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Best tube bets
this weekend

The top draws on broadcast and cable and in sports

By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Jul 2, 2009

THURSDAY

Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “Today,” 7 a.m. Matt Lauer broadcasts live from the Neverland Ranch, where Michael Jackson lived for 15 years before his death.

Best bet on cable: MTV, “16 and Pregnant,” 10 p.m. The network renewed the first-year show earlier this week.

Top sporting event: ESPN, “Baseball Tonight,” 10 p.m. Catch up on the day’s highlights.

FRIDAY

Best bet on broadcast: Fox, “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?,” 8 p.m. Champion eater Joey Chestnut, who will compete in the Nathan’s hot dog contest tomorrow, first tests his wits against a bunch of 10-year-olds.

Best bet on cable: USA, “Bourne Identity,” 8:30 p.m. What better way to celebrate Independence Day than to watch Matt Damon kill a bunch of people while trying to figure out how the American government screwed with his head?

Top sporting event: ESPN2, “Complete Wimbledon,” 8 p.m. Find out who’ll be competing in Sunday’s men’s finals.

SATURDAY

Best bet on broadcast: CBS, “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular,” 10 p.m. Craig Ferguson hosts the annual fireworks fest.

Best bet on cable: ESPN, “Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest,” noon. See professionals go at it before you fire up the grill to cook your own July 4 dogs.

Top sporting event: NBC, “Wimbledon,” 9 a.m. The ladies’ final.

SUNDAY

Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “Wimbledon,” 9 a.m. The gentlemen’s final.

Best bet on cable: Food Network, “Next Food Network Star,” 9 p.m. Rachael Ray gives the wannabes a challenge.

Top movie: Hallmark Channel, “Angel and the Badman,” 9 p.m. Original movie. Fresh off his “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here” victory, Lou Diamond Phillips stars in the remake of the John Wayne movie.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	ABC	“Samantha Who?” (C)	Sam thinks she may have cost Todd his career as a photographer. Less worrisome now that they’ve both lost their careers, the show being canceled and all.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The field is trimmed to 12 after tonight’s elimination.
9 p.m.	TV Land	“She’s Got the Look” (R)	After assessing their wardrobes, the women go on a shopping trip.
10 p.m.	NBC	“The Listener” (D)	Toby helps a woman find her brother’s killer.
10 p.m.	MTV	“16 and Pregnant” (R)	A teen who wants to join the Air Force instead becomes pregnant.
10 p.m.	Showtime	“Penn & Teller: Bull!” (C)	The duo looks at the idea of destiny.
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Musician Rob Thomas performs.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (G)	Eating champion Joey Chestnut is a contestant.
9 p.m.	Travel Channel	“Ghost Adventures” (R)	The crew looks for ghosts at the Bird Cage Theater in Arizona.
9 p.m.	TV Land	“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (M)	The 1983 comedy classic starring Chevy Chase.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (M)	Remember when these special effects were cutting edge and Ah-nold was an actor, not a governator?
10 p.m.	WE	“Bridezillas” (R)	A woman has a panic attack when she tries on her gown.
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Time	Network	Program	Description
9 a.m.	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	The women’s final at Wimbledon.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Coverage of the third round of the AT&T National.
4 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	Another weekend of regional interleague games.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Florida take part in a high-speed chase that results in injuries.
8 p.m.	Cartoon Network	“Brainrush” (G)	Contestants answer trivia questions while riding amusement park rides.
9 p.m.	Fox Soccer Channel, Telefutura	“Soccer” (S)	The U.S. takes on Grenada in Gold Cup group play.
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Time	Network	Program	Description
9 a.m.	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	More coverage from Wimbledon, this time the men’s final.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final round of the AT&T National, won last year by Anthony Kim.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Merlin” (D)	Lancelot shows up to save Merlin from a winged creature. (Bird? Dragon? Time-traveling airplane?)
8 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Rays head to Arlington, Texas, to take on the Rangers.
9 p.m.	Univision	“Premios Deportes 2009” (A)	Sports awards show featuring tributes to Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez.
10 p.m.	E!	“Kendra” (R)	Kendra poses for a lingerie shoot while Hank’s home cleaning.
10 p.m.	Lifetime	“Army Wives” (D)	Roxy unsuccessfully tries to plan a reopening party for the bar.
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.