addiction but underwent a religious conversion and got clean.
◊The University of Oklahoma will take on Texas in college football action airing live at 11 a.m. on ABC.

–Penny TV

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Program Planner: Sept. 28-Oct. 4

   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 Sept. 28:

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
◊“60 Minutes” (6 p.m. on CBS): The CBS newsmagazine with features focusing on people and events in the news and behind the headlines begins its 41st season.
◊“The Amazing Race” (7 p.m. on CBS): Host Phil Keoghan will welcome 11 new teams to the 13th edition of the six-time Emmy-winning reality show. They will trek around the world and compete in a series of challenges at every destination. The first team to arrive at the final destination wins $1 million.
◊“American Dad” (8:30 p.m. on Fox)(Fox Photo pictured above): Roger celebrates his birthday on the fourth-season premiere.
◊“Brothers & Sisters” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Tensions run high and secrets are revealed when the Walker family takes a disastrous weekend getaway together on the third-season premiere.
◊“Californication” (9 p.m. on Showtime): In Season 2, Hank Moody and his wife, Karen, hit the highway to love. But Hank’s new job as a biography ghost writer for a music producer might prove to be a major pothole.
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): In the sixth-season premiere, Det. Lilly Rush and the Philadelphia Homicide Squad re-open the 1973 case of a murdered football player. New evidence surfaces that shows the college quarterback may have been killed earlier than originally thought and that a steriod cover-up might have been involved.
◊“Desperate Housewives” (8 p.m. on ABC): The fifth-season premiere opens five years in the future. Gabrielle is a mom, Lynette’s twins are budding delinquents, Susan has a new guy and Bree has a new career.
◊“Dexter” (8 p.m. on Showtime): Jimmy Smits joins the cast for Season 3. He plays Miguel Prado, a prosecutor who forms an unlikely friendship with Dexter Morgan. They find themselves in pursuit of a murderer who has affected both of their lives.
◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (6 p.m. on ABC): In the sixth-season premiere, a new home is presented to a single mother in Maryland struggling to keep her 10 nieces and nephews out of the foster care system. Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”) and Washington Redskins player Chris Cooley make appearances.
◊“Family Guy” (8 p.m. on Fox)(Fox Photo pictured above): Brian and Cleveland compete for love on the seventh-season premiere.
◊“King of the Hill” (7:30 p.m. on Fox)(Fox Photo pictured above): The Emmy Award-winning animated series opens Season 13 with its 250th episode titled “Serves Me Right for Giving General George S. Patton the Bathroom Key.” It takes place a year after the death of Hank’s dad, Cotton Hill, and Hank tries to honor his father’s final wish.
◊“The Life & Times of Tim” (10 p.m. on HBO): This new offbeat animated series chronicles the misadventures of a twentysomething New Yorker whose instincts repeatedly lead him down the wrong path.
◊“Little Britain USA” (9:30 p.m. on HBO):  Matt Lucas and David Walliams rocketed to stardom in the United Kingdom and Australia as stars of the BBC comedy series “Little Britain.”  Now they’re bringing their unique brand of laughs to the United States.
◊“Masterpiece” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): British pop star-turned-actress Billie Piper (‘‘Doctor Who”) stars in the new mystery ‘‘The Shadow in the North” that is based on a novel by Philip Pullman. She plays sleuth Sally Lockhart, who tries to unravel three seemingly unconnected events that set her on the trail of an evil more awful than she could ever imagine.
◊“New Kids on the Block: A Behind the Music Special Event” (7 p.m. on VH1): This special documents the band’s 2008 reunion through interviews, rare archival images and modern day footage shot by the band members themselves.
◊“The Simpsons” (7 p.m. on Fox)(Fox Photo pictured above): Homer tries his hand at being a bounty hunter on the 20th-season premiere.
◊“The Unit” (9 p.m. on CBS): Jonas and his covert team of special forces operatives must unravel an assassination plot aimed at the Vice President and President Elect in the fourth-season premiere.
◊“World’s Toughest Fixes” (8 p.m. on National Geographic): In this new series, host Sean Riley takes on such tasks as installing an engine in a cruise ship, repairing live power lines in midair and replacing a turbine at a nuclear power plant.

MONDAY, SEPT. 29
◊“100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs” (9 p.m. on VH1): This five-part series airing today through Friday pays tribute to rap royalty, reveals the story behind each hit and provides updates on what the hit-makers of hip hop’s past are doing today.
◊“Chuck” (7 p.m. on NBC): In the second-season premiere, Michael Clarke Duncan (“The Green Mile”) guest stars as Colt, a menacing operative. Chuck must prevent Colt from obtaining the Cipher.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Talk show host Regis Philbin guest stars as himself. He meets a burger-mad Marshall while on his quest to find the restaurant where he had his very first New York burger.
◊“Life” (9 p.m. on NBC): In the Season 2 premiere, detectives Charlie Crews and Dani Reese are on the hunt for a serial killer when three numbered trucks containing suffocated bodies are found scattered across Los Angeles.
◊“Private Screenings: Walter Mirisch” (7 p.m. on TCM): Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne sits down with the Oscar-winning producer (1960′s “The Apartment,” 1961′s “West Side Story” and 1967′s “In the Heat of the Night”). Mirisch went from producing low-budget features for Monogram to serving as head of production for Allied Artists.
◊“Taxi to the Dark Side” (8 p.m. on HBO): This Oscar-winning documentary investigates the Bush Administration’s crusade against terrorists after 9/11.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
◊“Costas Now With Aaron & Mays” (8 p.m. on HBO): Hall of Fame baseball players Hank “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron and Willie “The Say Hey Kid” Mays revisit memorable moments from their extraordinary lives and express their enduring admiration for each other.
◊“Greek” (8 p.m. on ABC Family): Hollywood Records’ Plain White T’s return to the series to perform their new single “Natural Disaster.”
◊“Half Their Size: The People Magazine Weight Loss Challenge” (9 p.m. on ABC): This new special focuses on eight people from Mississippi, the nation’s most overweight state, during a nine-month commitment to change their lifestyles.
◊“Hell Girl” (7 p.m. on IFC): This popular anime supernatural thriller centers around young Ai Emma, also known as Hell Girl, who takes requests from her website. Those who meet her make the choice of divine retribution and pay a price for her services.
◊“Highway 18″ (9 p.m. on Golf Channel): The final two teams embark on a scavenger hunt before teeing it up at Key West Golf Club in their final match before sprinting to the finish line.
◊“The IT Crowd” (9 p.m. on IFC): United Kingdom’s popular sitcom makes its U.S. debut. It focuses on the shenanigans of a technical support staff set in the underbelly of a fictitious British corporation.
◊“Paris Hilton’s My New BFF” (9 p.m. on MTV): Paris Hilton handpicked 16 girls and guys for this new series. They will compete in tests of loyalty, endurance and compatibility to become Paris’ new best friend.
◊“P.O.V.” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The new documentary “Critical Condition” tells the stories of ordinary Americans without medical insurance. For many, they can’t work until they get treatment, but they can’t afford treatment without a job.
◊“Sesame Street” (9 a.m. on OETA-13): Chandra Wilson (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and LL Cool J (“In the House”) make guest appearances on today’s show.
◊“TCM Birthday Tribute”: Deborah Kerr was born on this day in 1921, and TCM celebrates by airing two of her films — 1956′s “Tea and Sympathy” (12:45 p.m.) and 1959′s “Count Your Blessings” (3 p.m.).
◊“Will Work for Food” (8 p.m. on Food Network): Adam Gertler, runner-up on “The Next Food Network Star,” pairs his comic timing with an adventurous spirit in this new series.
◊“Without a Trace” (9 p.m. on CBS): Steven Weber (“Brothers & Sisters”) returns as Clark Medina, the new head of the Missing Persons Squad.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1
◊“America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m. on NBC): Host Jerry Springer reveals which contestant leaves with a cash prize and a shot at stardom. Of course, judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff have something to say, but viewer votes pick the winner.
◊“Criss Angel Mindfreak” (9 p.m. on A&E): In the fourth-season finale, the illusionist revisits the Silverton underwater escape. Last season, he almost met his doom when the escape went wrong.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): Mac and the team search for the cause of several deaths by radiation poisoning. Grammy Award-winning recording artist Maroon 5 guest stars.
◊“Dirty Sexy Money” (9 p.m. on ABC): As Season 2 begins, the wealthy Darling family of New York City continues to mix with the wrong people and become embroiled in untenable situations. Lucy Liu (“Charlie’s Angels”) joins the cast as the mysterious Nola Lyons.
◊“Get Ready for Digital TV” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Norm Abram and Kevin O’Connor from “This Old House” offer how-to guidance and tips to ensure that viewers are prepared to successfully make the switch to digital television before the analog shutoff on Feb. 17.
◊“K9 Cops” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): This new series spotlights an elite unit of K9 cops in St. Paul, Minn. Cameras follow the 21 dogs and handlers as they search buildings, track suspects and search for narcotics and explosives.
◊“My Fake Baby” (8 p.m. on BBC America): This new documentary profiles women who own lifelike baby dolls. They treat the dolls like real infants, right down to the diaper changes.
◊“Private Practice” (8 p.m. on ABC): Addison discovers that Naomi is concealing the financial woes of Oceanside Wellness in the third-season premiere.
◊“Pushing Daisies” (7 p.m. on ABC): In the second-season premiere, Chuck goes undercover as a “Bee Girl” at a honey-based cosmetics company after their new spokesmodel (Autumn Reeser, “The O.C.”) is stung to death. 
◊“Secrets of the Dead” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): In 1910, prosecutors brought scientific evidence against Hawley Crippen, an American doctor in England who was accused of his wife’s murder. But as this new episode reveals by revisiting the case with 21st-century technology, it may have been wrong.

THURSDAY, OCT. 2
◊“Ask This Old House” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The crew is back on the road for a seventh season of helping homeowners tackle home maintenance problems. This season includes “House” calls to Chicago, Salt Lake City and San Diego.
◊High School Football: Norman North vs. Moore at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“TCM Birthday Tribute”: Groucho Marx was born on this day in 1890, and TCM celebrates by airing two of his films — 1946′s “A Night in Casablanca” (9 a.m.) and 1935′s “A Night at the Opera” (10:30 a.m.).
◊“Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” (10 p.m. on Bravo): Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Director of Liz Claiborne Inc., has a new “fashion accomplice” for Season 2. Gretta Monahan, owner of Grettacole Spas, Salons and Boutiques, will share her fashion knowledge and support Gunn while he focuses on each woman’s transformation.
◊“Vice Presidential Debate” (8 p.m. on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and OETA-13): Live from Washington University in St. Louis, Gwen Ifill (“Washington Week”) moderates this showdown between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican John McCain’s running mate, and U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, Democrat Barack Obama’s choice for second in command.
◊“WrestleMania XXIV” (8 p.m. on My Network TV): Relive the biggest spectacular in World Wrestling Entertainment history. Featured wrestlers include John Cena, Snoop Dogg, Triple H and The Undertaker.

FRIDAY, OCT. 3
◊“Everybody Hates Chris” (7 p.m. on CW): Chris starts high school in the fourth-season premiere. He is really looking forward to attending a school with some diversity, but he discovers that the principal has placed him in the only all-white homeroom.
◊“The Ex List” (8 p.m. on CBS): This new comedy-drama stars Elizabeth Reaser (‘‘Grey’s Anatomy”) as Bella, a young woman who learns from a psychic that she’s already met and dated the man she’s destined to marry. But she has to reconnect with him within a year or else she’ll remain alone forever.
◊“The Game” (7:30 p.m. on CW): Professional football player Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlys makes a cameo appearance in the third-season premiere episode titled “Baby on Board.”
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): On the fourth-season premiere, Melinda befriends a young psychology professor and learns that he shares her same ability. Jamie Kennedy (“The Jamie Kennedy Experiment”) joins the cast as the professor.
◊High School Football: Bishop McGuinness vs. Weatherford at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Tulsa Cascia Hall vs. Berryhill at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): Season 5 welcomes Sophina Brown (‘‘Shark”) as a new cast member. She will play the team’s newest agent, Nikki Betancourt, a street-smart ex-police officer who got her law degree at night school.
◊“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (8 p.m. on Cartoon Network): This new weekly series from Lucasfilm Animation chronicles the adventures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Ahsoka Tano and other favorite “Star Wars” characters as they struggle against the dark side.
◊“Supernanny” (8 p.m. on ABC): In the fifth-season premiere, Jo Frost travels to Amherst, N.H., to help The Quinns deal with their four out-of-control teens and tweens.
◊“Tommy Hilfiger Presents: Ironic Iconic America” (7 p.m. on Bravo): Supermodel Bar Refeali and poet Rives co-host this special that explores how pop culture has influenced American tastes and styles. It was inspired by Tommy Hilfiger’s book “Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride Through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture.”
◊“Wife Swap” (7 p.m. on ABC): In the fifth-season premiere, a thrill-seeking family devoted to chasing tornados swaps lives with a cautious family who always put safety first.
◊WWE Friday Night SmackDown” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): World Wrestling Entertainment’s Friday showdown moves to a new network to begin its 10th season.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4
◊“Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team” (8:30 p.m. on CMT): Professional cheerleading takes hard work, determination and nerves of steel as the new crop of recruits quickly finds out in the third season.
◊“EliteXC Saturday Night Fights” (8 p.m. on CBS): This live broadcast from Sunrise, Fla., will feature undefeated heavyweight Kimbo Slice squaring off against Hall of Famer Kem Shamrock and EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields making his first defense against Cage Rage welterweight champ Paul Daley.
◊“Hannibal Rising” (8 p.m. on Showtime): French actor Gaspar Ulliel stars as young Hannibal, who is determined to kill the men responsible for the murder of his beloved little sister (Helena Lia Tachovska) when they were children.
◊“I Am Legend” (9 p.m. on Cinemax”): This version of Richard Matheson’s plague-survivor story stars Will Smith as the scientist immune to the virus that has turned virtually everyone else into mutants. Playing the scientist in earlier versions were Vincent Price (“The Last Man on Earth”) and Charlton Heston (‘‘The Omega Man”).
◊“My Big Redneck Wedding” (8 p.m. on CMT): Host Tom Arnold cordially invites viewers to a second season of over-the-top, down-home wedding celebrations. The first episode features an Alabama couple who are brother and sister (by law, that is).
◊The University of Oklahoma takes of Baylor in college football action airing live at 11:30 a.m. on FSNSW.

–Penny TV

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Program Planner: Sept. 21-27

   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 Sept. 21:
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
◊“The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” (7 p.m. on ABC): Kristin Chenoweth, who grew up in Broken Arrow and graduated from Oklahoma City University, is a nominee (for “Pushing Daisies”) and a presenter (with nominee Neil Patrick Harris). Other nominees with Oklahoma ties are Alfre Woodard (born and raised in Tulsa, nominated for “Pictures of Hollis Woods”) and Lee Pace (born in Chicasha, nominated for “Pushing Daisies”).
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (“Will & Grace”) guest stars as a narcotics cop in a rebroadcast of the fifth-season finale. The show begins its sixth season Sept. 28.
◊“Countdown to the Emmys” (2 p.m. on TV Guide Channel, 4 on Cox Cable, 117 in Dish Network, 237 on Direct TV): Chris Harrison, a former News 9 sportscaster and host of “The Bachelor,” will team with Maria Sansone (“Gladiators 2000”) for three hours of live coverage from the Red Carpet to catch all the pre-show hoopla before the celebrity arrivals begin.
◊“Jimmy Kimmel’s Big Night of Stars” (6 p.m. on ABC): The late-night talk show host interviews the Emmy nominees for the new reality/competition host category, who will also co-host the event. They are Tom Bergeron (“Dancing with the Stars”), Heidi Klum (“Project Runway”), Howie Mandel (“Deal or No Deal”), Jeff Probst (“Survivor”) and Ryan Seacrest (“American Idol”) — all pictured above in ABC Photo.
◊“Live at the Emmy Awards” (5 p.m. on TV Guide Channel): Lisa Rinna (“Days of Our Lives) and Joey Fatone (“Dancing With the Stars”) will interview TV’s biggest stars as they make their way down the Red Carpet during this two-hour pre-show. Rinna will return at 7 p.m. Monday with “Emmy Awards Fashion Wrap.”
◊“Play It Back: ’90s Game Shows” (6 p.m. on GSN): Host Carolina Rhea (“Sordid Lives: The Series”) spotlights 1990s favorite game shows, including “Wheel of Fortune,” “Hollywood Squares,” “Family Feud” and Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”
MONDAY, SEPT 22
◊“The Big Bang Theory” (7 p.m. on CBS): In the second-season premiere, Penny’s first date with leonard goes awry, and she shares her frustration with Sheldon. Sara Gilbert (“Roseanne”) joins the cast as Leonard’s on-again-off-again love interest, Leslie Winkle.
◊“Boston Legal” (9 p.m. on ABC): Alan Shore tackles a big tobacco company and discovers that the defense attorney is an old flame (Ally Walker, “Profiler”) on the fifth-season premiere.
◊“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): Last season ended with head CSI Horatio Caine being gunned down on an airstrip. In the seventh-season premiere, the CSI team will stop at nothing to find who shot him. Megalyn Echikunwoke joins the cast as the new medical examiner, Dr. Tara Price.
◊“Dancing With the Stars” (7 p.m. on ABC): Season 7 welcomes 13 new stars to the ballroom floor. Among them are Cloris Leachman (“The Facts of Life,” the oldest competitor to date) and Cody Linley (“Hannah Montana,” the youngest contestant ever).
◊“Heroes” (7 p.m. on NBC): It’s all about “Heroes” today, beginning with an hourlong clip show that recaps all the action to date. At 8 p.m., Season 3 opens with a two-hour episode. Sylar is back in action and badder than ever.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Stella responds to Ted’s proposal and Barney realizes that he’s in love with Robin on the fourth-season premiere.
◊“Judge Jeanine Pirro” (3 p.m. on CW): The former New York district attorney brings her no-nonsense attitude and compassionate approach to this new courtroom show. She will also take viewers into her chambers to show how the court works behind the scenes.
◊“Ralph Rucci: A Designer and His House” (6 p.m. on Sundance): Martha Stewart (“Martha”) narrates this documentary that captures the American designer as he created his Spring 2008 ready-to-wear and Fall 2008 couture collections.
◊“Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): In the sixth-season premiere, Charlie (Charlie Sheen) encounters an ex-girlfriend (Rena Sofer, “Coupling”) whose son looks an awful lot like him.
◊“Trivial Pursuit: America Plays” (11 a.m. on CW): Christopher Knight (“The Brady Bunch”) hosts this new game show that launches in national syndication on the 25th anniversary edition of the popular board game. The show features a unique twist by allowing viewers to drive the action by submitting video questions online.
◊“Worst Week” (8:30 p.m. on CBS): This new comedy follows Sam Briggs, an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please his girlfriend’s parents. But he becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he’s around them.
◊“Yo Gabba Gabba” (10:30 a.m. on Nickelodeon): In the second-season premiere, guest star Melora Hardin (“The Office”) teaches the Gabba gang a Conga dane. Musical guests The Ting Tings perform Altered Images 1980’s classic “Happy Birthday.”
TUESDAY, SEPT 23
◊“American Masters” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Clint Eastwood (“Unforgiven”) narrates this new three-part program that celebrates 85 years of the legacy and evolution of Warner Bros. Clips from hundreds of films and archival interviews will be featured. Parts 2 and 3 air Wednesday and Thursday.
◊“The Biggest Loser 6″ (7 p.m. on NBC): Chef Rocco Dispirito (“The Restaurant”) teaches contestants how to shop for and make healthy, tasty and affordable meals.
◊“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m. on NBC): Sara Gilbert (“The Big Bang Theory”) and Luke Perry (“Jeremiah”) guest star in the 10th-season premiere, in which an abused foster child leads detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to reexamine a cold case involving a rape victim.
◊“The Mentalist” (8 p.m. on CBS): This new drama stars Simon Baker (“The Guardian”) as a former celebrity psychic who uses his observational skills to help the California Bureau of Investigation solve crimes.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): The surprising secret behind Director Vance’s decision to split of Gibb’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service team is revealed on the sixth-season premiere.
◊“Opportunity Knocks” (7 p.m. on ABC): J.D. Roth serves as executive producer and host for this new game show that tests how well people know their family.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Mickey Rooney was born on this day in 1920, and TCM celebrates by airing four of his films — 1952′s “Sound Off” (11:30 a.m.), 1953′s “All Ashore” (1 p.m.), 1938′s “Boys’ Town” (2:30 p.m.) and 1939′s “Babes in Arms” (4:30 p.m.).
◊“Without a Trace” (9 p.m. on CBS): In the seventh-season premiere, the New York Missing Persons Squad seached fo a man who’s missing daughter was never found. Steven Weber (“Brothers & Sisters”) guest stars.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): The Behavioral Analysis Unit team must respond to the aftermath of a terrorist bombing in New York City on the fourth-season premiere. Michael Steger (“90210″) guest stars.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): In the aftermath of a bank heist gone bad, Mac is taken hostage and wakes up in a submerged car with no memory of how he got there in the fifth-season premiere.
◊“David Blaine: Dive of Death” (8 p.m. on ABC): David Blaine, known for his headline-making spectacles of physical, emotional and mental endurance, will attempt to hang from a thin wire five stories in the air – with no safety net or airbag to break his fall – in Central Park’s Wollman Rink for three days and nights. Using electro-magnetic boots, Blaine will walk on and under the wire during more than 60 hours of the challenge, with the final hours airing live during this special.
◊“Gary Unmarried” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Jay Mohr (‘‘Ghost Whisperer”) has the title role in this new sitcom. He plays a newly divorced dad dealing with child custody issues, his ex-wife’s (Paula Marshall) impending wedding and his own love life.
◊“The Hunt for Black Gold” (8 p.m. on CNBC): Business news reporter Maria Bartiromo follows the flow of oil from the moment it comes on line, into the supertankers, into the refineries and finally pumped into the consumer’s gas tank.
◊“Knight Rider” (7 p.m. on NBC): The classic 1980s action series was revived as a TV movie last winter. Now it debuts as a weekly series starring Jason Bruening a former Army Ranger assigned to keep superintelligent car KITT out of the wrong hands. Val Kilmer (“The Saint”) provides the voice of KITT.
◊“Late Show With David Letterman” (10:35 p.m. on CBS): Jamaican runner Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals and broke three world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, makes his first U.S. talk show appearance.
◊“Lipstick Jungle” (9 p.m. on NBC): Emmy winner Mary Tyler Moore (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) guest stars in a multi-episode arc starting with today’s second-season premiere. She will play a retired high-powered business executive who forces Wendy (Brooke Shields), her studio-head daughter, to re-evaluate the work vs. family dilemna.
◊“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7 p.m. on CBS): Christine proposes to save her best friend, Barb, from being deported to the Bahamas on the fourth-season premiere.
◊“Project Runway” (8 p.m. on Bravo): LL Cool J serves as a guest judge as the designers tune in to their musical side for a musical genre challenge.
◊“Top Design” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Jeff Lewis (“Flipping Out”) serves as a guest judge as the contestants re-design the bachelor pads of three men on a limited budget.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
◊“Dragons’ Den” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Five multimillionaires looking to invest in new ideas hear pitches for an exercise stimulator and a garmant to train breathing muscles.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Kevin McKidd (“Rome”) guest stars as a mysterious military doctor in the two-hour fifth-season premiere. Also guest starring are Bernadette Peters (“Pennies From Heaven”), Kathy Baker (“Boston Public”) and Mariette Hartley (“WIOU”).
◊High School Football: Norman vs. Putnam West at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“My Name Is Earl” (7 p.m. on NBC): Seth Green (“Gour Kings”) guest stars in the fourth-season premiere. He plays Buddy, who asks Earl to produce a low-budget action movie. The premiere episode is followed by another new episode that is titled “Vote for This and I Promise to Do Something Crazy at the Emmys.” 
◊“The Office” (8 p.m. on NBC): In the fifth-season premiere, see what happens over eight weeks of the summer, as a Dunder Mifflin weight loss initiative causes the branch to diet and become obsessed with their weight.
◊“Survivor: Gabon — Earth’s Last Eden” (7 p.m. on CBS): Eighteen contestants will embark on an African adventure in the 17th installment, which will be presented in high-definition.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Lindsay Lohan (“Mean Girls”) will reprise her role as Betty’s high school nemesis, Kimmie, on the third-season premiere. Regis Philbin and kelly Ripa (“Live With Regis and Kelly”) appear as themselves.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
◊“2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Shannon Miller will make a special appearance during this hour-long special featuring 2008 Olymmpic medal winners Jonathan Horton, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Alicia Sacramone and Raj Bhavsar.
◊“America’s Toughest Jobs” (7 p.m. on NBC): The eight remaining contestants travel to Saint Angelo, Texas, to become professional bullfighters. They learn the seriousness of the job as they hop into a barrel and allow the bull to knock them around.
◊High School Football: Edmond Memorial vs. Midwest City at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Broken Arrow vs. Sapulpa at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“The Suite Life on Deck” (7 p.m. on Disney): This new series, a spin-off of the Emmy-nominated “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” finds Zack and Cody aboard the SS Tipton, a luxury passenger cruise liner owned by London’s father. The ship cruises the world with tourists and students who attend classes at Seven Seas High, the one high school that London’s dad thinks will make his daughter a better student.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
◊“Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger” (8 p.m. on HBO): This new special showcases the comic’s adults-only take on dozens of social and political issues. It features footage from performances at New York’s Apollo Theatre, the Carling Apollo Hammersmith in London and South Africa’s Carnival City Casino.
◊“CMT Crossroads: 38 Special and Trace Adkins” (9:30 p.m. on CMT): Southern rock and country collide when 38 Special take the stage with country star Trace Adkins. They play together, swap stories and share theic common love of music.
◊“GOGORIKI” (7:30 a.m. on CW): This new animated series follows a circle of bets friends and their zany adventures. The GOGORIKI are animal-like beings, each with a cute round shape and a unique personality.
◊“My Friends Tigger & Pooh” (7:40 a.m. on Disney): The animated series designed to teach and entertain preschoolers returns for a second season. The series features A.A. Milne’s characters Winnie the Pooh and Tigger and introduces a 6-year-old girl named Darby.
◊“Trial by Fire” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Brooke Burns (“Miss Guided”) stars as a fire fighter who sets out to become the first woman to be accepted into the elite Missoula Smokejumpers. Oklahoma actor Rex Linn (“CSI: Miami”) also stars in the 2008 drama.
◊The University of Oklahoma will take on Texas Christian in college football action airing live at 6 p.m. on FSNSW.

–Penny TV

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Program Planner: Sept. 7-13

   Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
   But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of Sept. 7:

SUNDAY SEPT. 7
◊“2008 MTV Video Music Awards” (8 p.m. on MTV): British comedian Russell Brand will host the 25th annual event live from Hollywood. Artists nominated for best female video include Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Jordin Sparks and Katy Perry.
◊“25 Biggest Renovating Mistakes” (7 p.m. on HGTV): This new special counts down the most common errors that homeowners make in undertaking remodeling projects. A panel of experts explains how to correct the mistakes and offers tips for avoiding more of them in the future.
◊“America United: In Support of Our Troops” (8 p.m. on ABC): Toby Keith, Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Pamela Anderson, Clint Black, D.L. Hughley and Z.Z. Top are among the performers appearing during the show, which also includes troop tributes and human interest stories.
◊“Entourage” (9 p.m. on HBO)(HBO Photo above): In the fifth-season opener, Vince (Adrian Grenier) must find a way to rejuvenate his career after a disastrous screening of his movie “Medellin” at the Cannes Film Festival.His half brother Drama (Kevin Dillon) continues his successful television career while experiencing problems in his love life. ◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Toby Keith performs for the Lucas family of Cullen, Va., in this installment that originally aired in March.
◊“The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle” (8 p.m. on Sundance): This six-part comedy series stars Jennifer Saunders (“Ab Fab”) as Vivienne Vyle, a daytime talk show host who approaches her troubled and unstable guests with honesty and unflinching directness.
◊“Pinky Dinky Doo” (6 p.m. on Noggin): The animated series based on the popular books by Jim Jinkins opens its second season with back-to-back episodes. Each episode consists of two stories with a break in between where Pinky leads viewers through interactive games  designed to enhance literacy and expand vocabulary.
◊“Play It Back: ‘70s Game Shows” (6 p.m. on GSN): Carolina Rhea (“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”) hosts three retrospective specials about classic game shows. This week’s installment focuses on “Match Game,” “The Dating Game,” “The newlywed Game,” “Hollywood Squares” and “Family Feud.”
◊“Sandhogs” (9 p.m. on History): This 11-episode series focuses on the men and projects integral to maintaining New York City’s infrastructure. They are the builders of water and sewage tunnels, subway systems and bridge footings.
◊“ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway” (6 p.m. on Showtime): This 2005 documentary from Dori Berinstein follows four productions from the 2004 Broadway season from the audition and rehearsal stage through the Tony Awards.
◊“True Blood” (8 p.m. on HBO): In this new series from “Six Feet Under” creator Alan Ball, Oscar winner Anna Paquin (“The Piano”) plays Sookie Stackhouse, a young waitress with telepathic powers who finds herself attracted to a handsome vampire (Stephen Moyer).

MONDAY SEPT. 8
◊“The Bonnie Hunt Show” (1 p.m. on KFOR-4): Bonnie Hunt welcomes fellow actor and comedian Robin Williams as the first guest on her new syndicated talk show. She worked with Williams on the movie “Jumanji.”
◊“CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” (8 p.m. on ABC): Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Trace Adkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Jewel, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Dwight Yoakam are among the performers appearing during the show, which also includes stories of deserving fans who are rewarded with personal attention from their idols.
◊“Deal or No Deal” (2 p.m. on KOCB-34, 5 p.m. on KOKH-25): In the new half-hour syndicated version of the game show, which will also be hosted by Howie Mandel, contestants can win up to $500,000 each weekday. Other differences? Contestants (not models) will be holding the cases (22 instead of 26).
◊“The Doctors” (3 p.m. on KWTV-9): This new syndicated talk show will provide viewers with a source of medical and health advice despensed daily by emergency room physician Travis Stork (and former ABC “Bachelor” in Paris), obstetrician and gynecologist Lisa Masterson, pediatrician Jim Sears and plastic surgeon Andrew Ordon.
◊“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (9 a.m. on KOCO-5): The talk show host opens season six in a new studio on the Warner Bros. lot. Her guests include Michelle Obama and the Jonas Brothers.
◊“Faldo-Azinger: Captain’s Challenge” (6 p.m. on Golf Channel): In this two-part special which concludes Sept. 15, Ryder Cup captains Nick Faldo (Europe) and Paul Azinger (USA) will go head-to-head in a three-competion challenge — fly fishing, poker and golf.
◊“Family Court With Judge Penny” (4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52): Presiding over this new syndicated court show is Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, who focuses mostly on family and relationship matters.
◊“High School Musical: Get In the Picture” (7 p.m. on ABC): Four finalists are narrowed down to one, with the winner getting a music video in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” as well as a recording contract for two digital singles with Walt Disney Records.
◊“Inside the Box” (3:30 p.m. on KFOR-4):5 and 7 p.m. on KSBI-52): This new syndicated game show hosted by actor/comedian Sam Kalilieh has a similar format to “20 Questions” with a few minor twists.
◊“Jeopardy!” (3:30 p.m. on KFOR-4): The quiz show hosted by Alex Trebek will kick off its 25th season in syndication with a special “Kids Week Reunion.” It will bring back 15 players, who were 10-12 years old when they competed in the first Kids Week shows in 1999 and 2000.
◊“Judge Karen” (2:30 p.m. on KOKH-25): Judge Karen Mills-Francis is the first black judge from the South Florida area to have a nationally syndicated show. She will hear small claim matters on her court series.
◊“Judge Mathis” (11 a.m. on KOKH-25): Judge Greg Mathis begins his 10th season. He vows to inject more social commentary into the show.
◊“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” (7 p.m. on Fox): John’s 16th birthday forces him to confront the reality of his destiny in the second-season premiere. Shirley Manson (“Garbage”) joins the cast as Catherine Weaver, the chief executive of a high-tech corporation.
◊“Wheel of Fortune” (6:30 p.m. on KOCO-5): The stakes have been raised for the game show’s 26th season. A new $1 million Bonus Wedge will be in play through the first three rounds.
◊“The Wonder Pets!” (7 p.m.on Nickelodeon): In this new Bollywood-themed episode titled “Save the Bengal Tiger,” Indian actress Nandita Das provides the voice of the bengal tiger and sibling duo Salim and Sulaiman Merchant compose the musical score.

TUESDAY SEPT. 9
◊“Debating Our Destiny II” (8 p.m. on PBS): This new documentary special revisits presidential and vice presidential debates from more recent election years, starting with the first George W. Bush-Al Gore face-off in 2000. Veteran debate moderator Jim Lehrer interviews Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic candidates John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman.
◊“Fashion Rocks” (8 p.m. on CBS): Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”) hosts the fifth annual event that benefits Stand Up To Cancer. Taped at Radio City Music Hall in New York, the event merges performances by such stars as Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake, Lil’ Wayne, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and others with designs by icons of the fashion world.
◊“Fringe” (7 p.m. on Fox): This new series from “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams of ‘‘Lost” stars Anna Torv as FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham who investigates an airplane that landed at Boston’s Logan Airport with everyone aboard mysteriously dead.
◊“Kicking It” (8 p.m. on ESPN2): Colin Farrell (“Phone Booth”) narrates this new documentary that chronicles the personal struggles and triumphs of seven soccer players from six countries who participated in the 4th Annual Homeless World Cup.
◊“Privileged” (8 p.m. on CW): Based on the best-selling book “How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls” by Zoe Dean, this new series stars JoAnna Garcia (“Reba”) as a live-in tutor to wild and wealthy teenage twin sisters in Palm Beach.
◊“The Rachel Zoe Project” (10 p.m. on Bravo): In the series premiere, celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is under pressure to find the perfect red carpet gown for actress Joy Bryant .
◊“Somebodies” (9:30 p.m. on BET): This new comedy written, directed and starring Hadjii follows a black undergraduate student at a large unversity is who is trying to figure out his place in the world. His housemates are preparing to transition out of college and into the real world.
◊“Weird, True & Freaky” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): In the series premiere, true stories of two-headed animals are featured.

WEDNESDAY SEPT. 10
◊“Do Not Disturb” (8:30 p.m. on Fox): Jerry O’Connell (“Sliders”) and Niecy Nash (“Reno 911!”) star in this new comedy that focuses on the staff at one of New York City’s hippest hotels, The Inn.
◊“Great Performances” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti died a year ago thsi month at age 71. This new installment titled ‘‘Pavarotti: A Life in Seven Arias” uses some of his most memorable performances as a framework to trace the tenor’s career.
◊“The Human Camera” (8 p.m. on BBC America): This new documentary profiles British artist Stephen Wiltshire, who can look at a building and sketch it from memory in almost photographic detail. He is also autistic.
◊“Inside the NFL” (8 p.m. on Showtime): Former NFL players-turned commentators Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth will co-host the football show along with Emmy-winning studio host James Brown.
◊“The Next GAC Star” (8 p.m. on GAC): Recoring artist Jack Ingram, who won the 2008 Academy of Country Music’s Best New Male Vocalist award, will be a celebrity judge and offer advice to the six contenders during the finale. The winner gets a record/artist development deal with Original Signal Recordings and a music video played on GAC.
◊“Til Death” (8 p.m. on Fox): Kenny moves in with Joy and Eddie in the third-season premiere.But Kenny’s annoying habits have Joy desperately trying to re-connect him and his ex-wife.

THURSDAY SEPT. 11
◊“102 Minutes That Changed America” (8 p.m. on History): This new special revisits the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Center, reconstructing the events in chronological order using footage from more than 100 sources — amateur and professional.
◊“Dragons’ Den” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Five multimillionaires looking to invest in new ideas hear pitched for a Japanese grill set and a new pooper scooper.
High School Football: Bixby vs. Glenpool at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Hole in the Wall” (7 p.m. on Fox): Brooke Burns (“Dog Eat Dog”) and Mark Thompson (“Guinness World Records: Primetime”) co-host this new body-bending game show that is a hit in Japan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. See special previews of the show at 7 p.m. Sunday and 8:35 p.m. Tuesday.
◊“MTV’s Top Pop Group” (9 p.m. on MTV): Mario Lopez (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) hosts this new lie music competition series that sets out to find the next pop sensation.
◊“Portraits of a Lady” (6:30 p.m. on CInemax): In October 2006, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor posed for her portrait before 25 members of the Painting Group, an organization of artists that meets weekly in New York City. This documentary chronicles the project, that resulted in vastly different images O’Connor by the painters.

FRIDAY SEPT. 12
◊“The 2008 ALMA Awards” (7 p.m. on ABC): Eva Longoria Parker (“Desperate Housewives”) hosts the ?-annual event that honors Hispanic achievement in entertainment. Special honors will be presented to America Ferrera, Linda Ronstadt and Shakira, whose collective work has impacted the entertainment industry and influenced American culture.
◊“Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (8 p.m. on Fox): Will a roller-derby queen from Cincinnati skate her way to $1 million? Find out on the second-season premiere episode.
◊“Gym Teacher: The Movie” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) stars as a humiliated former gymnastics gold medal contender-turned gym teacher who gets a shot at redemption as he vies for the Gym Teacher of the Year award.
◊High School Football: Bishop McGuinness vs. on Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52; Jenks vs. Tulsa Union at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.

SATURDAY SEPT. 13
◊“Coco Chanel” (7 p.m. on Lifetime): Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine (?) stars as the groundbreaking fashion designer attempting a comeback after 15 years in exile. When the new collection flops, Chanel flashes back to her humble beginnings and her rise to fame in the fashion world. Barbora Bobulova (‘‘In Love and War”) plays Coco as a young woman.
◊“MAD TV” (10 p.m. on Fox): Season 14 of the sketch comedy series opens with four cast additions: Erica Ash (‘‘The Big Gay Sketch Show”), Eric Price (‘‘Reno 911!”), improv artist Lauren Pritchard and stand-up comedian Matt Braunger. Returning cast members are Bobby Lee, Nicole Parker, Crista Flanagan, Arden Myrin, Keegan-Michael Key and Johnny Sanchez.
◊“Saturday Night Live” (10:29 p.m. on NBC): Michael Phelps, who swam his way to Olympic gold eight times at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, will host the 34th season premiere. Also making his “SNL” debut will be hip-hop superstar Lil Wayne.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Washington in college football action airing live at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN.

–Penny TV

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Program Planner: Aug. 31-Sept. 6

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 Aug. 31:

SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2008
◊“The 43rd Labor Day Telethon” (11 p.m. on CBS): Jerry Lewis continues his battle against muscular dystrophy during this 19-hour show originating from South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. Sharing hosting duties with Lewis are Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”), Jann Carl (“Entertainment Tonight”), Alison Sweeney (“Days of Our Lives) and Nancy O’Dell (“Access Hollywood”).
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars — Spencer Tracy: Among his 13 films airing in the festival today are 1936′s “San Francisco” (5 a.m.), 1945′s “Without Love” (1:30 p.m.) and 1955′s “Bad Day at Black Rock” (3:30 a.m.).
◊“Wizards of Waverly Place” (7:30 p.m. on Disney): Julie Brown (“Camp Rock”) guest stars as Alex’s teacher, Miss Marinovich, in the new episode “Art Museum Piece.” Alex must magically bring the museum paintings to lfe to help her complete a class assignment.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2008
◊“America’s Toughest Job” (8 p.m. on NBC): The 12 remaining contestants head to the frozen tundra of Deadhorse, Alaska, where they go through extensive training and attempt to operate an 18-wheeler above the Arctic Circle.
◊“Anthony Bourdain: No Reservation” (9 p.m. on Travel Channel): In season four, Anthony Bordain spans the far reaches of the globe and offers honest observations while relishing the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the world.
◊“The Closer” (8 p.m. on TNT): Barry Corbin (“Beer for My Horses”) and Frances Sternhagen (“ER”) guest star as Brenda’s parents. They are on their way to Alaska in a recreational vehicle when they decide to pay Brenda a surprise visit.
◊“Depth Charge” (9 p.m. on SPIKE): Eric Roberts (“Less Than Perfect”) stars as the captain of a U.S. nuclear submarine who plans an attack on Washington. Jason Gedrick (“Windfall”) plays the ship’s doctor who wages an internal war against the captain.
◊“Gossip Girl” (7 p.m. on CW): In the second-season premiere, Madchen Amick (“My Own Worst Enemy”) guest stars as a married woman who has been hooking up with Nate. Author Jay McInerney and socialite Tinsley Mortimer also guest star.
◊“One Tree Hill” (8 p.m. on CW): In the sixth-season premiere, Brooke faces a reunion with her mother, Lucas pursues his dream with the woman he loves and the news of Dan’s accident is beginning to spread.
◊“Prison Break” (7 p.m. on Fox): In the two-hour, season-four premiere, brothers Michael and Lincoln Scofield are reunited with the gang and receive an offer from a Homeland Security Agent that they cannot refuse. Michael Rapaport (“The War At Home”) joins the cast in the role of the government agent.
◊“Raising the Bar” (9 p.m. on TNT): This new series starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar (“Saved By the Bell”), Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm in the Middle”) and Gloria Reuben (“ER”) covers both sides of the legal process, from the viewpoints of young prosecutors and public defenders, their bosses and the judges who hear their cases.
◊“Curious George” (7 a.m. on OETA-13): The curious little monkey goes green in a new set of Earth-Science themed adventures that open the third season.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2008
◊“90210″ (7 p.m. on CW): This new drama series does have some of the elements of the prime-time teen soap that became a 1990s icon. Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), for one. A wealthy West Beverly High student in the original series, she’s now a guidance counselor. The new ‘‘Brenda and Brandon” are Annie and Dixon (Shenae Grimes, Tristan Wilds), whose father is Kelly’s new boss.
◊“The Shield” (9 p.m. on FX): After a 15-month absence, the police drama returns for its seventh and final season. According to CCH Pounder, who plays Captain Claudette Wyms, corrupt detective Vic Mackey (played by Emmy winner Michael Chiklis) will get what’s coming to him in the show’s final 13 episodes.
◊“The View” (10 a.m. on ABC): New Kids on the Block perform live on the 12th-season premiere. Guests for the week include Maura Tierney (“ER”) on Wednesday, Terrence Howard (“Crash”) on Thursday and Adrian Grenier (“Entourage”) on Friday.
◊“Wanna Bet?” (8 p.m. on ABC): George Wendt (“Cheers”) and Mo’Nique (“The Parkers”) are among the celebrity judges for the first-season finale. Stunts being attempted include identifying four out of five crushed cars and lighting matches in two minutes using yo-yos.
◊“Wow Wow Wubbzy!” (12:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon): The animated series for preschoolers returns for a second season. Guest starring in the new season are Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan as the voice of Wubblympics record-holder Michelle Kwanzzleberry and Ty Pennington (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) as the voice of Ty Ty the Handy Guy.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
◊“America’s Next Top Model” (7 p.m. on CW)(The CW Photo pictured above): Cycle 11 kicks off with a 2-hour premiere, as 30 girls compete for a spot in theTop 14. One of the models causes a stir when she reveals that she is a transgender. 
◊“Bones” (7 p.m. on Fox): Season four opens with a two-hour episode set in the United Kingdom. Brennan (Emily Deschanel) is giving a lecture Oxford University and Booth (David Boreanaz) is speaking at Scotland Yard when they are asked by local officials to lend their expertise to a high-profile murder investigation involving a young British heiress. 
◊“Cocaine Diaries: Alex James in Colombia” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Alex James, the bass player in the band Blur, once bragged that he spent over $500,000 on cocaine. The president of Colombia invited him to see just where his money went, and he documents his trip in this special.
◊“The Next GAC Star” (8 p.m. on GAC): In the two-part finale, which concludes Sept. 10, the six finalists participate in impromptu performances, rehearsals and recording sessions. Viewer votes will determine who will be the next up-and-coming country music star.
◊“Sons of Anarchy” (9 p.m. on FX): This new drama series set in Northern California stars British actor Charlie Hunnam (“Undeclared”) as a member of a motorcycle club that faces a crisis of conscience when its involvement in gunrunning goes bad.
◊“Top Design” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Celebrated fashion model and design aficionado India Hicks hosts the second season of the competition series in which 13 designers compete for $100,000 and a four-page showcase in Elle Décor magazine. Among the contenders is Tulsa native Teresa Keegan.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2008
◊“The Dragons’ Den” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Five multimillionaires are ready to back the best new ideas in this reality series. Items being pitched this episode include a student accomodations website and a new baby product line.
◊“Forbes Top 20 TV Cash Queens” (7 p.m. on E!): Heidi Klum (“Project Runway”), Paula Abdul (“American Idol”) and Kathryn Morris (“Cold Case”) were interviewed for this special, but did they make the top 20 list? Tune in for the countdown.
◊Heritage Hall will take on Casady in high school football action airing live at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52.
◊Holland Hall will take on Cascia Hall in high school football action airing live at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Kitchen Nightmares” (7 p.m. on Fox): In this two-hour episode, chef Gordon Ramsay revisits the kitchens of six restaurants that were once on the verge of disaster.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2008
◊“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (7 p.m. on Fox): The third season of the quiz show kicks off with supermodel Kathy Ireland and Georgia State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox testing their knowledge in a special two-hour episode.
◊“Monk” (8 p.m. on USA): Guest stars for Monk’s 100th case include Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”), John Turturro (“The Sopranos”), Howie Mandel (“Deal or No Deal”), Sarah Silverman (“The Sarah Silverman Show”), Andy Richter (“Andy Barker, P.I.”), Sharon Lawrence (“Hidden Palms”) and Kathryn Joosten (“Joan of Arcadia”).
◊Moore will take on Westmoore in high school football action airing live at 7:30 p.m. on Cox.
◊“Samurai Girl” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): This three-part, six-hour miniseries tells the story of a 19-year-old Japanese girl named Heaven, who discovers that the wealthy businessman who adopted her as an infant is really the head of tha Japanese mafia and may have had her brother murdered. It is based on the popular young adult novels of the same name.
◊“Stand Up to Cancer” (7 p.m. on ABC, NBC and CBS): A lineup of actors, musicians, athletes and journalists have banded together for this hourlong commercial free fundraising special. Among those scheduled to appear are  Christina Applegate (“Samantha Who?”), Lance Armstrong (seven-time Tour De France champion), David Cook (“American Idol”), Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”), Masi Oka (“Heroes”), Robin Roberts (“Good Morning America”), Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby”) and Brian Williams (“NBC Nightly News”).
◊Bishop McGuinness will take on Guthrie in high school football action airing live at 7:30 p.m. on KSBI-52.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2008
◊“America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back” (8 p.m. on Fox): Host John Walsh returns for a 22nd season of the crime-fighting program that focuses on capturing fugitives, protecting victims and empowering citizens within the criminal justice system.
◊“Cops” (7 p.m. on Fox): In the 21st-season premiere, the cameras return to where it all began in the late 1980s  — Broward County, Fla. The entire episode features law enforcement from the county where “Cops” filmed some of its earliest crimes.
◊“Grave Misconduct” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Crystal Bernard (“Wings”) stars as a writer who takes an unpublished manuscript from her mentor and former professor and passes it off as her own. The crime novel becomes a huge success, and her actions comes back to haunt her.
◊“Imagination Movers” (9 a.m. on Disney): This new series introduces preschoolers to the New Orleans alternative rock band’s music while emphasizing creative problem solving skills.
◊“The Locator” (8 p.m. on WE): Troy Dunn, a member of Enid High School’s 1983 state championship football team, is the star of this new reality series. He helps track down family members and friends who lost touch and want another chance. WE airs on channel 128 on Dish Network and 260 on Direct TV.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Cincinnati in college football action airing live at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
◊“Saturday Night Live” (10:29 p.m. on NBC): Carrie Underwood is the musical guest in this rebroadcast from February. Hosting the show is Tina Fey (“30 Rock”).
◊“The Victory Garden” (11:30 a.m. on OETA-13): Returning to inspire viewers to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and live outdoors are international garden design sensation Jamie Durie and Chef Michel Nischan’s James Beard.

Penny TV

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Program Planner: Aug. 24-30

   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 Aug. 24:

SUNDAY, AUG. 24
◊“Born in the Wrong Body: A Change of Heart” (9 p.m. on MSNBC): This documentary follows Josef Kirchner and Michael Burke, also known as Judy and Michelle, in their journey from man to woman and back again.
◊“Gene Simmons Family Jewels” (8:30 p.m. on A&E): In the third-season finale, Gene finds himself the unlikely owner of an Australian rules football team.
◊“Greensburg” (6 p.m. on OETA-13): Producer, writer and director Brian Schodorf travels back to his native state of Kansas to document the recovery of the city that was devastated by a tornado in May 2007.
◊“S.I.S.” (9 p.m. on SPIKE): Executive producer John Herzfeld (“Two Days in the Valley”) also wrote and directed this new movie about a covert unit of the Los Angeles Police Department that tracks the most dangerous offenders and attempts to catch them in the act of committing violent crimes. The movie stars Peter Stebbings (“Jeremiah”), Omari Hardwick (“Saved”) and Keith David (“The Big House”).
◊TCM’s Summer Under the Stars — Henry Fonda: Among his 13 films airing in the festival today are 1937’s “Slim” (5 a.m.) and 1958’s “Stage Struck” (3:30 p.m.) and 1967’s “Welcome to Hard Times” (1 a.m.).
◊XXIX Summer Olympics (6 p.m. on NBC): Based on opening ceremonies in Beijing, the closing should be just as grand. But before the ceremonies commence, the last batch of medals are awarded following the men’s volleyball final.
◊“Z Rock” (10:30 p.m. on IFC): This new semi-scripted comedy follows the New York band Z02. The group works as a rock band at night and a children’s party band during the day.

MONDAY, AUG. 25
◊“America’s Toughest Jobs” (8 p.m. on NBC): This new extreme reality competition series features 13 men and women muscling their way through some of the most challenging and dangerous professions in American for prize money worth over $250,000. They will be judged by their successes and failures at such jobs as oil drilling, logging and extreme fishing. Each week, one contestant will be sent home.
◊“The Apprentice UK” (8 p.m. on CNBC): Episodes from the United Kingdom’s version of the reality series will air Mondays. A group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for a job as apprentice to British business magnate Sir Alan Sugar, founder of the electronics company Amstrad.
◊“The Black List: Volume One” (8 p.m. on HBO): Photographer and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and journalist Elvis Mitchell join forces to present word and picture portraits of 22 prominent black Americans, including actor Lou Gossett Jr., former basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, comedian Chris Rock, tennis player Serena Williams and activist Al Sharpton.
◊“The Closer” (8 p.m. on TNT): Actor Kevin Bacon, husband of series star Kyra Sedgwick, directs the new episode titled “Sudden Death.” After Det. Julio Sanchez’s brother is shot, the entire squad will not rest until they find the culprit.
◊“Deal or No Deal” (7 p.m. on NBC): The game show returns with its Million Dollar Mission. It begins with four $1 million cases on the board to up the odds of a contestant choosing the elusive case holding the top prize. An additional $1 million case will be added to the board each game until one lucky player takes home the big money.
◊“Saving Grace” (9 p.m. on TNT): In the summer finale, the squad investigates a murder with racist and political connections. Mariette Hartley (“To Have & to Hold) guest stars.
◊“Secret Access: Air Force One” (7 p.m. on History): Step inside the high-security domain of the Presidential Airlift Group, the Air Force team in charge of operating the presidential plane — a military Boeing 747 jumbo jet that is longer than the White House.
◊TCM’s Summer Under the Stars — Ingrid Bergman: Among her 12 films airing in the festival today are 1950’s “Stromboli” (5 a.m.) and 1945’s “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (3 p.m.) and 1964’s “The Yellow Rolls-Royce” (2:30 a.m.).
◊“Writing Out Loud” (10:30 p.m. on OETA-13):   An interview with former Oklahoma Senator and University of Oklahoma President   David   Boren, whose book “Letter to America” was released in February. 

TUESDAY, AUG. 26
◊“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Indecision ’08” (10 p.m. on Comedy Central): Talk show host Jon Stewart is back on the political trail, broadcasting a week of shows from Denver, the site of the Democratic National Convention.
◊“General Hospital” (2 p.m. on ABC): Actress Genie Francis reprises her role as Laura, who was last seen slipping in and out of a catatonic state in 2007. Laura’s 1981 wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) was watching by 30 million viewers.
◊“Greek” (8 p.m. on ABC Family)(ABC Family Photo above): The show’s second season picks up at the end of Spring Break as the gang returns to campus for the conclusion of their school year. Viewers who want to catch up on the campus antics from the first season can tune in to a nine-hour marathon beginning at 10 a.m.
◊“The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” (9 p.m. on Oxygen): For the show’s fourth season, Janice moves into a Hollywood Hills mansion with her models. The master bedroom was decorated by interior designer Christopher Ciccone, brother of Madonna.
◊“Out in Left Field: The Making of the Chinese Olympic Baseball Team” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Former Major League Baseball players Jim Lefebvre and Bruce Hurst attempt to turn China’s fledgling National Baseball Team into to a contender for the 2008 Olmpics.
◊TCM’s Summer Under the Stars — Janet Leigh: Among her 13 films airing in the festival today are 1947’s “The Romance of Rosy Ridge” (5 a.m.) and 1954’s “Rogue Cop” (3:45 p.m.) and 1972’s “One is a Lonely Number” (1 a.m.).
◊“World’s Funniest Commercials 2008” (8 p.m. on TBS): Kevin Nealon (“Weeds”) and his wife Susan Yeagley (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) host this new special that showcases laugh-out-loud television ads from around the world. Olympic chamion figure skater Scott Hamilton will announce the commercial that wins the gold medal.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27
◊“Criss Angel Mindfreak” (9:30 p.m. on A&E): The illusionist attempts to catch an arrow being shot from a crossbow. Helping out is rock singer Ted Nugent, who will shoot the crossbow.
◊“Dinner: Impossible” (9 p.m. on Food Network): Iron Chef Michael Symon takes the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to serve 300 fans and musicians a meal inspired by classic country tunes.
◊“Mythbusters” (8 p.m. on Discovery): Was the July 1969 moon landing an elaborate hoax? Adam and Jamie test the theory that two of NASA’s most famous images were shot in a studio.
◊“People’s President: Man, Myth and the Media” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Actors Michael Douglas, LeVar Burton, Kathy Bates and Charlton Heston provide narration for this special that examines America’s perception of the presidency.
◊“Shear Genius” (9 p.m. on Bravo): In the second-season finale, the remaining finalists cut, color and style four different models ranging in age from 16 to 60. The winner receives $100,000, an apprenticeship with Nexxus and a chance to style hair for an Allure magazine feature.
◊TCM’s Summer Under the Stars — Tony Curtis: Among his 11 films airing in the festival today are 1954’s “Beachhead” (6 a.m.), 1965’s “Boeing Boeing” (4 p.m.) and 1956’s “Trapeze” (1 a.m.).
◊“Wife Swap” (7 p.m. on ABC): Tonya Ives, a Georgia wife and mother who spends 10 months out of the year on the road with her family’s high-octane extreme motorcycle stunt show, travels to Arizona to swap loves with Pam Coste, the matriarch of an artistic and environmentally aware family. One segment shows the motorcycle stunt artists perfoming at Oklahoma’s State Fair Arena.

THURSDAY, AUG. 28
◊“Dragons’ Den” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Five multimillionaires are ready to back the best new ideas in this reality series. Items being pitched this episode include a water saving device for toilets and a free phone directory service.
◊TCM’s Summer Under the Stars — Charlton Heston: Among his nine films airing in the festival today are 1954’s “Bad for Each Other” (5 a.m.), 1959’s “Ben-Hur” (3 p.m.) and 1970’s “The Hawaiians” (2:30 a.m.).

FRIDAY, AUG. 29
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): Nikki Cox (“Las Vegas”) guest stars as the ex-girlfriend of Professor Payne (Jay Mohr, who is her real-life husband). The episode is titled “Deadbeat Dads” and orginally premiered in May.
◊TCM’s Summer Under the Stars — Marlon Brando: Among his nine films airing in the festival today are 1960’s “The Fugitive Kind” (5 a.m.), 1955’s “Guys and Dolls” (1:30 p.m.) and 1980’s “The Formula” (3 a.m.).
◊“Zu & Co: Live at the Royal Albert Hall” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): International pop music star Zucchero performs a line-up of blues-inspired hits and world ballads along with a number of musical guests, including Paul Young and Eric Clapton.
◊“Today” (7 a.m. on NBC): The “Songs of Summer” concert airing live from Rockefeller Plaza in New York City will feature Katy Perry, Jesse McCartney and the Pussycat Dolls.

SATURDAY, AUG. 30
◊“CMT’s Biggest Redneck Wedding Ever” (7 p.m. on CMT): Host Tom Arnold (“Roseanne”) and his crew help a Florida couple realize their dreams of a unique wedding, complete with a giant matrimonial beer slide and a mud-themed wedding cake.
◊“The Cooking Loft” (8:30 a.m. on Food Network): Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli invites four students into her kitchen to learn her secrets and ask the kinds of questions at-home viewers would like answered.
◊“For the Love of Grace” (8 p.m. on Hallmark): This new Hallmark Channel original movie stars Mark Consuelos (‘‘Hope & Faith”) as a firefighter battling depresion following the death of his wife. When he rescues Grace (Chandra West, “John From Cincinnati”) from an apartment fire, the two begin a friendship that allows each to reexamine their lives.
◊Oklahoma State University takes on Washington State in college football action airing live at 2:30 p.m. on FSNSW. This is the second straight year that OSU has opened its season on national television.
◊TCM’s Summer Under the Stars — Katharine Hepburn: Among her 12 films airing in the festival today are 1933’s “Morning Glory” (5 a.m.), 1940’s “The Philadelphia Story” (3:15 p.m.) and 1981’s “On Golden Pond” (1:15 a.m.).

–Penny TV

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