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Thursday, November 25
2004 NEW YORK STATE FIELD BAND CHAMPIONSHIP U.S. Thanksgiving signals a glut of holiday specials – the National Dog Show at noon on NBC, NFL action with the Indianapolis Colts versus the Detroit Lions at 12:30 pm on CBS/TSN as well as a Seinfeld behind-the-scenes retrospective at 10 pm on NBC/Global – but we’ll be glued to this showdown between the northeast’s 52 top high school marching bands.
2:30 pm on PBS
Friday, November 26
BECOMING ALEXANDER Colin Farrell prepares for his biopic portrayal of the bisexual Macedonian megalomaniac. Step one – an unconvincing bleach job.
9 pm on Discovery, repeated at 1 am
Saturday, November 27
PREMIERSHIP SOCCER Found a substantial void in your weekend TV viewing caused by the hockey lockout? Fill it with same-day broadcasts of UK and FIFA European footie matches followed immediately after by Italian division play with English commentary. Nine hours not enough? Catch another Italian game as well as David Beckham in Spanish league competition Sunday.
7:30 am, 10 am and 4 pm on Sportsnet, Italian league 2:30 pm and 9 am Sunday on TLN, Spanish league 11:30 pm Sunday on Sportsnet
Sunday, November 28
BREAKFAST WITH THE ARTS Elvis Costello – who also appears on PBS’s Austin City Limits Friday (November 26) at midnight – takes requests from his extensive songbook in front of a New York City studio audience.
8 am on A&E
THE GREATEST CANADIAN: THE FINAL PITCH Feel the frenzy as the final vote approaches! Funnyman Red Green , Degrassi’s Joey Jeremiah , crooner Bobby Curtola , hockey great Boom Boom Geoffrion , retired sock puppets Casey and Finnegan and the bass player from Trooper voice their last-ditch choices for coolest Canuck.
8 pm on CBC, repeated 1 am on Newsworld
Monday, November 29
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: RFK This doc tracks Robert Kennedy ‘s checkered career – including his wealthy family’s ties to the Mafia (who wanted him dead because of his stand against racketeering), his connection to Marilyn Monroe and his roles in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the civil rights movement and the war in Vietnam.
8 pm on PBS
Tuesday, November 30
OVERHAULIN’ Singer Sheryl Crow presents squeeze and six-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong with a 1970 GTO after his win this year. Shortly afterward, she fools Armstrong into believing his beloved ride has been stolen, only to surprise him later with its $100,000 renovation.
9 pm on TLC, repeated at midnight
Wednesday, December 1
CANADIAN, SO? As if The Greatest Canadian wasn’t enough filler, host Jian Ghomeshi ponders the national identity. In two parts, 30 minutes earlier in Newfoundland.
8 pm on Newsworld, repeated at 11 pm, 2 am and 5 am