SundayAlec Baldwin applies his whispering-wolf voice to narrate "Great Migrations" (7 p.m., NGC), the most ambitious project in the National Geographic Channel's 10-year history. The seven-part series looks at animals in seven continents, starting with the slow but steady trek by Christmas Island red crabs and continuing with the 300-mile gallop made each year by African wildebeests. Baldwin does, however, fail to document how his "30 Rock" co-star Tracy Morgan manages to find his way to work every day.

MondayAmber Tamblyn seems to be recovering nicely from the all-too-swift cancellation of "Joan of Arcadia" and the fact that she's getting a little too old to be running around in Traveling Pants. She starts a run on "House" (7 p.m., KMSP, Ch. 9), playing an ambitious medical student eager to impress the staff. I think we can all guess how well that turns out.

TuesdayAt the start of the season, I pegged Cloris Leachman as a breakout star for her wacky work on "Raising Hope" (8:01 p.m., KMSP, Ch. 9). She has lived up to expectations, but it's only fair to point out that co-star Martha Plimpton is lapping her in scene-stealing moments. Plimpton has reinvented the exasperated-mommy role in much the same way Jane Kaczmarek did on "Malcolm in the Middle" -- and that nifty trick earned Kaczmarek seven Emmy nominations.

WednesdayGwyneth Paltrow sings! Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert pay sweet, sweet tribute to Loretta Lynn! Co-host Carrie Underwood breaks down on the podium over the fact that she has never won Entertainer of the Year! Sugarland gets turned away at the door for abandoning country music! Look for all that and more during the "44th Annual CMA Awards" (7 p.m., KSTP, Ch. 5).

Thursday"The Big Bang Theory" (7 p.m., WCCO, Ch. 4) may be the hottest sitcom on the air, but its competitor "Community" (7 p.m. KARE, Ch. 11) has become one of the boldest. While I've always liked "Community," I've been bowled over by the chances it has taken this season, including a recent episode in which most of the action took place in a moving space simulator. In the latest outing, the gang lock themselves in a room until they discover which of them stole a pen. Claustrophobia, at least on this series, seems to guarantee comedy.

NEAL JUSTIN