Pop Stand

The Little Black Dress reigned at the Gotham Independent Film Awards held Monday night in New York.

Actresses Hilary Swank, Natalie Portman, Annette Bening and Winona Ryder (top to
bottom, below) all wore variations of it, although we're not loving Ryder's selection. Too poufy. 

And two who didn't go for the LBD: Anne Hathaway, in a beautiful print, and Leighton Meester,
who went the menswear route in a suit.

 
 

Watch It: Here are some highlights of what to watch on TV this week:

 MONDAY 8 PM on Channel 29  House

 House and Cuddy (Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein) explore the ramifications of their admission that they have feelings for each other and take tentative steps toward making a deeper personal relationship work. At the hospital, a colleague's illness threatens Princeton Plainsboro's accreditation in "Now What?" Robert Sean Leonard also stars. (14)

9 PM on TVLAND Movie: My Cousin Vinny

 A rookie lawyer (Joe Pesci) from New York descends upon a small Alabama town to help clear a relative and his buddy (Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield) of a murder rap. With plenty of circumstantial evidence against the pair, and Vinny's lack of courtroom experience, things look bleak until a surprise expert witness takes the stand. Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for her delightful portrayal of Vinny's girlfriend in this 1992 comedy. Fred Gwynne also stars.

 10 PM on A&E Hoarders

 A man trying to recover from heart and prostate surgery sleeps in his car in oppressive summer heat rather than his home, which has been overrun by his wife's hoard. Another woman with an out-of-control "finders keepers" mentality has a hoard that includes stolen items, and her family has threatened to press charges against her for theft in the new episode "Arline; Carolyn." (PG)

TUESDAY

8 PM on Channel 2 Christmas in Rockefeller Center

The 78th annual tree-lighting ceremony takes place in New York, accompanied by performances by a glittering array of musical stars including Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Jackie Evancho, Josh Groban, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue and Jessica Simpson. Natalie Morales and Al Roker of "Today" host the festivities. (G)

 8 PM on HISTORY The Real Story of Christmas

Early versions of Santa Claus, Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, the Grinch and Rudolph accompany accounts of the origins of Christmas traditions, many of which have their roots in ancient times. This new one-hour special looks across 2,000 years of history to explore both the sacred and the secular influences that have fashioned Christmas into the holiday as we know it today. (PG)

10 PM on Channel 7 Detroit 1-8-7

During their investigation into the murder of a a retired executive in his palatial home, Longford (James McDaniel) and the other detectives uncover multiple promising motives ranging from robbery to jealousy over a love affair. After an 11-year-old boy is killed by a drive-by shooter while at his best friend's house, Fitch (Michael Imperioli) and his team discover that the same gun killed both victims in the new episode "Home Invasion/Drive By." (14)

10 PM on TBS Glory Daze

 Joel (Kelly Blatz) seeks advice from Father Sullivan (guest star Andy Richter) on how to get his chaotic life back on track as the pledges prepare for their first social event with Kappa Theta sorority. Eli (Matt Bush) gets in touch with his inner animal, while the fraternity may have to endure a strict faculty adviser unless they can talk Professor Haines (Tim Meadows) into taking the job in the new episode "Hungry Like a Teen Wolf." (14)

WEDNESDAY

8 PM on Channel 29 Human Target

After Ames (guest star Janet Montgomery) is drawn back into her old life of crime, Chance (Mark Valley) goes under cover as part of a gang attempting a diamond heist so he can keep an eye on things and protect her in the new episode "Taking Ames." Chi McBride, Jackie Earle Haley and Indira Varma also star. (14)

9 PM on HISTORY The President's Book of Secrets

This two-hour special takes a journey inside White House history to unveil startling information about secrets known only to the president, from top-secret intelligence and classified events to covert codes and future technologies -- and information that is so highly classified that not even the president's security clearance is enough to gain access. (PG)

 10 PM on Channel 4 The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!

 Countdown to Music's Biggest Night From Club Nokia in Los Angeles, LL Cool J returns to host this annual concert built around the announcement of the Grammy Award nominations. Scheduled performers include Justin Bieber, B.o.B., Miranda Lambert, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry.

10:01 PM on Channel 7 The Whole Truth

 The seemingly perfect wife of a dentist is charged with murder after he is found dead in his own chair, but Jimmy and Kathryn (Rob Morrow, Maura Tierney) soon learn the dentist was doing more than just working on teeth. As the investigation proceeds, they also get caught up in lies of their own with her mother (guest star Judith Ivey) and his ex-wife. Tricia Helfer, Parminder Nagra and Ellen Gerstein also guest star in the new episode "Liars." (PG)

 THURSDAY

8 PM on TNT NBA Basketball

It's a game NBA fans have had on their calendars for months. LeBron James makes his return to Cleveland for the first time since The Decision to face the Cavaliers as a member of the Miami Heat. With Cavs fans feeling jilted, expect James to get a less-than-warm greeting. The second game of TNT's twin bill pits the Phoenix Suns against the Golden State Warriors.

 9:30 PM on Channel 2 Outsourced

 Todd (Ben Rappaport) is suffering from a bad case of homesickness until he finds out that he can watch his favorite football team's game on television -- a plan that is compromised by a bad case of food poisoning. With Todd out of the way, Rajiv (Rizwan Manji) takes things to the extreme as he gets a shot at being manager in the new episode "Homesick to My Stomach." (PG)

 10:01 PM on Channel 7 Private Practice

 Cooper (Paul Adelstein) is outraged when he gets bad news about Charlotte's (KaDee Strickland) sexual assault case from the district attorney's office, while a case involving a pregnant drug addict has a strong impact on Addison (Kate Walsh), who wants a baby of her own with Sam (Taye Diggs). JoBeth Williams, Ann Cusack, Gaby Hoffman and Don McManus guest star in the new episode "Just Lose It."

FRIDAY

 8 and 11 PM on BRAVO Movie: Donnie Brasco

 An undercover FBI agent (Johnny Depp) infiltrates organized crime by befriending a low-level hit man (Al Pacino) who vows to teach him how to be a "wiseguy." The biggest crime occurs off-screen when Al Pacino is robbed of a well-deserved Academy Award nomination. Anne Heche plays the small but pivotal role of Depp's abandoned wife.

8 PM on Channel 2 Movie: A Walk in My Shoes

A mysterious stranger (Yara Martinez) helps stressed-out high-school teacher Trish Fahey (Nancy Travis) see that there is more than indifferent parenting behind the inadequate scholastic performance of a popular basketball star (Cameron Deane Stewart) in her class. Philip Winchester ("Crusoe") also stars in this new drama. (G)

9 PM on Channel 23 Supernatural

The demon Meg (guest star Rachel Minor) kidnaps Dean and Sam (Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki) and tries to make them reveal Crowley's (guest star Mark A. Sheppard) location. Sam proposes helping Meg if she promises to torture Crowley for information on how to retrieve Sam's soul. Misha Collins also stars in the new episode "Caged Heat."

 SATURDAY

 3:15 PM on ESPN College Basketball

 In a rematch of the 2010 NCAA Tournament final, the defending champion and preseason No. 1 Duke Blue Devils take on the Butler Bulldogs at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Duke returns stars Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, and has talented newcomers in Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry. Butler won't have Gordon Hayward -- now with the Utah Jazz -- but Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens will get the best effort from Ronald Nored, Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard.

 6 and 10:15 PM on CMTV Movie: Mr. Mom

Michael Keaton stars as an executive-turned-househusband in this 1983 comedy. After he loses his job, his wife (Teri Garr) goes to work. While he learns how to use the washing machine and vacuum cleaner, he also must deal with his feelings when his wife's new career takes off. Martin Mull also stars.

 8 PM on TOON Movie: Shark Tale

 Will Smith provides the voice of Oscar, a musically inclined fish, in this 2004 CGI hit. When Oscar is found at the scene of a murdered shark who is the son of a mob boss, he is assumed to be the killer. Hailed by other fish as a shark slayer, Oscar finds it hard to live up to his inaccurate reputation. Additional voices include Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger, Jack Black and Angelina Jolie.

 10 PM on CINEMAX Movie: The Wolfman

 A classic horror tale gets an update from director Joe Johnston -- with a definite upping of the graphic content -- as Benicio Del Toro plays the brother of a man who vanishes under strange circumstances. At the behest of the missing fellow's fiancee (Emily Blunt), he joins the search and encounters the creature likely responsible for the disappearance ... and for the Del Toro character's transformation into something quite hairy and deadly.

 SUNDAY

8 PM on Channel 7 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

 Ty Pennington and his team visit Maple Heights, Ohio, to give a home makeover to Andre and Jasmine Anderson, a visually impaired couple who are tirelessly devoted to helping their community. Their new "smart" home comes complete with technologies that help people with disabilities. Musician John Legend, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Browns assist the team. (PG)

9 PM and Midnight on HGTV Holmes on Homes for the Holidays

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's ... even better than Superman for stressed-out couple Janice and Craig, who have been living with their four kids in a dark, dirty basement after being abandoned by their contractor. In this new special, compassionate supercontractor Mike Holmes and his team have a very limited time to transform this bleak living space into a finished home in time for the holidays. (G)

 9 and 11:30 PM on VH1 VH1 Divas: Salute the Troops

 Katy Perry, Sugarland, Keri Hilson, Paramore and Nicki Minaj are among the stars performing at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego and various military bases in the Middle East. Comic Kathy Griffin, who has done her own share of visiting and entertaining the troops, is host. (PG)

 10 and 11 PM on A&E The Hasselhoffs

 This new reality series chronicles the life of actor, German fan favorite and drunken YouTube burger scarfer David Hasselhoff as he juggles his career responsibilities with his duties as a single dad to two adult daughters. In the opening episode, "Hoff the Record," David tries to convince Taylor she should stay in school, while Hayley gets her first big break when she lands a role in a TV series. (PG)

Celebrities are raising awareness for World AIDS Day and Alicia Keys' charity by signing off their social media communications and staying off until they raise a million dollars. Along with Keys and her husband, Swizz Beats, left, others who will participate in "The Digital Life Sacrifice" include Usher, Ryan Seacrest, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Elijah Wood, Serena Williams and Kim and Khloe Kardashian. The event starts Wednesday and will benefit both World AIDS Day and Keys' charity, Keep a Child Alive. "This is such a direct and instantly emotional way and a little sarcastic, you know, of a way to get people to pay attention," Keys said. The stars have also reportedly filmed "last tweet and testament" videos to help promote the cause, with some even appearing in coffins. Leigh Blaketold, co-founder of Keep A Child Alive, said, "We're trying to sort of make the remark: Why do we care so much about the death of one celebrity as opposed to millions and millions of people dying in the place that we're all from? It's about love and respect and human dignity." The celebs will return to Facebook and Twitter after the money is raised.

• • •

Joe Jonas was stopped and searched by security last week as he tried to return from a trip to Abu Dhabi with girlfriend Ashley Greene because he had mistakenly stashed a new set of knives in his carry-on luggage. "We were going from the Middle East to New York, so [there was] tons of security, tons of screenings," Greene, 23, told George Lopez on his talk show. "We got through one, surprisingly enough." But at the second checkpoint, Greene  says airport security "looked at us with these stern faces like, 'What's in your bag?'"Jonas, an avid cook, had purchased a cheese-cutting knife set during their trip, so Greene asked him if he'd accidentally put them in the wrong bag. The tween idol's reaction was classic Jonas: "Whoopsies!" But Greene laughed, "'Whoopsies' doesn't cut it. We were going to get arrested!" After Jonas explained his mistake, security allowed him to stow his knife set in a checked bag. All was well, except, "It was embarrassing," Greene said.

• • •

Brooke Mueller, Charlie Sheen's soon-to-be-ex-wife, was photographed looking disheveled as she left a Los Angeles hotel on Thanksgiving morning and heading to a sober living facility in Beverly Hills where she has been receiving treatment, TMZ reports.  Mueller, who was escorted by an employee of the sober living house as she left the hotel, has been in and out of rehab in the last few years.  Mueller's rep says she was shooting scenes in the hotel for her reality show and added that Mueller's parents were caring for the twin sons she and Sheen have together on Thanksgiving. By Saturday, Mueller looked much better as she dined at Dan Tana's steakhouse in West Hollywood with Rick and Kathy Hilton. Kathy Hilton is involved with the production of Mueller's reality show, which also stars her daughter Paris.

• • •

Meanwhile, Lindsay Lohan made another step from supervised rehab and sober living back to normal life, as she was spotted shopping on Black Friday at an outlet mall not far from the Betty Ford Clinic. She made stops at Gucci and Michael Kors, selecting what sources said were some gifts for family and friends. Lohan hit a gym on Thanksgiving morning, where she looked happy and fit as she posed for photos, left. Lohan then went to her West Hollywood apartment, where she had dinner with ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson and was visited by her father, Michael, before heading back to her sober-living facility for the night.

-- Anne Neville

We get a ton of publicity information heralding the holiday season on television, but nothing has caught my eye like a clever press release from Syfy that has me interested enough to tune in on Saturday night.

"To kick off the holiday season, we're premiering the newest Syfy Saturday Original Movie 'Triassic Attack' during our Thanksgiving weekend celebration," the network proclaims with good-natured holiday cheer in its release. Brilliant.

Premiering at 9 p.m. Saturday, "Triassic Attack," directed by Colin Ferguson, the actor from "Eureka," takes place at a kitschy roadside museum where three dinosaur fossils are brought to life. Raoul Trujillo ("True Blood," "Tin Man") and Steven Brand ("Scorpion King") star.

Get out some eggnog and enjoy this new holiday treasure.

-- Toni Ruberto

"Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey smiled triumphantly and shared a long embrace with partner Derek Hough as she collected the Mirror Ball trophy Tuesday night, winning the 11th season competition. Bristol Palin finished third, failing to overcome low judges' scores throughout the season 11 competition. "I didn't think I was going to compete tonight—and I'm really glad I did!" said Gray, referring to a slipped disc that made her perfromance doubtful earlier in the day. Second were Disney Channel favorite Kyle Massey and his partner Lacey Schwimmer. Backstage afterward, with Hough at her side, Grey said, "I am stunned. It is such a sweet thing at the end of such a tricky, tumultuous journey, and it was so worth every second of it. Getting to dance these amazing dances with this incredibly talented man was the chance of a lifetime and I am so grateful that I didn't miss it." The two-hour finale featured the return of eliminated contestants David Hasselhoff and Margaret Cho. Two contestants who couldn't make it were Michael Bolton, who is performing in London and Audrina Patridge, who was recovering from a virus.

• • •

"Dancing with the Stars" officials admitted that "record" numbers of votes flooding in Monday night caused some "glitches" in tabulating all the votes, which "affected each finalist equally." Some speculated that the influx of votes was a reaction to fan favorite Bristol Palin again being slammed by the judges, who placed her behind Jennifer Grey and Kyle Massey. The statement about the voting glitch said, "Due to a record amount of activity, some viewers reported experiencing difficulties registering their votes for the 'Dancing with the Stars' finale, which affected each finalist equally. The issue was promptly addressed and voting lines remained open online until 11 a.m. ET on abc.com." All three sets of finalists had to again perform their lowest-rated dance, which required Palin and partner Mark Ballas, seen at left, redo the monkey jive that had left them embarrassed in the first round when they chose to wear gorilla suits. For their second dance, the couples each did a freestyle -- Palin and Ballas chose one inspired by the play "Chicago." But judge Bruno Tonioli told the couple that the dance "was not quite at the level" expected of a final night performance.

• • •

Before the finale, Bristol's 16-year-old sister, Willow, said in a suspiciously well-worded statement to EOnline that she and her family were "focusing on a special event—Bristol and Mark's appearance in the 'Dancing With the Stars' finals. Nothing said today will take away how proud we are of Bristol and her grit and determination that got her this far." Willow then dismissed a Life & Style story in which former classmates said they had seen her buy marijuana and "chug" vodka last year. "It is disappointing to see people who claim they know me to sell stories," Willow Palin's statement said. "As for people accusing me of being at a party over a year ago, the accusations are ridiculous. The same people saying this were also the ones attacking my family on Facebook. Unfortunately some people have learned that there are publications that will pay money for stories, no matter how misleading. Nevertheless, I recognize that my family has been given a great honor and privilege to make a difference in this country, and even though I am just 16, more is expected of me."

• • •

Former "Survivor" producer Bruce Beresford-Redman cannot use his dead wife's financial assets to defend himself against charges that he murdered her. Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman's sisters, Jeane Van Bastelaar and Jeane Burgos, won a ruling that their sister's assets "may not be sold, encumbered or transferred without Court order ... Specifically, Bruce Beresford-Redman does not have the authority to encumber Monica's interest." The sisters filed the petition days after Bruce was arrested in California, where he is still in custody, awaiting extradition to Mexico to face charges of second-degree murder.

• • •

Just seven months after their son was born, "Single White Female" star Jennifer Jason Leigh and director Noah Baumbach are getting divorced. Leigh, whose real name is Jennifer Morrow, filed for divorce on Nov. 15 in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, People reports. The actress is seeking spousal support as well as primary custody of their son, Rohmer, with visitation for Baumbach. They met in 2001 and married four years later. Days after the wedding, at the premiere of his film "The Squid and the Whale," Baumbach told People,  "I expect to be with [Leigh] for the rest of my life."

• • •

"L.A. Ink" star Kat Von D lost all her possessions and her pet cat Valentine when her Los Angeles home burned down over the weekend. Von D posted a photo of the hairless Sphinx cat and wrote on Twitter, "R.I.P. My little Valentine." She later posted a photo of herself standing near the charred remains of the house, left, writing, "In order to gain everything, you must lose everything." Von D is in Canada to promote her second book, "The Tattoo Chronicles," and says she will continue with the book tour.

 -- Anne Neville

Charlie Sheen filed a lawsuit against Capri Anderson -- the porn star who was in the hotel room with him when he went berserk in October -- claiming that she tried to extort $1 million from him. Sheen claims that Anderson told him that if he did not pay, she would attempt to embarrass him, have his probation violated, or ruin his career. The lawsuit calls Anderson "an opportunistic pornographic film star and publicity hungry scam-artist."

TMZ, however, purports to have a text message exchange between Sheen and Anderson, and they somewhat contradict Sheen's claim that Anderson tried to extort money from him.

The text messages show Sheen talking casually and sweetly to Anderson, calling her pet names like 'Sweetie' and 'kind lady'; and even willing to go to extreme lengths to reimburse her $20,000 for the Prada handbag that was destroyed during his tirade. The $20,000 exchange, TMZ says, never took place.

Anderson is accusing Sheen, meanwhile, of harrassment and says that she plans to sue him for abuse, assault and false imprisonment. After her appearance on 'Good Morning America,' Anderson met with NYPD to discuss a criminal complaint against the actor. E! News says that a "harrassment in the second degree" complaint was taken by NYPD officers and that an investigation will be opened.

• • •

Prince William and his fiance, Kate Middleton, have selected a date and location for their royal nuptials. The young couple will marry on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey, according to an official statement out of Buckingham Palace. Westminster Abbey was the location where Middleton was spotted last week, which fueled speculation that it was the front runner. Westminster Abbey has been called the royal family's church, as it is the church where Queen Elizabeth was both married and coronated; as well as the location of Princess Diana's funeral. Some royal observers believed that the ceremony might be in June, to take advantage of the nicer weather, but Prince William reportedly insisted on an ealier wedding date.

• • •

Lindsay Lohan has had her driving privileges restored by the L.A. County Probation Department, with the blessing of the officials at the Betty Ford Clinic. And if that wasn't bonus enough, Lohan's father, Michael, dropped off a sweet ride for her to use. TMZ has video of Michael Lohan dropping off a Mercedes-Benz convertible at her 'sober house' in Palm Springs. Lindsay will be spending Thanksgiving with her father this week, after being denied the ability to go to New York to spend the holiday with her mother and East Coast family.

• • •

Miley Cyrus is now legal. The young star celebrated her 18th birthday Sunday evening at a party in the trendy Trousdale nightclub in Los Angeles. The post-American Music Awards party was packed with celebs and was just the start of Cyrus' self-described 'Birthday Month.' "I have a birthday month. I do the whole month of November. Thanksgiving, cake, [it's] all about me on Thanksgiving!" Cyrus told Access Hollywood. TMZ has a photo of Cyrus getting cozy with a party-goer.

Jeweler Lorraine Schwartz is a favorite among celebrities such as Halle Berry, Beyonce
Knowles, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Blake Lively and others.

So it's no wonder many of them turned out Monday for the launch of her "2BHAPPY" jewelry
collection at Lavo NYC.

Beside jewels, here's what they wore. Top to bottom: Beyonce,  Mary J. Blige and Blake Lively.

Watch It: Here are some highlights of what to watch on TV this week:

MONDAY
8 PM on Channel 2
Chuck
The Belgian's (guest star Richard Chamberlain) efforts to unravel the secrets of the Intersect lead Chuck, Sarah, Casey and Morgan (Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez) on a mission into the jungles of Southeast Asia. Back home, Awesome and Ellie (Ryan McPartlin, Sarah Lancaster) try to decipher a secret her father left behind. Scott Krinsky also stars in the new episode "Chuck Versus Phase Three." (PG)

9 PM on Channel 23
Gossip Girl
A handsome young man (guest star Hugo Becker) pursues Blair (Leighton Meester) in Paris. Lily (Kelly Rutherford) asks Serena (Blake Lively) to help her find Chuck (Ed Westwick), who has been missing for months. Juliet (guest star Katie Cassidy) offers to help Nate (Chace Crawford) win back Serena by rekindling Dan and Vanessa's (Penn Badgley, Jessica Szohr) romance. Matthew Settle also stars in "Double Identity." (14)

10 PM on Channel 2
Chase
Don't listen to him, girl! He's bad news! In this new episode, a dangerous fugitive (Steven Strait) promises his teenage girlfriend a life of romance, adventure and freedom from her father. To track them down before the worst happens, Annie (Kelli Giddish) has to deal with some family demons of her own on the way to earning the girl's trust. David Keith also guest stars in "Crazy Love." (14)

10 PM on HBO
Public Speaking
Writer Fran Lebowitz offers her one-of-a-kind take on politics, popular culture and pet peeves in this new documentary from Oscar winner Martin Scorsese, who captures her on the streets of her beloved New York, in conversation at a West Village restaurant, and onstage with her friend and fellow writer Toni Morrison. (PG)

TUESDAY
8 PM on Channel 29
Glee
The jury's still out on whether she'll be so glad they had this time together. Carol Burnett guest stars in this new episode as Sue's (Jane Lynch) mom, who's in town to see her and Jean (Robin Trocki). Maybe the visit will keep Sue away from the glee club, which has enough distractions in the form of new relationships and preparation for Sectionals. Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele also star in "Furt." (14)

9 PM on Channel 7
Dancing With the Stars
Whose footwork is fanciest? Whose moves are smoothest? That is up to the viewers and the judges to decide, and their chosen couple is crowned here in the season finale. Expect some eye-popping dance maneuvers as the results of all that training pay off for the winners. Whether you're excited or not will depend upon whether your favorite is still in the running. (PG)

10 PM on Channel 2
Parenthood
Some surprising news from Gordon (guest star William Baldwin) has Adam (Peter Krause) feeling worried about the future and torn between his work and family commitments. Camille and Amber (Bonnie Bedelia, Mae Whitman) bond over Thanksgiving preparations, but Drew (Miles Heizer) isn't thrilled that Gordon is coming to dinner. Julia (Erika Christensen) tries her hand at making pies in the new episode "Happy Thanksgiving." (PG)

WEDNESDAY
8 PM on Channel 23
America's Next Top Model
Break time! The new episode "High Fashion Highlights" revisits what's happened so far in the show's 15th season Ñ or "cycle," as they call it these days. For those who missed any episodes, it's a chance to catch up, but there's something new for faithful viewers as well, in the form of bits that didn't make it to air.

8 PM on Channel 7
The Middle
She wants them to talk about what? This can't end well. When Mike's (Neil Flynn) father and brother (John Cullum, Norm Macdonald) come over for Thanksgiving, Frankie is unimpressed with their strong, silent type act and urges them to share their feelings. Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is excited about the guest Bob (Chris Kattan) is bringing, and Sue (Eden Sher) is eager to start a new tradition in the kitchen in the new episode "Thanksgiving II." (PG)

10 PM and Midnight on SHOWTIME
Inside NASCAR
With the Sprint Cup decided and all of NASCAR's other series wrapped up for the season, it's time for this show to do the same. Host Chris Myers and analysts Brad Daugherty, Randy Pemberton and Michael Waltrip look back on the highlights and lowlights and what's ahead for the next racing season. (PG)

THURSDAY
9 AM on Channel 2
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Giant balloons, marching bands, Tom Turkey and Santa Ñ if it's Thanksgiving, it must be parade day in New York and probably at your house. The 84th edition of the ultimate Broadway show is slated to feature appearances by Miranda Cosgrove ("iCarly"), late-night host Jimmy Fallon, rapper Kanye West, Jessica Simpson and more. Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer and Al Roker host the festivities.

8 PM on Channel 2
Taylor Swift: Speak Now
With her latest album, "Speak Now," making a big splash Ñ it sold a million copies in its first week Ñ the country superstar takes fans behind the scenes of the days surrounding the record's release. Two distinctive features of this particular album are the fact that Swift wrote all the songs and the timing of its release Ñ simultaneously all over the world.

8 and 10 PM on HALLMARK
Movie: The Town Christmas Forgot
"So where did you spend Christmas?" "Nowhere." In this new drama, a vehicle breakdown strands a family in a poor town Ñ yes, called Nowhere Ñ on the way to a ski vacation. When one of the locals decides to boost everyone's spirits with a Christmas pageant, the unwilling visitors lend their talents and learn Ñ say it with us Ñ the true meaning of the holiday. Lauren Holly, Rick Roberts, Torri Webster and Azer Greco, Holly's real-life son, star. (PG)

9:30 PM on Channel 7
Beyonce's: I Am... World Tour
Taylor Swift can be thankful that Kanye West is on this special and not hers. It follows the singer through several stops on her 32-country tour with performance footage and glimpses behind the scenes. In addition to West, Beyonce's husband, Jay-Z, also makes a guest appearance. (PG)

FRIDAY
8 PM on TCM
Movie: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
One of Italian director Sergio Leone's classic "spaghetti Westerns" about the poncho-wearing, man-of-few-words Man With No Name (Clint Eastwood), this lengthy and gritty 1967 saga forces the antihero to team up with two unlikely partners (Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach) to find a chest containing vast riches during the Civil War. Composer Ennio Morricone's instrumental theme song became a major chart hit.

9 PM on HISTORY
Modern Marvels
They aren't exactly modern, but they are marvelous. The new episode "Dogs" brings that home with a fascinating look inside the canine body and brain and the ways in which humans have harnessed dogs' natural instincts and their ability to learn complex tasks. You'll gain a new appreciation for man's best friend after watching this.

10 PM on Channel 4
Blue Bloods
Want some moral ambiguity with that badge? A criminal is terrorizing the city's subway riders, and a good Samaritan Ñ who happens to have a criminal record Ñ has taken matters into his own hands and gone after the baddie, forcing the Reagans to weigh the rights and wrongs of vigilantism in "Samaritan." Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg star. (PG)

SATURDAY
8 PM on HGTV
Genevieve's Holiday Home
Dear Genevieve: Heeeelp! The Jimenezes have just moved into their first home, and they're planning to have 25 family members and friends over for a holiday celebration. Design guru Genevieve Gorder steps in to transform their kitchen, dining room and living room with a festive flair. This new special also gives viewers a peek inside Genevieve's holiday preparations at her own home. (G)

8 PM on TCM
Movie: A Star Is Born
Judy Garland gives what many consider the performance of her career as Esther Blodgett, aka Mrs. Norman Maine, who sees her show business career skyrocket as that of her alcoholic husband (James Mason) takes a nose dive. George Cukor's 1954 musical earned Oscar nominations for both Garland and Mason, as well as nods for costume design, musical scoring and the song "The Man That Got Away." Other melodies include "Born in a Trunk" and "Swanee."

9 and 11 PM on Animal Planet
Dogs 101
There'll be a spelling test after this new episode, which profiles the Kooikerhondje, a Dutch working dog Rembrandt liked to paint, as well as the feisty little affenpinscher, gentle giant Leonberger, Tibetan mastiff and Dandie Dinmont terrier. Also on tap is a play date between a very large dog and a very small one. (PG)

10 PM on FOOD
Ace of Cakes Holidays on Icing
This new special finds the bakery's staff getting ready for the holidays by chopping down a tree, decorating ornaments and playing secret Santa while Duff makes a batch of eggnog. But when trouble befalls a bride's snowflake cake, it's back to work.

SUNDAY
8 and 10 PM on FAMILY
Movie: The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation
The Bannister family's plans for a joyous holiday vacation with their pooch, Zeus (voice of Mario Lopez), are derailed by the arrival of an obnoxious relative (Casper Van Dien) and his new poodle, Bella (voice of Paris Hilton), with whom Zeus immediately falls head over paws in love, in this follow-up to the hit 2009 TV movie "The Dog Who Saved Christmas." Elisa Donovan also stars. (PG)

9 and 11:30 PM on E!
Bridalplasty
Twelve brides-to-be who want plastic surgery compete in wedding-themed challenges to achieve their perfect day Ñ as well as a perfect body to walk down the aisle Ñ in this new competitive reality series. Shanna Moakler is host. (14)

9 PM on Channel 4
Movie: November Christmas
In this new Hallmark Hall of Fame production, the citizens of a small Rhode Island community work together to help a couple bring the holidays, from Halloween to Christmas, to their gravely ill 8-year-old daughter several weeks early. Sam Elliott, John Corbett, Karen Allen, Sarah Paulson and Emily Alyn Lind star. (PG)

Porn star Capri Anderson says she believed Charlie Sheen "could have killed me" when he flew into a drunken rage and wrapped his hands around her neck in his room at the Plaza Hotel Oct. 26. "It was like being in a horror film." Speaking out for the first time on today's "Good Morning America" and on tonight's "Nightline," Anderson, left, says she was hired to accompany Sheen to dinner and found him loud and obnoxious from the start. "He was, from the beginning of the night, very loud and he had no hesitations when it came to using derogatory language or cuss words," Anderson says on "Nightline." But, she says, "towards the latter half of the night, it got really bad. He started yelling racial slurs. But it wasn't until he put his hands around my neck that I really thought to myself, you have gotten yourself in a bad, bad situation." Anderson fled to the bathroom of Sheen's hotel room, where she locked herself in and called for help. Sheen, who was naked and intoxicated in the wrecked room when police arrived, was taken away for psychiatric evaluation but later released. He later called the incident  "one bad night" that was blown out of proportion.

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Mel Gibson plans to be present today in L.A. County Superior Court as his attorneys ask the judge to strip Oksana Grigorieva of custody of their year-old daughter Lucia and award it to him, TMZ is reporting. Gibson will be present to demonstrate to the judge how serious he is about getting full custody, which he is seeking because he says Grigorieva is hurting Lucia by publicly criticizing him in the media. Grigorieva even appeared on the Larry King show after Judge Scott Gordon warned all parties to stay silent, which Gibson attorneys believe demonstrates her instability. Gibson is asking for supervised visitation only for Grigorieva and no overnight custody of Lucia for now. His lawyers will request that the order be in force for six months before it's reviewed.

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When "American Idol" returns for its 10th season in January, more than two of the judges will be new. The star-making show will now air on Wednesday and Thursday nights rather thanTuesday and Wednesday. The lowest age for singers has been lowered to 15 from 16, judges will select the top 12, rather than asking fans to choose the finalists from a field of 24, and finalists will be required to craft memorable visuals as part of a brand new music video competition.

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Before she was jailed for violating probation and entered rehab, Lindsay Lohan was announced as the star for "Inferno," the biographical film about porn star Linda Lovelace. But now Lohan has lost that role to Malin Ackerman, left, as Lohan continues in rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic and the filming date nears. Film producer Chris Hanley says, "Lindsay had scheduling issues due to legal obligations and is continuing to focus on getting better in rehabilitation in Palm Springs, and she really had to focus on that in our opinion -– and hers. For herself and her career in general it was really her decision to just focus on getting better psychologically." Hanley says Akerman, who starred in "Watchmen" and "Couples Retreat," "was passionate to take this challenge of the role to task and we feel she has the talent to meet that challenge." The filmmakers also had difficulty getting insurance for Lohan, whose rehab will continue at least through Jan. 3. She's now in a "sober living facility" affiliated with the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

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Daniel Day-Lewis will portray Abraham Lincoln in a biopic to be directed by Steven Spielberg. Day-Lewis, 53, won Academy Awards for "My Left Foot" in 1989 and "There Will Be Blood" in 2007. He has appeared in only five films since 1997, including "Gangs of New York" and "Nine." Spielberg said, "I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with Lincoln." Scheduled for release in 2012, the film will be based on the bestseller "Team of Rivals" by Dorothy Kearns Goodwin. Day-Lewis, who is known for immersing himself in his roles, is visiting Illinois to research Lincoln's early political years. He has already toured the Lincoln Home and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

-- Anne Neville

Amber Portwood, 20, one of the stars of the MTV reality "Teen Mom," has been charged with domestic violence and battery, including two felonies, for attacks on the father of her daughter that were filmed for the reality show. Police in Anderson, Ind., where she lives, charged her with two felonies and one misdemeanor for three separate filmed attacks in which she punched, slapped, kicked and choked Gary Shirley, 24, in the presence of their infant daughter, Leah. A still photo from one of the attacks is seen at left.  In the affadavit explaining the charges, detective Jake Brooks wrote that the probe was launched after the first episode showing violence was aired, and that it was prompted by "numerous emails and phone calls to the police department and to the Department of Child Services." Brooks got a subpoena for all uncut film done of the couple, and documented three incidents, including one that was never televised, in the tapes. Both Portwood and Shirley told police that the attacks were real and not staged, and Portwood "claimed not to remember everything due to some medical issues." If convicted on all counts, Portwood could be jailed for three years and fined up to $10,000.

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In his first public statement since the announcement that he and Eva Longoria Parker are divorcing, Tony Parker says he was not surprised when she filed for divorce his week. "Eva and I have been discussing our situation privately," the NBA star says in a statement. "I was aware that she would be filing for divorce in Los Angeles." For some reason, Parker again denied a report published and then retracted by celebrity web site TMZ that he had filed for divorce in Texas. "I did not file for divorce in Texas and did not hire divorce attorneys in either Texas or California," he says. "We plan to continue to keep our discussions of this matter private."

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Meanwhile, the revelations that Parker carried on a "sexting" relationship with the wife of his former Spurs teammate Brent Barry has focused attention on the divorce of Erin and Brent Barry, and the rift between the once-close couples, seen together at left, People is reporting. Brent Barry filed for divorce last month. "The Barrys were among the closest friends of Parker and Longoria." People reports. "Brent was a teammate of Parker's on the San Antonio Spurs from 2004 to 2008, and the Barrys attended Parker's lavish wedding in France in 2007. 'We're like family,' Parker told ESPN The Magazine after the ceremony." A source close to Longoria told People that the two women quickly bonded as "Spurs wives" and the two couples frequently socialized, even after Barry left the team. "So it was more devastating," the source says of the hundreds of explicit texts exchanged by Erin Barry and Tony Parker. The Barrys had been married since 1998 and have two sons, ages 10 and 4.

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Fifty-one weeks after his post-Thanksgiving car crash that began to unravel the details of his secret life, Tiger Woods is talking, both in trivial remarks -- on Twitter -- and in a long, thoughtful piece in Newsweek. Woods joined Twitter this week, and has tweeted, "Yep, it’s me. I think I like this twitter thing. You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the love" and "The best part about phone interviews is getting to wear shorts." In the Newsweek piece, titled, "Tiger Woods: How I've Redefined Victory," he writes, "Last November, everything I thought I knew about myself changed abruptly, and what others perceived about me shifted, too. I had been conducting my personal life in an artificial way — as if detached from the values my upbringing had taught, and that I should have embraced." A year later, he writes, "I’m learning that some victories can mean smiles, not trophies, and that life’s most ordinary events can bring joy. Giving my son, Charlie, a bath, for example, beats chipping another bucket of balls. Making mac and cheese for him and his sister, Sam, is better than dining in any restaurant. Sharing a laugh watching cartoons or reading a book beats channel-surfing alone. Some nights now, it’s just me and the kids, an experience that’s both trying and rewarding. Probably like the experience a lot of families have every evening around the world."

-- Anne Neville