Sweeps Schedule: February 1st-February 4th

It’s the time of year when people die, get married, have kids, or suddenly become friends with the hottest stars…

That’s right, my friends, it is once again that magical time of year known as sweeps. And it all begins tomorrow (February 1st).

But don’t worry. As usual, I’ll be here to get you through it.

Here’s what special things are planned for this week (February 1st-February 4th)…

Thursday, “Ugly Betty” (8 p.m., ABC) welcomes Katharine McPhee and Tim Gunn and “30 Rock” (9:30 p.m., NBC) welcomes both Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) and Isabella Rossellini. “ER” continues the guest star parade with Academy Award Nominee Forest Whitaker wrapping up his stint. And don’t forget “The O.C.” at 9 p.m. on FOX…

Friday, Steven Weber pays a visit to his former “Wings” co-star Tony Shalhoub on “Monk” (9 p.m., USA). CBS relives the Super Bowl’s greatest commercials with a one-hour special at 9 p.m…

Saturday, Hallmark Channel gets a jump on Valentine’s Day with “Love Is a Four Letter Word,” starring Teri Polo and cutie Robert Mailhouse as opposing divorce attorneys who fall for each other (9 p.m.). We learn who the top two Super Bowl teams of all time are on the final two installments of “America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions” (2 p.m., CBS). The show has been running since Thanksgiving on the NFL Network, so of course, no one has seen #20-#3. Hope they do a recap. Drew Barrymore hosts “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC) while Mary Lynn Rajskub (“24”) takes part in a “24” send-up on “Mad TV” (11 p.m., FOX)…

Sunday, sweeps pretty much comes to a halt for Super Bowl XLI. Coverage begins on CBS at noon with NFL Films’ season recap, “The Road to the Super Bowl,” followed by “Phil Simms All-Iron Team.” The pre-game show, “The Super Bowl Today,” goes on the air at 2 p.m. The actual game kicks off at 6:25 p.m. Billy Joel will sing the National Anthem and Prince will perform at halftime. I’m sure the CBS executives are holding their breath…

There are alternatives to the big game with marathons of “Monk” (10 a.m., USA) “The Closer” (11 a.m., TNT) and “My Boys” (5 p.m., TBS). NBC is repeating the last four episodes of “Grease: You’re The One That I Want,” (7 p.m., NBC) while giving fans another opportunity to vote based on last week’s performances (This means you, Derek Keeling fans!)…

The primo post-Super Bowl spot goes to “Criminal Minds” this year which hopes to repeat the success of “Grey’s Anatomy” last year with the first of a two-parter (10 p.m. approx., CBS)…