THURSDAY
Best bet on broadcast: ABC, CBS and NBC, “Democratic National Convention,” 10 p.m. Live coverage of Barack Obama’s presidential nomination acceptance speech.
Best bet on cable: VH1, “Glam God With Vivica A. Fox,” 10 p.m. What’s the better career trajectory for C-listers, guesting on “Dancing with the Stars” or getting your own VH1 show? Fox is one of the few who’s done both.
Top sporting event: ESPN, “College Football: N.C. State at South Carolina,” 8 p.m. The new season gets underway with this showdown between ACC and SEC teams.
FRIDAY
Best bet on broadcast: CW, “Friday Night Smackdown!,” 8 p.m. Catch it on the CW while you can, before it moves to MyNetworkTV.
Best bet on cable: Animal Planet, “Grizzly Man Diaries,” 9 p.m. Series premiere. Naturalist Timothy Treadwell died in 2003 after a bear attack, but he apparently left behind enough material for this eight-part documentary about Alaskan grizzlies.
Top sporting event: NFL Network, “Preseason: Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals,” 10 p.m. Will the Cards really push QB-of-the-future Matt Leinert to the bench in favor of grizzled (but more poised) veteran Kurt Warner?
SATURDAY
Best bet on broadcast: Fox, “Cops,”8 p.m. Relive all your favorite busts in this 20th-anniversary retrospective.
Best bet on cable: Disney Channel, “Disney Channel Games 2008,” 8 p.m. The annual special closes with a Cheetah Girls performance.
Top sporting event: ESPN, “Appalachian State at LSU,” 5 p.m. The reigning BCS champs host the reigning NCAA Subdivision (formerly I-AA) champs in a first-of-its-kind matchup. But before you dismiss the Mountaineers, remember last year’s game against Michigan.
SUNDAY
Best bet on broadcast: CBS, “Flashpoint,” 10 p.m. The series has just been renewed for a second season in its native Canada, making a second season on CBS seem more likely.
Best bet on cable: Cartoon Network, “Robot Chicken,” 11:30 p.m. The first of six straight new episodes.
Top sporting event: CBS, “U.S. Open Tennis,” 11 a.m. Early-round matchups continue.
|
A look at this week’s top TV draws
|
|
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“NFL Football” (S)
|
The Jags versus the Redskins in Washington.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Big Brother” (R)
|
Another houseguest is evicted.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“College Football” (S)
|
North Carolina State kicks off the season against South Carolina.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
Discovery
|
“Destroyed in Seconds” (N)
|
A stealth bomber crashes near a picnic site.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
ABC, CBS, NBC, cable news networks
|
“Democratic National Convention” (N)
|
Sen. Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for president.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Comedy Central
|
“Gong Show with Dave Attell” (G)
|
A human helicopter and a one-man horn band perform.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Food Network
|
“Ace of Cakes” (R)
|
The chefs make a cake that looks like the NHL’s Stanley Cup.
|
|
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 a.m.
|
NBC
|
“Today” (N)
|
Katy Perry, Jesse McCartney and The Pussycat Dolls all perform.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
E!
|
“15 Most Shocking Political Sex Scandals” (N)
|
How many times will Bill Clinton make the list?
|
|
9 p.m.
|
HBO
|
“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (S)
|
A look at pro baseball player Josh Hamilton.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Swingtown” (D)
|
Susan and Roger throw a surprise party for Janet.
|
|
11:35 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (T)
|
Arsenio Hall and Chuck Berry guest.
|
|
12:05 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (T)
|
Slashie nominee (award for best model/actor) Tyrese guests.
|
|
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
11 a.m.
|
CBS
|
“Tennis” (S)
|
Early-round play from the U.S. Open in New York.
|
|
3:30 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Major League Baseball” (S)
|
It’s Phillies-Cubs, Rockies-Padres or Mariners-Indians.
|
|
5 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“College Football” (S)
|
Last year’s FCS (Div. I-AA) champ Appalachian State takes on BCS champ LSU.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“College Football” (S)
|
Top-25 teams Alabama and Clemson battle in Atlanta.
|
|
8:30 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“College Football” (S)
|
Should be another good one between Illinois and Missouri.
|
|
11:30 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Saturday Night Live” (C)
|
Replay of the episode hosted by Brian Williams.
|
|
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
11 a.m.
|
CBS
|
“Tennis” (S)
|
More early-round U.S. Open play.
|
|
3 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Big Brother” (R)
|
Nominations for next week’s eviction are announced.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“NASCAR Racing” (S)
|
The Pepsi 500 from Fontana, Calif.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
VH1
|
“I Love Money” (R)
|
An endurance challenge involving stripper poles.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
AMC
|
“Mad Men” (D)
|
Don and Duck bury the hatchet.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Travel Channel
|
“Super Swank” (N)
|
Series premiere. Profiles of cool places you can’t afford.
|
|
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.
|
