FRIDAY
Best bet on broadcast: CW, “Everybody Hates Chris,”8 p.m. In the show’s new timeslot debut last week, it averaged a 0.8 adults 18-49 rating, off 11 percent from last year’s season-long 0.9 average. Which isn’t too bad a slide considering it used to air on Mondays, a night with much higher television usage levels.
Best bet on cable: The N, “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” 8 p.m. Season premiere. In season eight, new students start some trouble. Old students, meanwhile, move on to West Beverly High (that’s former “Degrassi” star Shenae Grimes, who’s now on “90210”).
Top sporting event: TBS, “American League Championship Series,” 8:37 p.m. The Boston Red Sox visit the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the ALCS.
SATURDAY
Best bet on broadcast: ABC, “College Football: Texas vs. Oklahoma,” noon. The No. 1 Sooners take on the No. 5 Longhorns in Dallas.
Best bet on cable: HBO, “Atonement,” 8 p.m. The pay-cable debut of the multiple-Oscar nominee.
Top sporting event: ESPN Classic, “Soccer: Cuba at U.S.,” 7 p.m. World Cup qualifying continues for the U.S. team, which has posted five straight shutouts.
SUNDAY
Best bet on broadcast: Fox, “National League Championship Series,” 8:22 p.m. Game three of the series between the host Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Best bet on cable: VH1, “Rock of Love Charm School,” 9 p.m. Series premiere. Sharon Osbourne, the “America’s Got Talent” judge and former MTV reality star, helps teach the “Rock of Love” gals etiquette.
Top sporting event: NBC, “Sunday Night Football,” 8:15 p.m. In a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game, the New England Patriots face the San Diego Chargers.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
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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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NBC
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“Today” (N)
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Richard Branson and Paula Deen both guest.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
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One of Melinda’s high school classmates dies unexpectedly.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“America’s Toughest Jobs” (R)
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The remaining six take part in a monster truck challenge.
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8 p.m.
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TBS
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Game one of the American League Championship Series.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“The Ex List” (D)
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Bella runs into a guy who used to be a slacker but is now obsessed with exercise.
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10 p.m.
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History
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“In the World of… Jack the Ripper” (N)
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Reexamining the 1888 murderer and life in 19th century London.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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Noon
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ABC
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“College Football” (S)
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Huge Big 12 game between Oklahoma and Texas.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“College Football” (S)
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Either Arizona St.-USC or Purdue-Ohio St.
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7 p.m.
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ESPN Classic
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“Soccer” (S)
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The U.S. men’s team takes on Cuba in a World Cup qualifier.
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7:25 p.m.
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ABC
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“NASCAR Racing” (S)
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The Bank of America 500 from Concord, N.H.
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8 p.m.
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TBS
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Game two of the ALCS.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“College Football” (S)
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LSU versus Florida in an important SEC matchup.
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Game three of the NLCS.
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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 Patriots take on the Chargers in San Diego.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Desperate Housewives” (D)
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Gaby and Susan fight after their kids get into it.
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9 p.m.
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VH1
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“Rock of Love Charm School” (R)
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Season premiere. The “Rock of Love” girls get the “Charm School” treatment with host Sharon Osbourne.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“The Unit” (D)
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The team finds a nuclear weapons smuggler who may also be involved in sex trafficking.
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10 p.m.
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AMC
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“Mad Men” (D)
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Don makes some new contacts during a business trip in Los Angeles.
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10 p.m.
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HBO
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“Entourage” (C)
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Turtle agrees to work as Drama’s personal assistant.
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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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