1. A scheduled programming recommendation system, comprising: a media presentation device having a display; and a content receiver coupled to the media presentation device, the content receiver including a tuner; a digital video recorder having a background content storage module inaccessible to users; a microprocessor; and a non-transitory computer-readable memory communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, the memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that cause the microprocessor to: output to the media presentation device a scheduled entertainment program; identify a present user of the scheduled entertainment program; gather user history data; analyze the user history data to determine user preferences; compile a prioritized list of recommended programs based on the determined user preferences, the list of recommended programs including a first portion listing programs currently being transmitted on alternate channels and a second portion listing programs scheduled to be transmitted within a selected time interval; record recommended programs in the background content storage module; and present on the display, the prioritized list of recommended programs, in response to a user request.