Go Golden Retrievers, Go!

Don’t care if your pooch is a high-falutin’ lap dog with sparkly nails or a broken down hound that hasn’t seen a bath in a year — if you’re a dog lover, you are likely to find yourself barking for your favorite breed during USA’s coverage of the 131st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The two-day competition will feature 165 breeds and 2,500 sashaying, prancing canines aiming for Best in Show honors. It all takes place at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This year’s competition marks the 24th year that USA has televised the event. Feb. 12 and Feb. 13.

New NASCAR Series Revs Up ESPN2

Calling all NASCAR lovers: ESPN2 is about to debut a daily show devoted to all things NASCAR (which for those who live under a rock, stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). NASCAR Now features reports and analysis from Brad Daughtery, a five-time National Basketball Association All-Star and former NASCAR team owner. Also on board is former NASCAR crew chief Frank Stoddard, a 14-race winner with Jeff Burton, and veteran racing TV reporter Shannon Spake. They’ll work from a pit studio to be all that much closer to the action. It all takes place every Monday through Friday, starting Feb. 5.

History Channel Promises New Take on Nixon

At a time when intense debate is swirling around our country’s penultimate leader, perhaps there’s no better time to step back and look at another administration’s performance in the History Channel special Nixon: A Presidency Revealed. Needless to say, the triumphs and failures of Richard M. Nixon have been the subject of many a TV show. But the History Channel promises this special will include new material, including recorded conversations in the Oval Office, Nixon family home movies, transcripts of conversations with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and the diary entries of Nixon's Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman. Tentatively set for a February debut.

It’s So Cory

Disney Channel hit it big with That’s So Raven over the last four years. Now it’s attempting to spread the gold dust with a new spin-off series called Cory in the House. The Cory of the title is none other than Kyle Massey, reprising the role he played on Raven, along with Rondell Sheridan as Victor Baxter. In the new series, Victor becomes the personal chef of the President of the United States and Cory and Victor move into the White House. Among Cory’s problems: the President’s sly 8-year-old daughter. Debuts Jan. 12.

A Movie Man’s Marathon

Turner Classic Movies has inspired adulation among movie devotees over the years because it runs fabulous movie classics without commercials. And for those fans, there’s no better time to tune in than in the month leading up to the Oscar ceremonies, when the network showcases Academy Award winners of the past, dubbing the stunt 31 Days of Oscar. It’s an extremely large lineup that TCM spreads across the month — this year, movie lovers can enjoy everything from A Passage to India to Prizzi’s Honor to Batman Returns. Those three are among the movies appearing on TCM for the first time during 31 Days of Oscar. Park yourself in front of the tube and pass the popcorn starting Feb. 1.

Parker Steals Scene as The Robber Bride

Pedigree is written all over Robber Bride, a new original movie from Oxygen, thanks to at least two classy dames. It’s adapted from the novel of the same name by best-selling author Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale). Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds, Angels in America) takes on the lead role. The story centers on three women who have all had their men and money stolen by a glamorous woman named Zenia. That would be Parker. With three revenge-crazed women on her tail, one has to wonder if Parker’s playing yet another girl with a little smoking problem. Tentatively set for a March debut.

... And She’s Gorgeous!

Giada De Laurentiis seems to have it all. First off, she’s the granddaughter of Dino De Laurentiis (Serpico, Barbarella). Giada’s husband has his own measure of fame as a clothing designer for the trendy clothing store chain Anthropologie. Giada went to the Cordon Bleu cooking school. And she grew up in Italy. How cool is that? Food Network groupies are familiar with Giada’s popular cooking show Everyday Italian. Now the network is showcasing her in a new primetime series called Giada’s Weekend Getaways. In each episode, she’ll explore different weekend destinations — everything from Jackson Hole, Wyo., to Cape Cod. Premieres Jan. 12.

Cybill With Two L’s

The question about Cybill Shepard for many people is not whether they love her work, but rather when they fell in love with her — during The Last Picture Show, or Moonlighting, or something else? Now, she’s returning to TV as a cast member of The L Word. She plays a married woman with two grown children who suddenly begins to question her sexuality. Perhaps some steamy moments with Jennifer Beals’ character are in the works. Cybill plays she plays Beales’ character’s boss as the executive vice chancellor of a fictional California university. New episodes premiere on Showtime Jan. 7.

Hollywood Hills High Concept

If there’s anything Hollywood loves, it’s a one-sentence concept. That’s exactly what A&E concocted with a new series called Sons of Hollywood, which is billed as a real-life version of HBO’s popular Hollywood insider series Entourage. It features Randy Spelling, son of Hollywood producer Aaron Spelling and brother of Tori. Also on tap is Rod Stewart’s son Sean and the talent agent Dave Weintraub. The trio fly their parental nests for a house in the Hollywood Hills. A&E promises: “Their relationship is real. Their dynamic is organic.” You be the judge of that. Premieres in March.

Darwin’s Natural Selection

Savage, bizarre, hellish. No, we’re not describing the kid next door, but rather the Galapagos Islands, a place where iguanas swim like dragons, birds become vampires, and enormous tortoises bellow over lava fields. The islands are the subject of a new three-part special called Galapagos — The Islands that Changed the World. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the shore of Ecuador, Galapagos is where Charles Darwin developed the concepts of evolution and natural selection. With the amount of time and expense it takes to visit this remote archipelago in person, this show provides a much easier alternative. Premieres on National Geographic Channel in March.

Butt Naked and Ready to Roll

The inside skinny on The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show is that Comedy Central originally planned to debut the series last October. But when the TV critics took a sneak peak, they loved it. End result: The network delayed the premiere of the series until January so it wouldn’t have to compete with so many premieres on other networks. But will this offbeat comedy appeal to the inner critic in you? Dave (Gruber) Allen stars as a long-haul driver whose attire is true to the show’s title. His sidekick, David Koechner, is “smart as a whip, and not afraid to use one,” according to Comedy Central. Expect plenty of twisted tales.

Sweet Side of Divorce Court

Remember Adam’s Rib — the Katherine Hepburn-Spencer Tracey classic about two attorneys who are deeply in love, and deeply torn when they end up on either side of a murder case? Well, Hallmark Channel has taken that concept and spun it into a contemporary movie confection called Love Is a Four-Letter Word. This time cupid shoots his arrows at a couple of attorneys who are representing opposing sides of a divorce case. Needless to say, it presents some interesting complications with the clients. The movie features Terri Polo (Meet the Parents) and Barry Bostwick (Spin City). Premieres in February.

Ace of All Space

There must be some kind of innate human rule: no matter whether you’re living in a broom closet in Manhattan or a Santa Fe hacienda, chances are you aren’t making the most of the space at your disposal. Unless you’re a Karl Champley type. He’s the host of a new show called Wasted Spaces, which helps homeowners maximize all the nooks and crannies just dying to be utilized in the average home. He can get you all worked up about an unassuming kitchen wall. Debuts Jan. 24 at 9 PM on the DIY Network.

Interns to the Rescue on Animal Planet

If you’re someone who finds nature shows featuring animals attacking each other a tad gruesome, here’s a show that might appeal: The E-Vet Interns. Sure, there might be a little gore involved. But this is a reality series that features six interns fresh out of school and on emergency duty at Colorado’s Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, made famous by Animal Planet’s Emergency Vet series. These young vets are constantly confronted with decisions that can mean the difference between life and death for the animals they’re treating. Luckily for all involved, they’ll have access to the most advanced equipment, and seasoned vets at their sides. Premieres Jan. 8.

Mooning Around on Lifetime

Never let it be said that Peter Guber doesn’t know his way around the movie biz — or that Nora Roberts doesn’t know her way around a love triangle. Now the Hollywood legend and the best-selling author are bringing their talents to Lifetime. The network is debuting four films based on Roberts’ novels, and executive-produced by Guber. First up is Carolina Moon, which stars Jacqueline Bisset, followed by Montana Sky, Angels Fall and Blue Smoke. The books they’re based on are but four reasons why Roberts’ work sells at an average 21 copies a minute. (Or so they say.) Debuts in February.