SHOWS WORTH NOTING FOR NOVEMBER 18-24

Thanksgiving Lineup (Food Network, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.): Tricks of the culinary trade to inspire a variety of home cookery. It's a marathon of holiday treats. (Continuing Nov. 19, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (HBO, 9-11 p.m.): Andy Garcia is terrific as the jazz musician who escaped Cuba. The music is marvelous, but the snail-like pace is a bit trying. Charles Dutton is awesome as Dizzy Gillespie.

Blocked: The Novelist's Experience in Hollywood (AMC, 8:05-10 p.m.): Writers were once treated like cattle in Hollywood, just like actors. This excellent documentary explores the careers of William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Raymond Chandler.

Sunday 11/19

The Master of Deception (Discovery Channel, 9-10 p.m.): Antonio Mendez may have helped win the cold war, according to this intriguing documentary. As a CIA operative, he was a master of disguise and deception.

The People's Planet (Six-part series, CNN, 10-11 p.m. Sundays): This series looks at the important issues of the new millennium - mass consumerism, the transformation of cities, defining global justice, and feeding the future billions. Well-made, solution-oriented.

Wednesday 11/22

American Masters: On Cukor (PBS, check local listings): George Cukor started out in theater but made his mark in cinema with classics like "The Philadelphia Story," "A Star is Born," and "My Fair Lady." He was an actor's director - and one of the best.

Thursday 11/23

Arthur's Perfect Christmas (PBS, 8-9 pm): This delightful cartoon family explores how to deal with the disappointments of the season - and its wonderful expressions as well. Sometimes when we don't get what we want, we want what we get instead.

Mystery! Family Values: A Hetty Wainthropp Mystery (PBS, check local listings): Hetty doesn't usually handle murder cases - but this time she does and has Robert pose as a wheelchair-bound relative of the deceased.

Listings are not necessarily recommended by the Monitor. All times Eastern, check local listings.

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