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Best tube bets
this weekend


The top draws on cable and broadcast and in sports

Dec 19, 2008

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. 

 

A look at this week’s top TV draws

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

CBS

“The Early Show” (N)

Actress Jennifer Aniston guests.

8 p.m.

CNBC

“CNBC Reports 2008: A Year on the Brink” (N)

An analysis of what exactly went wrong with the nation’s economy in 2008. The short version: A lot.

8 p.m.

CBS

“Ghost Whisperer” (D)

Melinda tries to help a ghost accept the truth about her marriage.

9 p.m.

VH1

“Top 40 of 2008” (A)

Counting down the year’s top musical hits.

10 p.m.

CBS

“Numb3rs” (D)

Don considers adding religion to his life.

10:30 p.m.

ESPN

“NBA Basketball” (S)

LeBron and the Cavs take on Carmelo and the Nuggets in Denver.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20

Time

Network

Program

Description

1 p.m.

CBS

“College Basketball” (S)

Either Michigan State-Texas or Xavier-Duke.

6 p.m.

ESPN

“College Basketball” (S)

Good nonconference matchup between Memphis and Syracuse.

8 p.m.

Fox

“Cops” (R)

Cops in Spokane try to chase down a stolen truck.

8 p.m.

ESPN

“College Football” (S)

The Las Vegas Bowl between Arizona and BYU.

9 p.m.

NBC

“WWE Tribute to the Troops” (A)

Wrestlers make their annual trip to Iraq.

10 p.m.

CBS

“48 Hours Mystery” (N)

Investigating the death of a politician.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21

Time

Network

Program

Description

1 p.m.

NBC

“Winter Dew Tour” (S)

The inaugural event featuring snowboarding and skiing competitions.

8:15 p.m.

NBC

“Sunday Night Football” (S)

The Panthers versus the Giants in a game that could decide home field advantage for the playoffs.

8:15 p.m.

ESPN

“College Football” (S)

Something called the New Orleans Bowl between Southern Mississippi and Troy.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Cold Case” (D)

The team investigates the 1960 murder of a stewardess.

9 p.m.

VH1

“Rock of Love Charm School with Sharon Osbourne” (R)

Season finale. A winner is selected.

10 p.m.

CBS

“The Unit” (D)

The crew forces a Department of Defense officer to witness war up close.

10 p.m.

E!

“Girls Next Door” (R)

The girls make a 2009 calendar.

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.

 



Louisa Ada Seltzer is a staff writer for Media Life.




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