Red carpet opportunity for SAG Awards Ceremony
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards will be handed out Jan. 23 inside the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. The ceremony will air live at 7 p.m. on TNT and TBS.
But for those who want to cheer for the nominees and presenters as they make their way down the red carpet — and a chance to take pictures and get autographs — go to www.sagawards.org/auction and bid on SAG Awards red carpet bleacher seats.
A total of 90 seats from which fans can see their favorite stars walk the SAG Awards red carpet are up for auction. Bidding for the seats — 15 sets of two seats and 15 sets of four seats — ends Monday (Jan. 11).
Those who want to enjoy the ceremony from the comfort of their own home will still have an opportunity at SAG memorabilia.
The SAG Ceremony Auction runs Jan. 21-29, and lots of memorabilia, collectibles and one-of-a kind experiences donated by studios, presenters and nominees and their films and television programs will be up for bid. In previous years, the auction has included autographed scripts and posters, wardrobe and props and set visits to studios.
–Penny TV
TV Premieres, Finales and Marathons airing Dec. 20-26
Friday is when The Oklahoman posts a list of all the premieres and finales (and all the guest stars, see separate blog) coming up on TV next week.
And here are the shows beginning and ending the week of Dec. 20 (as well as several day-long marathons).
If one was missed, the network did not issue a press release about it. But feel free to add it in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
(NOTE: All times are CT. For ET, add one hour)
BEGINNINGS
••“5 Ingredient Fix,” 11:30 a.m. Saturday on Food Network (third-season premiere).
ENDINGS
••“Survivor: Samoa,” 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS (19th-season finale).
••“The Sing-Off,” 7 p.m. Monday on NBC (series finale).
••“The Closer,” 8 p.m. Monday on TNT (fifth-season finale).
••“Raising the Bar,” 7 p.m. Thursday on TNT (series finale).
••“Find My Family,” 8 p.m. Monday on ABC (first-season finale).
MARATHONS
••“CSI: NY,” 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday on SPIKE.
••“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday on SPIKE.
••“Ghost Hunters,” 7 a.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday on Syfy.
••“Deadliest Catch,” 8 a.m.Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday on Discovery.
••“A Christmas Story,” 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 p.m. Friday on TBS.
••“Mythbusters,” 8 a.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday on Discovery.
••“Criminal Minds,” 7 a.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday on A&E.
••“Bones,” 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday on TNT.
••“Stargate Universe,” 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday on Syfy.
••“Dogs 101/Cats 101,” 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday on Animal Planet
••“Dirty Dancing,” 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday on TV Guide Network.
••“How It’s Made,” 11 a.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday on Science Channel.
••“Hooked,” 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday on National Geographic.
••“Say Yes to the Dress,” 4 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday on TLC.
••“I’m Alive,” 6 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday on Animal Planet.
••“Southern Belles: Louisville,” 6 to 10 p.m. Friday on SoapNet.
••“NCIS,” 8 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Dec. 27 on USA Network.
••“Band of Brothers,” 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday on SPIKE.
Top 55 TV Programs for Dec. 13-19, 2009
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of Dec. 13:
(NOTE: All times are CT. For ET, add one hour)
SUNDAY, DEC. 13, 2009
◊“Brothers” (6 p.m. on Fox): With the help of cousin Kenny’s (Snoop Dogg, “Old School”) legal aid, Coach’s brother Maurice is released from jail and arrives at the Trainors’ home to spend time with the family. And Jimmy Johnson (former OSU and Dallas Cowboys football coach) stops by the restaurant to talk football.
◊“Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special” (9 p.m. on ABC): Oprah Winfrey will usher in the holidays at the White House, visiting President Obama and the First Lady as they prepare for their family’s first Christmas there. The special will include a one-on-one conversation with the president and will showcase behind-the-scenes preparations as the White House gets ready for the holiday season.
◊“The Christmas Hope” (7 p.m. on Lifetime Movie Network): This new holiday movie stars Madeleine Stowe (“The Last of the Mohicans”) and James Remar (“Dexter”) as a couple in a troubled marriage. When Patricia, a social worker, brings home a foster child who has no place to go on Christmas, they set aside their differences to give the young girl a special holiday.
◊“Christmas With the Annie Moses Band” (6 p.m. on OETA-13): The Annie Moses band, an all-sibling group that plays an eclectic blend of classical, jazz and pop music, will perform a mix of holiday classics.
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): The team tries to determine who murdered a minor league ice hockey player on the memorable night that the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. Jude Ciccolella (“24″) and Brian Scannell (“Brotherhood”) guest star in the episode, which features the music of Grammy winner Bob Seger.
◊“Dexter” (8 p.m. on Showtime): In the Season 4 finale, the final challenge between Dexter and Arthur comes. Debra finds out a long hidden truth. Rita admits that her marriage is troubled. Batista’s and LaGuerta’s relationship must face consequences.
◊“A Golden Christmas” (8 p.m. on ION): This new holiday film stars Andrea Roth (“Rescue Me”) as a recently widowed woman who decides she needs to start over and moves back home with her son. She hopes to buy the old house as a Christmas surprise, however, her plan goes awry when she discovers that her parents have already sold it.
◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Six-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige traveled with the team to Erie, Pa., to help build a new home for Clara Ward, who has cast the adversity of her health and surroundings aside to run a nonprofit youth development and family center from her home.
◊“I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story” (8 p.m. on TV Guide Network): Piers Morgan (“America’s Got Talent”) will host this special that chronicles Susan Boyle’s journey from the small Scottish village of Blackburn to superstardom following her audition on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Her story will be told alongside performances and exclusive interviews with Susan, friends and celebrity fans.
◊“The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty” (8 p.m. on A&E): This new real-life series chronicles the personal and professional lives of Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon as they prepare for a Jackson Five reunion, while also coming to terms with Michael’s tragic loss.
◊“Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): In this new sequel to the 2006 movie “Santa Baby,” Jenny McCarthy returns as Mary Class, Santa’s business-minded daughter. She is forced to step in to help save Christmas when Santa (Paul Sorvino) decides he is tired of the responsibilities of the job.
◊“Life After Film School” (6:30 p.m. on Fox Movie Channel): Film students interview Jon Landau, producer of the upcoming film “Avatar.” He discusses his ongoing partnership with James Cameron and delivering James’ unique vision to the screen using newly developed 3-D technology that realistically bring the characters to life.
◊“Talhotblond” (9 p.m. on MSNBC): This film tells the true story of a tumultuous online romance turned chilling real-life murder. During a chance encounter in an online-gaming chatroom, Thomas Montgomery, a lonely husband and father of two, meets a 17-year-old girl named Jessi and convinces her that he is a young marine named Tommy. But his love for Jessi turns to jealous obsession as she flaunts another lover—a co-worker of his — and the love triangle saga ends with a twist that Montgomery never saw coming.
MONDAY, DEC. 14
◊“The 2009 WWE Slammy Awards” (7 p.m. on USA Network): Dennis Miller (“Saturday Night Live”) will host the 15th annual event that is World Wrestling Entertainment’s version of the Oscars. Award categories include WWE superstar of the year, WWE match of the year, and WWE diva of the year.
◊“Anatomy of a Pandemic” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Ray Suarez (“PBS NewsHour”) reports from the front lines of the efforts to combat the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, including the vaccination program. The special also surveys the current health crisis in the context of earlier pandemics, such as the 1918 influenza outbreak that caused between 50 and 100 million deaths worldwide.
◊“Bank of Hollywood” (9 p.m. on E!): This new series hosted by comedian Bryan Callen unites a panel of celebrities to dish out money to people with the most compelling needs for cash. The panelists include best-selling author and entrepreneur Candy Spelling, international poker phenomenon Vanessa Rousso, Wilhelmina Models President Sean Patterson and Pussycat Dolls singer Melody Thornton who determine which hopefuls are truly deserving of their riches.
◊“The Big Bang Theory” (8:30 p.m. on CBS): A visit from Leonard’s mother (Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”) delights Sheldon and horrifies Leonard.
◊“The Closer” (8 p.m. on TNT): The discrediting of a crime lab frequently used by the LAPD brings several old cases up for review, including one Provenza closed seven years ago with his former partner, Det. Andrews (Beau Bridges, “Stargate: Continuum”) Andrews comes out of retirement to help with the case, but he isn’t exactly prepared to testify in the new trial, throwing a wrench into a case that is already interrupting Brenda and Fritz’s vacation plans.
◊“Every F—ing Day of My Life” (9 p.m. on HBO): This documentaty records the final days of freedom for one woman as she prepares to be incarcerated for the murder of her abusive husband. In the early-morning hours of May 1, 2005, Wendy Maldonado, a mother of four in Grant Pass, Ore., called 911 in hysterics. “I just killed my husband,” she confessed, adding, “I just want my kids to be safe.” When the operator asked how long her husband had abused her, Maldonado replied, “Every f—ing day of my life.”
◊“Healthy Minds: Bipolar Disorder” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Broadcast journalist Jane Pauley speaks candidly about living with bipolar disorder while she was co-host of the national TV morning show “Today.” She discusses the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of her manic depression.
◊“House” (7 p.m. on Fox): House and the team encounter a teenager who collapsed during her high school Christmas program. They soon find the troubled teen dealt with more than her share of bullying at school, and as her condition continues to deteriorate, the team must delve deeper to get to the bottom of her mysterious illness. Lori Petty (“The Cleaner”) guest stars.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m. on CBS): The gang struggles to quit smoking while Robin clashes with her new jaded co-worker. Harvey Fierstein (“Hairspray”) guest stars as Lily’s smoking voice.
◊“Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (7 p.m. on ABC): In this one-hour special, the Academy Award-winning singer and actress (“Dreamgirls”) heads back to her hometown of Chicago to share childhood memories of the music, people and places that set the stage for her success. Joining Hudson in her first holiday music special is Grammy winner Michael Buble.
◊“Lie to Me” (8:01 p.m. on Fox): During a political protest in Washington, D.C., a disgruntled farmer parks his explosives-packed tractor near the Treasury Department building, forcing Lightman and his team to make some crucial life-or-death decisions.
◊“Picturing the President: George Washington” (7 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel): Today is the anniversary of Washington’s death (1799), and this documentary tells the story of the most famous American portrait – Gilbert Stuart’s painting of George Washington. The portrait captures the spirit of this victorious general, stalwart leader and pioneering president of the United States.
◊“The Sing-Off” (7 p.m. on NBC): In this new competitive reality series hosted by Nick Lachey (“Clash of the Choirs”), a cappella groups from across the United States vie for a recording contract with Sony. Each week, one group will be eliminated, and the series culminates Dec. 21 in a live finale where the winners will be decided by viewers.
◊“Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): Charlie coaches Jake on the art of infidelity while his girlfriend is away for Christmas. Carl Reiner (“Life With Bonnie”) guest stars as Marty Pepper, a legendary TV Producer, whom Evelyn invites to Charlie’s for Christmas dinner.
◊“The Vampire Diaries” (7 p.m. on CW): This week-long marathon offers viewers the opportunity to relive the saga from the start. It begins with the first two episodes, and two more will follow each night through Friday.
◊“What Would Jesus Buy?” (8 p.m. on Sundance): This documentary looks at the commercialization of Christmas as it follows the adventures of Reverend Billy Talen and the congregation of the Church of Stop Shopping. Their itinerary includes college campuses, shopping malls, suburban streets and Disneyland.
◊“Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” (2 p.m. on Nick Jr.): Widget and Wubbzy are hanging out with their friend, Ty Ty the Tool Guy (Ty Pennington, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”), when a nearby family lose their home due to the sneezes of a pet elephant. Ty Ty proposes that everybody band together to build the family a new house.
TUESDAY, DEC. 15, 2009
◊“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (7 p.m. on ABC): This hour will include the digitally-remastered 1965 special, as well as a series of Christmas-themed animated stories entitled “Charlie Brown Christmas Tales” in which each of the beloved PEANUTS characters – Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and Sally – star in his or her own charming animated vignette.
◊“The Forgotten” (9 p.m. on ABC): The case of a John Doe (Jarrod Bunch, former New York Giants football player), left beaten on the street and ravaged by past injuries, leads The Forgotten Network into the world of professional football.
◊“Funniest Commercials of the Year” (9 p.m. on TBS): Kevin Nealon (“Weeds”) and Fred Willard (“Best in Show”) count down the cleverest commercials from around the world. The special features up to 50 spots, 10 of which are voted on by the public in advance to determine the funniest commercial of the year.
◊“Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live” (8 p.m. on Fox): Chef Gordon Ramsay (“Hell’s Kitchen”) will be giving America a one-on-one cooking lesson, providing viewers with a real-time demonstration and step-by-step instructions on how to cook a three-course meal in just 60 minutes. For a shopping list of ingredients to prepare the angel hair pasta with shrimp appetizer, Steak Diane with sauteed potatoes and peas main course and Quick Tiramisu dessert, go to http://blog.newsok.com/television.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): When the enlisted son of retired Colonel-turned-preacher is found dead, the team believes he may be the victim of a hate crime. Meanwhile, Gibbs’ father (Ralph Waite, “The Waltons”) comes for a holiday visit. Joe Regalbuto (“Murphy Brown”) and Corey Reynolds (“The Closer”) also guest star.
◊“Paranormal State” (9 p.m. on A&E): Season 4 continues to chronicle the case files of the Paranormal Research Society (PRS), a renowned group that began with Penn State University College Students. The team uses a cache of resources, including Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) recordings, client interviews, video documentation, cutting-edge technologies and old-fashioned research.
◊“Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal” (8 p.m. on A&E): Season 2 spotlights even more children who live with psychic abilities. Helping them uncover the truths and managing their abilities are psychic/mediums Chip Coffey, Chris Fleming and Kim Russo — who themselves grew up with these senses — and licensed therapist Edy Nathan.
◊“Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” (2 p.m. on Nick Jr.): Wubbzy and Daizy need to round out their footy-football card collections with the very rare Touchdown Tiki (Tiki Barber, “NFL Monday Night Football”) card. So when Earl gets it, they both try to become Earl’s best friend hoping he will give one of them his coveted card.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16, 2009
◊“Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Edward Hermann” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Tony Award-winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell joins the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for an hour of favorite seasonal songs. The special also features actor Ed Hermann (“Gilmore Girls”) reading “The Christmas Story.”
◊“CNBC Investigates: Illegal Gambling” (8 p.m. on CNBC): This special takes an inside look at the multi-billion dollar business of illegal gambling. Millions are cashing in. Some get rich, while others pay the ultimate price.
◊“CSY: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): A reformed drug addict with everything to live for is found dead in an alley. The CSI’s discover he was the victim of a premeditated plot. Kim Kardashian (“Keeping Up With the Kardashians”) guest stars as a fiance of a recovered addict musician and musician Pat Monahan (“Train”) guest stars as the recovered addict. Vanessa Minnillo (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) and Lala Vazquez (“Charm School With Ricki Lake”) also guest star.
◊“Eastwick” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Max asks a reluctant Joanna to help him crack a famous unsolved Eastwick murder, but their snooping leads them to a perilous situation with Eleanor (Cybill Shepherd, “The L Word”).
◊“Gary Unmarried” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): When Gary and Allison worry that Tom is hanging out with the wrong crowd at school, they take it upon themselves to probe into Tom’s personal life. Real-life husband and wife and professional athletes, Laird Hamilton (professional surfer) and Gabrielle Reece (professional volleyball player), guest star as themselves.
◊“Maxim’s Hottest Moments of 2009″ (9 p.m. on E!): Maxim Magazine counts down the most unforgettable moments — from scandalous proposals to outrageous outbursts.
◊“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7 p.m. on CBS): Christine reluctantly attends her neighbor’s holiday block party where she discovers a juicy secret. Molly Shannon (“Saturday Night Live”) guest stars as Christine’s neighbor, Jeannie, and Michaela Watkins (“Saturday Night Live”) returns as Matthew’s girlfriend, Lucy.
◊“So You Think You Can Dance” (7 p.m. on Fox): Host Cat Deeley will reveal who has been chosen as America’s favorite dancer on the two-hour season finale.
◊“Top Chef: Las Vegas — Watch What Happens Reunion” (8 p.m. on Bravo): Host Padma Lakshmi, hed judge Tom Colicchio and judges Gail Simmons and Toby Young join Season 6′s chef’testants to answer questions from viewers and dish on the good, bad and overcooked.
THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 2009
◊“Biography: Dave Thomas” (9 p.m. on CNBC): The installment “Dave Thomas: Made to Order” tells the inspirational story of the creator of Wendy’s, one of the most famous food chains in the United States.
◊“Bones” (7 p.m. on Fox): The half-eaten body of a doctor is found in the tiger cage at the zoo following a hospital charity event, and Booth and Brennan determine the death was no accident. They question the suspects, including Brandon Casey (Chad Lowe, “24”), who must be hypnotize in order to jog his memory about what he saw the night of the gala.
◊“Christmas in Connecticut” (7 p.m. on TCM): Barbara Stanwyck stars in this 1945 romatic comedy as a lifestyle journalist who is lauded by her readers as the most efficient homemaker in the countryside but who lives in a city apartment. But when her boss suggests she host a soldier on leave for the holidays, she needs to come up with a home, child and cooking skills fast.
◊“FlashForward” (7 p.m. on ABC): Mark, Demetri, Gough and MI6 agent Fiona Banks (Alex Kingston, “ER”) investigate a Blue Hand club and its possible connection to some recent suicides.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Everyone’s struggling after losing one of their own and turning to any distraction they can find. Meredith and Derek seem to be consummating their marriage anywhere and everywhere, while Cristina and Owen have been instructed to abstain from sex by Dr. Wyatt. Jessica Capshaw (“The Practice”) guest stars.
◊“The Mentalist” (9 p.m. on CBS): While Jane and the team examine the crime scene where a baseball scout is found murdered, Jane is clocked in the head by a ball and flashes back to his childhood with his overbearing father (Nick Chinlund, “Desperate Measures”).
◊“Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas” (7 p.m. on NBC): This holiday special will include guest appearances by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, brand-new sketches with the infamous troublemaker “Gilly” (played by Kristen Wiig), and favorite holiday-themed sketches from SNL’s 35-year history.
◊“The Truth About Online Anorexia” (7 p.m. on BBC America): British TV and radio personality Fearne Cotton examines the ongoing trend for super-slim women and immerses herself in the worrying world of “pro-ana” websites that encourage anorexia and starvation as a life choice.
◊“The Will: Family Secrets Revealed” (8 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): The pilot episode of this potential series examines the compelling stories of family dynamics as the final wishes of their deceased loved ones are revealed.
FRIDAY, DEC. 18, 2009
◊“ABC World News” (5:30 p.m. on ABC): Anchor Charles Gibson, who announced his retirement several months ago, will officially depart from the nightly newscast today. Replacement Diane Sawyer, who will anchor the Dec. 21 and 22 broadcasts, will permanently take over the anchor spot in January.
◊“Dollhouse” (7 p.m. on Fox): As his contract with the Dollhouse expires, Victor is released back into the world, where his military past threatens his future with Sierra. Meanwhile, Echo is deemed too dangerous and is sent into her worst nightmare.
◊“Four Weddings” (9 p.m. on TLC): Get a sneak peek at this new series in which four brides agree to be guests at each other’s weddings and then judge which one was the best. The 10-episode series premieres Jan. 30.
◊“Frosty the Snowman” (7 p.m. on CBS): Adapted from a popular Christmas song, this 1969 animated musical features the voice of Jackie Vernon as the happy-go-lucky snowman who comes alive when a youngster places a magic hat on his head.
◊“Frosty Returns” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): This animated 1992 special stars John Goodman as the voice of Frosty the Snowman, who arrives in the town of Beansborough following the first snowstorm. But his visit may have to be cut short when a new invention, a snow-removal spray called Summer Wheeze, is introduced.
◊“Law & Order” (7 p.m. on NBC): Detectives Cyrus Lupo and Kevin Bernard investigate the murder of an environmentalist’s wife. Ned Beatty (“Homicide: Life on the Street”) and Sherry Stringfield (“ER”) guest star.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): When a super computer is the prime suspect in the death of cutting-edge scientist, the team must use new means to crack the case. Nancy Travis (“The Bill Engvall Show”) guest stars.
◊“Oxygen’s 25iest: Hollywood’s Most Outrageous Holiday Gifts” (10 p.m. on Oxygen): This special takes a close look inside the holiday gifting habits of celebrities, including Johnny Depp, Lauren Conrad and Lady Gaga. From a romantic over the top Christmas engagement in an igloo to stuffed animals and fake eyelashes, the gifts range from extravagant to just plain bizarre.
SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 2009
◊“Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars” (8 p.m. on BBC America): In the one of the last three episodes starring David Tennant in the title role, all will be revealed as the Doctor and his companion Adelaide (Lindsay Duncan, “Rome”) face terror on the Red Planet in one of the scariest adventures yet. The remaining episodes starring Tennant will air over the holiday season as a two-part special.
◊“Elf” (7 p.m. on CBS): This 2003 comedy stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human who was adopted by elves as an infant and grows up thinking he’s just a large version of his adoptive father (Bob Newhart). When Buddy finds out the truth about his parentage, he is crushed and goes out into the real world to find his dad (James Caan). Unfortunately, Dad has his own family and isn’t interested in rehashing the past.
◊“Sandra Lee Celebrates: Winter Wonderland Party” (7 p.m. on HGTV): Vy Higginsen, the leader of an organization that provides musical training to underprivileged youth, works with Sandra lee to throw an over-the-top holiday party for her neighborhood. With a classic holiday menu that will feed a large crowd – along with festive, budget-friendly décor ideas – viewers will see Sandra transform Vy’s traditional New York dwelling into the ultimate winter wonderland party.
◊“Saturday Night Live” (10:29 p.m. on NBC): James Franco makes his second appearance as host of show, and the British rock trio Muse is the musical guest.
◊“Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Peter O’Toole and Marcia Gay Harden star in this 2008 movie that looks at the inspiration nehind Thomas Kinkade’s painting The Christmas Cottage and how the artist was motivated to begin his career after discovering his mother was in danger of losing their family home.
◊“The Three Gifts” (7 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): Dean Cain (“Out of Time”) stars in the spirited story as Jack Green, a toymaker who, along with his wife (Jean Louisa Kelly, “Yes Dear”), temporarily takes in three unruly orphans during the holiday season. The troublemakers soon turn their act around when they think that the Greens are considering adopting one of them, and do their best to get off the Naughty List.
◊“WWE Tribute to the Troops” (8 p.m. on NBC): WWE Superstars and Divas will head to Iraq this holiday season to put a smile on the faces of the troops serving in the U.S. military and to give thanks for their commitment to our country. This trip marks the seventh consecutive year that WWE will make its annual pilgrimage to the front lines.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Reid Scott
Nov. 19, 2009 — Reid Scott, who plays Brendan Dorff on “My Boys” (Season 4 is scheduled to start production in summer 2010 on TBS), turns 32 today.
He played Bobby O’Neil on “It’s All Relative” (2003-08).
His first acting role was as Ted on 2002 episode of “That ’70s Show.” He was 25.
Best wishes to Reid and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured above: Starring in “My Boys” are, from left, Jamie Kaler, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Bunin, Reid Scott, Jordana Spiro and Kyle Howard.
TV Premieres and Finales airing Nov. 8-14, 2009
Friday is when The Oklahoman
posts a list of all the premieres and finales (and all the guest stars, see separate blog) coming up on TV next week.
And here are the shows beginning and ending the week of Nov 8.
If one was missed, the network did not issue a press release about it. But feel free to add it in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
BEGINNINGS
••“Legend of the Seeker,” 4 p.m. on KOCB-34 (second-season premiere).
••“The Time I …,” 6:55 p.m. Sunday on Disney (series premiere).
••“Lopez Tonight,” 10 p.m. Monday on TBS (series premiere)(pictured at right).
••“Full Throttle Saloon,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on truTV (series premiere).
••“Secrets of the Dead,” 7 p.m. Wednesday on OETA-13 (ninth-season premiere).
••“Ghost Hunters Academy,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on Syfy (series premiere).
••“True Jackson, VP,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Nickelodeon (second-season premiere).
ENDINGS
••“Bored to Death,” 8:30 p.m. Sunday on HBO (first-season finale).
••“Mad Men,” 9 p.m. Sunday on AMC (third-season finale).
••“Lincoln Heights,” 7 p.m. Monday on ABC Family (fourth-season finale).
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
Top 55 TV Programs for March 15-21, 2009
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of Nov. 8:
SUNDAY, NOV. 8, 2009
◊“Bored to Death” (8:30 p.m. on HBO): In the Season 1 finale, George, Jonathan and Ray accept a challenge from George’s publishing rival, Richard, and agree to a tripleheader boxing match — the guys from Edition against the GQ crew.
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): The team investigates the murder of an accomplished 45-year-old Mexican-born jockey who “disappeared” within hours of losing a race he’d long planned as his last before retirement. The music of Santana will play exclusively throughout the episode. Jacob Vargas (“Traffic”) guest stars as the slain jockey’s apprentice.
◊“Desperate Housewives” (8 p.m. on ABC): Susan believes Katherine may be Julie’s assailant while Angie confronts Nick about the secret he’s withholding from her. Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act”) guest stars.
◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Celebrity volunteer Kellie Pickler travels with the team to Beavercreek, Ohio, to tell James Terpenning, a wheelchair sports champion and mentor to disabled Iraqi War veterans, that he and his family will have a newly rebuilt home in seven days.
◊“Gabriel Iglesias: I’m Not Fat … I’m Fluffy” (8 p.m. on Comedy Central): This all-new stand-up special features the comedian’s perfect blend of impeccable voice skills and an uncanny knack for hilarious storytelling. Iglesias’s high-caliber performance was filmed in front of a packed house at the historic Plaza Theatre in El Paso, Texas.
◊“Jonas” (7:30 p.m. on Disney): Joe discovers Stella is going on a date with the star jock Van Dyke Tosh (Chuck Hittinger, “ER”), so he has a date, as well.
◊“Keeping Up With the Kardashians: The Wedding” (7 p.m. on E!): After a whirlwind romance, Khloe Kardashian takes a magical journey down the aisle with Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom. Join Kim, Kourtney and the whole Kardashian clan along with Hollywood’s elite for an insider’s look at this star-studded event.
◊“Legend of the Seeker” (4 p.m. on KOCB-34): In Season 2, Richard, Kahlan and Zedd will encounter an array of new characters, both good and evil, and they will be tested in ways that they never could have imagined. The trio will discover that in defeating the bloodthirsty tyrant Darken Rahl, their victory is short-lived as they inadvertently unleashed an even greater evil on the world. Charisma Carpenter (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) guest stars as a wicked Mord’Sith named Triana.
◊“Mad Men” (9 p.m. on AMC): As Don has a meeting with Connie, Pete has a chat with his clients, and Betty receives an interesting piece of advice in the Season 3 finale.
◊“Nature” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The black mamba hasn’t been studied in the wild much, because most people who encounter this large, deadly snake kill it on sight. But in this new episode, a team of snake handlers in Swaziland braves the danger to conduct a six-week study of the deadly reptile.
◊“The Prince & Me: Holiday Honeymoon” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): In this sequel to “The Prince & Me: The Royal Wedding,” newlyweds Queen Paige (Kam Heskin) and King Edvard (Chris Geere) try to escape the spotlight by honeymooning in Belavia. But instead they end up uncovering a plot against the Danish monarchy.
◊“Stacked: CMA Nominees 2009″ (9:30 a.m. on CMT): This special features the CMA Awards nominees in the video of the year category — Randy Houser’s “Boots On,” Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” Bill Currington’s “People Are Crazy,” Brad Paisley’s “Start a Band” duet with Keith Urban and Geirge Strait’s “Troubadour.” The 43rd annual CMA Awards ceremony will air live at 7 p.m. Wednesday on ABC.
◊“Storm Chasers” (9 p.m. on Discovery): Reed Timmer aims to step up from aggressive chaser to extreme scientist with his new military-grade radar capable of measuring wind speeds inside a twister. And he gets his vehicle inside the circulation of an EF3 for the intercept of a lifetime.
◊“Surviving 2012″ (8 p.m. on Discovery): This special explores the most plausible planetary disasters that 2012 may bring to determine whether or not the end of life on Earth really is lurking just around the corner.
◊“The Time I …” (6:55 p.m. on Disney): This new short-form series features young viewers sharing milestones in ther lives. The 1-2 minute segments include the stories “The Time I…Became a Big Sister” by 12-year-old Jasmine, “The Time I….Rode an Elephant” by 12-year-old Tiana, “The Time I….Flew By Myself” by 8-year-old Reese and “The Time I…Won a Blue Ribbon at the Country Fair” by 10-year-old cousins Hope and Logan.
MONDAY, NOV. 9, 2009
◊“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (7 p.m. on CMT): Host Jeff Foxworthy welcomes Bert, Grover, Prairie Dawn, Zoe and Cookie Monster for a week-long event celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Sesame Street.” A different co-host will be featured each day of the week as contestants test there knowledge of grade-school level questions on the fast-paced game show.
◊“BBC World News America” (6 p.m. on BBC America): A special edition of the show broadcasts live from Berlin on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. German-born Matt Frei, who reported from Berlin on the day the Wall fell 20 years ago, returns to his native country to anchor the program from the historic Brandenburg Gate.
◊“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): Horatio Caine calls Dr. Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) to come to Miami when a severed leg found in the Everglades is discovered to belong to a girl who went missing in Las Vegas a week earlier.
◊“Garage Mahal” (9:30 p.m. on DIY): Guy Fieri (“Diners, Drive-ins and Dives”) throws down his carving knife and picks up a hammer to help the DIY Network crew and host Brian Corsetti build a vintage diner style garage, complete with rolling car and custom back bars, diamond plate wainscoting and chair rail, black and white murals and a half-ton of classic auto parts.
◊“Gossip Girl” (8 p.m. on CW): Not satisfied with just being Queen of Constance Billard, Jenny sets her sights on becoming Queen of all the Upper East Side. Leighton Meester;s new single “Somebody to Love” is featured, along with a guest performance from all-girl rock band Plastiscines.
◊“How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Filmmaker Leslie Woodhead, who first met the Beatles in 1962 when he worked on a film in the Liverpool Cavern Club, talks to Russians who grew up listening to the Beatles and found hope and inspiration in their music and their message of rebellion.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m. on CBS): After Barney and Robin hit a rough patch in their relationship, Lily devises the perfect plan to break them up, calling in help from Robin’s famous friend, Alan Thicke.
◊“Lincoln Heights” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): Cassie tells Charles she wants to apply to school in New York, and Lizzie gets into trouble at school.
◊“Lopez Tonight” (10 p.m. on TBS): Comedian and actor George Lopez headlines this new late-night talk show that will feature a street-party feel with pumped-up music, audience interaction and a format that is open to change each day. His prmeiere-night guests include Ellen DeGeneres (“Ellen”), Eva Longoria-Parker (“Desperate Housewives”) and Kobe Bryant (NBA player).
◊“One Tree Hill” (7 p.m. on CW): Series star Sophia Bush (Brooke) directed this episode in which devastating news threatenes to derrail Brook and Julian’s fairytale romance.
◊“Rita Rocks” (9 p.m. on Lifetime): Swoosie Kurtz (“Pushing Daisies”) guest stars as Rita’s overly judgmental mother, Marilyn. Rita scrubs down the house and hides all the junk food to prepare for a visit from Marilyn, who decides to stay a couple weeks longer to spend more quality time with Rita and the family.
◊“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (noon on KOCB-34): Meredith Vieira won’t be the only person asking questions on the game show. Starting today, she will get assistance from celebrities such as Senator John McCain, Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”), Jane Lynch (“Glee”), Joe Mantegna (“Criminal Minds”) and Robin Roberts (“Good Morning America”). Monday is also the first day of the “Million Dollar Tournament of Ten” that will feature the season’s top 10 contestants who will get a shot at a $1 million question.
TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 2009
◊“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Playing the game for charity are celebrities Nick Lachey (“Charmed”) and Drew Lachey (“The Comebacks”).
◊“Disaster House” (9 p.m. on DIY): Host Josh Temple and his team drop a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis from nearly 100 feet to replicate years of damage a normal driveway can endure and what homeowners can do to repair common problems. He also uses a Pumpkin Cannon to shoot a variety of fruits at a home mailbox to show viewers how to repair theirs.
◊“Full Throttle Saloon” (9 p.m. on truTV): This new series takes viewers behind-the-scenes at The Throttle, a biker bar in Sturgis, S.D. The 30-acre indoor/outdoor bar features several large stages, a burn-out pit, a tattoo parlor, zip lines, a wrestling ring, restaurants, dozens of stores, hundreds of cabins for rent and parking for thousands of bikes. It is only open two weeks a year during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
◊“The Good Wife” (9 p.m. on CBS): While representing the daughter of one of the partner’s at the law firm, Alicia finds herself attracted to her co-counsel and his unorthodox approach to defending their client. Chris Bowers (“Rescue Me”) guest stars as Alicia’s co-counsel.
◊“In the Spotlight With Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville” (9 p.m. on ABC): Take a backstage tour of the country music scene with Robin Roberts (“Good Morning America”) as she goes home with Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood and Nashville residents Tim McGraw and Martina McBride. Also on the itinerary are interviews with Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn and Rosanne Cash.
◊“Independent Lens” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): In “D Tour,” documentarian Jim Granato tells the story of Pat Spurgeon, an aspiring indie rocker whose life and career suffer a setback when one of his kidneys begins to fail. The film follows him as he searches for a donor while on tour with his band Rogue Wave.
◊“James May on the Moon” (7 p.m. on BBC America): Driven by his passion for technology, “Top Gear” presenter James May seeks out both the astronauts and the men who built the space vehicles. And through manipulation of archive footage, May buckles up with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, lands the Eahle and takes a space walk.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): With the team’s help, Vance faces his demons while uncovering a complex relationship with a killer that puts his whole family in danger. Kelly Hu (“Martial Law”), Penny Johnson Jerald (“24″) and Paula Newsome (“Women’s Murder Club”) guest star.
◊“Sesame Street” (9 a.m. on OETA-13): The world’s largest informal children’s educator celebrates its 40th birthday today, which is the exact day the series debuted on television four decades ago. The new season will feature a new show opening, a new nature curriculum and the new First Lady Michelle Obama, who appears in the premiere epusode and teaches “the street’s” residents about the many benefits of planting a garden and healthy eating.
◊“Starz Inside: Sex and the Cinema” (9 p.m. on Starz): This special explores how sexually charged films reflect out own sexual liberation. It also looks at many films that push the boundary, from mainstream studio films to producyt that comes from the porn industry.
◊“The Will: Families Divided” (9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): This special explores the intrigue, legal wrangling and high emotions surrounding real-life stories of family inheritance — whether there is a valid will or not.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11, 2009
◊“The 43rd Annual CMA Awards” (7 p.m. on ABC): Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, the reigning CMA female and male vocalists of the year, co-host the event for the second consecutive year. Both are also nominees and are scheduled to perform, along with Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift and George Strait.
◊“Apocalypse: The Second World War” (7 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel): Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”) narrates this six-part series featuring footage filmed by those who witnessed the war first-hand. This footage was deemed ‘unfit’ for civilians to see. Until now. It has been restored, colorized and transferred to high definition. The series will air over six consecutive nights.
◊“Change the World: American Heroes” (7 p.m. on HGTV): Craftsman Carter Oosterhouse and designer Monica Pedersen transform homes in Philadelphia and St. Louis into comfortable and welcoming places for veterans who are transitioning back to civilian life.
◊“Coca-Cola: The Real Story Behind the Real Thing” (8 p.m. on CNBC): With unprecedented access, CNBC pulls back the curtain on Coca-Cola, revealing never-before-seen labs, secret archives and high-tech product testing. Cameras follow Coke’s urgent campaign to reinvent itself after years of losing ground to arch-rival Pepsi in the race to develop new beverages.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit follows a trail of murders that seems to align with the tour schedule of a rock star. Gavin Rossdale plays a Goth performer who has become lost in the frightening alter-ego he portrays on stage — an alter-ego the BAU team suspects may be a brutal serial killer.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): Dr. Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) rushes to New York when Det. Mac Taylor and his team identify a woman hidden in a big rig following an accident as someone he interviewed in Miami related to his missing person’s case. Though the woman disappears after the accident, Langston and Mac discover they’re onto an interstate trucking ring that specializes in human cargo and black market organ harvesting.
◊“Gary Unmarried” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Allison is jilted when her new “friend,” Sophia (Nadine Valezquez, “My Name Is Earl”), prefers Gary’s company over hers.
◊“Ghost Hunters Academy” (9 p.m. on Syfy): In this new spinoff of “Ghost Hunters,” two members of The Atlantic Paranormal Society — technical manager Steve Gonsalves and evidence analyst Dave Tango — show a group of college students how to investigate reports of paranormal activity.
◊“POV” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The new documentary “The Way We Get By” tells the stories behind a group of retired and elderly citizens in Maine who have taken it upon themselves to greet every troop plane arriving or departing Bangor, which is the last and first piece of U.S. soil many soldiers see before and after their deployments.
◊“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7 p.m. on CBS): Max (Eric McCormack, “Will & Grace”) points out to Christine that she quits anything that gets too hard, including relationships, which is one of the reasons he chose to be her therapist rather than her boyfriend.
◊“Return to Duty” (8 p.m. on MTV): Viewers of “The Real World: Brooklyn” may remember the emotional moment when cast member and Army vet Ryan Conklin was unexpectedly recalled for a second tour of duty in Iraq. In this documentary, Conklin takes viewers through the year since that day, offering a soldier’s view of America’s changing military presence in the long war in Iraq.
◊“Secrets of the Dead” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The new episode “Airmen and the Headhunters” recounts the rescue of a U.S. bomber crew shot down over the jungles of Japanese-occupied Borneo during World War II. Dayak tribesmen, known for taking the heads of their enemies, fed and protected the airmen.
THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2009
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): Dr. Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) continues the search for the young girl taken hostage as part of the human trafficking operation. It leads him to investigate a prostitution ring in Las Vegas that may harbor the missing woman.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): When Owen recruits his fellow Iraqi War vet, Dr. Teddy Altman, as the new cardiothoracic surgeon, Cristina questions Teddy’s abilities in the operating room and the nature of their past relationship. Joel Grey (“Cabaret”) and Kim Raver (“24″) guest star.
◊“The Mentalist” (9 p.m. on CBS): While Jane and the team examine the crime scene where a baseball scout is found murdered, Jane is clocked in the head by a ball and flashes back to his childhood with his overbearing father (Nick Chinlund, “Desperate Housewives”).
◊“Stateline: Behind the Curtain” (8:30 p.m. on OETA-13): This installment of OETA’s award-winning documentary series unveils what it takes to maintain Oklahoma’s world class museums and attractions. Attractions featured include the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, home to thousands of varieties of sea life; the J.M. Davis Gun Museum in Claremore that could outfit an army; and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, which prepares for performances days in advance of the curtain.
◊“The Vampire Diaries” (7 p.m. on CW): A mysterious new history teacher (Matt Davis, “Legally Blonde”) arrives at the high school. And when Elena, Bonnie and Caroline hold a seance, the results are stranger than any of them expected.
FRIDAY, NOV. 13, 2009
◊“Great Performances” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Motown Records, “Stevie Wonder: Live At Last” features the American musician in a concert performance at London’s O2 Arena.
◊“Invitation Only: Tim McGraw” (8 p.m. on CMT): Country music artist Tim McGraw returns to the stage to perform his biggest hits and music from his latest album “Southern Voice.” He also takes questions from fans and gives revealing and candid answers.
◊“Medium” (8 p.m. on CBS): Allison fears the worst about Ariel’s new boyfriend when she suspects him of murdering a man. Also, Bridgette posts embarrassing videos of a man on the Internet and gets into trouble. Amy Pietz (“Caroline in the City”) guest stars as the mother of Ariel’s boyfriend in this episode directed by David Arquette (“Scream”).
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): While tracking down a felon running a heroin ring inside a prison, Agent Ian Edgerton (Lou Diamond Phillips, “La Bamba”) becomes a murder suspect when the informant he meets with ends up dead, sending a desperate Edgerton over the edge when he takes a member of Don’s team hostage.
◊“Smallville” (7 p.m. on CW): DC Comics’ “The Wonder Twins” Jayna and Zan (David Gallagher, 7th Heaven) show up in Metroplolis to help The Blur fight crime. But they end of botching several rescues.
◊“Ugly Betty” (8 p.m. on ABC): Hilda’s bad-boy high school flame and Betty’s schoolgirl crush — Bobby Talercio (Adam Rodriguez, “CSI: Miami”) — teaches at Justin’s school, causing the sisters to both doubt their feelings for “nice guys” — such as Archie (Ralph Macchio, “The Karate Kid”), in Hilda’s case.
SATURDAY, NOV. 14, 2009
◊“5 Ingredient Fix” (11:30 a.m. on Food Network): Host Claire Robinson prepares all her Thanksgiving recipes with five or fewer ingredients. She cooks up roasted turkey breast with gravy, cornbread dressing and a ginger pumpkin tart.
◊“Ask Aida” (8:30 a.m. on Food Network): Create a Thanksgiving feast with host Aida Mollenkamp’s crowd-pleasing menu. She fixes an apple-sage roast turkey, whole wheat stuffing and a pecan pumpkin crunch. She also shares her simple recipe for hearty pan gravy.
◊“Cougar Town” (4 p.m. on SoapNet): This two-hour marathon includes the first three episodes (as well as the fifth episode) of the ABC series starring Courteney Cox as a recently divorced single mother exploring the truths about dating and aging.
◊“Everything She Ever Wanted” (7 p.m on Lifetime Movie Network): This two-part miniseries, which concludes Nov. 15, stars Gina Gershon (“Bound”) as a Southern woman whose storybook wedding signals the beginning of a nightmare marriage that is ultimately upended by greed and violence. It is inspired by a true story.
◊“Flower Girl” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): Marla Sokoloff (“The Practice”) stars in this new romance as Laurel, a florist who can’t seem to find the man of her dreams. But when her grandmother (Marion Ross) tries to fix Laurel up with the perfect man, before she knows it, she has not one but two potential suitors on her hands and must decide if its time to follow her heart or her head.
◊“Imagination Movers” (9 a.m. on Disney): In the episode “A Fairy Tale Ending,” the Movers must convince Cinderella to go home and back to her story so she can have her fairy tale ending with Prince Charming. The episode features the debut of the new original song “When You Grow Up.” Nicole Anderson (“Jonas”) and Jason Dolley (“Good Luck Charlie”) guest star as Cinderella and Prince Charming.
◊“Oklahoma Hall of Fame” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The 2009 Oklahoma Hall of Fame class of 2009 is inducted. The seven Oklahoma honorees are: C. Kendric Fergeson, Altus; Marlin G. “Ike” Glass, Jr., Newkirk; V. Burns Hargis, Stillwater; Polly A. Nichols, Oklahoma City; Lee Roy Selmon, Eufaula; Steven W. Taylor, McAlester; and Wayman Lawrence Tisdale, Tulsa, who will be inducted posthumously.
◊“Saturday Night Live” (10:29 p.m. on NBC): January Jones (“Mad Men”) makes her “SNL” debut as host. Back for their second appearance are musical guests The Black Eyed Peas, three-time Grammy Award winners.
◊“Super Dave’s Spike-Tacular” (10 p.m. on SPIKE): Emmy winner Bob Einstein returns as Super Dave Osbourne, self-described as the greatest daredevil superstar entertainer of all time, as he prepares for a weekly death-defying stunt. Stunts he will attempt in the four-part special event include trying to break the NASCAR speed record on a track loaded with explosives, breaking the speed record in the Guinness Book of World Records for a hybrid vehicle, challenging the world’s six greatest paintball players and stepping into the Octagon with former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
◊“The Suze Orman Show” (8 p.m. on CNBC): The five warning signs that your financial advisor doesn’t have your best interest at heart.
◊“True Jackson, VP” (7:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon): In the Season 2 premiere, True is determined to save her school’s design department from budget cuts and decides to hold a fundraising concert. Making special celebrity appearances are teen pop singer Justin Bieber and Brooklyn tween punk rock band Care Bears on Fire.
–Penny TV
Top 55 TV Programs for Nov. 1-7, 2009
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which
includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of Nov. 1:
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
SUNDAY, NOV. 1, 2009
◊“Cold Case” (9 p.m. on CBS): The team looks into the 1944 murder of the top pilot from the WASP program, a pioneering group of civilian women who volunteered to fly non-combat missions for the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII. Guest stars include Michael Learned (“The Waltons”) as a former WASP pilot, John Aniston (“Days of Our Lives”) as a WWII Army Air Force pilot veteran and Daniel Baldwin (“Grey Gardens”) as Moe Kitchener, who is out on bail awaiting his trial for running Lilly’s car off the road.
◊“Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): In this new primetime special, Dora continues her magical storybook adventure from last fall (“Dora Saves the Snow Princess”), when the magic crystal that the Snow Princess gave her are stolen by a greedy king (voiced by Richard Kind, “Spin City”). Dora and Boots must help locate the crystals and turn the pale gray kingdom back into a colorful wonderland.
◊“Duel with the Devil” (9 p.m. on Documentary Channel): This documentary follows members of the special homicide task force in Guatemala City as they risk their lives solving thousands of homicides that occur every year.
◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Celebrity volunteer Clint Black (“The Celebrity Apprentice”) and the team travel to Daviess County, KY, to tell Steve and Melissa Mattingly that their small single-wide trailer will be replaced by a newly constructed home built in seven days.
◊“Food Network Challenge” (7 p.m. on Food Network): Four cake designers make cakes based on the four main characters from “The Simpsons.” The designers must team up with a “Simpsons” super fan to ensure that every detail of the cake is just right.
◊“Kristi Yamaguchi & Friends” (3 p.m. on NBC): Featuring the musical talents of The Backstreet Boys, who are touring in support of their new album, “This Is Us,” this skating exhibition will showcase Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and her skating friends. Among them are four-time world champion Kurt Browning, eight-time British champion Steven Cousins and two-time Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina Gordeeva.
◊“Masterpiece Contemporary” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Juliet Stevenson (“Truly, Madly, Deeply”) stars as a TV journalist who reopens the unsolved 1963 disapperance of a 13-year-old girl in “Place of Execution,” a thriller adapted from a novel by Val McDermid (“Wire in the Blood”).
◊“Nature” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment “Born Wild: The First Days of Life” follows the birth and first day of several species, from marmoset to moose and elephant to gorilla.
◊“Nostradamus Decoded” (7 p.m. on Discovery): This special exposes the truth about the world’s greatest prognosticator and offers insight into human nature itself.
◊“Seven Dumpsters and a Corpse” (7 p.m. on Documentary Channel): A tale of two brothers trying to piece together their family history amidst the mess of their deceased mother’s apartment. The saga involves baronesses and counts, stolen lovers and Nazi officers, lawsuits and counter lawsuits and lots of cats.
◊“Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew” (9 p.m. on VH1): Dr. Drew Pinsky and a team of experts on sexual addition guide eight patients through an extensive program in order to get to the root of their compulsive behavior.◊“Strange Sex” (9 p.m. on Discovery Health): This special explores the world of sexual medical anomalies, including a diagnosed sex addict trying to get her life in order and a woman who is allergic to her husband’s semen.
◊“Styl’d” (9 p.m. on MTV): This new series takes viewers inside the competitive world of fashion by following five junior stylists at the Margaret Maldonado Agency. Each week, they assist with the styling of celebrities for various events including music videos, movie premieres and red carpet events.
◊“Three Rivers” (8 p.m. on CBS): In order to save his life, Andy tries a risky new procedure on his wife’s partner who suffers from an aortic aneurysm. Lennie James (“Jericho”) guest stars as Dr. Timothy Maguire, a cardiologist.
MONDAY, NOV. 2, 2009
◊“For the Love of Ray J” (8 p.m. on VH1): R&B artist Ray J is back to find his soul mate. When things with Season 1 finalist Cocktail didn’t end well, VH1 found a new group of 18 women to vie for Ray J’s heart.
◊“Gossip Girl” (8 p.m. on CW): Olivia (“Hilary Duff, “Lizzie McGuire”) says something she regrets during her appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show and tries to keep Dan from finding out.
◊“Ham on Turkey” (2 p.m. on Fine Living Network): George Duran, host of “Ham on the Street,” stages a Mayflower pizza party and unveils the hottest trend in turkey roasting — the bicycle-powered mega-rotisserie.
◊“Heroes” (7 p.m. on NBC): Hiro gets a second chance to save the love of his life. Elsewhere, H.R.G.’s past with his Primatech partner (Elizabeth Rohm, “Law & Order”) is revealed.
◊“I Want to Work for Diddy” (9 p.m. on VH1): Sean “Diddy” Combs returns for a second season in search of a new assistant. He will challenge 11 new hopefuls to see who has the talent and motivation to work for him.
◊“The People V. Leo Frank” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): This program dramatizes the 1913 murder of Mary Phagan and the trial and lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory supervisor accised of her murder. The cast is led by Will Janowitz (“The Sopranos”) and Seth Gilliam (“The Wire”).
◊“Poliwood” (6:30 p.m. on Showtime): Academy Award winner Barry Levinson (“Rain Man”) directed this look at the collision and collusion between politics, Hollywood and the media. Among the celebrities featured are Annette Bening, Susan Sarandon, Hayden Panettiere, Matthew Modine and Tulsa native Alfre Woodard.
TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2009
◊“90210″ (7 p.m. on CW): DJ Samantha Ronson guest stars as herself, offering dating advice to Navid. Rumer Willis (“Sorority Row”) also guest stars in the episode that features a performance by Pharrell and N.E.R.D.
◊“The Biggest Loser” (7 p.m. on NBC): The contestants head to Washington D.C. for an unforgettable week that includes a visit to the White House kitchen and the biggest workout in the show’s eight-year history.
◊“By the People: The Election of Barack Obama” (8 p.m. on HBO): Filmmakers Amy Rice and Alicia Sams chronicle the presidential campaign of Barack Obama starting from nearly a year before he announced his candidacy. Interwoven with the drama of the campaign is never-before-seen footage of Obama behind the scenes, as well as interviews and candid moments with wife Michelle Obama, the couple’s young daughters, Malia and Sasha, and senior campaign staff, volunteers, reporters, supporters and opponents. Rice, who grew up in Oklahoma City, conceivced the idea of making the documentary when she saw Obama’s 2004 convention speech on TV.
◊“The Good Wife” (9 p.m. on CBS): As Alicia works with Will on the appeal of a death row inmate, she agrees to a conjugal visit with Peter in order to get information from him since her client was convicted under Peter’s regime as state’s attorney. David Paymer (“Mr. Saturday Night”) returns as Judge Richard Cuesta.
◊“Independent Lens” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Maggie Gyllenhaal (“SherryBaby”) hosts the new installment titled “Power Paths” that looks at traditional American Indian values regarding conservation and the earth that offer real solutions to America’s energy crisis.
◊“Kathy Griffin: Balls of Steel” (8 p.m. on Bravo): In her seventh original stand-up special for Bravo, two-time Emmy winning comedienne Kathy Griffin dishes about her experience at the Teen Choice Awards with her date, Levi Johnston, and offers her take on recent headlines including Jon and Kate Gosselin, Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): A murder investigation prompts Gibbs and the team to play family counselor to his former mentor, Mike Franks, in the hopes of preventing a bloody international conflict. Robert Patrick (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”) guest stars as First Defense COO Colonel Merton Bell.
◊“Nova: Becoming Human” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): This three-part special investigates new discoveries that are transforming the picture of how we became human. The first installment explores fresh clues about our earliest ancestors in Africa, including the stunningly complete fossil nicknamed “Lucy’s Child.”
◊“Rip-Off!” (8 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): This special profiles two of the most notorious white-collar criminals in recent memory — Dennis Kozlowski, chief executive of Tyco, and Marcus Schrenker, owner and operator of Heritage Wealth Management.
◊“State of Creativity” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): With strategic placement on I-35 and I-40, drugs are trafficked to all four corners of our country through the boarders of Oklahoma. Drug trafficking brought the street gangs from southern California here in the 1980s and they brought their culture with them. Violence. Robbery. Vandalism. OETA’s newest documentary series takes a look into the gangster lifestyle and discovers a solution that breaks the cycle of this dangerous culture.
◊“Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Tabatha Coffey returns for a second season to help transform the lives and businesses of salon owners in the Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami areas. Fans first met her as an acerbic contestant on the first season of “Shear Genius.” Since that time, Tabatha has earned respect for her unapologetic, brutally honest approach.
◊“V” (7 p.m. on ABC): In this reimagining of NBC’s 1983 miniseries, a bunch of charismatic extraterrestrials led by Anna (Morena Baccarin, “Firefly”) captivates most of Earth’s population. But FBI counterterrorism agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell, “Lost”) suspects the aliens have a far more sinister agenda.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4, 2009
◊“Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize 2009″ (7 p.m. on OETA-13): A roster of top-flight American comics including Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock salutes the Emmy-winning actor as he becomes the recipient of the 12th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The special includes clips of his career highlights from stand-up appearances as well as his groundbreaking role on “I Spy” and the sitcoms that later bore his name.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): The Behavioral Analysis Unit tracks a serial killer who keeps the eyes of his victims as souvenirs. Salli Richardson-Whitfield (“Eureka”) returns as the sister of a murder victim.
◊“Gary Unmarried” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): Allison is jilted when her new “friend,” Sophia (guest star Nadine Valezquez, “My Name Is Earl”), prefers Gary’s company over hers.
◊“Flowers Uncut” (9 p.m. on TLC): Jeff Leatham, one of the top floral designers in the world, moves from Paris to New York City to set up shop in the event capital of the world. One of his first jobs in an $80,000 floral presentation for the Shila Hotel in Korea.
◊“House of Payne” (8 p.m. on TBS): Kim Fields (“The Facts of Life”) directs two new episodes airing back-to-back. In “Where’s the Payne,” Curtis finds out that he’s being forced into retirement and Calvin discovers that Miranda is missing. In “Recurring Paynes,” Miranda’s mother arrives and confronts Calvin, who has become a suspect in her disappearance.
◊“Johnny Mercer: The Dream’s on Me” (7 p.m. on TCM): Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) executive produced this profile of the gap-toothed composer from Georgia who penned the lyrics, music or both to some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century, including “Hooray for Hollywood,” “Moon River” and “The Days of Wine and Roses.”
◊“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (8 p.m. on NBC): When two young girls are similarly murdered a little over a month apart, Detective Odafin Tutuola decides to investigate the gruesome crimes. John Larroquette (“Boston Legal”) guest stars.
◊“Mercy” (7 p.m. on NBC): Sonia gets relationship advice from a patient and begins to question her arm’s-length approach to dating. Jerry Stiller (“The King of Queens”) and Ann Meara (“Archie Bunker’s Place”) guest star.
◊“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7 p.m. on CBS): Christine considers herself popular by association when Ritchie is asked to a dance by the most popular girl in school, and Matthew and Richard try to evict an elderly woman (Marion Ross, “Happy Days”) from the apartment they hope to rent.
◊“Strange Sex” (9 p.m. on Discovery Health): This special explores the world of sexual medical anomalies, including a diagnosed sex addict trying to get her life in order and a woman who is allergic to her husband’s semen.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Gig Young was born on this day in 1913, and TCM celebrates by airing nine of his films, including 1950′s “Hunt the Man Down” (11 a.m.) and 1953′s “The Girl Who Had Everything” (4:15 p.m.).
◊“Top Chef All Stars Dinner” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Season 5 fan favorite Fabio Viviani hosts a get-together complete with a challenge as past chef’testants rehash their favorite moments on the series. Chefs taking part include Harold Dieterle (Season 1), Ilan Hall (Season 2), Hung Huynh (Season 3) and Lisa Fernandes (Season 4).
THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 2009
◊“30 Rock” (8:30 p.m. on NBC): While Liz and Pete try to rig the audition process, Tracy and Jenna decide it’s in their best interest to conduct their own search for a new “TGS” actor. Brian Williams (“NBC Nightly News”) guest stars.
◊“Broke and Famous: Willie Aames” (9 p.m. on VH1): This special chronicles the journey of Willie Aames, a once rich and successful celebrity who descended into poverty, as he works to transform and rebuild his life. Sarano Kelley, a financial guru and life coach, will be tasked with giving Willie the wake-up call he needs and helping him to reshape his financial future.
◊“Cold Blood” (9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): This series, beginning its second season, presents competing versions of what may have happened as investigators follow forensic clues in search of the truth.
◊“Community” (7 p.m. on NBC): When the gang finds out Jeff is living out of his car, they offer their help. Eric Christian Olsen (“Fired Up!”) guest stars.
◊“The Doctors” (3 p.m. on KWTV-9): Brooke Burke (“Dancing With the Stars”) joins the daytime talk show as a “Mommy Correspondent.” She will make house calls and act as the liaison between mothers and the doctors — Dr. Travis Stork (E.R. physician), Dr. Lisa Masterson (obstetrician and gynecologist), Dr. Andrew Ordon (plastic surgeon) and Dr. James Sears (pediatrician).
◊“FlashForward” (7 p.m. on ABC): Mark, Demetri, Gough and MI6 agent Fiona Banks (Alex Kingston, “ER”) investigate a Blue Hand club and its possible connection to some recent suicides. Meanwhile, Demetri comes clean with Zoey (Gabrielle Union, “Life”) about his lack of a flashforward.
◊“Gallery” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): After months of painstaking work, Lego brick artist Kurt Zimmerle is back home in Michigan working on his Halloween haunted houses. What he’s left behind is a masterpiece that will benefit Oklahoma City’s poverty stricken children for years to come. Zimmerle constructed about 50 Oklahoma City buildings like the state capital, the Skirvin Plaza, Bricktown and the as yet un-built Devon tower. (The Lego version stands 9 feet tall) out of Lego bricks. Kurt hasn’t done an exact count because he says he does not have time, but he estimates he has used over 1,000,000 bricks to construct OK Cityscapes.
◊“The Office” (8 p.m. on NBC): Jim and Pam are out of excuses, so they have no choice but to go on a double date with Michael and Helene (Linda Purl, “First Monday”).
◊“The Real Housewives of Orange County” (9 p.m. on Bravo): In Season 5, the Southern California girls welcome Alexis Bellino to the group and say farewell to longtime housewife Jeana Keough. The series also takes a turn with shifting relationships and the tough economy hitting the women and their families hard.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Vivien Leigh was born on this day in 1913, and TCM celebrates by airing four of her films, including 1938′s “A Yank at Oxford” (6:45 a.m.) and 1941′s “That Hamilton Woman” (10:30 am.).
FRIDAY, NOV. 6, 2009
◊“Fanboy and Chum Chum” (8 p.m. on Nickelodeon): This new animated comedy spin-off from the Nicktoons Network series “Random! Cartoons” centers on a comic book-loving 11-year old named Fanboy and his best friend and trusty sidekick, Chum Chum, whose wide-eyed acceptance of the bizarre is the perfect complement to his friend’s enthusiasm and imagination. In every episode, Fanboy and Chum Chum, donning their tights and capes, embark on a daily quest to turn an average day into a fun one.
◊“Ghost Adventures” (8 p.m. on Travel Channel): The crew travels to Poveglia Island in Italy to investigate the cursed ground. Locals and tourists are forbidden from visiting this location.
◊“Ghost Adventures Live: Post Mortem” (7 p.m. on Travel Channel): One week after being locked down live in West Virginia’s Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum for seven hours, Zak, Nick and Aaron relive the best moments of the event.
◊“Greg Behrendt: That Guy From That Thing” (11 p.m. on Comedy Central): Best known for his book “He’s Just Not That Into You,” Greg Behrendt brings his blunt and humorous observations to this stand-up special. He leaves the self-help at home to take action against what Criss Angel did to magic, ponder the nature of God and explain why guys shouldn’t quote lines from porn movies.
◊“Live From Abbey Road” (10 p.m. on Sundance): The music series, back for its third season, features performances and interviews with musicians filmed at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
◊“Medium” (8 p.m. on CBS): When Allison’s car is wrecked, the SUV she rents turns out to have some unusual features, including a satellite radio that allows her to hear other people’s conversations. Faith Prince (“Huff”) guest stars as Lauren Portman, whose daughter causes the damage to Allison’s car.
◊“SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth or Squared” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Celebrity guest stars Rosario Dawson, Craig Ferguson, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, LeBron James, P!nk, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Robin Williams appear as themselves in live-action sequences throughout this special, which follows SpongeBob and the Bikini Bottom gang as they reminisce through a series of original, never-before-seen flashbacks. Ricky Gervais narrates the special and Cee-Lo Green (Gnarles Barkley) performs a cover of the SpongeBob theme song to an all-new stop-motion opening title sequence.
◊“Ugly Betty” (8 p.m. on CBS): Matt asks someone else to be his “plus one” at Wilhemina’s fund-raiser for Tibetan orphans. Meanwhile we learn the truth behind Nico’s (YaYa Dacosta, “All My Children”) dire straits.
SATURDAY, NOV. 7
◊“Handy Manny” (7:30 a.m. on Disney): Season 3 of this multicultural series for preschoolers will introduce 10 new tool characters. Guest stars this season include Rosario Dawson (“Gemini Division”) as a marine biologist, Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a race car driver, Jim Belushi (“According to Jim”) as a drawbridge operator and Giada De Laurentiis (“Giada at Home”) as the owner of a pizza parlor.
◊“Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers” (8 p.m. on CBS): Fedor Emelianenko of Russia, the world’s top-ranked mixed martial arts heavyweight fighter, will face undefeated American Brett Rogers of Minnesota in the marquee match up. Also appearing on the live four-fight primetime card are middleweights Jake Shields and Jason “Mayhem Miller, who will battle for the recently vacated Strikeforce middleweight title.
◊“Til Debt Do Us Part” (9 p.m. on CNBC): Financial author and columnist Gail Vaz-Oxlade takes a tough-love approach to getting couples in financial crisis to face reality. Some couples are on the verge of bankruptcy and others are just getting by. Either way, they all learn how to work their way out of debt and get the skills they need to plan for their financial future.
◊“Too Late to Say Goodbye” (7 p.m. on Lifetime Movie Network): Rob Lowe stars in this new film inspired by the true story of an outwardly charming couple whose deceit and secret affairs result in fatal consequences. It is based on Ann Rule’s best-selling book.
◊“The Wanda Sykes Show” (10 p.m. on Fox): Wanda Sykes, fresh off her funny HBO special and her recurring role in “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” joins the late-night talk show arena with her own blend of comedy and topical commentary, which is set to include panels to discuss current events.
–Penny TV
And the nominees for the 2009 awards shows are … (could be Oklahoma artists)
‘Tis the season for awards shows, and artists with Oklahoma ties are in the running.
On Tuesday (Oct. 13), ABC announced nominees for the 2009 American Music Awards that will air live Nov. 22. Rascal Flatts (featuring Joe Don Rooney from Picher) received two nominations, while Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood were both nominated for favorite female country music artist.
And on Thursday, additional performers were added to the lineup for The 43rd Annual CMA Awards that will air live at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 on ABC. Among them were Oklahoma City native Vince Gill, who will duet with rock band Daughtry, and Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert.
Here is a list of upcoming awards shows, and additional info will be added when nominees are announced. So stay tuned.
••Oct. 27: Scream 2009 (9 p.m. on SPIKE) — Fourth annual event honoring the best in horor, science fiction, fantasy and comics. Top nominee is “Star Trek” (17).
••Oct 27: Fourth Annual BET Hip Hop Awards (7 p.m. on BET) — Mike Epps hosts. Top nominees are Kanye West (9), Lil’ Wayne (7), Jay Z (7), T.I. (6).
••Nov. 11: The 43rd Annual CMA Awards (7 p.m. on ABC) — Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley co-host. Top nominees are Brad Paisley (6), Taylor Swift (4), Keith Urban (4), Jamey Johnson (4), George Strait (4), Zac Brown (4). Nominees with Oklahoma ties are Miranda Lambert (female vocalist of the year, single of the year), Carrie Underwood (female vocalist of the year, album of the year), Rascal Flatts (vocal group of the year), Brooks & Dunn (vocal due of the year, album of the year), Trisha Yearwood (musical event of the year). Performers with Oklahoma ties are Vince Gill, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood.
••Nov. 5: The 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards (7 p.m. on Univision) — Top nominee is Calle 13 (5).
••Nov. 22: 2009 American Music Awards (7 p.m. on ABC) — Top nominees are Taylor Swift (6), Michael Jackson (5), Eminem (4). Nominees with Oklahoma ties are Rascal Flatts (favorite band, duo or group, favorite album), Reba McEntire (favorite female artist), Carrie Underwood (favorite female artist).
••Jan. 6: The 36th Annual People’s Choice Awards (8 p.m. on CBS) — Queen Latifah hosts. Nominees announced in November.
••Jan. 17: The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards (7 p.m. on NBC) — Nominees announced Dec. 15.
••Jan. 23: The 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (7 p.m. on TNT and TBS) — Nominees announced Dec. 17.
••Jan. 31: The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards (7 p.m. on CBS) — Nominees announced Dec. 2.
••Feb. 21: 2010 Orange British Academy Film Awards (usually broadcast on BBC America) — Nominees announced Jan. 21.
••March 5: The 25th Annual Independent Spirit Awards (7 p.m. on IFC) – Nominees announced in January.
••March 7: The 81st Annual Academy Awards (7 p.m. on ABC) — Nominees announced Feb. 2.
Happy Birthday, Bill Engvall
July 27, 2009 — William Ray Engvall Jr.,
who plays Bill Pearson on “The Bill Engvall Show” (8 p.m. Saturdays on TBS), turns 52 today.
He played Bill Pelton on “The Jeff Foxworthy Show” (1996-97 on ABC).
His first acting role was a Student in the 1982 movie “Split Image.” He was 25.
Best wishes to Bill and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Bill Engvall on “The Bill Engvall Show” (TBS Photo)
TV Premieres and Finales airing July 12-18, 2009
"Dark Blue" (TNT Photo)
Friday is when The Oklahoman posts a list of all the premieres and finales (and all the guest stars, see separate blog) coming up on TV next week.
And here are the shows beginning and ending the week of July 12.
If one was missed, the network did not issue a press release about it. But feel free to add it in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
BEGINNINGS
••“Big Daddy’s House,” 12:30 p.m. Sunday on Food Network (third-season premiere).
••“Stories From the Vaults,” 7 p.m. Sunday on Smithsonian Channel (second-season premiere).
••“Surprise Vacations With Karen Duffy,” 7 p.m. Sunday on FLN (series premiere).
••“Drop Dead Diva,” 8 p.m. Sunday on Lifetime (series premiere).
••“I Survived …,” 8 p.m. Sunday on BIO (third-season premiere).
••“Entourage,” 9:30 p.m. Sunday on HBO (sixth-season premiere).
••“The Wendy Williams Show,” noon Monday on KAUT-43 (series premiere).
••“Miami Social,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on Bravo (series premiere).
••“Leverage,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on TNT (second-season premiere).
••“Dark Blue,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on TNT (series premiere).
••“Michael & Michael Have Issues,” 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Comedy Central (series premiere).
••“Watch What Happens: Live,” 11 p.m. Thursday on Bravo (series premiere).
••“Catch It Keep It,” 9 p.m. Friday on Science Channel (series premiere).
••“Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-Up,” 10 p.m. Friday on Starz (fourth-season premiere).
••“Barefoot Contessa,” 12:30 p.m. Saturday on Food Network (12th-season premiere).
••“The Bill Engvall Show,” 8 p.m. Saturday on TBS (third-season premiere).
••“Dirty Sexy Money,” 9 p.m. Saturday on ABC (series returns).
ENDINGS
••“Expedition Africa,” 9:02 p.m. Sunday on History (first-season finale).
••“Here Come the Newlyweds,” 9:02 p.m. Monday on ABC (first-season finale).
••“Is Your House Killing You?” 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on Sundance (series finale).
••“Food Party,” 10:15 p.m. Tuesday on IFC (first-season finale).
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
