1. A method for recommending television programming to a user, comprising: monitoring, using a processor within user television equipment, which television programming is being viewed by the user; automatically identifying, using the processor, a currently viewed program based on the monitoring, wherein the currently viewed program has a plurality of program attributes each included within a respective attribute category; determining that a user has selected an attribute category of actor as a criterion for recommending programs; automatically identifying an actor who performs in the currently viewed program responsive to determining that the user has selected the attribute category of actor as a criterion for recommending programs; and recommending using the processor, another program having an actor that matches the identified actor of the currently viewed program.