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Hot babe bods, 
cool expectations

Babes in boyland: Search for SI's swimsuit model

     Words you never thought you’d hear: If it works for UPN, it could work for NBC.
   With UPN’s "America's Next Top Model" ending last month, NBC looks to capitalize on the reality babe trend with the similar "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search," debuting tonight at 8 p.m. 
   The six-episode series will end with another beauty taking home a seven-figure modeling contract and a spread in the sports magazine. 
   But this series is hardly a sure winner. NBC faces strong competition from "Lost" on ABC, and tonight it also goes up against the debut of another reality series, "The Road to Stardom," on UPN. 
   But then again, "Search" doesn't have to do stunningly well to succeed for NBC in its timeslot. "Hawaii" struggled in the same period at the beginning of the season, averaging a dismal 2.2 rating among adults 18-49. (“Top Model,” also on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., was UPN’s highest-rated show, averaging a 2.7 among adults 18-49 in its finale.)
   Since the cancellation of "Hawaii," NBC has filled the time slot with a range of programming, from a repeat of the successful "The Seinfeld Story" in mid-December to last week's rerun of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," which drew a 2.8 rating with adults 18-49 against a repeat of "Lost."
    Even a 2.5 rating for "Search" would be an improvement over the disastrous "Hawaii."

A look at this week’s top TV draws

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

NBC

“Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search”

Models don their swimwear in the hope of finding a spot in the always-successful magazine. Cheryl Tiegs hosts.

8 p.m.

ABC

“Lost”

Jack, Sawyer and Kate argue over ownership of a recently discovered metal briefcase.

8 p.m.

UPN

“The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott”

Grammy winner Missy Elliott takes 13 R&B wannabes on the road, looking for the next superstar.

9 p.m.

UPN

“Kevin Hill”

Kevin and Veronica take the case of a woman incorrectly identified as a threat to the United States.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Alias”

Sydney gets a new boss and tries to deal with a revelation about her father in the fourth season premiere.

10 p.m.

CBS

“CSI: NY”

Murder victims in three different boroughs lead to logistical complications.

Check Local Listings

PBS

“Do You Speak American?”

Robert MacNeil hosts a three-hour look at the varied languages of the United States, from Cajun to surfer-speak.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

CBS

“Wickedly Perfect”

The winner of this new domestic hunt receives six appearances on “The Early Show” and development deals.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Joey”

Joey develops a crush on an actress playing his daughter and is “forced” to judge a lasagna taste test.

8 p.m.

ABC

“life as we know it”

Sue reveals a startling secret to Ben and Dino receives therapy to help him through his parents’ separation.

8 p.m.

FOX

“The O.C.”

Seth tries to mirror a bad boy rival to improve his relationship with Alex.

9 p.m.

NBC

“Will & Grace”

Another week, another guest star as Jeff Goldblum makes an appearance as Karen’s rival.

10 p.m.

NBC

“Medium”

Allison’s powers lead to a little problem when she suspects that she may have had something to do with putting the wrong person on death row.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

E!

“America’s Most Talented Kids”

Think “Star Search” with kids.

8 p.m.

CBS

“Joan of Arcadia”

Joan thinks she may not need a higher education and tries to convince everyone around her.

8 p.m.

ABC

“8 Simple Rules”

C.J. catches Rory cheating on a test. A lesson is learned.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Hope & Faith”

Faith goes to extremes to catch the eye of a hot new neighbor.

9 p.m.

CBS

“JAG”

An F-14 goes down near a California school and an investigation ensues.

10 p.m.

NBC

“Medical Investigation”

A small town is beset by illness and Connor thinks that recent animal deaths may provide the answers.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 a.m.

A&E

“MI-5”

An all-day marathon of the British spy series ends with the third season premiere.

8 p.m.

ABC

“NFL Football: Wildcard Playoff”

New York Jets at San Diego Chargers. One team moves on to face one of the best teams in the game. The other goes home.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Battlestar Galactica”

A broadcast repeat of the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries.

8 p.m.

CBS

“The Will”

Ten friends and relatives do everything they can to win a family fortune.

8 p.m.

HBO

“Deadwood”

To prepare for the upcoming second season premiere, the first season begins again in repeats with the series premiere tonight.

9:30 p.m.

CBS

“48 Hours Mystery”

In a special 90-minute episode, two mysteries go under the microscope.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9

Time

Network

Program

Description

1 p.m.

CBS

“NFL Football: Wildcard Playoff”

Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts.

8 p.m.

FOX

“24”

The fourth-season premiere finds Jack starting another really bad day.

9 p.m.

HBO

“Carnivale”

The second-season premiere finds Ben searching for his father and the battle between him and Brother Justin heating up.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Desperate Housewives”

The first new episode of the year sees Edie organizing a search for the missing Mrs. Huber.

10 p.m.

HBO

“Unscripted”

This new fictional series looks like a reality TV look at struggling actors but is really just, well, acting like that.

A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.



Jan. 5, 2005 © 2005 Media Life


 


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