1. `Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup II’
7 p.m., Animal Planet
In this new special, seven riders and horses compete for a $50,000 prize in three phases that test their speed, strength and stamina. The hour also includes a peek behind the scenes with the riders, horses, owners and crews. Tim Ryan and Frank Madden host.
2. `Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’
8 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5
Cupid is in the house — can you feel the love? Former wrestler Goldberg guest stars as a cherubically named but violently inclined tough guy who trashes the SVU headquarters.
3. `Law & Order: Criminal Intent’
9 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5
Keep the leftovers warm for Goren and Eames (Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe). They’re called away from their Thanksgiving celebrations by the disappearance of a high-ranking police official’s daughter, a soldier who was home on leave. Being required to work is especially hard on Goren, whose mother (guest star Rita Moreno) is in failing health.
4.`2007 Independent Spirit Awards’
9 p.m., AMC
Sarah Silverman returns to host the Independent Spirit Awards, which is like the kids table of Oscar weekend. There isn’t as much overlap between these awards and the Oscars as there was last year, but this could be a big weekend for best picture Oscar nominee “Little Miss Sunshine,” which is up for five Independent Spirit Awards including best feature, best director, best first screenplay and two best supporting actor awards for Alan Arkin and Paul Dano.
5. `George Lopez: America’s Mexican’
9 p.m., HBO
Don’t tell Lopez to get out of Dodge; everyone’s having too much fun with him there. That’s the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, the setting for his new special. He brings his quick wit to bear on such diverse topics as cars, kids, interracial relationships and immigration.
6. `Saturday Night Live’
10:30 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5
Let’s hope there’s a good parody of “The Office” when Rainn Wilson, a.k.a. Dwight Schrute on the NBC comedy, hosts “Saturday Night Live.” Though the sketch-comedy show has its dry patches, with a really game host (i.e. Drew Barrymore, Justin Timberlake, Alec Baldwin) the show can, on occasion, really shine. The musical guests are the always-compelling Arcade Fire, who are promoting their new album, “Neon Bible.” — Maureen Ryan
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Compiled by Carmel Carrillo from Tribune staff and wire reports.
