“The Biggest Loser” was shoved onto the schedule three years ago, when NBC’s summer hit “Last Comic Standing” turned into a fall bomb and the network needed something to salvage its Tuesday night schedule.
“Loser,” a reality show about obese contestants vying to shed the most weight, drew surprisingly good ratings and continues to be a solid if unspectacular show for NBC, with its ratings remaining steady while network staples like “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Crossing Jordan” went south.
Now NBC is giving “Loser” its toughest challenge yet. It has expanded the show from 60 to 90 minutes, positioned it against strong competition, and replaced the show’s host, all in hopes of regaining a foothold on a night where its rating slipped 23 percent last season.
Season four of “Loser” premieres tonight at 8 p.m. with a two-hour special, giving it a desperately-needed two-week jump on the other networks. New host Alison Sweeney, who replaces the likable Caroline Rhea, leads 18 contestants into the desert, where they find more boot camp-like conditions than past seasons, which were spent at a cushy ranch.
Yet “Loser” will probably need more than just gimmicks to survive on Tuesday. It faces CBS’s “NCIS,” which will dominate the timeslot in total viewers until “American Idol” returns in January on Fox, as well as Fox’s solid drama “Bones” and the CW reality hit “Beauty & the Geek” during the 8 p.m. hour.
At 9, during “Loser’s” final half hour, ABC’s monster hit “Dancing With the Stars” comes on and could steal some viewers, as will Fox’s “House,” the network’s top non-“Idol” program.
If “Loser” can merely keep pace with last season’s 3.5 adults 18-49 rating, that would be a major accomplishment in this tough timeslot. It seems more likely, with a new host and a leadout, “The Singing Bee,” that looked weaker and weaker as the summer went on, that after a decent debut tonight, “Loser” will shed more of its audience.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 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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7 a.m.
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ABC
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"Good Morning America" (N)
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Remembering 9/11 on the sixth anniversary.
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7 p.m.
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ESPN2
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"Women's Soccer" (S)
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A World Cup group game between the U.S. and North Korea.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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"The Biggest Loser" (R)
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Season premiere. New host Allison Sweeney leads the competition among 18 contestants.
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8 p.m.
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Soap
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"I Wanna Be a Soap Star" (R)
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The final seven all learn how to do a striptease. Apparently that's a necessity for being a soap star.
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9 p.m.
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VH1
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"What Perez Says About the VMAs" (A)
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Internet gossip hound Perez Hilton takes a look at MTV's “Video Music Awards.”
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10 p.m.
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MTV
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"VMA 07 Celebrity Replay" (A)
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A re-airing of Sunday's awards show, this time with celebrity commentary.
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10 p.m.
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TLC
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"LA Ink" (R)
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Kat gets a tattoo of Pixie's face.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 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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7 a.m.
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NBC
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"Today" (N)
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Elle magazine fashion director Nina Garcia talks about her new book.
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7 p.m.
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ESPN
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"Major League Baseball" (S0
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The Braves take on the Mets in a key NL East game.
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8 p.m.
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PBS
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"Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream" (N)
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A look at how corporations target Hispanic consumers.
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8 p.m.
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ESPN Classic
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"College Football" (S)
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Instant classic: Division I-AA Appalachian State versus Michigan.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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"Last Comic Standing" (R)
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Another comic is eliminated, then the final two give their last performances.
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10 p.m.
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FX
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"Rescue Me" (D)
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Season finale. The guys can't stop talking about seeing Jimmy's ghost, and Colleen blames Tommy for her relationship troubles.
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10 p.m.
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HBO
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"Inside the NFL" (S)
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Season premiere. Costas, Collinsworth, Carter and Marino kick off the show's 31st year.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
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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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Country artist Kenny Chesney performs.
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7:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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"College Football" (S)
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If you've yet to see West Virginia play, check them out tonight against Maryland. They're good.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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"Big Brother" (R)
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Should rate well tonight as one of the few original programs on broadcast.
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9 p.m.
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Fox
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"Don't Forget the Lyrics" (G)
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The singing game enjoys one of its last Thursdays without original competition.
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9 p.m.
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A&E
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"First 48" (N)
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A man in Detroit is shot during an altercation following a pickup basketball game.
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10 p.m.
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AMC
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"Mad Men" (D)
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A rival ad agency tries to tempt Don into joining.
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10 p.m.
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USA
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"Burn Notice" (D)
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Michael tries to help a woman track down her missing son.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
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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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CBS
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"The Early Show" (N)
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Former "American Idol" contestant Daughtry performs.
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7 p.m.
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ESPN
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"Major League Baseball" (S)
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With the season winding down, this series between the Yankees and Red Sox could be the year's best yet.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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"CBS Sneak Peek" (A)
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A look at the network's fall lineup.
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9 p.m.
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USA
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"Monk" (D)
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Monk takes a late-night walk and, surprise, finds a murder to investigate.
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9 p.m.
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Fox
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"Nashville" (R)
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Series premiere. Reality series following those trying to make it in Nashville's music scene.
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10 p.m.
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USA
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"Psych" (D)
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Shawn and Gus track down a murder suspect, then realize he's innocent.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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2 p.m.
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NBC
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"PGA Golf" (S)
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Third round coverage of the Tour Championship from Atlanta.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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"College Football" (S)
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Notre Dame takes on Michigan in the Big House.
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3:30 p.m.
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CBS
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"College Football" (S)
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Huge SEC rivalry game between Tennessee and Florida.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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"Cops" (R)
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Cops in California run into a suspect concealing a sawed-off shotgun.
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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"College Football" (S)
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USC takes on Nebraska in Lincoln.
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11 p.m.
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Fox
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"Mad TV" (C)
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Season premiere. Jerry Springer spoofs himself.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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1:30 p.m.
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NBC
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