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Thursday, August 26
LIVE: PRINCE Bridle Path dweller and artist formerly known as the Artist Formerly Known As in studio concert at MuchMoreMusic during his recent tour stop. Between a meticulous funk workout of his hits – and those of several others – the diminutive one reveals why he loves Toronto so: “All the world’s races live here in harmony.” 10 pm on CKVR
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
Goth rockers the Cure perform. 12:05 am on ABC/Citytv
Friday, August 27
LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN
Though the concept soon wears thin – a 23-piece chorale dressed in Up With People-style robes recreating 60s-style Beatlesesque psychedelic orchestral pop – the Polyphonic Spree, here promoting their second CD, Together We Are Heavy, are just beginning to break into mainstream America. 11:35 pm on CBS/Omni1
Saturday, August 28
DEAD MAN (1995, dir: Jim Jarmusch, w/ Johnny Depp, Robert Mitchum, Crispin Glover, Iggy Pop and Steve Buscemi) Both deadly funny and death-obsessed, this twisted western finds Depp on the run in the Wild West. Appropriately twangy soundtrack by Neil Young. 12:30 am on APTN
Sunday, August 29
OLYMPIC CLOSING CEREMONY It’s finally over – the overwrought analyses, the where-are-they-now vignettes, the filler disco links, the travelogues to the Greek Isles, those interminable commercials with the blue cow and, oh yes, the occasional round of ping pong. Let the torch be extinguished! 2 pm on CBC/Newsworld
2004 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS Live simulcast from Miami of the U.S. network’s version of the Oscars. See if nominees Jay-Z , Beyoncé and Hoobastank or presenters P. Diddy , Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton top last year’s lip-lock between Britney and Madonna. 8 pm on Much, repeated at 11:30 pm and noon Monday
Monday, August 30
WORLD CUP HOCKEY 2004 The first game of the international tourney sees the Czech Republic take on Finland. Go, Togo! 1 pm on CBC
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION Nightly three-hour coverage of the Bush bash begins. 8 pm through Thursday on PBS, repeated at 2:30 am.
Tuesday, August 31
DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER Husband-and-wife repo team take on low-life scum on the debut of this real-life series shot in Hawaii. Warning: excessive violence, foul language and really bad hair. 10 pm on A&E, repeated at 2 am
Wednesday, September 1
MASCULIN FEMININ (1966, dir: Jean-Luc Godard, w/ Jean-Pierre Léaud and Chantal Goya) Ex-soldier falls for anarchist pop singer in this episodic New Wave satire that parodies the rampant consumerism of swinging 60s Parisians. Watch for cameos from Brigitte Bardot and Françoise Hardy. 9 pm on TFO