Tonight's TV Hot List: Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010

Big Love
9/8c HBO
Despite what anyone else thinks, Bill is serious about running for the Utah state senate, because now he's in Washington, D.C., to solicit support from a Beehive State congressman (Perry King). But while Bill may be the cat's pajamas back home, he's no king of the jungle when it comes to dealing with a powerful lobbyist (Sissy Spacek). Bill may want to get home soon, however, because J.J.'s stirring up trouble and Barb's tone deafness on the reservation isn't winning over many hearts and minds. — Joe Friedrich
NFC Championship
6:30/5:30c Fox
For most of the season, this was the matchup NFL fans expected to see in the NFC title game. Minnesota and New Orleans went through a lull in December, but dominating wins against hot opponents last weekend seemed to show that they're back on track. Led by QBs Brett Favre and Drew Brees, these are the top two scoring offenses in the NFL; and while the Saints have the advantage of the home field, that edge may be offset by the Vikings pass rush, which gave Tony Romo and the Cowboys fits last Sunday. — Dave Roeder
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
8/7c ABC
Jamaican immigrant Delores Powell became an American citizen in May 1999 and pursued the American dream of home ownership for her family. Unfortunately, the home she bought — and thought was a fixer-upper — was more like a tearer-downer, as the city had scheduled it for demolition. Ty and his team step in to rebuild the house and bring it up to code to avoid the wrecking ball. Ashanti joins the volunteers to help share the Powells' joy with her Buffalo neighbors. — Fred Mitchell
Masterpiece Classic
9/8c PBS
Jane Austen purists may have a quibble or two with this handsome, three-part production of the beloved author's comedic Emma, but even they should be won over by Romola Garai's delightful turn as the clueless heroine and Jonny Lee Miller's take on the ever-annoyed Mr. Knightley. In tonight's first installment, Emma sets out to prove her matchmaking prowess by arranging a match for unsophisticated orphan Harriet Smith (Louise Dylan). — Jeff Gemmill
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
8/7c Nickelodeon
This episode tackles the difficult topic of children who battle cancer by having kids share their personal stories. Some of those stories include a 10-year-old boy undergoing treatment who talks about the protective mask he doesn't like wearing in public because of the stares he gets; and a 14-year-old girl in remission from bone cancer who discusses her new "bionic" leg. In addition, host Linda Ellerbee, an 18-year cancer survivor, explains that cancer has never defined her nor any of these children. — Jennifer Sankowski