FRIDAY
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “Las Vegas,” 10 p.m. Wedding bells are ringing for two of the casino employees … but not the ones you think.
Best bet on cable: CMT, “Gone Country,” 8 p.m. Series premiere. Like “American Idol,” but with washed-up celebrities who have to get in touch with their inner twang.
Top sporting event: ESPN2, “Australian Open: Women’s Final,” 9:30 p.m. Russian Maria Sharapova aims for her third Grand Slam singles title against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic.
SATURDAY
Best bet on broadcast: CBS, “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2008,” 8 p.m. Guessing last year’s SalesGenie spot won’t make it.
Best bet on cable: TLC, “Miss America Pageant,” 8 p.m. There she is, making her debut on yet another new network.
Top sporting event: NBC, “U.S. Figure Skating Championships,” 8 p.m. See who wins the women’s title.
SUNDAY
Best bet on broadcast: CBS, “The Russell Girl,” 9 p.m. Amber Tamblyn (“Joan of Arcadia”) returns to CBS in this original movie about a sick woman who journeys to her hometown to tell her parents about her illness.
Best bet on cable: TNT and TBS, “Screen Actors Guild Awards,” 8 p.m. If you’ve been going through red carpet withdrawal, here’s an awards show that’s guaranteed to have actual, you know, stars.
Top sporting event: Versus, “NHL All-Star Game,” 6 p.m. Detroit Red Wings make up half the West’s starting lineup.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
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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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ABC
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“Good Morning America” (N)
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Famous chef Cat Cora guests.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“1 vs. 100” (G)
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Oscar the Grouch and Playboy Playmates make up part of the mob.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“Garth Brooks: Live in L.A.!” (A)
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The country legend performs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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9 p.m.
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USA
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“Monk” (D)
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Monk looks for a murderer who seems to only kill people named Julie.
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9:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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“Tennis” (S)
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The Australian Open women’s final.
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10 p.m.
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NBC
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“Las Vegas” (D)
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R&B singer Ne-Yo makes a guest appearance.
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
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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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Good non-conference matchup between Indiana and Connecticut.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Third-round coverage of the Buick Invitational, Tiger Woods’ first event of the year.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Cops” (R)
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Among other things, cops in Cincinnati break up a fight.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“Figure Skating” (S)
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Women’s final at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships from St. Paul.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials” (A)
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The annual look at the big game’s best ads.
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8 p.m.
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TLC
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“Miss America Live 2008” (A)
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The 87th annual event, live from Las Vegas.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 27
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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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In-state rivalry game between Big Ten foes Michigan and Michigan State.
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1 p.m.
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ABC
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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KG and the Celtics take on the Magic in Orlando.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Final round of the Buick Invitational, which Tiger has won three straight years.
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7 p.m.
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NBC
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“Figure Skating” (S)
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More coverage of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, this time on the men’s side.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“The Simpsons” (C)
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Marge and Homer flash back to their dating days.
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9 p.m.
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Showtime
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“The L Word” (D)
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Tina’s new girlfriend makes Better jealous.
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10:30 p.m.
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E!
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“Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood” (R)
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Snoop takes the kids to his old Long Beach neighborhood to help them better appreciate what they have.
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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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