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Country, Urban Music Awards Face Off on CBS, UPN

Posted on: Friday, 23 December 2005, 00:00 CST

Country, urban music awards face off on CBS, UPN

Two musical genres get primetime showcases tonight.

Brooks & Dunn host the 39th annual Country Music Association Awards at 7 p.m. on CBS.

Over on UPN, Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson take the helm at the Vibe Music Awards, at 7 p.m. Hip-hop and country dont often mix, but both awards shows are being broadcast on networks owned by Viacom.

While the CMA awards will be broadcast live from Madison Square Garden in New York, the Vibe event, honoring the best and most innovative in urban music, was taped Saturday in Los Angeles.

The Manhattan venue for the CMA makes for an interesting pop culture clash and a city showcase for country style.

Brad Paisley and Lee Ann Womack lead tonights pack with six CMA nominations apiece.

Scheduled performers at the Garden include Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill and others.

The announced performers at the Vibe Awards are Ciara, Ludacris, Pharrell and Young Jeezy.

My Name is Earl

Joy makes it a point to exclude Earl from her wedding to Darnell on My Name is Earl, at 8 p.m. on NBC (TV-14).

In fact, her invitation to Randy specifically states that he can bring anyone but Earl.

And as if to rub salt in his wounds, she schedules her big day on his birthday and invites all of his friends, so hell have no one to blow out the candles with.

As Joy, Jaime Pressly has outdone herself on this series, particularly when she gets to vent her characters petulant and vengeful side, which is often.

Make that always. But her emphatic exile of Earl from the proceedings may go too far, forcing our humble hero to acts that may have to be added to his karmic accounting ledger.

On sale: Fantasy Island

Television-themed DVD sets on sale today include the 10th and final season of Friends and the very first season of Fantasy Island, starring Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize.

Fans who think talent showcases began with American Idol should check out The Original Amateur Hour DVD, which includes archival performances and reminiscences from performers discovered on both the radio and TV incarnations of the Amateur Hour, including Frank Sinatra, Ann-Margaret and Gladys Knight. Pat Boone hosts.

Other highlights

At 7 p.m., a disco hides mummified remains on Bones, on Fox (TV- 14); olive branches bloom on Gilmore Girls, on WB (TV-PG); and Nova, on PBS profiles Sir Isaac Newton.

At 8 p.m., a cyclists drug use exposed on House, on Fox (TV-14); new directions and controversial appointments on Commander in Chief, on ABC (TV-PG); and Las Vegas: An Unconventional History concludes on American Experience, on PBS.

At 9 p.m., a killer lets his fingers do the walking on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, on NBC (TV-14), and a plastic surgeon puts his back into his work on Boston Legal, on ABC (TV-14).

At 9:10 p.m., an innocent (played by Brendan Fraser) raised in a fallout shelter since 1962 emerges in a sordid City of Angels in the 1999 comedy Blast from the Past on TBS (TV-PG).

Cult choice

Steve Martin, recipient of the 2005 Mark Twain prize, stars in the title role of the 1979 comedy The Jerk at 7 p.m. on AMC (TV- 14).

Series notes

At 7 p.m., Caroline Rhea hosts The Biggest Loser, on NBC, and in dreams on According to Jim, on ABC (TV-PG).

At 7:30 p.m., time to give back on Hot Properties on ABC (TV- PG,D,L).

At 8 p.m., clues about moms murder on Supernatural on WB (TV- PG,L,V).

At 8:30 p.m., time for report cards on The Office on NBC (TV- 14).

Late night

Joaquin Phoenix and Trisha Yearwood appear on Late Show with David Letterman, at 10:35 p.m. on CBS.

Jay Leno hosts Melissa Etheridge on The Tonight Show, at 10:35 p.m. on NBC.

Reese Witherspoon, Jon Favreau and Kevin Brennan are booked on Late Night with Conan OBrien, at 11:37 a.m. on NBC.

Craig Ferguson hosts John Lahr and Patti Smith on The Late, Late Show, at 12:07 a.m. on CBS.

Programming listed in this syndicated column reflects network schedules. Local affiliates or cable systems may choose to pre-empt or reschedule network programming after the networks have announced their schedules. 2005 United Feature Syndicate Inc.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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