Top draws on broadcast and cable and in sports
By Louisa Ada Seltzer Dec 4, 2009
FRIDAY
Best bet on broadcast: ABC, “Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation,” 8 p.m. A look at 75 years of Disney animated feature history, hosted by Vanessa Williams.
Best bet on cable: USA, “Monk,” 9 p.m. Series finale. Everybody’s favorite obsessive-compulsive detective solves the series' defining mystery, who killed his wife, in the show's final episode.
Top sporting event: ESPN2, “College Football,” 8 p.m. Central Michigan takes on Ohio for the MAC championship in Detroit.
SATURDAY
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m. “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively hosts and Rihanna sings.
Best bet on cable: Hallmark Channel, “Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle,” 8 p.m. James Van Der Beek (yes, Dawson), plays a widower who hires a nanny to help with his two kids.
Top sporting event: CBS, “College Football,” 4 p.m. Plenty of big games today, but none bigger than Alabama-Florida for the SEC title—the winner goes to the BCS National Championship game.
SUNDAY
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “Sunday Night Football,” 8:15 p.m. Should be another game with big ratings as Brett Favre and the Vikings take on the Cardinals in Arizona.
Best bet on cable: HBO, “Robin Williams: Weapons of Self-Destruction,” 9 p.m. The actor/comedian’s first solo stand-up special on the network in seven years. This one was taped at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., last month.
Top sporting event: Fox, “BCS Selection Show,” 8 p.m. The first look at who will play in this year’s major bowl games. Where will undefeated BCS-buster TCU end up?
A look at this week’s top TV draws
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
Time
Network
Program
Description
7 a.m.
NBC
“Today” (N)
Acting legend Robert De Niro guests.
8 p.m.
CBS
“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
A high-school-aged ghost tells Melinda a policeman murdered him.
8 p.m.
Fox
“Dollhouse” (D)
Two hours of the show can only mean one thing: burnoff time.
9 p.m.
ABC
“Ugly Betty” (D)
Shakira guests as the Mode staff heads to the Bahamas.
9 p.m.
USA
“Monk” (D)
Series finale. Monk tries to finally find Trudy’s killer.
10 p.m.
CBS
“Numb3rs” (D)
Henry Winkler guests as an FBI agent.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5
Time
Network
Program
Description
12:30 p.m.
CBS
“College Basketball” (S)
Good early-season game between North Carolina and Kentucky.
4 p.m.
CBS
“College Football” (S)
Alabama versus Florida for the SEC title, with the winner likely headed to the BCS championship game.
8 p.m.
Fox
“Cops” (R)
Cops in Vegas deal with a man who thinks the police are out to get him.
8 p.m.
ABC
“College Football” (S)
The Big 12 championship game between Nebraska and Texas.
9 p.m.
Food Network
“Guy’s Disney Holiday” (A)
Guy Fieri takes a look at Disneyland during the holidays.
10 p.m.
CBS
“48 Hours Mystery” (N)
The case of a young father who went missing in a small town.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6
Time
Network
Program
Description
8 p.m.
Fox
“BCS Selection Show” (S)
The participants in the BCS title game and Sugar, Fiesta, Orange and Rose Bowls are revealed.
8:15 p.m.
NBC
“NFL Football” (S)
A battle between to aging quarterbacks: Favre and the Vikings and Warner and the Cardinals.
9 p.m.
ABC
“Desperate Housewives” (D)
A plane crashes and endangers lives on Wisteria Lane. (Wait, isn't sweeps over?)
9 p.m.
Showtime
“Dexter” (D)
Debra is close to breaking open the Trinity Killer case.
10 p.m.
ABC
“Brothers & Sisters” (D)
Justin and Rebecca’s wedding plans are still up in the air.
10 p.m.
Biography
“Shatner’s Raw Nerve” (T)
Season premiere Shatner welcomes Rush Limbaugh.
10 p.m.
E!
“The Girls Next Door” (R)
Hef’s new girls throw a baby shower for Kendra.
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.
