The New York Giants certainly shocked the world with their upset of the then-undefeated New England Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl. But the team still has a lot to prove when it kicks off the new NFL season tonight at 7 p.m. on NBC, as does the network itself.
One of the biggest question marks for the Giants is quarterback Eli Manning, who finally cast off the label of disappointing No. 1 draft pick to win Super Bowl MVP last February.
Still, doubts remain over whether that was simply one solid game or the start of a spectacular career. He’s long been in the shadow of older brother Peyton, one of the game’s best QBs and a near-certain Hall of Famer.
Too, the Giants must adjust to the loss of defensive end Michael Strahan, the NFL’s single-season sacks record holder, who retired this year. Though Strahan wasn’t coming off his best season, he was a veteran leader on the team, and the Giants actually tried to woo him back last month, after Pro Bowl end Osi Umenyiora suffered a season-ending injury.
Meanwhile, NBC is hoping that ratings for “Sunday Night Football,” which officially kicks off tonight and moves to Sundays this weekend, will spring back off after they declined a bit in the network’s second year of airing the show.
A strong “SNF” is vital as NBC tries to avoid finishing fourth among adults 18-49 for the fifth straight season.
The network has the Super Bowl in February, guaranteed to give it a boost, but media buyers still see a lot of holes in the network’s non-football schedule.
The Giants face off with their NFC East foe, the Washington Redskins, tonight. The game will be preceded by a kickoff concert by Usher.
|
A look at this week’s top TV draws
|
|
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 a.m.
|
ABC
|
“Good Morning America” (N)
|
Rachael Ray is among the guests.
|
|
7 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“NFL Football” (S)
|
The Redskins take on the Giants to kick off the NFL season.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Kitchen Nightmares” (R)
|
Season premiere. Ramsay’s other show should have a decent season, but could struggle tonight against football.
|
|
8:30 p.m. p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“College Football” (S)
|
South Carolina
takes on Vanderbilt in an SEC matchup.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
ABC, CBS, NBC, cable news networks
|
“Republican National Convention” (N)
|
Sen. John McCain accepts the Republican nomination for president.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Showtime
|
“Russell Peters: Red, White and Brown” (C)
|
The comedian delivers a standup performance.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
MTV
|
“Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” (R)
|
A dance-off special.
|
|
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7:30 p.m.
|
ESPN Classic
|
“Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony” (S)
|
Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon are among the inductees.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS, NBC, ABC
|
“Stand Up to Cancer” (A)
|
A cross-network fundraiser featuring a host of celebrities.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“NFL Opening Kickoff 2008” (A)
|
Musical performers include Keith Urban and Usher.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
USA
|
“Monk” (D)
|
Monk solves his 100th murder case.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Swingtown” (D)
|
Season finale. Tom and Trina host a clambake and key party.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“Major League Baseball” (S)
|
A big NL West game between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers.
|
|
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
3:30 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“College Football” (S)
|
San Diego
State
takes on Notre Dame for the first time in its history.
|
|
3:30 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Major League Baseball” (S)
|
Today we have Twins-Tigers, Mets-Phillies or Dodgers-Diamondbacks.
|
|
7:30 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“NASCAR Racing” (S)
|
The Chevy Rock & Roll 500 in Richmond.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Tennis” (S)
|
The women’s final at the U.S. Open.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Cops” (R)
|
Season premiere. Cops in Broward County, Fla., open the 21st season.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“College Football” (S)
|
Miami
takes on Florida in Gainesville.
|
|
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
4 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Tennis” (S)
|
The U.S. Open men’s final.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Big Brother” (R)
|
Nominations for next week’s eviction are revealed.
|
|
8:15 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Sunday Night Football” (S)
|
The Bears and Colts in the season opener for both.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“America United: In Support of Our Troops” (A)
|
A range of performers pay tribute to American soldiers.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
History
|
“Ice Road Truckers” (R)
|
Season finale. High and Eric challenge each other in a personal race.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
MTV
|
“MTV Video Music Awards” (A)
|
Russell Brand hosts the 25th annual event.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
AMC
|
“Mad Men” (D)
|
Don buys a car to reflect his executive status.
|
|
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.
|
