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HGTV Parades Roses In High Definition, Then Trots Out 'Desperate Spaces' Debut

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By WALT BELCHER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 1, 2008

While college football bowl mania rules in many households today, those seeking an alternative might try HGTV, where everything is coming up roses.

The network devoted to homes and gardens offers live, commercial-free coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade, followed by new episodes of the network's design and makeover series along with the debut of "Desperate Spaces."

The action kicks off at 10 a.m. with "Making of the Rose Parade 2008," a behind-the-scenes look at the making of all those flower-covered floats.

Parade coverage begins at 11 a.m., and for the first time it will be in high definition. The theme is "Passport to the World's Celebrations."
Food Network star Emeril Lagasse is the grand marshal. Robb Weller, Paul James, Jann Carl and Chi-Lan Lieu are the commentators.

This is the 119th edition of the parade, which is held in Pasadena, Calif. Roughly 1.5 million roses will be used to decorate this year's fleet of floats.

The Tournament of Roses has developed a free audio tour of the floats featured in the parade. The tour begins with details about the making of a float and continues to provide interesting details about each of the 46 floats in the order that they appear in the parade. For information, go to www.tournamentof

roses.com and www.hgtv.com.

Following the parade, "Desperate Spaces" debuts at 1 p.m. Designer Daniel Kucan and actress Lise Simms are hosts.

The series follows three desperate homeowners who each have a room desperately in need of a makeover. Kucan and Simms come up with three makeover plans. But only one lucky homeowner gets a decorating dilemma solved. The work is done in two days on a $2,500 budget.

MIDSEASON BLUES: January is the midway point of the 2007-08 TV season, and the second half looks grim because of the writers strike.

NBC's "Law & Order" returns with new episodes at 10 p.m. Wednesday. These were filmed before the strike. Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy character has been promoted to district attorney. He replaces Fred Thompson, who left to run for president.

Jeremy Sisto joins the cast as Detective Cyrus Lupo, replacing Dennis Farina. Coming back is Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green.

Also debuting this week is Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" at 9 p.m. Thursday. A dozen people who have at least a smattering of name recognition will be competing for various charities (and whatever fame they can get by being on a reality show).

Included are actors Stephen Baldwin, Marilu Henner and Vincent Pastore.

Also of note in the cast are Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss, country singer Trace Adkins, former model Carol Alt, Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci, former Playboy Playmate Tiffany Fallon, Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch, heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis and former "Apprentice" troublemaker Omarosa.

MISSED AMERICA: In an effort to pump up interest in the upcoming Miss America pageant, TLC has created a new reality series featuring the 52 contestants.

TLC will air the ratings-challenged pageant Jan. 28. But beginning Friday night, TLC's "Miss America: Reality Check" will follow the contestants.

The women were housed together at the Hummingbird Ranch in Simi Valley, Calif., for 10 days. There were 52 beauties and only five bathrooms with showers.

The ladies were divided into teams and given challenges in hopes that there would be breakdowns, backstabbing, comedy and catfights. Michael Urie of "Ugly Betty" is the host. "Reality Check" will air on consecutive Fridays leading up to the pageant.

The Miss America pageant used to be a big draw on ABC, but the network dropped it after the 2004 round. CMT picked it up and dropped it last year. TLC picked it up. If it bombs again, the Home Shopping Network might be next.

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