Bill Clinton Jams with Elvis Costello and Other TV Highlights

THURSDAY DEC 4

As if to prove she was slumming it on Colbert, Walters anoints—for the 15th annual time—her 10 Most Fascinating People on ABC the very next night. The glimmering lineup includes Tina Fey, Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, Will Smith, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton, Katherine Heigl, Michael Phelps and—the big get—Don Imus in his first interview since being fired from his radio show for racist prattle. The #1 most fascinating person won’t be announced till showtime. Think an Obama can win this one, too? (10 p.m.)

We know you’re skeptical, but NBC’s Kath & Kim grows on you (in a good way). Perhaps this is the week to give it a chance, as Maya Rudolph, fresh from her brilliant turn as Michelle Obama on SNL, guest stars as a life coach and spiritual advisor to Molly Shannon’s stressed-out Kath. (8:30 p.m.)

FRIDAY DEC 5

His hands may shake, but his ire never wavers in Lewis Black: Red, White, & Screwed. The Daily Show contributor takes aim at all things Republican, and more than a few things Dem. (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)

SATURDAY DEC 6

Set your DVR: VH1 is replaying its four-part series, Sex: The Revolution, the story of how bra burning, Stonewall and Deep Throat changed America. (8 p.m.)

Malkovich! Malkovich! Malkovich! The Emmy-winning thespian and director will host Saturday Night Live, along with musical guest T.I., whose much-lauded recent album Paper Trail was written while he was under house arrest. (11:30 p.m.)

LOOKING AHEAD…

Finally, Barack Obama makes his first Meet the Press appearance since he became president-elect. Will Tom Brokaw, on what could very well be his last day as host, dare grill the golden boy? (NBC, Sunday, Dec 2, 10:30 a.m. in most East Coast markets)

Nicole Ankowski has lived in Ohio, Oakland, and on the high plains of South Dakota, but is now proud to call Brooklyn home. She wrote for alternative weekly papers in the first two states, and tried to learn Lakota in the last. (The vowels can be tricky.) She just earned her MFA in Creative Writing and has been published in Beeswax literary journal. She is unable to resist good writing or bad TV.