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The top draws on broadcast and cable and in sports

Jan 27, 2012
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FRIDAY
 
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, "Chuck," 9 p.m. Series finale. Chuck takes on his final mission, which brings him to the past.
 
Best bet on cable: Starz, "Spartacus: Vengeance," 10 p.m. Season premiere. Spartacus begins to grow into his role as leader of the freed slaves as Liam McIntyre steps into the lead role formerly played by the late Andy Whitfield.
 
Top sporting event: ESPN, "NBA Basketball," 8 p.m. The struggling Knicks take on the Heat in Miami.
 
SATURDAY
 
Best bet on broadcast: Fox, "UFC: Evans vs. Davis," 8 p.m. Perhaps you saw a commercial or 30 for this during last Sunday's NFC Championship Game. The network's second effort at bringing UFC to over-the-air primetime TV.
 
Best bet on cable: Syfy, "Swamp Volcano," 9 p.m. Oil drilling could cause an eruption that would kill everybody.
 
Top sporting event: ESPN2, "Tennis," 3 a.m. Yes, it's early, but it's the women's final at the Australian Open, the first major tournament of the year.
 
SUNDAY
 
Best bet on broadcast
: ABC, "Once Upon a Time," 8 p.m. A genie gives the fairytale world's King Leopold three wishes.
 
Best bet on cable: TNT, "Screen Actors Guild Awards," 8 p.m. The 18th annual event, live from Los Angeles.
 
Top sporting event: NBC, "NFL Football," 7 p.m. The annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game from Honolulu.


A look at this week’s top TV draws

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

Fox

"Kitchen Nightmares" (R)

Ramsay checks up on four restaurants he's helped in the past.

8 p.m.

ESPN

"NBA Basketball" (S)

The Knicks face off against the Heat in Miami.

9 p.m.

NBC

"Chuck" (D)

Series finale. Chuck has to visit the past to save the future.

9 p.m.

Fox

"Fringe" (D)

Peter searches for a girl who has the power to see the future.

10 p.m.

Discovery Channel

"Bering Sea Gold" (R)

Series premiere. Crews try to strike gold at the bottom of the Bering Sea.

10 p.m.

Starz

"Spartacus: Vengeance" (D)

Season premiere. Spartacus takes on a leadership role among the freed slaves.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

Time

Network

Program

Description

2 p.m.

ESPN

"College Basketball" (S)

Perennial powerhouse Kansas faces a tough challenge at Iowa State.

8 p.m.

Fox

"UFC Fighting" (S)

A number of matches with the main event a bout between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis.

8 p.m.

Lifetime

"The Pregnancy Project" (M)

A teen pretends to be pregnant for a social experiment.

9 p.m.

NBC

"Figure Skating" (S)

Coverage of the U.S. Championships from San Jose.

9 p.m.

HBO

"Namath" (N)

Documentary examining the life and career of quarterback Joe Namath.

10 p.m.

Food Network

"Iron Chef America" (R)

Two chefs battle in a tailgate-themed cook-off in Hawaii.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

Time

Network

Program

Description

3:30 p.m.

ABC

"NBA Basketball" (S)

Eastern Conference finals preview? The Bulls face the Heat.

7 p.m.

NBC

"NFL Football" (S)

The annual Pro Bowl game moves back to Honolulu.

8 p.m.

Fox

"The Simpsons" (C)

Bart asks for forgiveness from Milhouse after they get into a fight.

8 p.m.

TNT

"Screen Actors Guild Awards" (A)

Mary Tyler Moore is given a life achievement award at the 18th annual event.

9 p.m.

HBO

"Luck" (D)

Series premiere. New drama set in the world of horse racing.

10 p.m.

E!

"Kourtney and Kim Take New York" (R)

Season finale. Kim makes a decision about her marriage--we all know where this is headed.

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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Louisa Ada Seltzer is a staff writer for Media Life.




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