TV Daily

Friday/weekend: Will "Oprah's Big Give" make the world a better place? Plus: What did you think of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" on Thursday?

By Salon Staff

Published February 29, 2008 10:55AM (EST)

OPRAH'S BIG GIVE™ - "Oprah's Big Give," the exciting and much-anticipated new primetime series that defies television convention with the bold idea of people competing to give rather than get, will premiere SUNDAY, MARCH 2 (9:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The series premiere, "Episode 101," kicks off in Los Angeles, where Oprah hands ten contestants sealed envelopes with only a picture and the name of a complete stranger. Under intense pressure, they must give big to change this person's life in just five days. The contestants must use their creativity and resources to generate the most powerful and sensational ways to make a real difference, and with the clock ticking, the competition, drama and emotion mount and the contestants' stamina, creativity and drive are tested. This first dramatic challenge will send one person packing. (ABC/MITCH HADDAD) JAMIE OLIVER, OPRAH WINFREY
OPRAH'S BIG GIVE™ - "Oprah's Big Give," the exciting and much-anticipated new primetime series that defies television convention with the bold idea of people competing to give rather than get, will premiere SUNDAY, MARCH 2 (9:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The series premiere, "Episode 101," kicks off in Los Angeles, where Oprah hands ten contestants sealed envelopes with only a picture and the name of a complete stranger. Under intense pressure, they must give big to change this person's life in just five days. The contestants must use their creativity and resources to generate the most powerful and sensational ways to make a real difference, and with the clock ticking, the competition, drama and emotion mount and the contestants' stamina, creativity and drive are tested. This first dramatic challenge will send one person packing. (ABC/MITCH HADDAD) JAMIE OLIVER, OPRAH WINFREY

Weekend Pick

ABC / Mitch Haddad

If you think Oprah Winfrey can't turn water into wine, watch her turn the typically crass genre of reality TV into a place where warm fuzzies can flourish safely. "Oprah's Big Give" (9 p.m. EST Sunday on ABC) challenges contestants to make the world a better place by improving other people's lives. In the first episode, this includes finding shelter for a homeless family, paying off part of a mortgage for a grieving widow, and helping a pure-intentioned doctor to pay down his student loans so he can offer his services to needy families in his community. Hosted by Oprah's spunky sidekick Nate Berkus and featuring "Naked Chef" Jamie Oliver, Chris Rock's wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, and pro football star Tony Gonzalez, "Oprah's Big Give" is entertaining and surprisingly heartwarming, and best of all, it demonstrates clearly what a huge difference one person can make ... Um, particularly if that person's name is Oprah.

-- H.H.

Also…

On Friday, "Tender Mercies airs at 12:20 p.m. EST on FLIX, dancers and their parents team up for the latest dance contest on "Your Mama Don't Dance" (premieres at 9 p.m. EST on Lifetime), Kate comes to therapy with Paul on "In Treatment" (9:30 p.m. EST on HBO), and the tactics and weaponry involved in famous battles are examined on "Battle 360" (premieres at 10 p.m. EST on History). On Saturday, "Seabiscuit" airs at 8 p.m. EST on ABC, while "Napoleon Dynamite" airs at 8 p.m. EST on Comedy Central. "Torchwood" continues at 9 p.m. EST on BBC America, the Dixie Chicks perform in a repeat of "Austin City Limits" (9 p.m. EST on PBS, check listings), and George Carlin performs live from Santa Rosa, Calif., in "George Carlin: It's Bad for Ya" (10 p.m. EST on HBO). On Sunday, 20-something angstfest "Quarterlife" continues at 9 p.m. EST on NBC, the second-to-last episode of "The Wire" (9 p.m. EST on HBO) finds creative reporter Scott Templeton called into question by his editor, and on "Breaking Bad" (10 p.m. EST on AMC), cancer man Walter returns to his meth lab.

Thursday night

What did you think of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" on Thursday? Go here to discuss.

On the talk shows

Regis and Kelly

ABC, 9 a.m. EST

 Courteney Cox, Josh Kelley

The View

ABC, 11 a.m. EST

 Woody Harrelson, Sarah Bareilles

Ellen DeGeneres

Syndicated, check local listings

 Janet Jackson, Dr. Wayne Dyer

Oprah Winfrey

Syndicated, check local listings

 "Oprah's Big Give" kickoff party

Charlie Rose

PBS, check local listings

 TBA

Larry King

CNN, 9 p.m. EST

 TBA

David Letterman

CBS, 11:30 p.m. EST

 Woody Harrelson, Tommy Tiernan

Jay Leno

NBC, 11:35 p.m. EST

 David Salmoni with animals, Patricia Arquette, Punch Brothers

Tavis Smiley

PBS, check local listings

 Samantha Power, Eric Bana

Jimmy Kimmel

ABC, 12:05 a.m. EST

 TBA

Conan O'Brien

NBC, 12:35 a.m. EST

 Christina Ricci, Jason Sudeikis, Shooter Jennings

Craig Ferguson

CBS, 12:35 a.m. EST

 Coolio, Dweezil Zappa, Jason Randal

Contributors: Molly Eichel, Heather Havrilesky, Amy Reiter, Charly Wilder


By Salon Staff

MORE FROM Salon Staff

Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Television