WestminsterDogShow

Hickory, the Scottish deerhound who won the 2011 Westminster Dog Show, takes a victory lap on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC) with handler Angela Lloyd, who comments on what it was like to win Best in Show.

"It's a culmination of so many things," said Lloyd, "things that I've worked for my whole entire life, things that her owners and breeders have worked for for many, many years. And it's very emotional."

The Super Bowl is so last week. This week it's all about 'The 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show' (8PM on USA), airing tonight and tomorrow. Dog enthusiasts, of course, are all about the various breeds seen in this annual event, but the Basenji seemed to spark even more interest from the official announcer, who introduced them as "both intelligent and strong-willed, with a mischievous sense of humor."

"Mischievous sense of humor? How does that play out exactly?" asked the TV commentator.

We were wondering the same thing.

In this age of easily maintained celebrity, all you need to stay in front of people's eyes are a pretty face and a willingness to be there. Mario Lopez has both, and he's built that into a a career that keeps him resurfacing from one unrelated project to another without ever really showing any particular gifts for performing.

Now, he's going to host the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this February on USA -- because, when you think elite canine breeding competitions, you think Mario Lopez. (Somewhere in all this is a joke about what a dog Saved by the Bell was, but it's too much of a reach to go there.)

Before American Idol totally takes over the landscape next week when the top 24 start "singing," lots of stuff is happening on, you know, the rest of television. Jack Bauer's on for two hours tonight, while a new season of The Amazing Race revs up Sunday. Here are AOL Television's picks of the week.

24 (Mon., 8PM, Fox)
Seriously, where do 24 presidents find their awful advisors? Monster.com? In particular, the Palmer brothers need a better headhunter. In season two, David Palmer's chief of staff, Mike Novick, organized the Cabinet to use the 25th amendment and declare him unfit for office. Now, Wayne Palmer's chief of staff, Tom Lennox, and vice president, Noah Daniels, are conspiring to enact tougher security measures -- without Palmer's approval. Just goes to show, only Jack Bauer can be trusted.

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (Tue., 8PM, USA)
Maybe dogs get stressed out, just like us. They have to replace children and spouses for many owners, look good as celebrities' accessories and perform well at dog shows like Westminster. Next thing you know, we'll want them to attend college. It must be overwhelming. Consider the award-winning whippet named Bohem C'est La Vie, who escaped from her cage after Westminster last year. The police, psychics and group prayers couldn't find her. Hey, even pups need vacation time, too