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All-Star Game:
Looking for a close one

As usual, the odds favor the American League

By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Jul 14, 2009

Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, airing tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox, will be one of the most-watched events of the summer. But it’s not much of a rivalry.

Though last year’s game went an exciting 15 innings, the result was the same as usual: The American League won its sixth straight contest.

In fact, the AL hasn’t lost to the National League since 1997, and has dropped only three contests since 1988. And bettors have given the American League, with overall batting leader Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins and starting pitcher Roy Halladay, a slight edge in this year’s contest as well.

Still, another exciting contest like last year would give Fox strong ratings.

The 2008 game was the most-watched since 2002, which ended in a tie after 11 innings, drawing 14.5 million total viewers, up 16 percent over the previous year’s 12.5 million.

The game also improved over 2007 among adults 18-49, up 10 percent from a 4.1 rating to a 4.5, and among 18-34s, up 8 percent from a 3.8 to a 4.1, according to Nielsen.

The game will take place in St. Louis, the first time in 43 years that the game has been held in the Cardinals’ home park. The last St. Louis All-Star Game, in 1966, was won by the NL.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
TUESDAY, JULY 14
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Author Janet Evanovich and musician Daughtry both guest.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The annual All-Star game, live from St. Louis.
9 p.m.	NBC	“ America’s Got Talent” (R)	The seventh round of early auditions.
9 p.m.	CBS	“Big Brother” (R)	The house holds one of its Power of Veto competitions.
9 p.m.	Discovery	“Deadliest Catch” (R)	The fleet starts to tire, leading to some serious mistakes.
10 p.m.	TNT	“Saving Grace” (D)	A Hasidic Jew is found dead near a slew of dead cows.
10 p.m.	FX	“Rescue Me” (D)	Janet outlines rules for her relationship with Tommy.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	We’re down to the top 10, and they perform once again tonight.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Wipeout” (G)	A 58-year-old grandmother is among the contestants.
8 p.m.	Travel Channel	“Extreme Barhopping” (N)	A look at some of the most unique bars from around the world.
9 p.m.	NBC	“ America’s Got Talent” (R)	Still more early-round auditions.
9 p.m.	BBC America	“Gordon Ramsay’s F Word” (R)	Among other things, Ramsay tried to catch catfish barehanded in Oklahoma.
9 p.m.	TNT	“Leverage” (D)	Season premiere. Nate’s now sober as he brings the team back together.
10 p.m.	ESPN	“Baseball Tonight” (S)	Everything you need to know heading into the second half of the season.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Homecoming with Rick Reilly” (S)	Reilly heads to Baltimore with swimmer Michael Phelps.
8 p.m.	ABC	“J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life” (N)	Following the “Harry Potter” author.
8 p.m.	Univision	“Premios Juventud 2009” (A)	Annual awards show should draw a sizeable young Hispanic audience.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	It’s starting to get down there: the field is cut to eight tonight.
9 p.m.	USA	“Burn Notice” (D)	Michael is kidnapped and taken out into the wild.
10 p.m.	Bravo	“Fashion Show” (R)	The first half of a two-part finale.
FRIDAY, JULY 17
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	The band Third Eye Blind performs.
7 a.m.	TNT	“Golf” (S)	Live second-round coverage of the British Open.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Surviving Suburbia” (C)	Steve argues with one of his daughter’s teachers during a mediation session.
8 p.m.	Disney Channel	“Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana” (K)	Three-show crossover will definitely bring in the kids.
9 p.m.	Fox	“Mental” (D)	A suicidal teen girl is holding on to a secret.
9 p.m.	Sci Fi Channel	“ Eureka” (D)	Carter must take a recertification test.
SATURDAY, JULY 18
Time	Network	Program	Description
9 p.m.	ABC	“Golf” (S)	British Open coverage continues with the third round of play.
4 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	Fox’s serving of regional coverage.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Kings” (D)	First of a two-parter.
8:30 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Foot chases in Florida and California are featured.
10 p.m.	ABC	“Dirty Sexy Money” (D)	Now it’s “DSM’s” turn to burn off episodes.
11 p.m.	Fox	“MADtv” (C)	A re-airing of the “MADtv Gives Back” series finale.
SUNDAY, JULY 19
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 a.m.	ABC	“Golf” (S)	Final round of the British Open, won the past two years by Padraig Harrington.
6 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Mets take on the Braves in Atlanta.
7 p.m.	Univision	“Soccer” (S)	A quarterfinal game from the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
8 p.m.	ABC Family	“Labor Pains” (M)	Lindsay Lohan plays a woman who lies about being pregnant.
9 p.m.	ESPN	“ESPY Awards” (A)	The 17th annual event, hosted by Samuel L. Jackson.
10 p.m.	History Channel	“Pawn Stars” (R)	Series premiere. Following a family who runs a pawn shop in Las Vegas.
10:30 p.m.	HBO	“Entourage” (C)	“Gatsby” premieres and Turtle makes his first public appearance with Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
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.