The Brainerd Dispatch TV Week December 18th 2016

Celebrate the season with star-studded specials Cover Story

By Kyla Brewer TV Media

There’s magic in the air this time of year and, as it turns out, there’s plenty of magic on the air as well. In addition to a plethora of classic holiday specials and movies, the networks are offering viewers brand-new specials featuring up-and-coming performers, a music legend and some of today’s most popular stars.

Nick Cannon (“Drumline,” 2002) kicks things off early in the week as the summer’s No. 1 series warms hearts with a special holiday edition. A diverse cast of performers comes together in the very first “America’s Got Talent” Christmas special, airing Monday, Dec. 19, on NBC. Hosted by Cannon, the one-night-only event also features appearances by judges Simon Cowell (“American Idol”), Heidi Klum (“Project Runway”), Mel B (“The X Factor”) and Howie Mandel (“Deal or No Deal”).

As with the hit TV series, the special holiday program features a mix of music, magic and other variety acts sure to dazzle viewers. Season 11 winner and 12-year-old ukulele sensation Grace VanderWaal is expected to present a special holiday selection as she headlines the list of performers. Klum joins in on the fun when she appears alongside her Golden Buzzer contestant, Sal Valentinetti. Professor Splash makes waves with eggnog for the first time ever, and The Regurgitator uses holiday ornaments in his unique performance.

Some of the show’s most memorable acts from past seasons participate in the Christmas special.

Acrobatic gymnast group AcroArmy takes the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, along with singers Calysta Bevier, Brian Justin Crum, “AGT” darling Jackie Evancho, singer/songwriter Ronee Martin, musical ensemble Sons of Serendip and family band Edgar. The show features a number of less conventional acts as well, such as magician Mat Franco, Piff the Magic Dragon, shadow dancers The Silhouettes, The Clairvoyants Thommy Ten and Amélie van Tass, ventriloquist Terry Fator, NFL player and magician Jon Dorenbos, and canine performers The Olate Dogs.

In addition to past contestants, the “America’s Got Talent’s” Christmas special features appearances by R&B artist Andra Day, a cappella group Pentatonix and renowned magic duo Penn & Teller.

As if that isn’t enough, NBC has an even bigger treat for TV viewers, as stars pay tribute to a living legend in “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come,” airing Tuesday, Dec. 20. A who’s who of performers from the entertainment industry, past and present, showed up to honor the renowned crooner, who still loves to entertain.

“I turn 90 tomorrow, and feel like I’m just getting started and look forward to each day,” said Bennett when the special was filmed this summer. “I have loved performing for the public and sharing the music I love with the world.”

Born in Astoria, Queens, New York, Bennett had a humble up-

bringing and worked as a singing waiter before getting his first big break with the single “Because of You.” He rose to fame thanks to hits such as “Rags to Riches” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” but the rock ‘n’ roll era signaled a lull in his career. However, since staging a comeback in the late 1980s, Bennett has once again enjoyed mainstream success, amassing 19 Grammys and selling more than 50 million records worldwide.

With a career that has spanned more than 60 years, it’s no wonder stars wanted to pay tribute to the music industry icon. Fellow living legends Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin were among the celebrities who showed up for the glittering gala held at Radio City Music Hall in the Big Apple. The long list of performers also includes Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, k.d. lang and Rufus Wainwright. Many actors and television personalities showed up to celebrate with Bennett as well. Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Bruce Willis and even Homer Simpson made appearances at the event.

This isn’t the first time stars and fans have been able to celebrate with the beloved Bennett. NBC honored the icon’s 80th birthday as well — in fact, the network’s 2006 special “Tony Bennett: An American Classic” won an astounding seven Emmys, which made it that year’s most honored program.

While NBC brings viewers Christmas cheer this season, CBS

has a unique offering sure to inspire viewers with a look at foster care and adoption in “A Home for the Holidays,” airing Friday, Dec. 23. Both celebrities and average Joes and Janes share successful stories of adoption and foster care as they raise awareness about the important social issue in the annual special. Viewers will hear firsthand accounts of adoption that highlight the remarkable children and families helped by the process. The powerful program also includes performances by some of today’s most popular recording artists.

From lighthearted fun to heartwarming, inspirational true-life stories, broadcasters have quite a few gifts for TV fans this season. In the hectic days ahead, take some time to celebrate with your favorite stars in “America’s Got Talent,” “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come” and “A Home for the Holidays.”

ACROSS

1 Farrah’s role on “Charlie’s Angels”

5 Cornea locales

9 “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” character

12 Quito is its cap. city

13 Farm animal

14 Variety of bread

15 Comic actor who hosts “Food: Fact or Fiction?” on The Cooking Channel: 2

wds.

18 Without a charge

19 “God __ Ye Merry Gentlemen”

20 Folk music mockumentary on 15 Across’ list of credits, “A __ Wind” (2003)

24 Jamie Foxx title movie role

26 Military stockpile, commonly 27 __ Lauder (Makeup

brand)

31 Baseball legend Rusty

33 Short-tailed weasel

34 Type of real estate purchase on HGTV

35 That which Santa Claus is checking twice in the Christmas carol

36 “__ Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”

38 Ms. Sobieski of 1999 TV miniseries “Joan of Arc”

40 Mr. Thicke of “Growing Pains”

43 Julie of “The Talk” on CBS

45 Family sitcom of 2001 to 2005 starring Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin: 4 wds.

51 __ rata

52 “Come __ __!” (Welcome to our home!)

53 Single-named rocker in the Red Hot Chili Peppers

54 “My Gal __” (1942) starring Rita Hayworth

55 Depend on 56 __-on earrings DOWN

1 “__ and the Holograms” (2015)

2 Parisian’s ‘here’

3 Jean-__ Picard

(Patrick Stewart television character)

4 “Well, __-di-dah!”

5 Board used by a manicurist

6 Christmastime

7 Bugs Bunny foe Mr. Fudd

8 Dry, as champagne

9 Christmas __

10 Young hawk

11 Damage on a car door

16 Period following the morning, for short

17 Blake Carrington’s

wife on “Dynasty”

20 Feminine opposite, for short

21 “__ __ blame.”

(Mea culpa!)

22 Agent with the FBI

23 Legendary escape artist

25 Bronze Roman money

28 Plug away at work

29 Alleviate

30 Suffix to ‘Bachelor’

32 Droid

37 Theatrical act segment

38 Friend of Squiggy on “Laverne & Shirley” played by 15 Across

39 Stop

40 Concert gear for electric guitar players

41 The star Vega’s constellation

42 Soldier’s infraction [acronym]

44 Salute

46 Not against

47 Col. Sanders’ fast food chain

48 “__ Be Home for Christmas”

49 Agnus __

Sunday, Dec. 18

8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 Outside the Lines (0:30)

FSN In-Depth Outdoors (0:30)

HBO Boxing Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Smith Jr. After Dark. (2:15)

8:30 a.m. ESPN2 The Sports Reporters (0:30)

9:00 a.m. (15) KVRR Midwest Outdoors Magazine (0:30)

ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)

ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN Jason Mitchell Outdoors (0:30)

9:30 a.m. (15) KVRR Ultimate Outdoor Adventure (0:30)

FSN Vikings Game Plan (0:30)

NBCSN Premier League Live (Live) (0:25)

9:55 a.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer Arsen. at Man. C. Manchester, England (Live) (2:05)

10:00 a.m. (9) KMSP FSN Vikings GameDay (Live) (1:00)

(15) KVRR Vikings Game Plan (0:30)

(29) WFTC NFL Kickoff (Live) (1:00)

CNBC EPL Soccer Burn. at Totten. London, England (Live) (2:00)

ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (Live) (2:00)

ESPN2 Fantasy Football Now (Live) (2:00)

10:30 a.m. (7) KCCO WCCO-TV Tailgate Show (0:30)

(15) KVRR Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)

11:00 a.m. (7) KCCO The NFL Today (Live) (1:02)

(9) KMSP (15) KVRR Fox NFL Sunday (Live) (1:00)

FSN Twins Town Hall (1:00)

GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Las Vegas, Nev. (2:00)

11:30 a.m. (23) WUCW Sunday Shockwave (0:30)

Noon (15) KVRR NFL Football G.B. at Chi. Chicago, Ill. (Live) (3:00)

ESPN PBA Bowling Cheetah Championship. Reno, Nev. (1:00)

ESPN2 Billiards Women’s Hall of Fame Challenge. Atlantic City, N.J. (1:00)

FSN Champions Tennis PowerShares Series Legends. New Haven, Conn. (2:00)

NBCSN Premier League Goal Zone (Live) (1:00)

(7) KCCO NFL Football Ind. at Min. Minneapolis, Minn. (Live) (3:23)

1:00 p.m. (5) KSTP World of X Games (1:00)

(11) KARE USSA Alpine Skiing U.S. Grand Prix. Copper Mountain, Colo. (1:00)

ESPN 30 for 30 (1:30)

ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Women’s UCLA at S.C. Columbia, S.C. (Live) (2:00)

GOLF PGA Golf Final Round OHL Classic. Playa del Carmen, Mexico (4:00)

NBCSN Premier League Behind the Badge (0:30)

1:30 p.m. NBCSN Premier League Download (0:30)

2:00 p.m. (5) KSTP Holiday Movie Spectacular (2:00)

(11) KARE USSA Alpine Skiing U.S. Grand Prix. Copper Mountain, Colo. (1:00)

FSN Crashed Ice Edmonton, Alta. (1:00)

NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)

2:30 p.m. ESPN 30 for 30 (2:00)

3:00 p.m. (9) KMSP NFL Football N.O. at Arz. Glendale, Ariz. (Live) (3:00)

(11) KARE ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final France (2:00)

(15) KVRR The OT (Live) (0:30)

ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Gonz. vs. Ten. Nashville, Tenn. (Live) (2:00)

FSN The Game 365 (0:30)

NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)

3:25 p.m. (7) KCCO NFL Football N.E. at Den. Denver, Colo. (Live) (3:05)

3:30 p.m. FSN NCAA Basketball J.Br. at Bay. Waco, Texas (Live) (2:00)

4:00 p.m. NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)

4:30 p.m. ESPN The Drone Racing League (1:00)

5:00 p.m. ESPN2 Fitness CrossFit Invitational. Oshawa, Ont. (2:00)

GOLF Golf Final Round World Cup. Victoria, Australia (3:00)

NBCSN ISU Figure Skating World Cup. (2:00)

5:30 p.m. ESPN The Drone Racing League (1:00)

FSN UFC Fight Flashback (0:30)

6:00 p.m. (11) KARE Football Night in America (Live) (1:20)

FSN Golf Life (0:30)

6:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN Xterra Adventures (0:30)

7:00 p.m. ESPN2 Pool Trick Shot Magic. Atlantic City, N.J. (1:00)

FSN UFC Unleashed (1:00)

NBCSN FIS Alpine Skiing Men’s Giant Slalom and Women’s Super G (1:30)

7:20 p.m. (11) KARE NFL Football Pit. at Cin. Cincinnati, Ohio (3:15)

7:30 p.m. ESPN The Herbies (0:30)

8:00 p.m. ESPN The Undefeated In-Depth (1:00)

ESPN2 Pool Trick Shot Magic. Atlantic City, N.J. (1:00)

FSN WPT Poker Five Diamond Classic. (1:00)

GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Hero World Challenge. New Providence, Bahamas (3:00)

8:30 p.m. NBCSN FIS Alpine Skiing Women’s Super G Val D’Isere, France (1:30)

9:00 p.m. ESPN 30 for 30 (1:00)

ESPN2 The Drone Racing League (1:00)

FSN Bull Riding Championship. (1:00)

Monday, Dec. 19

8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)

NBCSN The Dan Patrick Show (Live) (3:00)

8:30 a.m. FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)

9:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 First Take (Live) (2:00)

FSN DFL Soccer Dor. vs. Hoff. (2:00)

10:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (1:00)

FSN NBA Basketball Hou. at Min. Minneapolis, Minn. (2:00)

NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)

11:30 a.m. (9) KAWE Functional Fitness (0:30)

Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: By Essentrics (0:30)

ESPN NFL PrimeTime (Live) (1:00)

ESPN2 Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)

4:30 p.m. ESPN2 Pardon the Interruption (0:30)

FSN The Game 365 (0:30)

5:00 p.m. ESPN Monday Night Countdown (Live) (2:15)

ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN WPT Poker Five Diamond Classic. (1:00)

NBCSN Premier League Behind the Badge (0:30)

5:30 p.m. NBCSN Premier League Behind the Badge (0:30)

6:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Tenn. St. at Duke Durham, N.C. (Live) (2:00)

FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30)

NBCSN Mixed Martial Arts World Series of Fighting. (2:00)

9:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 First Take (Live) (2:00)

FSN DFL Soccer Ber. at Leip. Leipzig, Germany (2:00)

10:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

GOLF LPGA Golf Final Round ANA Inspiration. Rancho Mirage, Calif. (3:00)

11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (1:00)

FSN NBA Basketball Pho. at Min. Minneapolis, Minn. (2:00)

NBCSN Texas Team Trail (0:30)

Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: By Essentrics (0:30)

ESPN Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)

ESPN2 First Take (2:00)

NBCSN Charlie Moore: No Offense (0:30)

12:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)

NBCSN Charlie Moore: No Offense (0:30)

1:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (0:30)

FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30)

GOLF LPGA Golf Final Round KPMG Championship. Sammamish, WA (3:00)

NBCSN Fishing With Roland Martin (0:30)

1:30 p.m. ESPN Fantasy Football Kickoff (Live) (0:30)

FSN Minnesota Timberwolves: Track the Pack (0:30)

NBCSN Seasons on the Fly (0:30)

2:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (0:30)

FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)

NBCSN The Scott Martin Challenge (0:30)

6:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Boca Raton Bowl. Mem. vs. W. Kent. Boca Raton, Fla. (Live) (3:30)

ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Char. vs. Md. Baltimore, Md. (Live) (2:00)

FSN UFC Ultimate Insider (0:30)

NBCSN Triathlon Ironman World Championship. Kona, Hawaii (1:30)

6:30 p.m. FSN Wild Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)

7:00 p.m. FSN NHL Hockey Col. at Min. St. Paul, Minn. (Live) (2:30)

USA WWE Smackdown! (2:00)

7:30 p.m. NBCSN Adventure Racing Spartan Race. Monterey, Calif. (1:00)

8:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Crei. vs. Arz. St. Tempe, Ariz. (Live) (2:00)

GOLF Fan Favorites: Rounds of 2016 (3:00)

SHOW Inside the NFL (1:00)

8:30 p.m. NBCSN Adventure Racing Spartan Race. Palmerton, Pa. (1:00)

9:00 p.m. HBO Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel (1:00)

9:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)

FSN Wild Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)

Wednesday, Dec. 21

8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN Wild Live Post-game (0:30)

NBCSN The Dan Patrick Show (Live) (3:00)

8:30 a.m. FSN Across the Ice Belt (0:30)

9:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 First Take (Live) (2:00)

FSN DFL Soccer Ham. at Mai. Mainz, Germany (2:00)

9:30 a.m. GOLF CHAMPS Golf Final Round Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship. Philadelphia, Pa. (2:30)

NBCSN Premier League Match of the Day (1:00)

12:30 p.m. ESPN2 College Football Live (Live) (0:30)

1:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Countdown (Live) (0:30)

ESPN2 NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)

FSN NHL Hockey Ariz. at Min. St. Paul, Minn. (2:00)

GOLF Rio 2016 Summer Olympics

Golf (M) Final Round. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (7:00)

NBCSN Premier League Live (Live) (0:55)

1:30 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Miami Beach Bowl. C. Mich. vs. Tuls. Miami, Fla. (Live) (3:30)

1:55 p.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer Liverp’l at Evert. Liverpool, England (Live) (2:05)

2:00 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live (Live) (1:00)

3:00 p.m. ESPN2 First Take Re-Take (0:30)

FSN Twins Town Hall (1:00)

3:30

6:30 p.m. FSN Wolves Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)

7:00 p.m. FSN NBA Basketball Pho. at Min. Minneapolis, Minn. (Live) (2:30)

USA WWE Monday Night Raw (3:05)

7:15 p.m. ESPN NFL Football Car. at Was. Landover, Md. (Live) (3:05)

8:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Stan. at SMU Dallas, Texas (Live) (2:00)

GOLF Fan Favorites: Rounds of 2016 (3:00)

NBCSN Mixed Martial Arts Marlon Moraes vs. Josh Hill World Series of Fighting 32. (2:00)

9:30 p.m. FSN Wolves Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)

10:00 p.m. ESPN2 Jalen & Jacoby (0:30)

FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30)

NBCSN Premier League Review Show (1:00)

10:15 p.m. HBO Boxing Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Smith Jr. After Dark. (2:45)

Tuesday, Dec. 20

8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN Wolves Live Post-game (0:30)

NBCSN The Dan Patrick Show (Live) (3:00)

8:30 a.m. FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30)

2:30 p.m. ESPN2 NBA: The Jump (Live) (0:30)

FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)

NBCSN Fisher’s ATV World (0:30)

3:00 p.m. ESPN NBA: The Jump (0:30)

ESPN2 NFL Live (1:00)

FSN NBA Basketball Pho. at Min. Minneapolis, Minn. (2:00)

NBCSN My Classic Car (0:30)

3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)

NBCSN Fisher’s ATV World (0:30)

4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)

ESPN2 SportsNation (Live) (0:30)

GOLF LPGA Golf Final Round International Crown. Gurnee, Ill. (4:00)

NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)

4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)

ESPN2 Highly Questionable (0:30)

NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)

5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 Around the Horn (0:30)

FSN Golf Life (0:30)

NBCSN Stories of NASCAR (0:30)

5:30 p.m. ESPN2 Pardon the Interruption (0:30)

FSN Xterra Adventures (0:30)

NBCSN NASCAR Top Moments (0:30)

10:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (1:00)

FSN NHL Hockey Col. at Min. St. Paul, Minn. (2:00)

NBCSN BBL Cricket Syd. S. vs. Syd. T. (1:30)

Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: By Essentrics (0:30)

ESPN Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)

ESPN2 First Take (2:00)

GOLF CHAMPS Golf Final Round Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Scottsdale, Ariz. (2:00)

12:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)

NBCSN Premier League Behind the Badge (0:30)

1:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)

FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)

NBCSN Boxing Card TBA Premier Champions. (2:00)

1:30 p.m. FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)

2:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (0:30)

FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30)

GOLF Golf Junior League National Championship. Scottsdale, Ariz. (2:00)

Sports this week

2:30 p.m. ESPN2 NBA: The Jump (Live) (0:30)

FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)

3:00 p.m. ESPN SportsNation (0:30)

ESPN2 NFL Live (1:00)

FSN NHL Hockey Col. at Min. St. Paul, Minn. (2:00)

NBCSN Boxing Errol Spence vs. Leonard Bundu Premier Champions. (2:00)

3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)

4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)

ESPN2 SportsNation (0:30)

GOLF Golf National Final Drive Chip and Putt Championship. Augusta, Ga. (4:00)

4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)

ESPN2 Highly Questionable (0:30)

5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (0:30)

ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Elon vs. Duke Greensboro, N.C. (Live) (2:00)

FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)

NBCSN NHL Top 10 (0:30)

5:30 p.m. ESPN College Gameday (Live) (0:30)

FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)

NBCSN NHL Top 10 (0:30)

6:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Basketball Ken. at L.ville Louisville, Ky. (Live) (2:00)

FSN Wolves Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)

NBCSN NHL Live! (Live) (1:00)

6:30 p.m. FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Atl. Atlanta, Ga. (Live) (2:30)

7:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball N.Iowa at UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. (Live) (2:00)

NBCSN NHL Hockey Was. at Pha. Philadelphia, Pa. (Live) (2:45)

8:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Poinsettia Bowl. BYU vs. Wym. San Diego, Calif. (Live) (3:00)

GOLF Fan Favorites: Rounds of 2016 (3:00)

9:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Vir. vs. Cal. Berkeley, Calif. (Live) (2:00)

FSN Wolves Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)

9:30 p.m. FSN Twins Town Hall (1:00) 9:45 p.m. NBCSN NHL Overtime (Live) (0:45)

Thursday, Dec. 22

8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN Wolves Live Post-game (0:30)

NBCSN The Dan Patrick Show (Live) (3:00)

8:30 a.m. FSN Northland Outdoors (0:30)

9:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 First Take (2:00)

FSN DFL Soccer B. Muni. vs. Darm. (2:00)

GOLF NCAA Golf Women’s Team Match Play National Championship. Eugene, Ore. (3:00)

10:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (1:00)

FSN The Yearbook Published by PrepSpotlight.tv 2016-17 (0:30)

11:30 a.m. FSN Wolves Weekly (0:30) Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: By Essentrics (0:30)

ESPN Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)

ESPN2 First Take (2:00)

FSN NCAA Basketball Texas-CC at Ok. St. Stillwater, Okla. (Live) (2:00)

GOLF NCAA Golf Match Play Championship East Lake Cup. Atlanta, Ga. (2:00)

12:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)

1:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)

2:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (0:30)

FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Atl. Atlanta, Ga. (2:00)

GOLF NCAA Golf Individual National Championship. Eugene, Ore. (3:00)

HBO Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel (1:00)

2:30 p.m. ESPN2 NBA: The Jump (Live) (0:30)

3:00 p.m. ESPN NBA: The Jump (0:30)

ESPN2 NFL Live (1:00)

3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)

4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)

ESPN2 SportsNation (0:30)

FSN Vikings Huddle (0:30)

4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)

ESPN2 Highly Questionable (0:30)

FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)

5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 Around the Horn (0:30)

FSN Rooster Tales (0:30)

GOLF NCAA Golf Team Match Play National Championship. Eugene, Ore. (3:00)

5:30 p.m. ESPN2 Pardon the Interruption (0:30)

FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)

6:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Potato Bowl. Ida. vs. Col. St. Boise, Idaho (Live) (3:30)

ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Quarter-final Diamond Head Classic. SD St. vs. S. Miss Honolulu, Hawaii (Live) (2:00)

FSN Wild Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)

NBCSN Journey to the Hammers (1:00)

6:30 p.m. (11) KARE Football Night in America (0:50)

FSN NHL Hockey Min. at Mtl. Montreal, Que. (Live) (2:30)

7:00 p.m. NBCSN Journey to the Hammers (1:00)

TNT NBA Basketball L.A. C. at Mia. Miami, Fla. (Live) (2:30)

7:20 p.m. (11) KARE NFL Football N.Y. G at Phi. Philadelphia, Pa. (3:10)

8:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball UNC-A at Ohio St. Columbus, Ohio (Live) (2:00)

GOLF Fan Favorites: Rounds of 2016 (3:00)

NBCSN Journey to the Hammers (0:30)

8:30 p.m. NBCSN Journey to the Hammers (0:30)

9:00 p.m. FSN Wild Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)

NBCSN Journey to the Hammers (1:00)

9:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)

FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)

TNT NBA Basketball S.A. at L.A. C. Los Angeles, Calif. (Live) (2:30)

10:00 p.m. ESPN2 VICE World of Sports (0:30)

FSN Twins Town Hall (1:00)

NBCSN Drive on NBC Sports (0:30)

10:30 p.m. ESPN2 The Drone Racing League (1:00)

NBCSN Drive on NBC Sports (0:30)

11:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)

Noon (9) KAWE Sit and Be Fit (0:30)

ESPN NCAA Football Bahamas Bowl. E. Mich. vs. OldD. Nassau, Bahamas (Live) (3:30)

ESPN2 NFL Insiders (Live) (0:30)

NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)

12:30 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live (Live) (1:00)

1:00 p.m. FSN John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods (0:30)

NBCSN Premier League Behind the Badge (0:30)

1:30 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Aub. at Con. Hartford, Conn. (Live) (2:00)

FSN Midwest Outdoors Magazine (0:30)

NBCSN RFU Rugby English Premiership. Sale vs. Nor. (Live) (2:30)

7:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Dollar General Bowl. Oh. U. vs. Troy Mobile, Ala. (Live) (3:30)

ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Harv. at Hou. Houston, Texas (Live) (2:00)

8:00 p.m. GOLF Fan Favorites: Rounds of 2016 (3:00)

NBCSN Boxing Card TBA Premier Champions. (2:00)

8:30 p.m. FSN Wild Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)

9:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Semifinal Diamond Head Classic. Honolulu, Hawaii (Live) (2:00)

FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)

9:30 p.m. (15) KVRR KVRR Sports Extra (0:30)

FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)

(9) KMSP (15) KVRR Fox NFL Sunday (Live) (1:00)

FSN Fishing the Midwest (0:30)

GOLF All Star Golf (1:00)

NBCSN BBL Cricket Syd. S. vs. Syd. T. (1:30)

11:30 a.m. FSN Vikings Game Plan (0:30)

Noon (9) KMSP NFL Football Min. at

G.B. Green Bay, Wis. (Live) (3:00)

(15) KVRR NFL Football (Live) (3:00)

ESPN PBA Bowling Chameleon Championship. Reno, Nev. (1:00)

ESPN2 30 for 30 (2:00)

FSN Champions Tennis PowerShares Series Helpful Cup. Los Angeles, Calif. (2:00)

GOLF All Star Golf (1:00)

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GOLF Fan Favorites: Rounds of 2016 (3:00)

FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30) 2:00 p.m. FSN In-Depth Outdoors (0:30)

NBCSN Drive on NBC Sports (0:30)

11:30 p.m. ESPN2 The Drone Racing League (1:00)

FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)

NBCSN Drive on NBC Sports (0:30)

Friday, Dec. 23

8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN Wild Live Post-game (0:30)

NBCSN The Dan Patrick Show (Live) (3:00)

8:30 a.m. FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)

9:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 First Take (Live) (2:00)

FSN NCAA Basketball Texas-CC at Ok. St. Stillwater, Okla. (2:00)

10:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

10:30 a.m. GOLF Golf Day 2 Ryder Cup. Chaska, Minn. (4:30)

11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (1:00)

FSN NHL Hockey Min. at Mtl. Montreal, Que. (2:00)

3:00 p.m. FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)

GOLF Golf Final Day Ryder Cup. Chaska, Minn. (5:00)

3:30 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Armed Forces Bowl. L. Tech vs. Navy Fort Worth, Texas (Live) (3:30)

ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Semifinal Diamond Head Classic. Honolulu, Hawaii (Live) (2:00)

FSN Rooster Tales (0:30)

4:00 p.m. FSN Sled Head 24/7 (0:30)

NBCSN Boxing Darwin Price vs. Javontae Starks Premier Champions. (2:00)

4:30 p.m. FSN Snow Motion (0:30)

5:00 p.m. FSN Three Wide Life (0:30)

5:30 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:30)

FSN Wild Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)

6:00 p.m. FSN NHL Hockey Min. at N.Y. R. New York City, N.Y. (Live) (2:30)

NBCSN Boxing Errol Spence vs. Chris Algieri Premier Champions. (2:00)

10:00 p.m. (29) WFTC Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)

NBCSN Boxing Errol Spence vs. Leonard Bundu Premier Champions. (2:00)

10:15 p.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Sports Now (0:20)

10:30 p.m. (29) WFTC Vikings Connected (0:30)

ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)

11:00 p.m. ESPN2 Sport Science (0:30)

FSN Crashed Ice Edmonton, Alta. (1:00)

GOLF Fan Favorites: Rounds of 2016 (3:00)

11:30 p.m. ESPN2 SportsNation (0:30) Saturday, Dec. 24

8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 Outside the Lines (0:30)

FSN Rooster Tales (0:30)

NBCSN RFU Rugby English Premiership. (Live) (2:00)

8:30 a.m. (29) WFTC Sports Stars of Tomorrow (0:30)

ESPN2 The Sports Reporters (0:30)

FSN Lindy Fish Ed. (0:30)

9:00 a.m. (9) KMSP Vikings Huddle (0:30)

ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)

ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)

FSN John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods (0:30)

GOLF All Star Golf (1:00)

9:30 a.m. (9) KMSP Vikings Game Plan (0:30)

FSN Midwest Outdoors Magazine (0:30)

10:00 a.m. (9) KMSP Vikings GameDay (Live) (1:00)

(15) KVRR (29) WFTC NFL Kickoff (Live) (1:00)

ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (Live) (2:00)

ESPN2 Fantasy Football Now (Live) (2:00)

GOLF All Star Golf (1:00)

NBCSN Premier League Behind the Badge (0:30)

10:30 a.m. FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30)

NBCSN Premier League Behind the Badge (0:30)

11:00 a.m. (7) KCCO The NFL Today (Live) (1:00)

12:30 p.m. NBCSN Triathlon Ironman World Championship. (1:30)

1:00 p.m. (5) KSTP World of X Games (1:00)

(11) KARE Equestrian Grand Prix. Stamford, Conn. (1:00)

ESPN NBA: The Jump (0:30)

GOLF Golf Highlights (0:30)

1:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)

GOLF Masters Highlights (1:00)

2:00 p.m. (7) KCCO Off-Road Racing Pro4 and Pro2. Chandler, Ariz. (1:00)

(11) KARE Red Bull Signature Series (1:30)

ESPN The Drone Racing League (1:00)

ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:30)

FSN AMA Supercross East Rutherford, N.J. (3:00)

NBCSN Poker Super High Roller. (1:00)

2:30 p.m. GOLF Masters Highlights (0:45)

3:00 p.m. (7) KCCO NFL Football Ind. at Oak. Oakland, Calif. (Live) (3:00)

(9) KMSP NFL Football Arz. at Sea. Seattle, Wash. (Live) (3:30)

(15) KVRR NFL Football (Live) (3:30)

ESPN Sport Science (0:30)

NBCSN Poker Super High Roller. (1:00)

3:15 p.m. GOLF Masters Highlights (0:45)

3:30 p.m. (11) KARE Dew Tour Breckenridge, Colo. (1:30)

ESPN SportsNation (0:30)

ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:30)

4:00 p.m. ESPN E:60 (1:00)

GOLF Arnie and Me (1:00)

NBCSN Poker Super High Roller. (1:00)

5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

ESPN2 30 for 30 (2:00)

FSN ERA Rodeo Sheridan, Wyo. (2:00)

GOLF Arnie (1:00)

NBCSN Poker Super High Roller. (1:00)

6:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)

NBCSN Poker Super High Roller. (1:00)

6:30 p.m. (9) KMSP (15) KVRR The OT (Live) (0:30)

7:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Hawaii Bowl. Haw. vs. M.T. St. Honolulu, Hawaii (Live) (3:30)

Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Sports Dec 18, 2016 to Dec 24, 2016

By Andrew Warren TV Media

It’s the time of year for giving, and in that festive spirit, Cooking Channel makes one baker very happy this holiday season. The final holiday episode of the addictive culinary competition “Sugar Showdown” airs Tuesday, Dec. 20, and the grand finale is shaping up to be an exciting and, of course, sweet experience.

For the past few weeks, bakers have embraced the holiday spirit and competed to create the tastiest and most beautiful seasonal sweets. In typical “Sugar Showdown” style, the winner of each ep-

isode in the tournament has taken home $10,000, but now that the Yuletide contest is nearing its end, those three winners return for the finale, ready to compete for an even bigger gift: a whopping $20,000 prize is awarded to the baker with the best fare and most Christmas cheer.

In the first round of the tournament’s finale, these cupcake, cookie and cake experts have to use a festive liquid in their sweet creations: eggnog! Using that sweet, creamy classic, they need to whip up something that not only highlights the ‘nog’s unique flavor, but also looks like it was hand-carved by an artist.

As always, Montreal-based food

artist Josh Elkin, formerly of the hit YouTube show “Epic Meal Time,” oversees the frenzy of holiday baking, while a panel of three judges works together to decide the fates of the bakers.

After that first eggnog-infused elimination, there are only two hopeful tournament champions remaining, and their final challenge is the most trying yet.

The final challenge of “Sugar Showdown’s” holiday tournament? To bake and decorate cakes — no surprise there. These can’t be

just any cakes, though. These need to be cakes worthy of $20,000, and, on top of that, they need to have something to do with the classic tale “The Night Before Christmas.”

These people truly are masters of their craft, and what could be more festive than holiday-themed sweets? “Sugar Showdown’s” holiday championship is finally crowning its champion, with a big cash prize and the bragging rights that go along with it, Tuesday, Dec. 20, on Cooking Channel.

Sunday, Dec. 18

1:30 p.m. (9) KAWE Barbecue University With Steven Raichlen

2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE A Chef’s Life

TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE The Mind of a Chef

TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE The Great British Baking Show

3:30 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

4:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise

5:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Lidia Celebrates America

TRAV Food Paradise

6:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise

7:00 p.m. TRAV Food Paradise (N)

11:30 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

Thursday, Dec. 22

8:00 p.m. (5) KSTP The Great American Baking Show (N) (8) WDSE A Chef’s Life Holiday Special

9:00 p.m. (5) KSTP The Great American Baking Show (N)

Saturday, Dec. 24

10:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Mexico: One Plate at a Time

11:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Cook’s Country From America’s

7:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

7:30 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

8:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods

9:00 p.m. (5) KSTP The Great American Baking Show TRAV Booze Traveler (N)

10:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

10:30 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

11:00 p.m. TRAV Bizarre Foods

Tuesday, Dec. 20

11:30 a.m.

Josh Elkin hosts “Sugar Showdown”

Late Laughs

The Late Late Show With James Corden

Famed astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson mocked the hype [about the super moon] and said, “If you had a 15-inch pizza that became a 16-inch pizza, would you call that a super pizza?” And I think I speak for everyone when I say that depends what’s on it.

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