Pink candy hearts and lacey Valentines don’t appeal to everyone. For those who approach Valentine’s Day with a more practical eye, CNBC has the perfect program.
It’s called “The Millionaire Inside: ‘Til Debt Do Us Part,” and it premieres at 9 p.m. tonight on the business news network. The aim is to explain to couples how to get rid of debt and become fiscally healthy.
The show is premised on the notion that money problems are one of the leading causes of divorce in the U.S., and “Debt” includes interviews with a number of real-life couples facing serious financial hardships, ranging from mortgage woes to insufficient savings for retirement.
They’ll get advice from a panel of money experts, including “Generation Debt” author Carmen Wong Ulrich and financial advisor Ric Edelman, who explain how to approach money issues wisely with a mind to finding solutions instead of letting them tear relationships apart.
For an hour after the show, CNBC personal finance reporter Sharon Epperson will be available via web cam at cnbc.com to answer viewers’ questions.
“Debt” is part of the “Millionaire Inside” series recently launched by CNBC, which addresses different issues of building and maintaining wealth. While there’s lots of alternative original programming on broadcast and cable tonight, some with a more fitting romantic theme for Valentine’s Day, “Debt” should so well among the network’s core audience of businesspeople.
The series is also interesting because it's so much in the mold of what the new Fox business network is aiming to do, as a more consumer-oriented network with a heavier focus on personal finance issues. But that network is off to a slow start, by design, and that gives CNBC plenty of room to increase its programming in that space.
The special will also be replayed at midnight and Saturday at 10 p.m. and Monday at noon.
|
A look at this week’s top TV draws
|
|
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 a.m.
|
NBC
|
“Today” (N)
|
Ryan Reynolds and Jane Fonda both make appearances.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Survivor” (R)
|
With Johnny Fairplay already out, who’ll be next?
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“NAACP Image Awards” (A)
|
D.L. Hughley hosts the 39th annual event.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Lost” (D)
|
Locke continues to hold a hostage, so Kate and Sayid search for him.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Celebrity Apprentice” (R)
|
The contestants try to run a horse and carriage business in Central Park.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Eli Stone” (D)
|
Before helping a National Guard soldier in a custody battle, Eli has visions of World War II.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Lipstick Jungle” (D)
|
Wendy finds out that a not-so-nice novel is being written about her.
|
|
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“NBA All-Star Celebrity Game” (S)
|
All-Star Weekend festivities kick off with an exhibition celebrity game in New Orleans.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“1 vs. 100” (G)
|
Oscar the Grouch and a few Playboy bunnies are among the mobsters.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Celine Dion: That’s Just the Woman in Me” (A)
|
Celine performs a concert in Los Angeles.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“ Las Vegas” (D)
|
In tonight’s two-hour episode the casino is held up and staffers held hostage.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
USA
|
“Monk” (D)
|
In the first of a two-part season finale, Monk is accused of murder.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Discovery
|
“Fight Quest” (R)
|
Jimmy and Doug go to Rio de Janeiro to learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
|
|
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
2 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Ironman Triathlon” (S)
|
Athletes swim 2.4 miles and bike 112 miles before running a full 26.2-mile marathon.
|
|
3 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Third-round coverage of the Northern Trust Open.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Miracle” (M)
|
If you need some inspiration, check out the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Cops” (R)
|
Edition No. 11 of the “Cops” Bad Girls series.
|
|
8:30 p.m.
|
TNT
|
“NBA All-Star Saturday Night” (S)
|
Various events including the three-point shootout and slam dunk contest.
|
|
11 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Mad TV” (C)
|
The crew pokes fun of the BBC and the show “Women’s Murder Club.”
|
|
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
2 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“NASCAR Racing” (S)
|
The 50th running of sport’s biggest race, the Daytona 500.
|
|
3 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Final round of the Northern Trust Open, won last year by Charles Howell III.
|
|
3:30 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“NHL Hockey” (S)
|
Two of the league’s best teams, the Red Wings and Stars, battle in Dallas.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“The Simpsons” (C)
|
Valentine’s Day episode could be highly rated following the Daytona 500.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Knight Rider” (M)
|
New TV movie based on the classic show, but KITT’s now a Mustang. What’s up with that?
|
|
10 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Dexter” (D)
|
The Showtime program makes its broadcast debut. Thanks, striking writers!
|
|
10:30 p.m.
|
E!
|
“Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood” (R)
|
Snoop and his wife look into some new business opportunities.
|
|
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.
|
