Vikings at Saints (6:30pm, Fox) - Minneapolis goes to New Orleans for the NFC championship game. Brett Favre and Drew Brees lead the two highest-scoring offenses in the NFL. Both teams sailed to easy wins last weekend, so this should be a great game. (Go Saints!)

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (8pm, ABC) - A special two-hour show features an immigrant family from Jamaica who bought a fixer-upper that unbeknownst to them was scheduled for demoltion. Ashanti is a celebrity volunteer.

Big Love (9pm, HBO) - Bill takes Nikki to Washington where he hopes to gain support from a Congressman (Perry King) but he gets off on the wrong foot with a heavyweight lobbyist, played by Sissy Spacek (right). Meanwhile, Alby wrestles with his father's legacy while growing fonder of Dale, and Barb and Sarah conduct senstivity-training classes at the casino.

Golden Globe Awards (8pm, NBC) - Host Ricky Gervais (left) joked with Conan O'Brien earlier this week that since the awards show is on NBC, maybe it'll get canceled before air time. Unlikely. But if Gervais is half as biting tonight in his NBC commentary as he was on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" Wednesday, NBC will probably not ask him to host again. I'm positive he will be irreverant and hilarious.

Human Target (8pm, Fox) - Mark Valley (right) stars in this new adaptation of a DC Comics adventure. Valley ("Boston Legal") is Christopher Chance, a bodyguard who rents himself out as a literal human target. The show is funny and dramatic, which suits Valley well. Another reason to give it a shot is the presence of Chi McBride ("Pushing Daisies"), who stars as Valley's boss, Winston.

Big Love (9pm, HBO) - Even though Nikki is likely to become the next Prophet at Juniper Creek, Bill considers running for Utah state senate. 

24 (9pm, Fox) - Dammit, Chloe! We're running out of time! That's right, Jack is back. It's hour 1 of Day 8, and the action begins in New York City. In addition to the obvious return of Kiefer Sutherland, Cherry Jones is back as President Taylor. The season will also feature newcomers Freddie Prinze Jr and Katee Sackhoff.

Brothers & Sisters (10pm, ABC) - Cheryl Hines guest stars as Buffy, Kitty's friend who comes in between her and Robert in a political development. You read that right: Buffy and Kitty. 

The Simpsons (8pm, Fox) - In the 450th episode, Krusty the Clown teams up with Princess Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and proposes marriage to her. Features the voices of Eartha Kitt and Jackie Mason. 

The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3D! On Ice! (8:30pm, Fox) - Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock interviews fans, cast members, writers, and celebrities in a celebration of the first 20 years of Matt Groening's animated masterpiece. 

Chuck (9pm, NBC) - The third season of "Chuck" returns with two back-to-back episodes in which our favorite spy must figure out his new career path and also his relationship with Sarah. It's really good so please watch it.

Desperate Housewives (9pm, ABC) - In the aftermath of the plane crash (which resulted in Karl's death and Orson being paralyzed), Bree tries to undo some of the pain she has caused her husband. 

Big Love (9pm, HBO) - In the season 4 premiere, Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) faces even more personal and professional challenges. He's launching the Mormon-friendly Indian casino (a storyline I grew very tired of in season three), dealing with leftover turmoil at the Juniper Creek compound, and of course, still trying to keep his three wives in check. If you need a refresher on the big moments from seasons 1-3, HBO has condensed it all into a five-minute video. 

HBO's polygomy series "Big Love' returns on Sunday at 9 p.m., with a lot of changes and one big name: Sissy Spacek.

To celebrate, we're giving away the "Big Love: The Complete Third
Season" DVD.

Just send an email to adrienne.johnson@newsobserver.com with the words BIG LOVE in the subject line by noon on Saturday (Jan. 9) at noon.

Big Love, HBO, Sunday, January 18 - 9pm

HBO's acclaimed polygamy drama Big Love finally returns for its third season this Sunday, and things are still just as messed up for the Henrickson clan as ever: The government is cracking down on polygamists, a vengeful Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton) is in prison awaiting his trial, the family's finances are pretty shaky, and the Henrickson's neighbors are giving them the cold shoulder. And in the middle of this slow motion implosion of Bill's carefully-constructed life, he is inexplicably obsessed with expanding the family even more -- both with a new wife and new babies.