TV Talk: Jan. 25-31
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching. They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Jan. 25:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for. And these are our picks for the week of Jan. 25.
H: No. 10 is the “AKC/Eukanuba National Championship” at 7 p.m. Saturday on Animal Planet. Thousands of canines from around the country and across the globe compete, but only one will come away with “best in show” honors.
P: Best in show honors will also be handed out at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which is No. 9 on our list. It airs live at 7 p.m. Sunday on TNT and TBS, and the winners in five film and eight primetime television categories will be decided by the entire active membership of the Guild.
H: Chef Gordon Ramsey will serve up a fifth course of “Hell’s Kitchen,” which is our choice for No. 8. The Fox series returns at 8 p.m. Thursday with a new batch of aspiring chefs competing to win a head chef position at one of Ramsey’s restaurants.
P: Ramsey’s “Kitchen” is not family-friendly, but our No. 7 pick is. It’s “Olivia,” a new weekly animated series premiering at 10:30 a.m. Monday on Nickelodeon. The series invites children into the life of Olivia, who sees every day as an opportunity to try new things.
H: No. 6 is “The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love.” The new Hallmark Channel original movie premieres at 8 p.m. Saturday and is a sequel to the network’s highest-rated film of 2007. Genie Francis and Ted McGinley return as a newspaper columnist and a sports writer brought together by the power of words and the power of love.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on three primetime shows. And three of them are on “Scrubs” at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC. They are the Sesame Workshop stars Elmo, Grover and Oscar the Grouch.
H: The other two guest stars are appearing on football-themed episodes on USA Network. They are former Dallas Cowboys football player Michael Irvin on “Burn Notice” at 9 p.m. Thursday and TV sportscaster Bob Costas on “Monk” at 8 p.m. Friday.
P: Football is also the theme of our No. 4 pick. It’s “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials” airing at 7 p.m. Saturday on CBS. Ten of the most famous Super Bowl ads will be showcased. And during the special, viewers can go online to CBS.com and vote for their favorite.
H: No. 3 is “Loving Leah” at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS. In this new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, a young Hasidic rabbi dies, and his nondevout brother is asked to honor an ancient custom and marry his widow, Leah, played by Lauren Ambrose.
P: “Trust Me,” a new TNT series premiering at 9 p.m. Monday, comes in at No. 2. Eric McCormack from “Will & Grace” and Tom Cavanagh from “Ed” play best friends who work together in the cutthroat world of advertising.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count the OU vs. OSU men’s basketball game at 8 p.m. Monday on ESPN, is “The Last Templar.”
P: This new miniseries airing from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday and Monday on NBC, is based on Raymond Khoury’s novel about an ancient mystery with a Vatican connection.
H: “The Last Templar” stars Oscar-winning Mira Sorvino as an archaeologist who teams up with an FBI agent (played by Scott Foley) to investigate when four masked horsemen crash a museum exhibit of Vatican treasures.
P: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Jan. 18-24
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Jan. 18:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: No. 10 is “Miss America Live” at 7 p.m. Saturday on TLC. Kelsey Cartwright of Collinsville will represent Oklahoma at the 84th annual event live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Nevada. Mario Lopez will host the pageant.
P: “The Powerpuff Girls Rule” is No. 9 our list. This new animated special airs at 7 p.m. Monday on Cartoon Network. But fans will want to tune in beginning at 5 a.m. Monday for ”The Powerpuff Girls” 14-hour marathon.
H: No. 8 is “Gone Country” at 7 p.m. Saturday on CMT. Singer John Rich from Big & Rich returns as host of this series that brings together celebrities hoping to create a hit country music single. Contenders for Season 3 include Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, The Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz and “American Idol” alum Justin Guarini.
P: Three Sunday premieres share the No. 7 spot on out list. “Big Love” returns for its third season at 8 p.m. on HBO. “The L Word” begins its sixth and final season at 8 p.m. on Showtime. And “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” starts its second season at 9:30 p.m. on Showtime.
H: Also on Sunday is the series premiere of “United States of Tara,” which is our No. 6 pick. It airs at 9 p.m. on Showtime and stars Toni Collette from “Little Miss Sunshine.” She plays a wife and mother who has several alternate personalities, including a promiscuous teenager, a happy homemaker and a biker dude.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on four primetime shows. Jolene Blalock from “Enterprise” will be on “10 Items or Less” at 10 p.m. Tuesday on TBS. And appearing on Thursday’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 p.m. on ABC will be Jessica Capshaw from “The Practice” and Eric Stoltz from “Chicago Hope.”
H: Also on Thursday, Courtney B. Vance from “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” will appear with his wife Angela Bassett on “ER” at 9:01 p.m. on NBC. And Teri Polo from “Meet the Parents” will be on “Ghost Whisperer” at 7 p.m. Friday on CBS.
P: No. 4 is “Prayers for Bobby,” a new Lifetime movie premiering at 8 p.m. Saturday. Sigourney Weaver stars as an extremely religious wife and mother who becomes an advocate for gay rights after the suicide of her gay son. It is based on a true story.
H: Tuesday’s coverage of the Presidential Inauguration comes in at No. 3 on Penny’s list and No. 1 on mine. It begins at 9 a.m. on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News and at 10 a.m. on PBS. Tuesday evening, ABC will also air “The Neighborhood Inaugural Ball” at 7 p.m., PBS will profile Barack Obama at 8 p.m. on “Frontline” and CBS will air the special “Dream Big Dream: The Inauguration” at 8 p.m.
P: No. 2 is the new Fox series “Lie to Me.” It premieres at 8:02 p.m. Wednesday and stars Tim Roth as Dr. Cal Lightman, the foremost deception expert in the country. He oversees a private agency hired to expose the truth behind the lies.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count the Presidential Inauguration or the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball game against Texas A&M at 3 p.m. Sunday on Fox Sports Oklahoma, is “Lost.”
P: The show’s fifth season premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC. But tune in at 7 p.m. for the “Lost Clip Show” that will take an in-depth look at the mysteries of the island, its inhabitants and the Oceanic 6.
H: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Jan. 11-17
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Jan. 11:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: No. 10 is the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards airing at 7 p.m. Sunday on NBC. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s awards gala honors achievements in both television and motion pictures. Rumer Willis, the daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, is this year’s Miss Golden Globe and will be bringing out each award.
P: Our No. 9 pick hands out a nice award, as well. It’s “Chopped,” a new Food Network series premiering at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Each week, up-and-coming chefs will compete to turn everyday ingredients into extraordinary three-course meals. A rotating panel of judges will decide whose dish is worth $10,000.
H: No. 8 is “Oklahoma Octupus,” which is the title of Tuesday’s episode “Lost Tapes” airing at 9 p.m. on Animal Planet. Legend has it that a freshwater octopus lurks in an Oklahoma lake, and a group of high school graduates claim to have had an encounter with the creature.
P: Thursday’s episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” comes in at No. 7. Grissom announces that his time as a CSI has come to an end and offers a permanent position on the team to a new character played by Laurence Fishburne. The show airs at 8 p.m. on CBS.
H: “Friday Night Lights” comes back to NBC and comes in at No. 6 on our countdown. DirecTV got first-run rights to Season 3 of the drama, but now everyone can catch up with Coach Eric Taylor and the Dillon Panthers.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on five primetime shows. Beau Bridges from “Stargate SG-1” will be on “Desperate Housewives” at 8 p.m. Sunday on ABC. And on Monday, look for singer Deborah Gibson on “Rita Rocks” at 7:30 p.m. on Lifetime and Carol Kane from “Taxi” on “Two and a Half Men” at 8 p.m. on CBS.
H: Then on Tuesday, Courteney Cox from “Friends” appears again on “Scrubs” at 8 p.m. on ABC. And Wednesday, James Brolin from “Marcus Welby MD” is on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” at 8 p.m. on NBC.
P: For a good chuckle, check out our No. 4 pick which is “Make ’em Laugh.” The new six part miniseries chronicles over 100 years of American comedy and begins with back-to-back episodes at 7 p.m. Wednesday on PBS.
H: No. 3 is “The Beast,” a new A&E series premiering at 9 p.m. Thursday. Patrick Swayze stars in the drama that centers on an FBI veteran who takes on a rookie partner to train in his hard-edged style of agenting.
P: “24″ made the Top 10 at No. 2. Keifer Sutherland is back as Jack Bauer, who is on trial in the show’s seventh-season premiere at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox. Monday’s conclusion of the premiere marks the show’s 150th episode.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count the University of Oklahoma men’s basketball game against Texas at 8 p.m. Monday on ESPN, is “American Idol.”
P: Ryan Seacrest is back as host of “American Idol,” which begins its eighth season at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Fox. But there are some changes.
H: For starters, there is a new judge. It’s Kara DioGuardi, who will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul in critiquing the contestants. Other changes include expanding the number of semifinalists to 36 and bringing back the wild-card round.
P: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Dec. 21-27
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Dec. 21:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: Our No. 10 pick is worth watching over and over, and you can do just that during 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story” which kicks off an 7 p.m. Wednesday on TBS. The 1983 holiday classic is based on the writings of Jean Shepherd, who also narrates the movie.
P: If multiple viewings of the same movie aren’t your thing, check out No. 9 on our list. It is “Yule Log: The Golden Age of Christmas” that begins at 8 p.m. on WGN. Viewers can listen to nine hours of classic radio programs while watching the Yule log burn.
H: Just in case our first two suggestions don’t excite you, No. 8 surely will. It is “The Funniest Commercials of the Year 2008” that will air at 8 p.m. Tuesday on TBS. Kevin Nealon hosts the fourth annual event that will feature 50 commercials that you won’t want to fast-forward through.
P: In keeping with our unconventional picks, No. 7 is “Christmas on Mars.” This holiday film from the Oklahoma-based art-rock group The Flaming Lips makes its world television premiere at 11 p.m. Wednesday on Sundance.
H: Fans of Regis Philbin will be pleased to know that No. 6 is the second season of “Million Dollar Password.” Rege returns to host the modern update of the classic game show at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS. Celebrity players for the season premiere are William Shatner from “Boston Legal” and Aisha Tyler from “Ghost Whisperer.”
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on four primetime shows. Two of them, Adrienne Barbeau from ‘Maude” and Lee Majors from “The Six Million Dollar Man,” will be on “Cold Case” at 9 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
H: The others are singer James Taylor on “Spectacle” at 8 p.m. Wednesday on Sundance, “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” host Wayne Brady on “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” at 7 p.m. Friday on Fox and Penny Marshall from “Laverne & Shirley” on “The Game” at 8:30 p.m. Friday on CW.
P: Now let us turn to more serious offerings, beginning with No. 4 which is “Jesus in India.” This new documentary premiering at 8 p.m. Monday on Sundance explores questions surrounding Jesus’ whereabouts from the ages of 12 to 30.
H: No. 3 is the “A Home for the Holidays With Faith Hill” airing at 7 p.m. Tuesday on CBS. The country singer will host the 10th annual special that advocates adoption. Presenting stories about foster care adoption will be Patricia Heaton from “Everybody Loves Raymond” and Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth from “Pushing Daisies,” who herself is adopted.
P: “A Kiss at Midnight” is No. 2 and premieres at 8 p.m. Saturday on the Hallmark Channel. Faith Ford from “Murphy Brown” stars in this new romantic comedy about a matchmaker who finds herself competing for business against a computer program.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count the University of Oklahoma men’s basketball game airing live at 7 p.m. Monday on FSOK, is “The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade.”
P: The 25th anniversary of Disney’s Christmas Day Parade will air from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday on ABC. Hosting the festivities are Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.
H: One of the Parade performers is “American Idol” winner David Cook from Tulsa, who will put his spin on a holiday classic. Other performers include Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
P: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Dec. 14-20
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Dec. 14:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: Set your alarm for 8 a.m. Thursday for our No. 10 pick. That is when TNT will air the nominations for the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Angela Bassett from “ER” and Eric McCormack from “Will & Grace” will announce the nominees for the SAG awards that will be handed out Jan. 25.
P: Kristin Chenoweth from Broken Arrow could receive a nomination for “Pushing Daisies.” We nominated her for our No. 9 pick, which is “Christmas in Washington” at 7 p.m. Wednesday on TNT. Kristin will be a featured performer for the annual holiday music concert hosted by Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw.
H: Five other specials set in Washington rank as No. 8 on our list. White House Week on C-Span will include “America’s Most Famous Home” at 8 p.m. Sunday, “White House Tours by Presidents and First Ladies” at 8 p.m. Monday and “The Working White House” at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
P: Rounding out the C-Span specials are “The White House Gardens and Grounds” at 8 p.m. Wednesday and “The Lincoln White House” at 8 p.m. Thursday.
H: Our next two picks are new holiday movies premiering on ABC Family. No. 7 is “Snow 2 Brain Freeze” at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tom Cavanagh from “Ed” reprises his role as Nick Snowden in this sequel to 2004’s “Snow.” In the rush to get his reindeer ready for Christmas, Nick jumps through his magic mirror, hits his head and loses his memory.
P: No. 6 is “Christmas in Wonderland” premiering at 7 p.m. Saurday. Christmas mayhem is afoot when a family stumbles onto a couple of bumbling crooks at the local mall in this new holiday movie starring Patrick Swayze from “Ghost”, Carmen Electra from “Summerland” and Chris Kattan from “Saturday Night Live”.
H: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on five primetime shows. On Tuesday, see Lauren Conrad from “The Hills” on “Privileged” at 8 p.m. on The CW and Mary Gross from “Saturday Night Live” on “According to Jim” at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.
P: On Wednesday, President Bill Clinton will be interviewed on “Spectacle” with Elvis Costello at 8 p.m. on Sundance and Martha Stewart will pop in on “Top Chef” at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
H: And finally, Chuck Woolery from “Love Connection” will compete on “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” at 8 p.m. Friday on Fox.
P: No. 4 is the season finale of “The Biggest Loser: Families” at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC. While only one contestant takes home the $250,000 grand prize, everyone who took part in the weight-loss show is a winner.
H: Three Oklahomans rank No. 3 on our list. They will be interviewed in the December edition of “Oklahomans” at 8 p.m. Wednesday on KWTV-9. They are actress Megan Mullally, a former soloist with the Oklahoma City ballet who won Emmys for “Will & Grace”; New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker from Heritage Hall High School; and opera singer Sarah Coburn from Muskogee.
P: No. 2 is the season-finale of “Survivor: Gabon” at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS. The winner of the $1 million grand prize is determined in a last Tribal Council in this two-hour finale, which is followed by an hourlong reunion.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count Saturday’s OU and OSU men’s basketball games airing respectively on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic, is “A Muppets Christman: Letters to Santa.”
P: The new Muppets special premieres at 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC. It follows Kermit and company as they hand-deliver letters to Santa. Helping the Muppets along the way are celebrities including Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, and Uma Thurman.
H: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Heather, this is Penny, thanks for your time.
ENDINGS
“Survivor: Gabon,” 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS (17th-season-finale).
“The Biggest Loser: Families,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC (sixth-season finale).
SUNDAY, DEC. 14
“The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics” (6 p.m. on TCM): Angela Lansbury narrates this new special devoted to Disney’s classic live-action movies. Stars including Kurt Russell (‘‘The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes”), Dean Jones (‘‘The Love Bug”), Tim Conway (‘‘The Apple Dumpling Gang”) and Karen Dotrice (‘‘Mary Poppins”) share their memories.
“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (6 p.m. on ABC): Someone will go home with $100,000 in prize money. Clips in the running include footage of a toddler with a special dance for each state of the union, a cat resisting a bath, an over-eager tot trying to blow out the birthday candles too soon, a toddler making a break from his crib, a hula-hoop-challenged three-year-old, two boys mocking their sister’s dance routine, and a four-year-old’s musical tribute to Barry Manilow.
“Californication” (9 p.m. on Showtime): In the season finale, Hank finishes Ashby’s biography, but his celebratory mood is dampened by Karen’s announcement that she’s taking a job in New York.
“Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2008″ (8 p.m. on SPIKE): The sixth annual event airing live from Los Angeles celebrates the entertainment revolution of video games and provides a glimpse at the future of gaming.
“The White House: America’s Most Famous Home” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): This 90-minute documentary recounts highlights of the White House — from George Washington’s first design decisions to an exclusive tour of the private residence given by First Lady Laura Bush.
MONDAY, DEC. 15
“Drama High: The Making of a High School Musical” (8 p.m. on ABC): When a predominantly white high school in Virginia decides to stage “The Wiz” — the black musical version of the “Wizard of Oz” — over 100 kids audition. Viewers get to see up close the high-stakes high school game of who’s in and who’s out, as the students make their way from the auditions to the final performance.
“Intervention” (8 p.m. on A&E): Returning for a sixth season is the three-time Prism Award-winning series that profiles people who are struggling with addictions and the friends and family members who are seeking to help them.
“Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade Holiday” (7 p.m. on Food Network): The bestselling author and Food Network star will show viewers how to create a holiday party with ease using her trademark concept of preparing meals with 70% store-bought products and 30% fresh ingredients. Her holiday spread includes a polar espresso, sausage stuffed mushrooms and wreath cupcakes.
TUESDAY, DEC. 16
“Behind the Scenes: The Working White House” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): Take a tour of the Oval Office with White House Curator Bill Allman. Also see other areas of the White House at work, including the chocolate shop, the calligrapher’s office and the White House theater.
“Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football” (9 p.m. on HBO): This new documentary chronicles the integration of college football in the South, focusing on the Civil Rights movement of the ’60s and its effect on the racial status quo of college athletics.
“Momma’s Boys” (9 p.m. on NBC): This new reality dating show centers around three possessive, yet loving mothers who must help their complacent sons choose the perfect woman — and ultimately poses the question: “Who is really the most important woman in every man’s life?”
“Spirit of Christmas” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): This two-hour special is filled with holiday-themed performances by some R&B legends, including Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and Brian McKnight.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17
“Christmas in Washington” (7 p.m. on TNT): Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw return as hosts of this holiday music concert benefiting the National Children’s Medical Center. Featured performers include Tony-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth from Broken Arrow, rising country star Julianne Hough, Grammy winner Darius Rucker, Christian music group Casting Crowns and a cappella sensations Straight No Chaser.
“Christmas is Here Again” (7 p.m. on My Network TV): Jay Leno (”The Tonight Show”) narrates this animated holiday special that follows a young orphan girl and a band of adventurers who team up to recover Santa’s magical toy sack.
“The White House Gardens and Grounds” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): A look at the beauty and history of the 18 acres inside the President’s Park, featuring White House grounds superintendent Dale Haney.
“L.A. Holiday Celebration 2008″ (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Ex-Doors drummer John Densmore will kick off this year’s performance with his group Tribaljazz. The special highlights the largest multi-cultural holiday show in the country, performed before an audience of 9,000-plus in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles, home to 166 ethnic cultures.
“White House Christmas 2008” (8 p.m. on HGTV): Host Sabrina Soto (“Get It Sold”) gives viewers an exclusive look at what it takes to decorate the hokme of the president and the first lady for the holidays.
THURSDAY, Dec. 18
The 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations (8 a.m. on TNT): Angela Bassett (”ER”) and Eric McCormack (”Will & Grace”) will join Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg (”The Guardian”) to announce nominees for the 15th annual SAG Awards. The awards ceremonies will be broadcast Jan. 25 live on TNT and TBS.
“The Lincoln White House” (8 p.m. on C-SPAN): An evening at Lincoln’s White House, featuring an interview from the Lincoln Bedroom with Lincoln historian Harold Holzer.
FRIDAY, DEC. 19
“Faith Hill: Joy to the World: A Soundstage Special Event” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Faith Hill presents favorites from her holiday album Joy to the World. The progarm was taped over two nights at the Chicago-area Sears Centre Arena.
“Whale Wars” (8 p.m. on Animal Planet): The Sea Shepherds find the most important ship in the Japanese waling fleet, the Nisshin Maru factory ship. And despite warnings from the Japanese whalers, the Sea Shepherds strike.
SATURDAY, DEC. 20
“Our First Christmas” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): This new holiday movie stars Julie Warner (”Tommy Boy”) and Steven Eckholdt (”Secret Santa”) as newlyweds whose children want to spend Christmas with their respective grandparents (Dixie Carter, “Designing Women,” and John Ratzenberger, “Cheers”).
“A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Joanna Garcia, Luke Perry and Helen Shaver star in this 2008 holiday movie. A twenty-something wedding planner disapproves of her mother’s whirlwind romance. Unable to stop her mother’s wedding, she decides to take control of it.
“WWE Tribute to the Troops” (8 p.m. on NBC): WWE Chairman Vince McMahon along with today’s top WWE Superstars and Divas will visit forward operating bases, meet the troops and perform in front of a military crowd in Iraq.
TV Talk: Dec. 7-14
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Dec. 7:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: We selected the “BCS Selection Show” as No. 10. Former OU football coach Barry Switzer and former OSU football coach Jimmy Johnson will be analysts for this live show airing at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox. They will reveal the 2009 Bowl Championship Series match-ups for the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and BCS National Championship Game.
P: No. 9 is “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” at 8 p.m. Friday on Fox. Susan Powell who represented Oklahoma at the 1981 Miss America pageant — and won the title — is one of three Miss Americas competing to win money for the Miss America Scholarship Fund.
H: “A Miser Brothers Christmas” comes in at No. 8. This new animated holiday special premieres at 7 p.m. Saturday on ABC Family and is based upon the characters from the Christmas classic “The Year Without Santa Claus.”
P: And the No. 7 ranking goes to “The Family Entertainment Awards” airing at 8 p.m. Friday on The CW. Tyler James Williams from “Everybody Hates Chris” hosts the 10th annual event that honors quality family programming.
H: Another new animated holiday special comes in at No. 6. It is “Little Spirit: A New York Christmas” premiering at 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC. Danny DeVito provides the voice of a New York cabbie who tells the tale of a boy looking for his lost dog with the help of a magical imp.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on five primetime shows. See musician Seal on “Eli Stone” at 9 p.m. Tuesday on ABC and Vivica A. Fox from “1-800-Missing” on “Law & Order” at 9 p.m. Wednesday on NBC.
H: Also, see Tulsa Hale High School graduate Mary Kay Place from “Big Love” on “Pushing Daisies” at 7 p.m. Wednesday on ABC and Casady High School graduate Megan Mullally from “Will & Grace” on “The New Adventures of Old Christine” at 2:37 a.m. Thursday on KWTV-9.
P: And my favorite guest star of the week is Edmond Memorial High School graduate Danny Weaver from “Greek” appearing on “Eleventh Hour” at 9:01 p.m. Thursday on CBS.
H: No. 4 is the new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation “Front of the Class.” It premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS and tells the true story of Brad Cohen, a young man with Tourette’s syndrome who defies all odds to become a teacher.
P: The series final of “Boston Legal” is No. 3. The drama ends its five-season run with a 2-hour episode at 8 p.m. Monday on ABC. The episode reveals that the firm Crane Poole & Schmidt is in dire financial straits and may be forced to sell.
H: Coming in at No. 2 is “Leverage,” a new drama series premiering at 9 p.m. Sunday on TNT and moving to its normal timeslot at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Oscar winner Timothy Hutton and Norman High School graduate Christian Kane star in the series that follows a team of thieves, hackers and grifters who seek revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize others.
P: And No. 1, if you don’t count the University of Oklahoma men’s basketball games airing live at 7 p.m. Wednesday on KWTV-9 and 3 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2, is “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
H: Laurence Fishburne from “The Matrix” joins the cast of “CSI” at 8 p.m. Thursday on CBS. He plays criminal pathologist Dr. Raymond Langston who helps CSI Grissom with a serial killer case.
P: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Nov. 23-29
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Nov. 23:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: Thursday is Thanksgiving, and if you want tips on making a healthy version to the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, check out our No. 10 pick. It’s “The Biggest Loser” at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC and celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito will help the contestants make just that.
P: Christmas is almost here, as well, and No. 9 on our list will help get everybody in the mood. It’s “A Colbert Christmas” at 9 p.m. Sunday on Comedy Central. Stephen Colbert hosts this holiday special featuring musical guests Feist, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello and Oklahoma’s own Toby Keith.
H: No. 8 features even more talented Oklahomans who are up for awards at the 2008 American Music Awards airing live at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC. Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood are both nominees for favorite country music female artist. Carrie is up against Garth Brooks and Rascal Flatts for favorite country music album and Rascal Flatts and Brooks & Dunn are both contenders for favorite country music band, duo or group.
P: All Oklahomans will have a chance to win if they watch our No. 7 pick. It’s “Rosie Live” at 8 p.m. Wednesday on NBC. This live variety special hosted by Rosie O’Donnell will include celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a giant giveaway for viewers at home.
H: No. 6 is another program suitable for viewing by the whole family. “Moonlight & Mistletoe” is a new Hallmark Channel movie premiering at 8 p.m. Saturday. It stars Tom Arnold from “Roseanne” and Candace Cameron Bure from “Full House.”
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on five primetime shows. See Lee Meriwether from “Batman” on “Wizards of Waverly Place” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Disney and Phylicia Rashad from “The Cosby Show” on “Psych” at 9 p.m. Friday on USA.
H: Wednesday’s guest star lineup includes Ryan O’Neal from “Paper Moon” on “Bones” at 7 p.m. on Fox, Jane Curtin from “Kate and Allie” on “Gary Unmarried” at 7:30 p.m. on CBS and Donna Mills from “Knots Landing” on “Dirty Sexy Money” at 9:01 p.m. on ABC.
P: No. 4 is The National Dog Show at 11 a.m. Thursday on NBC. John O’Hurley from “Family Feud” returns as host of the purebred canine competition that is expected to feature more than 2,000 of the nation’s leading dogs representing more than 150 breeds.
H: But before the dogs take center stage, watch the marching bands and helium baloons make their way down Broadway during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s our No. 3 pick, and coverage of the 82nd annual parade begins at 7 a.m. Thursday on CBS and at 8 a.m. on NBC.
P: No. 2 is “Dancing With the Stars” at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC. The winner of the seventh season is announced and all the eliminated celebrities are expected to return for one last spin across the floor.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count Saturday’s college football game pitting the OU Sooners against the OSU Cowboys at 7 p.m. on ABC, is “24: Redemption.”
P: “24:Redemption,” which is featured on the cover of The Oklahoman’s TV Week, premieres at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox. It is a two-hour prequel leading up to the Season 7 premiere of “24,” which will begin January 11.
H: In “24: Redemption,” counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, is in South Africa dealing with an international crisis as the United States prepares to inaugurate a new president, played by Cherry Jones.
P: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Nov. 16-22
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Nov. 16:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: No. 10 is “Total Request Live” which will air its final show at 7 p.m. Sunday on MTV. Former host Carson Daly and current host Damien Fahey will co-host the event that will feature performances by Beyonce, 50 Cent, Backstreet Boys and Fall Out Boy, as well as a look back at the show’s best moments.
P: No. 9 is “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” at 7 p.m. Friday on Fox. Jennie Garth from “Beverly Hills, 90210″ heads back to the classroom to test her grade-school skills for a chance to win funds for the American Heart Association.
H: “Trivial Pursuit” which airs at 11 a.m. weekdays on KOCB-34, is No. 8. It’s Judges Week on the game show, and each day will feature a different TV judge as captain for “America’s Team.” Taking part are Judge Joe Brown, Judge Alex Ferrer, Judge Cristina Perez and Judge Lynn Toler.
P: No. 7 is “One Tree Hill” at 8 p.m. Monday on CW. Series star Chad Michael Murray, who plays Lucas, wrote Monday’s new episode that has a 1940s ‘‘Casablanca” theme.
H: “Larry the Cable Guy’s Star Studded Christmas Extravaganza” is No. 6. The 90-minute special premiering at 8 p.m. Friday on CMT is designed to be a throwback to the old school holiday variety show. Guest stars include Oklahoma country music artists Toby Keith and Blake Shelton, former NFL standout Terry Bradshaw and fellow comics Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Lewis Black.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on five primetime shows. See Cherie Oteri from “Saturday Night Live” on “Boston Legal” at 9:02 p.m. Monday on ABC, and at 8 p.m. Wednesday, catch either Jason Alexander from “Seinfeld” on CBS’s “Criminal Minds” or Billy Dee Williams from “Brian’s Song” on ABC’s “Private Practice.”
H: Thursday’s top guest stars are Steve Martin from “The Jerk” on NBC’s “30 Rock” at 8:31 p.m. and Judd Nelson from “Suddenly Susan” on CBS’s “Eleventh Hour” at 9:01 p.m.
P: Coming in at No. 4 is “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” premiering at 8 p.m. Saturday on Hallmark Channel. Jacqueline Bisset stars in this new original movie based on the 1881 short story “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” by Louisa May Alcott. It tells the story of a young woman searching for her true path amidst a holiday season of decisions and discoveries.
H: No. 3 is the new “Nova” installment titled “The Bible’s Buried Secrets.” It premieres at 7 p.m. Tuesday on PBS and reveals information about the early Israelites and the evolution of their belief in one God.
P: No. 2 is “CSI: Miami” airing at 9 p.m. Monday on CBS. It’s the show’s 150th episode, and Horatio and the team must find a baby who was kidnapped by a murderer.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count Saturday’s college football game pitting the OU Sooners against Texas Tech at 7 p.m. on ABC, is “CSI: NY.”
P: “CSI: NY,” which is featured on the cover of The Oklahoman’s TV Week. will air its 100th episode at 9 p.m. Wednesday on CBS. Two victims named Mac Taylor turn up dead and 15 others with the same name, including Det. Mac Taylor, must determine the killer’s motive before they strike again.
H: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/tv. For TV Talk, I’m Heather, this is Penny, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Nov. 2-8
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Nov. 2:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: No. 10 is “Beer for My Horses” at 6 p.m. Sunday on CMT. Toby Keith’s summer theatrical release premieres on TV even before it hits DVD shelves on Nov. 11. Toby co-wrote the movie with comedian Rodney Carrington from Tulsa, and they play best friends who work together as deputies in a small town.
P: “World Wrestling Entertainment’s Monday Night Raw” comes in at No. 9. A three-hour special celebrating the show’s 800th episode will air at 7 p.m. Monday on USA, it will actually be the show’s 806th installment.
H: No. 8 is “True Jackson, VP” premiering at 8:30 p.m. Saturday on Nickelodeon. Keke Palmer from “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.
P: The 200th episode of “Deal or No Deal” is our No. 7 pick. The episode airing at 7 p.m. Monday on NBC 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.
H: Monday’s episode of “Sesame Street” comes in an No. 6. Tune in to OETA at 9 a.m. to see Sandra Oh from “Grey’s Anatomy” guest starring as the Fairy Cookie Person, who grants the Cookie Monster a wish. Jessica Alba from “Dark Angel” presents the word of the day — scrumptious.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on five primetime shows. See Olympia Dukakis at 8:30 p.m. Monday on CBS’s “Worst Week,” Valerie Bertinelli at 9:01 p.m. Monday on ABC’s “Boston Legal,” Kathy Najimy at 8 p.m. Tuesday on The CW’s “Privileged,” Oprah Winfrey at 8:31 p.m. Thursday on NBC’s “30 Rock” and Whoopi Goldberg at 9:01 p.m. Thursday on ABC’s “Life on Mars.”
H: “Medal of Honor” airing at 8 p.m. Wednesday on OETA ranks fourth on our list. Oklahoma native Alfre Woodard from “My Own Worst Enemy” narrates this new documentary that traces the history of the nation’s highest military honor back to the Civil War.
P: No. 3 is “The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XIX” premiering at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox. Among the three new bone-chilling tales is a parody of the classic Charlie Brown Halloween special.
H: Speaking of parodies, the “Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008” premieres at 8 p.m. Monday on NBC and is our choice for No. 2. 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.
P: And No. 1, if you don’t count the college football games on Saturday pitting the OU Sooners against Texas A&M and the OSU Cowboys against Texas Tech, is “Law & Order.”
H: “Law & Order,” which is not featured on the Sunday Oklahoman’s TV Week cover, begins its 19th season at 9 p.m. Wednesday on NBC. It is the longest-running crime series in television history and a record holder for the most consecutive best series nominations with 11.
P: It’s spinoff series, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” is featured on the cover of TV Week, but it won’t be airing next week after all. USA Network pulled that show from its November lineup days before it was to premiere. Unfortunately, The Oklahoman went to press hours before USA Network made the announcement.
H: We would’ve stopped the presses, but it was too late. In any case, turn to TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman for even more TV choices, or go online to newsok.com/TV. For TV Talk, I’m Heather, this is Penny, thanks for your time.
TV Talk: Oct. 26-Nov. 1
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Oct. 26:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: There are more than 100 reasons to watch No. 10. And Bravo will countdown those reasons from 3 to 10 p.m. Friday when it airs “100 Scariest Moments” and “Even Scarier Movie Moments.”
P: Our No. 9 pick will feature some real scary moments, as in real, not scripted. “Ghost Hunters Live” will air live from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday on SCI FI, and the TAPS team led by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson will be investigating paranormal events at Fort Delaware.
H: After a night of scary moments, relax with two new movies premiering Saturday and tying for No. 8 on our list. There’s “Center Stage: Turn It Up” at 7 p.m. on Oxygen, which is a sequel to the 2000 theatrical release. And “Archangel” at 7 p.m. on ION is a three-hour mystery movie starring the new James Bond, Daniel Craig.
P: Coming in an No. 7 are two new reality programs. “Coolio’s Rules” at 9 p.m. Tuesday on Oxygen follows the hip-hop star as he returns from life on the road and tries to get his family life in order. And “Shaken Not Stirred” at 8 p.m. Wednesday on My Network TV is the first in a series of specials that combine the old-school roast with edgy nighttime talk.
H: No. 6 is the British version of a popular American reality competition series. It is “Gladiators” and begins at 3 p.m. Saturday on BBC America. It features 12 new Gladiators who rule the arena and control the fate of the contenders.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearances on five primetime shows. See Jamie-Lynn Sigler at 9 p.m. Sunday on HBO’s “Entourage,” Tony Hale at 7 p.m. Monday on NBC’s “Chuck,” Betty White at 9:02 p.m. Monday on ABC’s “Boston Legal,” Lauren Conrad at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC Family’s “Greek” and Ralph Macchio at 7 p.m. Thursday on ABC’s “Ugly Betty.”
H: “Lisa Williams: Voices From the Other Side” is No. 4. The English clairvoyant returns with a new five-episode special programming event airing at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on Lifetime. In each episode, Williams will do one-on-one readings in a studio and impromptu meetings with people on the street.
P: No. 3 is “Legend of the Seeker,” a new syndicated fantasy series. It kicks off with a 2-hour premiere at 5 p.m. Saturday on KOKH-25 and follows the extraordinary travels of a woodsman who must stop a ruthless tyrant from unleashing an ancient evil.
H: No. 2 is the second-season finale of “Mad Men” at 9 p.m. Sunday on AMC. The series that is set at New York City’s Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in the 1960s, won the Emmy for best drama series for its first season.
P: And No. 1, if you don’t count the Saturday’s college football games pitting the OU Sooners against Nebraska at 7 p.m. on either ABC or ESPN and the OSU Cowboys against Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. on ABC, is “30 Rock.”
H: “30 Rock” won the Emmy for best comedy series for its first and second seasons, and the show’s third season opens at 8:31 p.m. Thursday on NBC. Casady High School graduate Megan Mullally, a two-time Emmy winner herself for “Will & Grace,” will guest star in the season premiere.
P: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/TV. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
