cupcake wars

Nothing goes together like cupcakes and surfing. To that end, the bakers on this week's episode of 'Cupcake Wars' (Sundays, 9PM on Food Network) competed to have their confections showcased at a V.I.P. party at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California. Both of the finalists went with a beach scene, but only one fit the assignment well enough to win.

One team went with a table with a grass skirt, the bottom of which they wanted to look like a beach being hit by waves. The other team, led by Stephanie Franz of Cupcakes Couture on Manhattan Beach, made a series of surf boards so her cakes could ride the waves. "I wanted my surf boards to be a little topsy-turvy and have that wave go over all of them," said Franz, "so it's almost like all the cupcakes are riding the wave."

The challenge Tina and Robin faced on 'Cupcake Wars' (Tuesdays, 8PM on Food Network) was to make treats delicious enough to impress people who make a living by hiding their enthusiasm. That is, they each had to create a 1,000-cupcake display for the World Series of Poker.

Things started well enough in the idea stage. Tina planned for four tiers, each one looking like a poker chip and adorned with glitz and four aces across the top. Robin had a similar idea, to create a poker table with tiers that looked like chips and "fanning across the very top, how about the best hand you could have, would be a royal flush," she said.

• Discovery has a marathon of new Everest: Beyond the Limit episodes all night.
• Bravo has a Law and Order: Criminal Intent marathon all night.
• At 7, ABC has The Sound of Music.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Cowboys vs. the Redskins.
• FOX has two new episodes of Brothers at 7.
• Nickelodeon has a new Nick News at 8.
• TNT has The Wizard of Oz at 8.
• At 8:30, ESPN has the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, Clemson vs. Kentucky.
• At 9, Retro TV has two episodes of the 1950s Mike Hammer.
• Animal Planet has two new episodes of Untamed and Uncut starting at 9.
• At 10, History Channel has two new episodes of Pawn Stars.
• Food Network has Cupcake Wars at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.