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Turkey Day TV Offers Stuffing and Side Dishes

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By WALT BELCHER

wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: November 27, 2008

Even in the worst of times, most of us are thankful for something.

On the most superficial level, I'm thankful I don't have to watch "Dancing With the Stars" until March.

On a deeper level, there's family, friends, good days, Florida sunshine and just being alive in a great country (despite all the problems).

This is a day for family traditions, carving the turkey, the once-a-year tasting of cranberry sauce, stuffing yourself and watching the Macy's parade.

But if you're in a "bah, humbug" mood today, the USA network has something for curmudgeon couch potatoes - a "House" marathon.

From 6 a.m. today through 5 a.m. Friday, you can watch the sarcastic, irreverent and cynical Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie).

Bluntly honest and always pessimistic, he manages to save lives while humiliating and aggravating everyone around him, including the patients who almost die while he tries various cures until one works.

Spending a day with him will either make you thankful or give you indigestion.

MO' MARATHONS: Speaking of indigestion, the Travel Channel's irony is appreciated. The network has a "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" marathon today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This guy will and does eat anything (hog intestines, sheep eyeballs, cow spleen). Yummo.

•TV Land offers an "I Love Lucy" marathon from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. The classic "Candy Factory" episode with Lucy and Ethel getting stuffed on the assembly line airs at 12:30 p.m. Lucy getting soused on Vitameatavegamin airs at 2 p.m.

If you think your family is dysfunctional, check out the "Arrested Development" marathon from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the obscure G4 channel (124 on Bright House). This short-lived sitcom would have lasted longer if it had been on HBO instead of Fox.

Real-life dysfunction is on display on Oxygen Network's "Bad Girls Club" marathon from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The network's highest-rated series follows bratty young women who booze, party and backstab their way through life.

The TLC network offers "Jon & Kate Plus 8" episodes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. This reality show follows the hectic, harried life of Jon and Kate Gosselin, parents of 8-year-old twins and 4-year-old sextuplets.

Also today: "Real Housewives of Atlanta," real pains in the neck, airs from 1 p.m. to past midnight on Bravo; Kyra Sedgwick's tour de force "The Closer" runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on TNT; and reruns of "Cold Case File" play from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on A&E.

HOLLY JOLLY: Christmas holiday programming gets under way in earnest today with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and "Miracle on 34th Street" on NBC.

The 82nd annual Macy's parade gets under way at 9 a.m. Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira and Al Roker calling the action (look for The Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band from St. Petersburg).

At 2 p.m. kick back and let the turkey digest while watching NBC's annual showing of the original 1947 "Miracle on 34th Street," with Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara.

On Saturday, the 1954 Bing Crosby classic "White Christmas" plays at 9 p.m. Saturday on Lifetime. Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen co-star.

A new Christmas movie, "Midnight and Mistletoe," debuts at 9 p.m. Saturday on Hallmark. Tom Arnold stars as the owner of Santaville, a holiday-themed attraction struggling to stay open.

For more listings of holiday programs go to TBOextra.com.

Tune In Tonight

"Planet of the Apes," 8 p.m., Fox Movie Channel

This premium network has an "Apes" marathon today that begins at 6:30 a.m. and includes this 1968 original with Charlton Heston, all the sequels and the short-lived 1974 TV series.

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