SAG, Sundance and a frosty farce

What you might prefer not to talk about: “Farce of the Penguins.” Lewd but somehow still wholesome comedian Bob Saget resurfaces in the public consciousness briefly this week with his direct-to-video mockumentary. The film is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and features the voices of Saget, Lewis Black and Christina Applegate among others. It’s the penguin sex comedy you’ve been waiting for. (Tuesday)

What you should be talking about: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The 7-foot-2 basketball player has become a recurring figure on the pop culture landscape. He’s featured in the film “Weapons” that opened at Sundance, and this week brings his seventh book, “On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance.” (Tuesday)

What you will be talking about: Brava Bravo. With shows such as “Project Runway” and “Top Chef,” the Bravo network has cornered the market on reality television competitions based on actual skills rather than luck, personality and manipulation. This week brings the finale of the second season of “Top Chef” followed by the premiere of “Top Design,” a “Project Runway” spinoff for interior designers. Todd Oldham hosts. (Wednesday – story on Page E21)

What awards show you’ll be talking about: SAG. The final week of January belongs to the Screen Actors Guild and its 13th annual awards show. Julie Andrews receives a lifetime achievement award and doesn’t she deserve it? (Tonight)

What you’ll just about be finished talking about: The waning days of Sundance. Over the last 10 days, those of us stuck in L.A. have heard a whole lot about movies we won’t see for eight more months. Now, as the festival comes to a close, it’s time to discuss, yet again, the meaning of independent film (changing), do winning films appeal to a mass audience (seldom) and if this festival has any relevance (debatable). (Tonight)

– DEBORAH NETBURN