Hot dog! ESPN2 offers gorging contest
Happy birthday, America.
While Uncle Sam prepares to blow out 229 candles, Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence with various pursuits of happiness.
Those in pursuit of gluttony will enjoy the traditional “Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest” (8 p.m., ESPN2), live from Coney Island, N.Y.
Like baseball, that most American of games, the hotdog eating pastime has inspired talented players from the land of the rising sun. Japanese competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi holds the record in frankfurter consumption, having downed 53 and a half hotdogs (and buns) in the regulation 12-minute period.
Frankly, that makes him the sumo cum laude of the wiener world.
Viewers who prefer a rounder bun can digest “Hamburger America” (8 p.m., Sundance). Filmmaker George Motz embarked on a trip around the United States to find the tastiest burgers as well as the most colorful spatula-wielding characters.
In Memphis, Tenn., he visits Dyers, a burger joint where they claim to have been deepfrying ground beef in the same grease for the past 90 years.
When Dyers changed locations, the mayor offered a police escort for the restaurant’s legendary vats of “seasoned” grease.
In burger world, one man’s grease is another man’s steam. Ted’s restaurant in Meriden, Conn., has been using vaporized H2O to cook burgers since 1959.
Customers in Sedalia, Mo., have been parking at the Wheel Inn Drive-In since 1948. The attraction? The guberburger, a grilled burger topped with peanut butter.
And New Haven, Conn., is not only home to Yale University, it also touts Louis’ Lunch, the eatery that claims to be the birthplace of the hamburger.
The annual “A Capitol Fourth” (8 p.m., KSPS) fireworks extravaganza celebrates a birthday of its own, turning 25 this year. Performers include Gloria Estefan, The O’Jays and The Beach Boys, along with tenor Ronan Tynan and Erich Kunzel and the National Symphony Orchestra. Barry Bostwick hosts, as he has for some years now.
Elsewhere on the pyrotechnic front, Mariah Carey will perform at the “Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular” (9 p.m., NBC), tape-delayed from New York City. Harry Smith and Jann Carl host the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” (10 p.m. CBS) tape-delayed from the Charles River Esplanade.
Jeff Foxworthy hosts “An American Celebration at Ford’s Theatre” (10 p.m., ABC), recently taped before a live audience including President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Lynne Cheney and many Washington dignitaries. Musical performers include Hilary Duff and Josh Gracin, who viewers may remember as the Marine competitor on “American Idol.”
Other highlights
Viewers can spend six hours with the first three episodes of the miniseries “Into the West” (noon, TNT).
Two hours of crises on “Nanny 911” (8 p.m., Fox).
The stars of “Newlyweds” entertain troops in Germany and Iraq on “Nick & Jessica’s Tour of Duty” (8 p.m., ABC).
Failing grades on “Everybody Loves Raymond” (8 p.m., CBS),
A gamer clutches his last joystick on “CSI: Miami” (9 p.m., CBS).
A dream about her soldier brother haunts Allison on “Medium” (10 p.m., NBC).
Cult choice
James Cagney plays song-and-dance man George M. Cohan and sings and dances to the title song in the 1942 musical biography “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (noon, Turner Classic Movies).
Series notes
Joe Rogan hosts “Fear Factor” (8 p.m., NBC) … Flex’s big deal may collapse on “One on One” (8 p.m., UPN) … Thanksgiving on “7th Heaven” (8 p.m., WB).
A sneaking suspicion on “All of Us” (8:30 p.m., UPN) … Misplaced anger on “Two and a Half Men” (8:30 p.m., CBS). … Stranded on a dateless night on “Girlfriends” (9 p.m., UPN) … Ava can’t hide her feelings on “Summerland” (9 p.m., WB) … Musical recruiting on “Half & Half” (9:30 p.m., UPN).