1947: Princess Elizabeth and The Prince Philip (Getty Images)
The royal carriage. (AFP/Getty Images)
TV network execs are betting on royal watchers being glued to the tube all week. So crank up those DVRs because the usual suspects (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN) are heading to London to offer round-the-clock coverage.—D.C.
Today, April 24
7 pm
* “Charles and Di: Once Upon a Time,” TLC Theirs was a marriage that looked like it would last forever. The fairytale wedding (below) had an ugly ending.
8 pm
* “Untold Stories of a Royal Bridesmaid,” TLC India Hicks was a bridesmaid when her cousin and godfather, Prince Charles, married Lady Diana. Hicks speculates what fate awaits William and Kate and recalls what the wedding day was really like for Diana.
Monday, April 25
6 am
* “American Morning,” CNN Kiran Chetry is live from London all week.
* “Wake-Up with Al,” Weather Channel
TV’s most ubiquitous weather man reports on the “natural beauty of the royal couple’s new home” in North Wales.
7 am
* “Today,” NBC Meredith Vieira starts the show at Buckingham Palace and tours fabulous Kensington Palace. Natalie Morales heads to Buckleberry, Kate Middleton’s home.
* “Good Morning America,” ABC Robin Roberts is on the case, live from London.
11 am
* “Access Hollywood Live” and “Access Hollywood” (NBC) with Billy Bush are live from London for the week.
9 pm
* “Piers Morgan Tonight,” CNN
Piers Morgan goes home for a week of live broadcasts from London.
10 pm
* “Wild About Prince Harry,” TLC Why should Prince William hog the spotlight? This show focuses on his kid brother — the world’s newest most eligible bachelor.
12:30 am
* “Nightline,” ABC Cynthia McFadden anchors from London; Tim Gunn will contribute reports throughout the week.
Tuesday, April 26
7 am
* “Today,” NBC Vieira interviews Constantine II, the King of Greece, about his godson, Prince William.
* “Good Morning America,” ABC
Barbara Walters reports on Prince William’s charmed childhood from Kensingston Palace.
10 pm
* “What the Sell?! Royal Episodes,” TLC
Princess Di memorabilia and some royal lingerie are the topics of discussion.
Wednesday, April 27
7 am
* “The Early Show,” CBS Erica Hill begins live broadcasts from London.
* “Today,” NBC Vieira is live from Trafalgar Square and Morales is at Westminster Abbey.
6:30 pm
* “The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric”
* “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams”
* “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer”
London broadcasts begin.
8 pm
* “Inside The Royal Wedding,” NBC
Lauer and Vieira take viewers behind-the-scenes for a look at the wedding preparations.
10:00 pm
* “Anderson Cooper 360,” CNN The natural disaster magnet crosses the pond to begin broadcasting live for the remainder of the week.
* “Extreme Royal Collection,” TLC
A look at the world’s most avid royal collectors who know weddings from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (below) to Prince Charles and Lady Di.
Thursday, April 28
7 am
* “Today,” NBC Lauer joins Vieira at Buckingham Palace. Ann Curry goes to Westminster Abbey. Carolyn Robb, a former royal chef, will make Prince William’s favorite cake.
8 pm
* “20/20” “Royal Wedding: A Modern Fairytale” ABC A look at Kate’s new life as a royal, hosted by Chris Cuomo in London and Elizabeth Vargas in New York.
* “The Making of a Royal Wedding,” TLC
A backstage look at the planning that goes into an extravaganza of this nature. TLC speaks to the tailors, butlers, chefs, and even some wedding guests.
* Fox News’ Shepard Smith and Greta Van Susteren host London-based broadcasts for the rest of the week.
9 pm
* “Countdown to the Royal Wedding,” TLC Clinton Kelly and Randy Fenoli host a roundtable of royal experts from New York and the UK.
Friday, April 29 THE BIG DAY
3 am
* Live feed from London, PBS Get up early to see the arrival of William and Kate and their guests at Westminster Abbey, the wedding ceremony and the procession to Buckingham Palace, until 8:30 am (an encore presentation airs 9 am – 2:30 on WLIW Ch. 21).BBC America broadcasts live coverage from London until 8:30 am.
* MSNBC kicks off live coverage on all its early morning shows including “Morning Joe” and “Martin Bashir.”
4 am
* “Good Morning America,” ABC Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters stifle their yawns and battle for close-ups.
* “Today,” NBC The gang is up early to cover the wedding and all the ongoing celebrations around London.
* CNN’s live coverage begins, anchored by Piers Morgan, Richard Quest and “special contributor” Cat Deeley.
* “Live From the Royal Wedding,” E!
Five hours of live coverage hosted by Giuliana Rancic and a gaggle of reporters.
* Fox News’ Shepard Smith and Martha MacCallum do the honors.
5 am
* “The Early Show,” CBS
Erica Hill hangs at Buckingham Palace.
* “Royal Wedding Coverage,” TLC
Live “pre-show” coverage and the wedding in Times Square on the JumboTrons.
7 pm
* “Special Edition of E! News”
Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic put in their two cents.
8 pm
* “The Royal Wedding: Modern Majesty,” CBS
Katie Couric trots out the day’s events and shows footage from the morning.
* “Kathy Griffin’s Insightful & Hilarious Take on the Royal Wedding,” TV Guide Channel The irrepressible publicity slut and comic weighs in.
9 pm
* “Dateline,” NBC
Ann Curry hosts a two-hour “instant documentary” on William and Kate.
* “20/20,” ABC
Barbara Walters does two hours of wedding highlights.
* “Will and Kate: Road to the Altar,” E! Ryan Seacrest hosts this clip-job special.
10 pm
* “Fashion Police: Royal Wedding,” E!
Not surprisingly, Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourne and Giuliana Rancic trash everyone’s outfits.