For weeks the question has been whether the Chicago Bulls will select Kansas State’s Michael Beasley or Memphis’ Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick in tonight’s NBA draft, starting at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
With the Bulls apparently leaning toward Rose, everyone expected the Miami Heat to grab Beasley with the No. 2 pick.
That may not be the case. According to ESPN.com, which posts a story if a draft prospect so much as blinks, the Heat are now eyeing USC’s O.J. Mayo or Arizona’s Jerryd Bayless, both guards, rather than Beasley, a forward.
In fact, Miami is shopping around the second pick with the hope that Mayo and/or Bayless will fall lower in the draft, giving the squad a strong backcourt complement to star guard Dwayne Wade.
That’s the minutiae of the draft. The bigger picture is that ESPN, and fellow NBA carriers ABC and TNT, simply hope that the draft prolongs an outstanding season for pro basketball, one in which the league’s ratings and reputation were revived after several off years.
The recently concluded NBA finals on ABC, won by the Boston Celtics, drew the best viewership since 2004 and helped erase memories of last year’s all-time-worst series. A number of goodwill gestures by the league, like sending players to volunteer with Hurricane Katrina victims during the all-star game, helped rehabilitate its image one year after a disastrous all-star game in Las Vegas marred by allegations of thuggery.
The draft won’t draw huge ratings tonight; last year’s didn’t even make cable’s top 25 among households. But it faces little competition on broadcast or cable, which could help draw in more viewers than last year after all the hype about the recent finals.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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THURSDAY, JUNE 26
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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NBC
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“Today” (N)
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Jason Bateman and Richard Belzer both guest.
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7:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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“NBA Draft” (S)
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Live from New York. Will Beasley or Rose be the No. 1 overall pick?
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“Last Comic Standing” (R)
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The best from the audition rounds compete in the first week of semifinals in Las Vegas.
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9 p.m.
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TBS
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“The Bill Engvall Show” (C)
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Bill and Susan sort out confusion over their anniversary gifts.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“Swingtown” (D)
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The couples go away for a weekend getaway at a cabin.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“Hopkins” (N)
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The first of a six-part documentary looking at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
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10 p.m.
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Bravo
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“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (R)
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Kathy takes an eventful trip to Australia.
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FRIDAY, JUNE 27
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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ABC
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“Good Morning America” (N)
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Musical group Maroon 5 performs.
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7:30 p.m.
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ESPN2
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“Arena Football” (S)
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A wildcard playoff game.
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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“Dance Machine” (R)
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Another dancing competition, this one featuring non-dancers.
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9 p.m.
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TLC
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“What Not to Wear” (R)
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A fashion-show producer needs some fashion help of her own.
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9 p.m.
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Sci Fi Channel
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“Doctor Who” (D)
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Donna loses her memory and the Doc finds out things about his future.
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10 p.m.
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truTV
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“Rich and Reckless” (N)
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A look at the unexplained disappearances of several Russians in Los Angeles.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 28
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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Noon
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NBC
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“Tennis” (S)
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Early-round play from Wimbledon.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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No Tiger, but still third-round coverage of the Buick Open.
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3:30 p.m.
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Fox
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Today it’s either Mets-Yankees or Cubs-White Sox.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“Track and Field” (S)
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The U.S. Olympic trials, from Eugene, Ore.
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9 p.m.
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Biography
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“Mobsters” (N)
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A profile of 1930s New York gangster Gaetano “Tommy” Lucchese.
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10 p.m.
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BBC America
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“The Graham Norton Show” (T)
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Alicia Silverstone and Joan Rivers guest.
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SUNDAY, JUNE 29
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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Noon
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NBC
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“Tennis” (S)
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More early-round play from Wimbledon.
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2:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“Soccer” (S)
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Final of the Euro 2008 tournament, live from Vienna.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Final round of the Buick Open, won last year by Brian Bateman.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“Swimming” (S)
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The U.S. Olympic trials, including golden boy Michael Phelps.
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9 p.m.
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USA
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“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (D)
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The team investigates an assassination attempt on a Sri Lankan politician.
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9 p.m.
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WE tv
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“Bridezillas” (R)
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A bride wants to buy a bigger dress rather than go on a diet.
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10 p.m.
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USA
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“In Plain Sight” (D)
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An art dealer is shot, and his mistress and wife are both suspects.
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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.
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