nbc programming 19 to 29 november 2006

USA |NBC Network

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA (7-8:15 p.m. ET)

"Football Night in America" is a complete recap of the top stories in the NFL, complete with highlights, analysis and reports from around the league. Bob Costas, the most honored studio host of all time with 19 Emmy Awards, hosts "Football Night in America," alongside co-host Cris Collinsworth, the most honored studio analyst in history with six Emmy Awards; and analysts Sterling Sharpe, a five-time Pro Bowler and Jerome Bettis, one of the most popular players in recent NFL history.

NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (8:15- 11:30 p.m.) FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: TEAMS TBA

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20

DEAL OR NO DEAL (8-9 p.m.) "Episode #224"

'ACCESS HOLLYWOOD' MODEL CONTEST WINNER JOINS 'DEAL OR NO DEAL' AS NEW JERSEY MAN TRIES HIS LUCK AT BECOMING A MILLIONAIRE -- Howie Mandel hosts this exhilarating hit game show of chance and odds where contestants try their luck to become a millionaire. Tonight, Zanny Henseler of Lebanon, Illinois returns to complete her game and gets a special surprise as the entire set is turned lime green – Zanny's favorite color. Also, "Access Hollywood" model contest winner Erin Ashley joins the 26 ladies and Joe Kaiser of Barrington, New Jersey, plays for the top prize of $1 million in a high-energy match of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Viewers at home can also watch and play the "Play at Home Lucky Case Game" for a chance to win $10,000.

HEROES -- (9-10 p.m.) "Homecoming"

WILL THEY SAVE THE CHEERLEADER AND SAVE THE WORLD? THE 'HEROES' EXPERIENCE DANGEROUS AND DEFINING MOMENTS IN THEIR LIVES -- As H.R.G. (Jack Coleman) tries to protect his daughter by any means, Claire's (Hayden Panettiere) high school homecoming turns into a frightening night. Meanwhile, Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) and Simone (Tawny Cypress) work together to find Isaac's (Santiago Cabrera) painting for Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) -- but this key to the future could lead to tragedy. Elsewhere, Hiro (Masi Oka) travels back in time to right an upsetting wrong and as Niki (Ali Larter) puts a goal in sight, Micah (Noah Gray-Cabey) spends time with his dad (Leonard Roberts). Still experiencing strange dreams while in India, Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) learns of a boy that might pull him back into his father's research. Greg Grunberg also stars. Nora Zehetner ("Everwood"), Sakina Jaffery ("Third Watch") and Jayma Mays ("Entourage") guest-star.

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP -- (10-11 p.m.) "The Option Period"

WILL SECRET TALENT DEFECTIONS DOOM 'STUDIO 60'? -- After the show comes down, Matt (Matthew Perry) discovers that Ricky and Ron (Evan Handler and Carlos Jacott) are planning to leave -- and take the writing staff with them. Harriet (Sarah Paulson) contemplates doing a lingerie photo spread in a magazine and Jordan (Amanda Peet) and Danny (Bradley Whitford) wrestle with budget cuts. Steven Weber, D.L. Hughley, Nathan Corddry and Timothy Busfield also star.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21

NBC SPECIALS -- (8-9 p.m.) "Target Presents Tony Bennett: An American Classic"

ICONIC ENTERTAINER TONY BENNETT SALUTED IN MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA CELEBRATING HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY -- From Academy Award winner Rob Marshall ("Chicago") and his Oscar-winning production team comes an exc lusive, one-hour music special --"Target Presents Tony Bennett: An American Classic." NBC salutes the legendary entertainer's 80th birthday with an exciting television event that includes spectacular dance numbers and duets with the hottest artists in mus ic. Bennett performs songs from his new album "Tony Bennett: Duets: An American Classic" with Barbra Streisand, Christina Aguilera, Elton John, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall, Michael Bublé and k.d. lang. Movie stars John Travolta, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Robert DeNiro, Bruce Willis and Billy Crystal also narrate and introduce performances with memorable milestones from Bennett's life. Viewers will be taken on a musical journey through time.

LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT -- (9-10 p.m.) "The War At Home"

THANKSGIVING CUT SHORT FOR MAJOR CASE SQUAD WHEN DEPUTY COMMISSIONER'S DAUGHTER GOES MISSING; FRAN DRESCHER GUEST-STARS -- Detectives Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Eames (Kathryn Erbe) are called in from holiday time with their families to help Commissioner Leland Dockerty (guest star Michael Biehn, "Aliens") and his wife, Elaine (guest star Fran Drescher, "The Nanny") find their daughter, a female soldier, who goes missing while home on leave. Goren struggles to remain professional and attentive to the case while his ailing mother (Oscar-winning guest star Rita Moreno, "West Side Story") takes a turn for the worse. Eric Bogosian also stars.

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT -- (10-11p.m.) "Cage"

CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING FOSTER CHILDREN LEADS TO PROBE OF CONTROVERSIAL 'RE-BIRTHING' THERAPY -- Detectives Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Beck guest star Connie Nielsen) investigate a car accident involving two foster children. The accident leads the detectives to the foster parents and some questionable medical practices involving a controversial "rebirthing" therapy. As the detectives dig deeper into the case, they discover other gruesome secrets involving the children, which lead Beck to make some surprising choices about her life -- and a profound decision about her career. Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Diane Neal, B.D. Wong, and Tamara Tunie also star.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

NBC SPECIALS -- (8-10 p.m.)

"Madonna – The Confessions Tour – Live from London" MADONNA: THE CONFESSIONS TOUR -- LIVE FROM LONDON -- A two-hour concert special marks the first-ever broadcast network performance by the international pop superstar Madonna. The special was filmed this past summer at Wembley Stadium in London during Madonna's worldwide soldout 25-city "Confessions Tour." The concert special will feature songs from the artist's recent multi-platinum Warner Bros. Records release "Confessions on a Dance Floor," which debuted at number one in 29 countries and has sold over eight million copies around the globe. The broadcast will also include some of Madonna's greatest hits from her legendary career. The special is produced by Blackdog Films. Madonna, Angela Becker and Guy Oseary, are executive producers; Jonas Auckerlund directs and Sara Martin produces.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23

MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® (9 a.m. – 12 noon -- all time zones) MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE CELEBRATES ITS 80TH ANNIVERSARY ON NBC -- America's favorite Thanksgiving Day parade features all the spectacular pageantry, fun and surprises that have made this annual New York City extravaganza a perennial favorite. Heralding the start of the Christmas season, this beloved holiday parade features colorful grand floats, lively marching bands, amazing character balloons and special performances by some of today's hottest stars and Broadway performers -- plus an appearance by Santa Claus. Brad Lachman is the executive producer of this live (in some time zones), three-hour special from NBC Entertainment.

NBC SPECIALS (12 noon-2 p.m.-- all time zones) "The National Dog Show Presented by Purina"

CELEBRATE THE BEST IN SHOW WITH 'THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA' -- John O'Hurley returns as host of "The National Dog Show Presented By Purina," a purebred canine competition that is part of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's annual dog show. The show -- one of the oldest and most prestigious sporting events in North America -- is one of only six remaining "benched" dog shows where the public can interact with the show dogs. With expert commentary from David Frei, the dean of dog show commentators, the show is expected to feature more than 2,000 of the nation's leading canines in a wide array of more than 150 breeds and varieties, all vying for "Best in Show" honors.

DEAL OR NO DEAL (8-10 p.m.) "Thanksgiving Night Episode"

THANKS FOR THE TWO-HOUR DEAL -- OR NO DEAL? SPECIAL TWO-HOUR THANKSGIVING EXTRAVAGANZA; VIEWERS AT HOME HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN $100,000 -- Howie Mandel hosts this exhilarating hit game show of chance and odds where contestants try their luck to become a millionaire. Celebrate Thanksgiving with a special twohour episode, complete with turkeys and models bearing pumpkin pies. Tonight, Joe Kaiser of Barrington, New Jersey receives a special message from the NBC Sports team of Bob Costas, Jerome Bettis, Cris Collinsworth and Sterling Sharpe when he returns to finish his game. Also, Becky Spears of Ridgeway, South Carolina and Terra Walker of Orlando, Florida play for the top prize of $1 million in a high-energy match of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Viewers at home can also watch and play the "Play at Home Lucky Case Game" for a chance to win $100,000.

ER -- (10-11 p.m.) "Scoop and Run"

A HEROIC HOLIDAY -- It's Thanksgiving in the emergency room but all is far from quiet as Abby (Maura Tierney) is forced to respond to a bus crash accident on the side of a ravine. Neela (Parminder Nagra) accepts Gates' (John Stamos) invitation to go over to his house after work -- but they are quickly interrupted by an unwelcome guest. Meanwhile, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) decides to discuss his brother with Dr. Weaver (Laura Innes). Goran Visnjic, Linda Cardellini and Shane West also star.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24

NBC MOVIE OF THE WEEK (8-11 p.m.) "The Family Man"

OSCAR WINNER NICOLAS CAGE STARS -- Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage ("Leaving Las Vegas") stars as Jack Campbell, a career-driven workaholic with a seemingly perfect life - until a chance meeting with a would-be robber (Don Cheadle, "Ocean's 11") on Christmas Eve changes his life. Waking up Christmas morning in a New Jersey suburb, Jack's suddenly is living a different life, where he's married to his college sweetheart (Téa Leoni, "Hollywood Ending") and is the father of two children. At first he is aghast, but Jack soon warms to his new life even though he knows that it cannot last.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA (7-8:15 p.m. ET)

NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (8:15-11:30 p.m.) FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: TEAMS TBA

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27

DEAL OR NO DEAL (8-9 p.m.) "Episode #233"

FUN-LOVING ARKANSAS ENTREPRENEUR TRIES HIS LUCK AT BECOMING A MILLIONAIRE -- Howie Mandel hosts this exhilarating hit game show of chance and odds where contestants try their luck to become a millionaire. Tonight, be prepared to rally with the models behind entrepreneur Brooks Leach of Mt. Vernon, Arkansas, as he plays for the top prize of $1 million in a high-energy match of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Viewers at home can also watch and play the "Play at Home Lucky Case Game" for a chance to win $10,000.

HEROES -- (9-10 p.m.) "Six Months Ago"

THE CLOCK TURNS BACK SIX MONTHS AS "HEROES'" SECRETS ARE REVEALED -- As the clock turns back six months for all of the "Heroes," Mohinder's father Chandra Suresh (guest star Erick Avari) arrives in New York to begin his quest to find individuals with extraordinary abilities, and meets someone all to eager to be special. Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) celebrates his graduation from nursing school, and learns that Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) plans to prosecute a case that could mean trouble for the entire Petrelli family. A surprise visit from her father brings out the worst in Niki (Ali Larter). Hiro (Masi Oka) attempts to be a hero and change the future for someone important. Claire (Hayden Panettiere) joins the cheerleading squad and makes a curious discovery. H.R.G. (guest star Jack Coleman) and the Haitian meet someone special. Noah Gray-Cabey, Tawny Cypress, Greg Grunberg and Leonard Roberts also star. Rena Sofer and Nora Zehetner guest star.

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP -- (10-11 p.m.) "B-12"

A BUN IN THE OVEN -- The cast has to get through the show despite being ravaged by a virus - - and Matt (Matthew Perry) has to get through the week with a new and much smaller writing staff. Jordan (Amanda Peet) tells Danny (Bradley Whitford) that she's pregnant. Steven Weber, D.L. Hughley, Sarah Paulson, Nathan Corddry and Timothy Busfield also star.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS -- (8-9 p.m.) "Crossing the Line"

FACE ME LIKE A MAN -- While Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) and the team celebrate their victory, a frustrated Brian "Smash" Williams (Gaius Charles) takes drastic measures to improve his performance on the field. Coach Taylor's (Kyle Chandler) daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden) considers going on a date with rookie quarterback Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford), while Saracen trains "Smash" at his new job at the Alamo Freeze. After dinner with Taylor and his wife Tami (Connie Britton), Riggins and his brother clash in a heated fight. Riggins and Lyla (Minka Kelly) watch from the stands as Jason (Scott Porter) takes part in his first quadriplegic rugby game -- one that will end with a vicious confrontation between him, the woman he loves, and his best friend in the world. Adrianne Palicki also stars.

LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT -- (9-10 p.m.) "Weeping Willow"

VIOLENT CYBER-KIDNAPPING HAS DETECTIVES QUESTIONING HOAX OR HIGHTECH CRIME -- After popular video blogger Willow and her boyfriend Holden are seen kidnapped live on-line by two violent assailants, Detectives Logan (Chris Noth) and Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson) are assigned to the high-profile case. With the help of a tech wizard, the detectives question whether the kidnapping is staged or real. When a follow-up video blog shows Willow pleading to viewers to download videos -- which will raise the ransom money -- Wheeler takes a trip into cyberspace to face off with the kidnappers. Michelle Trachtenberg ("Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" guest-stars). Eric Bogosian also stars.

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT -- (10- 11 p.m.) "Choreographed"

BOB SAGET, CATHERINE BELL, CHRIS SARANDON AND BERNADETTE PETERS GUEST-STAR IN A CASE OF MURDER AND INFIDELITY -- A woman, is found dead in Central Park, and when medical examiner Warner (Tamara Tunie) can find no apparent reason for her death, Detective Stabler (Chris Meloni) begins the investigation by talking to the victim's husband, Wesley (guest star Chris Sarandon), who owns a dance troupe, as his friends Glenn (Bob Saget, NBC's "1 Vs. 100") and Naomi Cheales (guest star Catherine Bell, "JAG") pay a condolence visit. Stabler's investigation unravels a case of drugs, infidelity and an elaborate plot that impacts everyone involved in the troupe. Attorney Stella Danquiss (Tony-winning guest star Bernadette Peters, "Annie"), who defends Glenn. In this star-studded episode, Stabler also discovers Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is back in town, so he pays her a visit. Ice-T, Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Diane Neal and B.D. Wong, also star.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29

NBC SPECIALS (8-9 p.m.) "Christmas in Rockefeller Center"

NBC CONTINUES HOLIDAY TRADITION WITH LIVE NATIONAL TELECAST OF CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER -- NBC lights up the night with an incredible array of musical performances and the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree during the ninth annual "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" telecast. Hosted by Al Roker and Ann Curry ("Today"), the 74th tree-lighting extravaganza will feature Christina Aguilera, Enya, Taylor Hicks, John Legend, Martina McBride, Sarah McLachlan, and Lionel Richie performing current hits and holiday favorites from Rockefeller Center in New York City. Broadcast again in high definition, the special will include the artists' powerful performances from beautifully decorated stages located beneath the iconic statue of Prometheus and in front of the majestic tree. "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio; Bob Holmes is the executive producer.

THE BIGGEST LOSER -- (9-10 p.m.) "Episode #310 – All About the Holidays"

THE BIGGEST LOSER HOLIDAY -- Kim teaches the contestants how to cook Thanksgiving dinner "Biggest Loser" style without sacrificing flavor. At the challenge, the players run around the Santa Anita Park (California) racetrack while wearing their original weight when they arrived at the ranch. The player who crosses the finish line first wins.