TV This Week - Dec. 31, 2007

News Type: Event — Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:01 AM EST

Tonight Dick Clarke rocks in the New Year. Tuesday night According to Jim begins a new season. Wednesday night Law & Order starts a new season. Thursday night Celebrity Apprentice starts. Friday night Fight Quest debuts.

US television highlights for the week of Dec. 31, 2007. Times are ET, shows are new unless noted otherwise. TV This Weekend will be published Friday. Tagged for your pleasure: tvtw .

Monday - New Year's Eve

Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation, special, 2 hrs., 8:00pm, NBC.
A retrospective on the sketch-comedy program with clips and interviews from those involved in the show during the 1990s, both in front of and behind the camera.

Dick Clarke's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve 2008, special 1 hr., 10:00pm, ABC.
Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest host from Times Square in New York City, featuring songs from Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. Meanwhile, Fergie handles hosting duties in Hollywood, where she and OneRepublic perform. Correspondent Marysol Castro reports on the party from the streets of the Big Apple.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, New York. 10:00pm, Travel Channel.
A visit to New York City. Note: marathon No Reservations 9am to 11pm.

Weapon Masters, Katana. 10:00pm, Discovery Channel.

Paranormal State, Vegas. 10:00pm, A&E.
A supposed teen medium who claims to communicate with the spirit of a dead girl is investigated in Las Vegas.

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Tuesday - New Year's Day

Check back Tuesday morning for a guide to New Year's Day TV marathons and movies.

Biggest Loser, season premier, 2 hrs., 8:00pm, NBC.
Season 5 starts with host Alison Sweeney introducing the players, who for the first time will compete in pairs rather than as individuals. Brothers, best friends and ex-partners are among the twosomes who will be coached by trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

Just for Laughs. 8:30pm, ABC.
The second season begins.

According to Jim, Jim Almighty. 9:00pm, ABC.
In the seventh-season premiere, Jim's dissatisfaction with women leads to a confrontation with God (Lee Majors), who challenges Jim to try to improve the gender's behavior. Note: another new episode airs at 9:30pm.

Law & Order: SVU, Streetwise. 10:00pm, NBC.
A wealthy Manhattan teen's murder leads detectives to the charismatic and violent leader of a homeless group calling themselves a family. The probe turns up evidence suggesting the man may be responsible for other deaths, including those of his own "children" and first wife.

Iron Chef America, Symon vs. Rubino. 10:00pm, Food Network.
Guy Rubino of "Made to Order" challenges Michael Symon. Steve Dolinsky, Dana Cowin and Karine Bakhoum are judges.

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Wednesday

Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil and the Presidency. PBS, check local listings for time.
A profile of the controversial seventh president, Andrew Jackson (1829-1837). Known as "Old Hickory," Jackson is remembered for beating the British in the 1815 Battle of New Orleans; for his "common man" approach as president; and for overseeing the forced removal of Native Americans from their lands. Commenting: Newsweek's Jon Meacham and Dan Feller, editor-director of The Papers of Andrew Jackson at the University of Tennessee.

Power of 10. 8:00pm, CBS.
The Drew Carey-hosted game show in which contestants try to predict the results of a national survey to win $10 million for five correct answers returns.

Wife Swap. 8:00pm, ABC.
In the fourth-season premiere, a doting mom who heartily endorses her daughter's involvement in beauty pageants swaps families with a feminist mother who homeschools her daughters to be strong, academic and independent.

Law & Order, Called Home; Darkness. 9:00pm, NBC.
In the 18th-season opener, Det. Lupo's return is marred by his seriously ill brother's suicide by lethal injection. A second death with identical circumstances leads Lupo and Green to a parolee nicknamed "Dr. Death" and his daughter (Marin Ireland), who may be following in her father's footsteps. Later, an executive's wife and daughter are kidnapped during a power outage.

Supernanny, Drake Family. 9:00pm, ABC.
In the fourth-season premiere, Jo comes to the rescue of the parents of three young children, including 3-year-old twins, who drive their grandmother crazy when she helps care for them. Note: another new episode airs at 10pm.

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Thursday

Celebrity Apprentice, Task: Selling Hot Dogs. 9:00pm, NBC.
The seventh season of Donald Trump's unscripted competition series features business-themed battles with 14 savvy celebrities, including country artist Trace Adkins; rocker Gene Simmons; actors Stephen Baldwin and Marilu Henner; model-actress Carol Alt; boxer Lennox Lewis; and reality figures Omarosa and Piers Morgan. First up: They choose team captains and are challenged to sell hot dogs.

ER, Status Quo. 10:00pm, NBC.
Still stinging from Wexler's promotion to chief, Pratt decides to leave County for a hospital that will appreciate his talents. Meanwhile, a familiar face returns to the ER and confronts a dreaded eventuality; and Neela, distracted by her cousin's unexpected visit, still manages to impress her colleagues with her abilities as a doctor.

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Friday

1 Vs 100, season premire. 8:00pm, NBC.
The Season 2 opener features two competitions with a battle-of-the-sexes theme and appearances by actors Barry Williams ("The Brady Bunch") and Dawn Wells ("Gilligan's Island").

Women's Murder Club, FBI Guy. 9:00pm, ABC.
Frenetic holiday fare about an absentminded father (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who frantically tries to find a popular toy on Christmas Eve. Sinbad. The cast features former "SNL" regulars Phil Hartman, James Belushi and Laraine Newman. Note: repeats at 9:45pm.

Friday Night Lights, There Goes the Neighborhood. 9:00pm, NBC.
The Panthers host a rival team whose school was hit by a tornado; Tami, Julie and Riggins adjust to their new living situation; Lyla's mom plans to remarry; and Landry and Tyra attempt to put the murder behind them.

Las Vegas, I Could Eat A Horse. 10:00pm, NBC.
Danny and Mike are in the saddle for a different type of challenge: They must journey to Wyoming to buy a horse for Cooper. Meanwhile, Delinda cooks up plans to find a chef for the casino restaurant; and things get out of sync when Piper's ex-flame (J.C. Chasez) arrives. Culinary guru Ted Allen ("Queer Eye") also guest stars.

Fight Quest, Kali, Philippines. 10:00pm, Discovery Channel.
Debut: Weapons and fighting techniques are examined. First up: In Manila, Doug and Jimmy train in the Filipino art of Kali, an ancient martial art that uses sticks and knives to sometimes lethal effect, and compete in a full-contact bout against Filipino marines.

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