FRIDAY
Best bet on broadcast: CBS, “Late Show with David Letterman,” 11:35 p.m. Donald Trump, drumming up publicity for Sunday’s premiere of “The Apprentice,” guest stars. Want to bet the name Rosie O’Donnell comes up?
Best bet on cable: IFC, “Gunslinger Girl,” 11 p.m. Series premiere. Combine girl power, the Terminator and anime, and you’ve got this new show about youngsters who double as cyborg assassins.
Top movie: Fox Movie Channel, “Young Frankenstein,” 8 p.m. Relive the monster-ous performance of the late Peter Boyle, the dad on “Everybody Loves Raymond” who passed away last month.
SATURDAY
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “NFC Wild Card Game: Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks,” 8 p.m. Last year’s Super Bowl runner-up, the 9-7 Seahawks, host this year’s top wild card team, the 9-7 Cowboys. Dallas has won six of their 10 total meetings, and they’ve never squared off in the postseason.
Best bet on cable: HBO, “Munich” 8 p.m. Cable debut of Steven Spielberg’s riveting 2005 movie.
Top sporting event: ESPN, “College GameDay,” 8 p.m. Farewell football, hello hoops. Tonight the Rece Davis-hosted college basketball program kicks off from Baton Rouge, La.
SUNDAY
Best bet on broadcast: NBC, “Grease: You’re the One That I Want,” 8 p.m. Reality train wreck or good, clean ‘50s-style fun? We’ll see.
Best bet on cable: Showtime, "The L Word,” 10 p.m. Season-four premiere. Cybill Shepherd joins as a potential l-word.
Top sporting event: CBS, “AFC Wild Card: New York Jets at New England Patriots,” 1 p.m. The squads meet for the third time this season, with each winning at the other team’s home stadium during the regular season. This game’s in New England.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws |
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
7 a.m. |
NBC |
"Today" (N) |
It's Matt Lauer-fest as the anchor celebrates 10 years with "Today." |
|
8 p.m. |
CBS |
"Ghost Whisperer" (D) |
Melinda's receiving spirit signals, but she can't seem down to track down the ghost. |
|
8 p.m. |
NBC |
"1 vs. 100" (G) |
Tonight's panel features actor Adam West and various Rhodes scholars. |
|
9 p.m. |
NBC |
"Las Vegas" (D) |
The casino finds a rare bottle of wine in its cellar and sells it for $1 million. |
|
9 p.m. |
USA |
"Monk" (D) |
Natalie and Monk look into a case involving stolen diamonds. |
|
10 p.m. |
WE |
"Who Killed Diana" (N) |
Examining the conspiracy theories surround Princess Diana's death. |
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
4:30 p.m. |
NBC |
"NFL Football" (S) |
The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the playoffs. |
|
8 p.m. |
Fox |
"Cops" (R) |
Cops in Wichita, of all places, get involved in a high-speed chase. |
|
8 p.m. |
NBC |
"NFL Football" (S) |
Another playoff game, this one between the Cowboys and Seahawks in Seattle. |
|
8:30 p.m. |
WGN |
"NBA Basketball" (S) |
Ben Wallace and the Bulls welcome his former team, the Pistons. |
|
9 p.m. |
Fox |
"America's Most Wanted" (R) |
Among other things, an update on the death of NFL player Darrent Williams. |
|
10 p.m. |
Showtime |
"Boxing" (S) |
Heavyweights Samuel Peter and James Toney face off in Hollywood, Fla. |
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
1 p.m. |
CBS |
"NFL Football" (S) |
Good rivalry playoff game between the Jets and the Patriots. |
|
4:30 p.m. |
Fox |
"NFL Football" (S) |
Another East Coast rivalry playoff game between the Eagles and the Giants. |
|
4:30 p.m. |
CBS |
"College Basketball" (S) |
No. 9 Kansas travels to South Carolina. |
|
8 p.m. |
NBC |
"Grease: You're the One That I Want" (R) |
Series premiere. Reality show that will select the leads for a Broadway production of "Grease." |
|
9 p.m. |
ABC |
"Desperate Housewives" (D) |
Gaby thinks Carlos is trying to get the way of her new relationship with Bill. |
|
9:30 p.m. |
NBC |
"The Apprentice" (R) |
Season premiere. This season, which takes place in Los Angeles, has each week's winning team live in a mansion, with the losers in tents. |
|
10 p.m. |
MTV |
"I'm From Rolling Stone" (R) |
Series premiere. Six wannabe journalists compete for a one-year contract with Rolling Stone magazine. |
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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. |
