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What to Watch on Sunday: A Betty White valentine, 'Downton Abbey' finale

Rogue Justice (8pm, CNN) - A new documentary examining trouble in the North Carolina state justice system. This repeats at 11pm.

Screen Actors Guild Awards (8pm, TNT and TBS) - Outstanding film and TV performances are honored in the 17th annual gala from Los Angeles. Ernest Borgnine will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. And for you sensitive types, no snarky Brits will be hosting.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - The conclusion of the first season of this excellent Masterpiece Theatre series finds a surprising heir alternative to Matthew (Dan Stevens, right) coming to the fore. Also, Sybil's secret political life causes her harm, Anna investigates Mr. Bates' past while in London with Mrs. Patmore, Mary meddles with Edith's romantic plans, and Thomas plans his exit strategy.

Big Love (9pm, HBO) - Christmas becomes a trying time for the Henricksons in the face of shocking disclosures from Barb, Margene, and Adaleen. Meanwhile, Cara Lynn digs deeper into the disappearance of her father, and Lura goes to extremes to avoid Alby's purification measures at Juniper Creek.

The Lost Valentine (9pm, CBS) - A Hallmark Hall of Fame movie about a dogged TV reporter (Jennifer Love Hewitt) who finds her own love life changed when she profiles a World War II widow (Betty White) who continues to honor the memory of her Navy pilot husband 65 years after he was declared missing in action. Also stars Billy Magnussen, a 2007 graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts. See our review.

Californication (9pm, Showtime) - Hank learns from his attorney that his statutory rape case is going to trial. Meanwhile, Karen and Marcy buy a home-pregnancy test to see if Marcy is with child.

Episodes (9:30pm, Showtime) - Beverly and Sean rescue a drunken Matt from a bar outside of LA and attempt to shield him from the paparazzi.

What to Watch on Sunday: Championship football and British nobility

NFL Playoffs - We usually leave the sports programming to the sports pages, but these games are big. At 3pm on Fox, the NFC Championship game pits the Bears vs. the Packers. Then at 6:30pm on CBS, the AFC game has the Jets vs. the Steelers. That means a lot of repeats on the broadcast networks tonight.

The Simpsons/Bob's Burgers/etc (8pm, Fox) - Except on Fox, where they hope you'll stick around for new episodes after the NFC game. On "The Simpsons," Homer learns about parenting from a 1980s sitcom. James Lipton and David Mamet have voice cameos. On "Bob's Burgers," a documentary filmmaker tries to make a statement by leaving a live cow outside the burger joint, but Bob treats the cow like part of the family. "Family Guy" and "Cleveland Show" are also new.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - I find myself waiting all week for the next installment in this excellent Masterpiece Theatre series. Tonight, in part 3 of 4, the rivalry between Mary and Edith reaches a fever pitch, and Thomas and O'Brien plot against poor Mr. Bates while Anna's (and my) fondness for him grows.

Big Love (9pm, HBO) - Now that his private life is public, Bill tries to bring more polygamists into the open. Ellen Burstyn guest stars.

Californication (9pm, Showtime) - Hank is pleasantly surprised when Karen invites him to stay with her following his accidental overdose, and Becca is invited to join a band. "Episodes" is after this at 9:30.

Shameless (10pm, Showtime) - The family must come up with a plan when the feds come searching for "Aunt Ginger," whose social security checks are getting cashed in town despite the fact that she supposedly lives in another state. Also, Ian angers the brothers of a girl whose advances he rejects.

What to Watch on Sunday: Golden Globe Awards, return of "Big Love"

Golden Globe Awards (8pm, NBC) - Maybe the best awards show of the season, mostly because the attendees sometimes get a little drunk before making their speeches. In addition to awards in movies and television, Robert DeNiro will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Raleigh native Michael C. Hall (left) is nominated for his starring role in "Dexter" (Hall won the award last year). Hosted by Ricky Gervais, who promises after tonight, the Globes will never invite him back. We'll be live-blogging here, so check in.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - In part two (of four) of this excellent Masterpiece series, Mary continues to entertain suitors, including a Turkish diplomat. Also, much to his dismay, the former life of Mr. Carson is revealed, and Mr. Bates risks his health in order to keep his post as valet.

Desperate Housewives (9pm, ABC) - Lynette tries to stop her mom (Polly Bergen) from marrying an odious man (Larry Hagman). Also, Bree learns some trouble things from Keith's ex-girlfriend, Carlos worries about Gaby's obsession with a doll, and Susan befriends a depressed and curmudgeonly dialysis patient.

Californication (9pm, Showtime) - Hank's efforts to mend things with Becca by taking her to a guitar store run by musican Zakk Wylde fail. Hank later takes a meeting with Oscar-winning actor Rick (Rob Lowe, doing his best Brad Pitt), who is set to play him in the film of his novel.

Big Love (9pm, HBO) - In the fifth season premiere, which picks up in the ugly aftermath of Bill's election victory and his revelation of polygamy, the Henrickson family suffers indignities and scorn wherever they go. Also, Alby returns to Juniper Creek from his exile in the desert.

Episodes (9:30pm, Showtime) - Sean and Beverly are wined and dined at Merc's elegant house party, and Sean is flattered by a very smooth Matt LeBlanc. Matt also flirts a little with Beverly, who discovers too late that it's better to be on the star's good side than be his enemy.

Ted Haggard: Scandalous (10pm, TLC) - TLC continues its examination of the sordid with a profile of disgraced pastor Ted Haggard, founder of Colorado's New Life Church who left the ministry in 2006 following a sex and drugs scandal. The TLC show follows Haggard as he tries to start a new life and new church.

Denis Leary & Friends: Douchebags and Donuts (10pm, Comedy Central) - Leary performs at New York City's Town Hall with help from comedians Whitney Cummings, Lenny Clarke, and Adam Ferrara.

What to Watch on Sunday: A shameless wealth of debut episodes

Bob's Burgers (8:30pm, Fox) - A new animated series about a family man who opens a burger joint. Read Adrienne's review here.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - The "Masterpiece" season premiere features the engrossing four-part drama that begins in 1912, when the sinking of the Titanic   punctures the succession plans of Lord Grantham, the father of three daughters, and inspires his wife (Elizabeth McGovern) and mother (Maggie Smith) to push him to separate his title from his estate, which are legally entailed to pass only to a man.

The Cape (9pm, NBC) - The pilot of a weak new action drama from NBC about an ex-cop (David Lyons) who takes on a superhero persona and fights crime.

Californication (9pm, Showtime) - Season 4 finds Hank getting bailed out of jail and discovering he's the toast of the town thanks to his involvement in the literary sex scandal. On the downside, he's facing a lawsuit and Karen and Becca want nothing to do with him.

Episodes (9:30pm, Showtime) - The premiere of a new sitcom which stars former "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc as himself, landing a role in a sitcom and hoping to make a comeback. British comedy veterans Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig, who play the married screenwriting team, are wonderful. Definitely check it out (read more in our review).

Shameless (10pm, Showtime) - A strange new drama (?) with William H. Macy as a shiftless alcoholic who lets his six motherless children fend for themselves while he drinks away all their money and treats them like crap. Here's my conflicted, somewhat rambling review.

Louis C.K.: Hilarious (10pm, Comedy Central) - Louis C.K.'s latest stand-up act offers reflections on his divorce and life as a single father in his forties.

Matt LeBlanc makes friends (and enemies) in new Showtime sitcom

"Friends" fans, rejoice. Matt LeBlanc is back in a television series and this time, it's pretty darn good.

LeBlanc plays himself -- or at least, a version of himself -- in a new sitcom premiering on Showtime Sunday night. "Episodes" is about a married British screenwriting team who have a huge hit with their classy, award-winning show in England, and are then enticed to bring that hit to Hollywood.

The writers are promised the moon, but of course, once they get to Hollywood, there are huge obstacles. For starters, the buffoonish network executive (John Pankow) who lured them to the states doesn't like their established star, a distinguished British actor who has led the series for four years. The exec has a great idea for a replacement: the out-of-work Matt LeBlanc.

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