Star shooters: The McDonald’s games

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TV This Week
Star shooters: The McDonald’s games
By Diego Vasquez
Mar 26, 2008 - 1:00:54 AM

Four years ago, Candace Parker became the first girl ever to win the slam dunk contest at the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Games. Now she’s the best player in women’s collegiate basketball, trying to lead Tennessee to a second straight national title.

Picking out which one of these all-stars will become the next big thing in college is a major part of the allure of tonight’s McDonald’s games. Coverage of the girls’ game begins at 7 p.m. on ESPNU, followed by the boys’ game at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN. Both air live from Milwaukee’s Bradley Center.

The McDonald’s game dates back to 1977 for the boys and 2002 for girls. Virtually all of the National Basketball Association’s superstars, including Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James, were McDonald’s all-stars as teenagers.

The game pits 12-man East and West squads against each other in the culmination of two days’ worth of pregame activities, including the skills competition, where the slam dunk contest is always the most popular event.

Parker provided perhaps the most-replayed dunk of all time, when she beat out several boys to win. She’s since dunked in Tennessee games and become one of the best collegiate women’s players ever.

Though viewership for the games won’t be huge, squaring off as they do against Fox’s “American Idol,” they will receive lots of hype on ESPN and probably a lot of interest online, where players’ local hometown TV stations and newspapers will carry updates on and highlights of the contest.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Actress Helen Mirren drops by.
7 p.m.	ESPN	“NBA Basketball” (S)	A finals preview? The Suns take on the Celtics in Boston.
8 p.m.	CW	“America’s Next Top Model” (R)	Tyra teaches the girls how to give “that look” at the end of a runway.
9 p.m.	Fox	“American Idol” (R)	Kimberly Locke performs and, of course, a finalist is eliminated.
9:30 p.m.	ESPN	“High School Basketball” (S)	An early look at next year’s top college players in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
10 p.m.	Comedy Central	“South Park” (C)	The guys have to help Britney Spears to the North Pole.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Real World/Road Rules Challenge” (R)	A reunion of cast members from the third edition of The Gauntlet.
THURSDAY, MARCH 27
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	Are your brackets already busted? Coverage of the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Miss Guided” (C)	The first time in her life, Becky acts like a rebel.
8 p.m.	CW	“Smallville” (D)	Clark tries to use his flying skills to take on Brainiac.
9 p.m.	NBC	“Celebrity Apprentice” (R)	Season finale. The Donald names his winner and awards $250,000 to his or her charity of choice.
10 p.m.	ABC	“Eli Stone” (D)	Still another appearance by singer George Michael.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” (R)	Season finale. The winning team is selected.
10 p.m.	TLC	“LA Ink” (R)	Kat’s boyfriend tells her dad all about their relationship.
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	Doctors Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen both guest.
7 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	More coverage of the NCAA men’s basketball regional semifinals.
8 p.m.	CMT	“Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search” (R)	The seven remaining contestants compete in a challenge called “Don’t Stop Dancing.”
8:30 p.m.	Fox	“The Return of Jezebel James” (C)	Coco gets a job walking a neighbor’s dog.
9 p.m.	Travel Channel	“Mysteries of the Smithsonian” (N)	A look at some of the most unique items at the famous institution.
10 p.m.	Sci Fi Channel	“Battlestar Galactica: Revealed” (A)	A recap of the show’s first three seasons.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
Time	Network	Program	Description
3 p.m.	NBC	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third-round coverage of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
6:30 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	The first of two regional finals that will determine half of this year’s Final Four.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Las Vegas use their trusty spike strips to slow down a stolen car.
8 p.m.	Nickelodeon	“Kids’ Choice Awards” (A)	The 21st annual event, hosted again this year by Jack Black.
10 p.m.	Showtime	“John Witherspoon: You Got to Coordinate” (A, C)	The aging comedian delivers a stand-up special.
11 p.m.	Fox	“Mad TV” (C)	Spoofs of Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, as well as a “Juno 2” sketch.
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
Time	Network	Program	Description
2 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	The first of two more regional finals, completing this season’s Final Four.
3 p.m.	NBC	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, won by Nick Watney last year.
8 p.m.	Fox	“The Simpsons” (C)	Lisa becomes addicted to secondhand smoke.
8 p.m.	Univision	“Por Siempre…Selena” (A)	Latin music stars offer a tribute to the late singer.
9 p.m.	CW	“The Game” (C)	Serena Williams guests and goes on a date with Malik.
9:30 p.m.	Fox	“Unhitched” (C)	Season finale. Tommy teaches Freddy how to drive.
10 p.m.	FX	“Dirt” (D)	Willa and Farber try to find juicy tidbits on celebrity relationships.
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.