TV shows that are also worth watching

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Published: November 1, 2009
Modified: October 31, 2009 at 12:16 pm

SUNDAY

→"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Celebrity volunteer Clint Black ("The Celebrity Apprentice”) and the team travel to Daviess County, KY, to tell Steve and Melissa Mattingly that their small single-wide trailer will be replaced by a newly constructed home built in seven days.

→"Kristi Yamaguchi & Friends” (3 p.m. on NBC): Featuring the musical talents of The Backstreet Boys, this skating exhibition will showcase Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and her friends. Among them are world champion Kurt Browning and Olympic champion Ekaterina Gordeeva.

→"Nostradamus Decoded” (7 p.m. on Discovery): This special exposes the truth about the prognosticator and offers insight into human nature itself.

MONDAY

→"Gossip Girl” (8 p.m. on CW): Olivia ("Hilary Duff, "Lizzie McGuire”) says something she regrets during her appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show.

→"The People V. Leo Frank” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): This program dramatizes the 1913 murder of Mary Phagan and the trial and lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory supervisor accused of her murder.

→"Poliwood” (6:30 p.m. on Showtime): Academy Award winner Barry Levinson ("Rain Man”) directed this look at the collision and collusion between politics, Hollywood and the media. Among the celebrities featured are Annette Bening, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Modine and Tulsa native Alfre Woodard.

TUESDAY

→"Independent Lens” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Maggie Gyllenhaal ("SherryBaby”) hosts the new installment "Power Paths” that looks at traditional American Indian values regarding conservation that offer real solutions to America’s energy crisis.

→"Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Tabatha Coffey returns for a second season to help transform the lives and businesses of salon owners in the Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami areas.

WEDNESDAY

→"Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize 2009” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): A roster of top-flight American comics including Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock salutes the Emmy-winning actor as he becomes the recipient of the 12th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

→"Johnny Mercer: The Dream’s on Me” (7 p.m. on TCM): Clint Eastwood ("Gran Torino”) executive produced this profile of the gap-toothed composer from Georgia who penned the lyrics, music or both to some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century, including "Hooray for Hollywood” and "Moon River.”

→"Top Chef All Stars Dinner” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Season 5 fan favorite Fabio Viviani hosts a get- together complete with a challenge as past chef’testants rehash their favorite moments on the series. Chefs taking part include Harold Dieterle (Season 1), Ilan Hall (Season 2), Hung Huynh (Season 3) and Lisa Fernandes (Season 4).

THURSDAY

→"Broke and Famous: Willie Aames” (9 p.m. on VH1): This special chronicles the journey of Willie Aames, a once rich and successful celebrity who descended into poverty, as he works to transform and rebuild his life. Sarano Kelley, a life coach, will help Aames reshape his financial future.

→"The Doctors” (3 p.m. on KWTV-9): Brooke Burke ("Dancing With the Stars”) joins the daytime talk show as a "Mommy Correspondent.” She will make house calls and act as the liaison between mothers and the doctors — Dr. Travis Stork (E.R. physician), Dr. Lisa Masterson (obstetrician and gynecologist), Dr. Andrew Ordon (plastic surgeon) and Dr. James Sears (pediatrician).

FRIDAY

→"Ghost Adventures Live: Post Mortem” (7 p.m. on Travel Channel): One week after being locked down live in West Virginia’s Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum for seven hours, Zak, Nick and Aaron relive the best moments of the event.

→"SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth or Squared” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Celebrity guest stars Rosario Dawson, Craig Ferguson, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, LeBron James, P!nk, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Robin Williams appear as themselves in live-action sequences throughout this special, which follows SpongeBob and the Bikini Bottom gang as they reminisce through a series of never-before-seen flashbacks. Ricky Gervais narrates the special and Cee-Lo Green (Gnarles Barkley) performs a cover of the SpongeBob theme song.

SATURDAY

→"Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers” (8 p.m. on CBS): Fedor Emelianenko of Russia, the world’s top-ranked mixed martial arts heavyweight fighter, will face undefeated American Brett Rogers of Minnesota in the marquee match up. Also appearing on the live four-fight primetime card are middleweights Jake Shields and Jason "Mayhem Miller, who will battle for the recently vacated Strikeforce middleweight title.

— Penny Soldan, TV Editor