FRIDAY
Best bet on broadcast: CBS, “Ghost Whisperer,” 8 p.m. Rena Sofer guest stars as a ghost who doesn’t know she’s a ghost.
Best bet on cable: HGTV, “Top 10 Christmas Towns,” 9 p.m. Spotlighting the best Christmas decorations in the country.
Top sporting event: ESPN2, “Football Championship Subdivision,” 8 p.m. The national championship of the former I-AA division, between Richmond and Montana.
SATURDAY
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “WWE Tribute to the Troops,” 9 p.m. Puffed-up wrestlers show they’re really just softies at heart with a tribute to the troops and visits to military bases to entertain them.
Best bet on cable: Oxygen, “Love Actually,” 8 p.m. The 2003 movie about the lives and loves of a group of interconnected Londoners.
Top sporting event: ESPN, “Las Vegas Bowl,” 8 p.m. Bowl season has begun with several matchups today. Tonight, Arizona and BYU square off.
SUNDAY
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “Sunday Night Football,” 8:15 p.m. The New York Giants try to pull out of their two-game slump against the squad challenging them for home field advantage in the NFC, the Carolina Panthers.
Best bet on cable: Showtime, “Brotherhood,” 8 p.m. Season finale. Michael tries to avoid the mob.
Top sporting event: Fox & CBS, “NFL,” 1 p.m. Regional action.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19
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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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CBS
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“The Early Show” (N)
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Actress Jennifer Aniston guests.
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8 p.m.
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CNBC
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“CNBC Reports 2008: A Year on the Brink” (N)
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An analysis of what exactly went wrong with the nation’s economy in 2008. The short version: A lot.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
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Melinda tries to help a ghost accept the truth about her marriage.
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9 p.m.
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VH1
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“Top 40 of 2008” (A)
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Counting down the year’s top musical hits.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“Numb3rs” (D)
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Don considers adding religion to his life.
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10:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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LeBron and the Cavs take on Carmelo and the Nuggets in Denver.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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1 p.m.
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CBS
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Either Michigan State-Texas or Xavier-Duke.
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6 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Good nonconference matchup between Memphis and Syracuse.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Cops” (R)
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Cops in Spokane try to chase down a stolen truck.
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8 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Football” (S)
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The Las Vegas Bowl between Arizona and BYU.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“WWE Tribute to the Troops” (A)
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Wrestlers make their annual trip to Iraq.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“48 Hours Mystery” (N)
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Investigating the death of a politician.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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1 p.m.
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NBC
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“Winter Dew Tour” (S)
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The inaugural event featuring snowboarding and skiing competitions.
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8:15 p.m.
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NBC
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“Sunday Night Football” (S)
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The Panthers versus the Giants in a game that could decide home field advantage for the playoffs.
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8:15 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Football” (S)
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Something called the New Orleans Bowl between Southern Mississippi and Troy.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“Cold Case” (D)
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The team investigates the 1960 murder of a stewardess.
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9 p.m.
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VH1
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“Rock of Love Charm School with Sharon Osbourne” (R)
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Season finale. A winner is selected.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“The Unit” (D)
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The crew forces a Department of Defense officer to witness war up close.
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10 p.m.
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E!
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“Girls Next Door” (R)
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The girls make a 2009 calendar.
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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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