Tonight's TV Hot List: Saturday, July 4, 2009
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
Tour de France
9:30 am/ET Versus
After a nearly four-year absence, seven-time champion and American cycling icon Lance Armstrong returns to the Tour de France, which kicks off its three-week whirlwind trek through France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy, covering 3500km. Despite his prolonged sabbatical from racing, Armstrong looks to be one of the top contenders, but he'll have to hold off the past two champions, Carlos Sastre (2008) and Alberto Contador (2007), as well as Cadel Evans, who was the runner-up the last two years. — Kelly McGettigan
Hot Dog Eating Contest
12 pm/ET ESPN
A long list of talented qualifiers from across the country has been assembled over the past two months for today's 94th annual Nathan's Famous contest on Coney Island, but they're merely enjoying a big lunch compared to the event's costars: two-time defending champ Joey Chestnut and six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi. Year after year, these icons of competitive eating stare each other down while wolfing down wieners (and buns...it's not for the Atkins crowd) at an alarming rate. Chestnut reclaimed the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt last year by winning a five-dog head-to-head overtime race after he and Kobayashi tied at 59 dogs apiece in the 10-minute regulation period. — Roger Leister
Capitol Fourth
8 pm/ET PBS
Jimmy Smits hosts this celebration of America's 233rd birthday from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, where the planned festivities include fireworks and performances by Barry Manilow — who's set to open and close the show — and soul-R&B legend Aretha Franklin. Also on hand: the Sesame Street Muppets, the cast of "Jersey Boys" (the Broadway musical about the pop group the Four Seasons), pop singer Natasha Bedingfield, vocalist Michael Feinstein, and Erich Kunzel and the National Symphony Orchestra. — Jeff Gemmill
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
9 pm/ET NBC
Musical firepower ignites coverage of Manhattan's 33rd annual fireworks display, which bursts to life with the theme "American River." Music artists slated to appear include rock singer Rob Thomas and singer-songwriter Jewel, and adding a theatrical spin to the event is the cast of Broadway's West Side Story, featuring Cody Green, Karen Olivo, Josefina Scaglione and Matt Cavenaugh. Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber anchor coverage. — Dean Maurer
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
10 pm/ET CBS
What better way to celebrate America's 233rd birthday than with spectacular fireworks and the Boston Pops playing patriotic music at the Charles River Esplanade, under the direction of maestro Keith Lockhart? Joining the Independence Day celebration is music icon Neil Diamond and late-night funnyman Craig Ferguson, who hosts the event for the third consecutive year. The finale includes the traditional pyrotechnics display accompanied by the "1812 Overture." — Tim Holland
