Today’s entertainment picks:

January 8, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

vMusicians Leigh Jaffer, Joe Falleti and Scott Burns, along with comedian John Hudson, 7:30 p.m.: A music and comedy show to benefit Christina’s Garden, a local group that helps cancer patients; Liberty High School, 1 Leopard Way, Liberty; 330- 259-2301.

v“You Can’t Beat the House,” 8 p.m.: Screwball comedy at Trumbull New Theatre, 5883 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles; 330-652-1103.

vStars of Tomorrow, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.: Local talent is on display in this annual showcase at New Castle Playhouse, 2023 E. Long Ave., New Castle, Pa.; 724-654-3437.

v“Once Upon a Mattress,” 7 p.m.: A high-school cast will stage this popular play at Stage Left Players’ Trinity Playhouse, 234 E. Lincoln Way, Lisbon; 330-831-7249.

vAlexis Antes, with Marilyn Burns, 8 p.m.: Cleveland singer- songwriter performs at Downtown Coffee Cafe, 29 N. Main St., Hubbard; 330-534-1199.

“It’s Me or the Dog” (8 p.m., Animal Planet): “It’s Me or the Dog” returns for a third season as Victoria Stillwell continues to try to get problematic pooches under control.

for a complete list of TV programming, see tv week insert.

LOCAL TOPICS ON TV

“Community Connection” (6:30 a.m. Sunday on 21 WFMJ-TV, and 10 a.m. Tuesday on Time Warner Cable community access channel): The Martin Luther King Planning Committee of the Valley will conduct activities for the community to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. The Rev. Lewis Macklin II and George Garchar of the committee will join host Madonna Chism Pinkard to discuss the programs.

Next, Monica Craven, the new executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the Mahoning Valley, will discuss the opportunities for volunteerism and the celebration of the 400,000th house being built by the organization.

Finally, Shelly Arena and Jane Evans, local managers from Catherine’s woman’s clothing stores, will announce their relationship with WFMJ and have a style show featuring fuller-figure models and clothing.

“Increase the Peace with Andrea Mahone” (6:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. on MyYTV): R&B singer Diamond Nicole of Warren and K-Toun are guests. They will discuss Diamond Nicole’s new video for “Only In My Dreams.”

“Sunday Morning with Dee” (8 a.m. Sunday on WKBN-TV 27): Host Dee Crawford will be joined by Yulanda McCarty-Harris and Robert Faulkner Sr. of the MLK Jr. Planning Committee to discuss events planned for Jan. 16 and 17.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Network’s first week pleases Winfrey

PASADENA, Calif.

Oprah Winfrey says she’s “grateful that we weren’t embarrassed” during the much-anticipated first weekend that her new Oprah Winfrey Network was on the air.

For a network started from scratch, OWN delivered some impressive sampling on its Jan. 1 debut. At one point that night, OWN was the third-ranked cable network behind ESPN and USA in the ratings.

Now on Page A2

The listing of Sunday news shows that usually runs on Saturday Valley life has moved to A2.