Tonight are the The 2009 Alma Awards,. Saturday night watch Beyond the Da Vinci Code. Sunday night are The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards.
US television highlights for the weekend of Sept. 18, 2009 to Sept. 20, 2009. Times are ET, shows are new unless noted as repeats. TV This Week will be published Monday. Tagged for your pleasure: tvtw.
Friday
The 2009 Alma Awards, special, 2 hrs., 8:00pm, ABC.
"Desperate Housewives" actress Eva Longoria-Parker is joined by comic George Lopez as they host a night honoring the best in film, television and music that has helped shape the perceptions of the Latino community in a positive manner.
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. 8:00pm, Fox.
Astrophysicist, cosmologist and Nobel Prize winner George F. Smoot III tests his elementary school knowledge against a classroom of fifth graders in subjects ranging from art to geography and math to social studies, among others.
The Beautiful Life: TBL, Pilot. 9:00pm, CW.
A model who has been out of the country for mysterious reasons finds her place as the "it" girl usurped by a stunning newcomer, and she works to prove that she still has what it takes while competing with a host of younger models hoping to make it.
Monk, Mr. Monk and the Critic. 9:00pm, USA.
While Monk and Natalie are attending Julie's performance, a local waitress is thrown from a balcony across the street, and after a critic writes a disparaging review of her daughter's performance, Natalie believes he may have something to do with it.
The Jay Leno Show. 10:00pm, NBC.
Scheduled: actress Drew Barrymore gets behind the wheel to take on Leno's new race track; a humor-filled Jay Walking segment.
Psych, Bollywood Homicide. 10:00pm, USA.
A young man, whose cousin is directing a Bollywood-themed play at a local theater, believes that he is cursed, as are all the firstborn members of his family, and the result is bad things happening to any girlfriend he has.
Eureka, What Goes Around, Comes Around. 10:00pm, Syfy.
Zoe gets ready to begin her college career at Harvard; Tess considers taking advantage of an employment opportunity in Australia; a supercollider experiment gone wrong causes a magnetic disturbance to manifest above Eureka.
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Saturday
Barefoot Contessa, The Magic Factor. 1:30pm, Food Network.
Host Ina Garten shows how to prepare a delicious menu that includes easy cheese Danish, chicken salad sandwiches and chocolate ganache cupcakes. Repeat.
Cry, the Beloved Country, 1951 movie, 2 hrs., 4:00pm, TCM.
A black minister from the backwoods of America travels to Johannesburg in South Africa to find his son and crosses paths with a wealthy land owner who offers to help him; the preacher discovers his people living in squalor and his son a criminal. Stars: Canada Lee, Charles Carson, Sidney Poitier, Geofrey Keen, and Reginald Ngeabo.
Beyond the Da Vinci Code, special, 2 hrs., 8:00pm, History.
Dan Brown's controversial novel takes center stage in this look at the questions raised in the areas of religion and art, with consideration given to the beliefs of the early Church and the likelihood of a secret, ancient society.
Saturday Night Live. 11:30pm, NBC.
From May 2009: actor and comedian Will Ferrell; musicial group Green Day.
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Sunday
A Thousand Clowns, 1965 movie, 2¼ hrs., Noon, TCM.
A middle-aged man quits his job and retreats to a laissez-faire existence while raising his 12-year-old nephew; he tries to legally adopt his nephew but runs into problems with social workers stating he must settle down if he wants to adopt him. Stars: Jason Robards, Martin Balsam, Barbara Harris, Barry Gordon, and Gene Saks.
Big Daddy's House, Weeknight Feats. 1:30pm, Food Network.
Big Daddy teams up with Chef Jose Velez and demonstrates how to prepare a spread of dishes, including roast beef strip loin with bourbon mushroom sauce, signature barley and currant cake, braised kale with toasted almonds, and homemade lemon donuts.
The Templar Code, special, 2 hrs., 3:00pm, History.
The most feared militia of medieval warriors ruled for nearly two centuries, but their quick rise and fall remains a mystery because of speculations surrounding them, Da Vinci Code theories, the Holy Grail and Christ's bloodline. Repeat.
King Kong, 2005 movie, 4 hrs., 7:00pm, ABC.
An adventurous filmmaker takes the cast and crew of his latest movie to a mysterious island inhabited by dangerous creatures, including a massive, kindhearted ape that falls in love with the film's compassionate leading actress. Stars: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis, and Jamie Bell.
The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, special, 3 hrs., 8:00pm, CBS.
Various celebrities and television industry professionals gather to celebrate the best primetime television programs and performances; this year features a new category, "Breakthrough Performance of the Year," as voted by the viewers.
Holy Grail in America, special, 2 hrs., 8:00pm, History.
In 1898, a Minnesota farmer clearing trees from his field uproots a large stone covered with mysterious runes. Now known as the Kensington Rune Stone, it details a journey of land acquisition and murder--in the year 1362. Thought by some to be a hoax, new evidence suggests it could be real, and a clue that the Knights Templar discovered America 100 years before Columbus, perhaps bringing with them history's greatest treasure...The Holy Grail. See how symbols on the Rune Stone match Templar ruins all over Europe. History tells us the Templar were massacred on Friday the 13th, but that a Templar fleet allegedly containing treasure was last seen off Scotland in the late 1300s. Stones with similar markings as the Rune stone have been found on islands across the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Is it possible the Templar were leaving clues to an incredible journey to the New World?
NFL Sunday Night Football, New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys from Cowboys Stadium. 8:15pm, NBC.
Quarterback Eli Manning leads running back Brandon Jacobs, wide receiver Domenik Hixon and the New York Giants as they take on quarterback Tony Romo, running back Marion Barber, linebacker Bradie James and the Dallas Cowboys.
Curb Your Enthusiasm, Funkhouser's Crazy. 9:00pm, HBO.
Season Premier. Larry tries to break up with Loretta while she's feeling bad, and it doesn't go well; Larry goes in with Jeff on an "empty gesture" and finds out the hard way that the Funkhousers don't believe in the concept of empty gestures.
Bored to Death, Stockholm Syndrome. 9:30pm, HBO.
A struggling New York writer who has just broken up with his girlfriend turns first to alcohol and marijuana abuse and then sets himself up as a private investigator by placing an ad on Craigslist and helping a 19-year-old look for her sister.
Mad Men, Guy Walks into An Advertising Agency. 10:00pm, AMC.
The Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency is surprised by an unexpected visit; Sally Draper appears to be frightened of something.
Pawn Stars, Peaches and Pinups. 10:00pm, History.
Corey is apprehensive about purchasing an antique crossbow, and testing it could prove disastrous; a woman asks Rick if he would like to make her a deal on her husband's racy magazines; the men want to sell an item they call "The Death Clock".
Curb Your Enthusiasm, Funkhouser's Crazy . 10:00pm, HBO.
Larry tries to break up with Loretta while she's feeling bad, and it doesn't go well; Larry goes in with Jeff on an "empty gesture" and finds out the hard way that the Funkhousers don't believe in the concept of empty gestures.
Entourage, Berried Alive. 10:30pm, HBO.
Drama asks Lloyd to try to get him out of "Five Towns" and into "Melrose 2009," but Ari interferes because he is angry that Adam Davies offered Lloyd a job; Ashley still doesn't trust Eric, and she asks him to grant her access to his E-mails.