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Prime rating, June 4

The best of this week's TV

Mark Humbert, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 4, 2007 at midnight

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Prime choice

Creature Comforts

• 7 p.m. today CBS 4

The show: "It smells pretty ripe," a man is heard to say, apparently assessing a bottle of wine. Except the man's voice is dubbed to an animated dog, which, at that moment, is seen sniffing another pooch's rear end. "I'm getting medium-to-dark notes."

Welcome to Creature Comforts, which presents the voice of the people . . . from the mouths of adorable animated animals. The new CBS series compiles actual comments from ordinary humans, then creates stop-action critters as their onscreen interview surrogates. Think Comedy Central's Crank Yankers for a network TV audience.

Why watch it? For now it's the curiosity factor of a new series. But then, Frazier Moore of the Associated Press says it can be hilarious, with scenes like this: A hippo talks about going to a doctor: "They call you in there, and then some skinny girl's gonna weigh you. It's gonna be some Ally McBeal-looking girl who's gonna weigh you."

Who thought this up? The series is based on an Oscar-winning short film that spawned a hit series on British TV. It is produced by Aardman Animations, which made the feature films Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of The Were-Rabbit and Chicken Run.

Tuesday

Kathy Griffin comedy special

• 7 p.m. Bravo

The show: Before Kathy Griffin launches a new season of her reality hit, My Life on the D-List, she goes to prison . . . to tape a stand-up comedy special. It was taped at the Arizona Perryville State Penitentiary in Santa Rosa, Calif. She dishes on celebrities during the special in her own D-List style.

Daytime

Today • 7-9 a.m. 9News

The show: NBC News' Matt Lauer, below, will take viewers on a special visit to Cuba, reporting live Tuesday from Havana on Today. He will talk about current political and cultural climates, an update on Fidel Castro's health and his importance in the country, and Cuba's relations with the U.S.

Friday

Billy Graham TV Special

• 7 p.m. Denver's 7

The show: Reality and spirituality: Billy Graham's Rapid Response Team provides comfort and counsel at Virginia Tech hours after the tragedy in this hourlong special.

Saturday

Ruffian • 8 p.m. Denver's 7

The show: Sam Shepard stars as trainer Frank Whitely in the story of one of horse racing's great fillies, and the unique 1975 "battle of the sexes" match race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure.

Sunday Tony Awards • 7 p.m. CBS 4

The show: Spring Awakening leads the field of nominees at the 61st annual Tony Awards, celebrating Broadway theaters. Presenters include Harry Connick Jr., Felicity Huffman and Angela Lansbury.

Wednesday

Tyler Perry's House of Payne

• 7 p.m. TBS

The show: Tyler Perry,(Diary of a Mad Black Woman), plays a firefighter and head of a multigenerational Atlanta Family in House of Payne. In this episode he also portrays a formidable female foe.

Thursday

NBA finals

• 7 p.m. Denver's 7

The show: Lace 'em up: The NBA finals tip off in prime time on ABC. The San Antonio Spurs have bullied and flopped their way into thefinals, making all of their previous opponents look like the Nuggets.