What's on TV? ‘Cheetah Girls' return, ‘Dear Prudence' mystery franchise begins
What's on TV? ‘Cheetah Girls' return, ‘Dear Prudence' mystery franchise begins

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By Penny Soldan,

Published: August 17, 2008

The Cheetah Girls' last adventure took them to Barcelona. This time, they're going Bollywood.

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Well, at least three of the girls are. Multi talented actresses/singers/dancers Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams and Sabrina Bryan are back as best friends Chanel, Aqua and Dorinda in "The Cheetah Girls One World,” an original Disney Channel movie premiering at 7 p.m. Friday.

Raven-Symone, who played Galleria in the first two "Cheetah” films, had prior commitments that kept her from going to India for the three-month film shoot. The story line goes that Galleria is taking summer college prep courses at Cambridge while Chanel, Aqua and Dorinda are auditioning for new gigs.

When an aspiring Bollywood movie director, Vikram "Vik” Bhatia, offers them roles in his movie "Namaste Bombay,” the three Cheetahs take off for India. They soon learn, however, that only one role is available, and they must compete against each other for the part.

"One World” was filmed entirely in India using historic landmarks such as the towering City Palace of Udaipur as backdrops. It is loaded with music, dance and Indian culture, and it continues the movie franchise's mission to celebrate friendship and promote the pursuit of goals and dreams.

Other programs worth watching:

SUNDAY

•"Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget” (9 p.m. on Comedy Central): Although Bob Saget played the dad on "Full House” for eight seasons and spent another eight years hosting "America's Funniest Home Videos,” this is no family-friendly event. John Stamos, Saget's "Full House” co-star, will serve as roast master.

•"Kung Fu Killer” (9 p.m. on SPIKE): "Kill Bill” co-stars David Carradine and Daryl Hannah reunite for this two-part miniseries set in China in the late 1920s. It was filmed at the Zhejiang Heng Dian World Studios in China, and Hannah, who portrays a lounge singer, makes her singing debut.

•"KOCO Presents: OU Vintage Game” (11:30 a.m. on KOCO-5): A replay of the 1971 college football Game of the Century that pitted No. 1 Nebraska against the second-ranked OU Sooners.

•"Skins” (8 p.m. on BBC America): This award-winning British dramedy follows a group of teenagers and their personal struggle with highly charged issues of race, religion, sexuality, drugs and eating disorders.

•"Tiger: Spy in the Jungle” (7 p.m. on Animal Planet): Sir David Attenborough ("Blue Planet”) narrates this new documentary that uses camouflaged "trunkcams and "tuskcams” carried by elephants to bring viewers up close and personal with tigers and other animals living in India's forests.

•TCM's Summer Under the Stars — Gene Kelly: Among his 11 films airing in the festival today are 1943's "Thousands Cheer” (5 a.m.), 1950's "Summer Stock” (3 p.m.) and 1955's "It's Always Fair Weather” (12:30 a.m.).

MONDAY

•"Documenting the Face of America” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Narrated by Julian Bond (NAACP chairman), this program highlights the stories behind the New Deal-sponsored photographers who traversed the country in the 1930s and early 1940s to capture the face of Depression-era America. Among the photographers featured are Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange and Marion Post Wolcott.

•"The Hills” (9 p.m. on MTV): Life in Los Angeles gets more complicated for Lauren, Audrina, Heidi and Whitney as the reality series begins its fourth season.

•"Into the Unknown With Josh Bernstein” (9 p.m. on Discovery): Traveler, explorer and educator Josh Bernstein goes on a world-wide search to uncover hidden treasures, mysteries and natural wonders for this new series. Thus far, he has recorded 200 days abroad, 109 days filming, 121,390 miles flying and 15 countries explored.

•"Saving Grace” (9 p.m. on TNT): Grace is on the trail of a father suspected of adbucting his son and killing the boy's mother.

•"Sesame Street” (9 a.m. on OETA-13): Will Arnett ("Arrested Development”) guest-stars as Max the Magician, who performs tricks for Elmo and Big Bird. Also guest-starring on the show this week are football player Jason Taylor (Wednesday) and soccer player David Beckham (Friday).

•"Thank You, Mr. President: Helen Thomas at the White House” (8 p.m. on HBO): Journalist Helen Thomas has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, earning the nickname "First Lady of the Press.” Now in her 80s, Thomas sits down to review her life and career in a one-on-one interview with award-winning director Rory Kennedy (President Kennedy's niece).

•TCM's Summer Under the Stars — Jack Palance: Among his 13 films airing in the festival today are 1953's "Man in the Attic” (5 a.m.), 1970's "Monte Walsh” (9 p.m.) and 1967's "Kill a Dragon” (3 a.m.).

TUESDAY

•"Wide Angle” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): The new documentary "Iraqi Exodus” reports from the front lines of the refugee crisis that is unfolding in the Middle East. Iraqis are fleeing their war-torn country at a rate of up to 50,000 people per month. Since the war began in 2003, more than 4 million Iraqi civilians have fled their homes.

•TCM's Summer Under the Stars — Barbara Stanwyck: Among her 15 films airing in the festival today are 1931's "Illicit” (6 a.m.), 1929's "The Locked Door” (7 p.m.) and 1948's "B.F.'s Daughter” (3 a.m.).

WEDNESDAY

•"Architecture School” (8 p.m. on Sundance): This six-part documentary series follows Tulane University students in their fourth year of a five-year design/build program. They undertake a 14-week project to conceive and construct a home in a devastated New Orleans neighborhood.

•"Criss Angel Mindfreak” (9 p.m. on A&E): For the barrel drop, the illusionist is handcuffed and placed in an 85-gallon drum that is secured in a wooden box and hoisted 100 feet above the spectators. Once the box reaches its peak, it is set to automatically release the barrel and contents, regardless of whether Criss has escaped or not.

•"Dinner: Impossible” (9 p.m. on Food Network): Iron Chef Michael Symon is the new host for the show, now in its fifth season. Symon's first challenge is to cook for an exclusive event being held at Alcatraz.

•TCM's Summer Under the Stars — Edward G. Robinson: Among his 14 films airing in the festival today are 1937's "Kid Galahad” (5 a.m.) and 1938's "I Am the Law” (5:30 p.m.).