When there’s a disaster, there’s never a telethon far away. Tonight’s is a hastily-planned affair to aid those affected by the hurricane that just occurred Monday.

“Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together”
(NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, E!, Bravo, Style, Syfy, USA and G4, 8 p.m.) is heavy on entertainers from the affected area including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera and Mary J. Blige but also Sting. Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams, who both went to work this week in New York despite the storm, will also make appearances. Money raised will go to the Red Cross, which you can donate to right now at redcross.org.

Other critics are pretty down on “Malibu Country” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.), the new reba McEntire sitcom about a woman starting over in California. There is something rather old fashioned about it, with the live audience and corny family set up. But it’s what Reba does best, and she’s actually got some pretty great timing. Throw in Lily Tomlin as her crusty mom and it’s pretty good. It’s not trying to be something it’s not and does its job pretty well.

Better at least than the lead-in, “Last Man Standing” (ABC, 9 p.m.), the Tim Allen vehicle that tries to make misogyny a laugh riot. It’s starting its second season.
Together the comedies push “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.) to a new, later time slot.

The fourth season of “Undercover Boss” (CBS, 8 p.m.) also begins, with the Modell Sporting Goods CEO shaving his head, donning a big mustache and going back to selling tube socks.

It took two episodes for Gordon Ramsay to fix an Italian place in Boston’s North End on “Kitchen Nightmares” (Fox, 8 p.m.).

The last Friday before the election means serious talk about the candidates. From “Battleground 2012: Countdown” (BET, 9 p.m.) to “Election 2012: What’s at Stake” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), hosted by Hari Sreenivasan, laying out candidate positions. The latter preceeds a final replay of the excellent profile of Obama and Romney on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), which you really should watch.

James Balog, Rob Reiner, Margaret Hoover, Rick Lazio and Matthew Segal are guests on a new
“Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).

Another non-model requirement comes on “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 8 p.m.): riding dolphins.A second season of “Brides of Beverly Hills” (TLC, 10 p.m.) begins with Linda Hogan, 53, the former Mrs. Hulk Hogan, shopping for a bridal gown. Too bad her relationship with 24 year old guy has since broken up.

“A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman” (Epix, 10 p.m.) features the late Python member reading his memoir, animated by a number of artists.

The everyman character actor Tom Ewell is featured tonight on Turner Classic Movies, in “The Lieutenant Wore Skirts” (8 p.m.), “Adam’s Rib” (10 p.m.) and his most famous role, opposite Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year Itch” (midnight). Oh, that guy!

Later, it’s one of the strangest movies you’ll see on TV, the ultraviolent 1991 Hong Kong-Japan prison film “Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky” (TCM, 2 a.m.), a cult film deserving in the network’s Underground slot, starring Fan Siu-Wong and directed by Lam Ngai-Choi. It’s showing with the 1966 “Dai-bosatu toge” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.).

Your first NBA Friday has Heat at Knicks (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Mavericks at Lakers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).

Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael:
Judi Dench, Sarah Silverman. Katie Couric: Sharon Osbourne, Jennie Garth. The View: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Terry O’Quinn, Billy Ray Cyrus. The Talk: Amanda Peet, Dennis Haysbert, Wolfgang Puck. Ellen DeGeneres: Denzel Washington, Jenna Fischer, Luke Bryan.

Late Talk
David Letterman:
Jason Sudeikis, Michael Che, Ultraista. Jay Leno: Marion Cotillard, Olate Dogs, Third Day. Jimmy Kimmel: Kelly Ripa, Alicia Keys, Chris Rock. Jimmy Fallon: Christina Aguilera, Colin Quinn, Joshua Topolsky, Joey Bada$$. Craig Ferguson: Michael Sheen, Ophira Eisenberg. Carson Daly: Chris Hayes, Rob Delaney, Regina Spektor (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Eric Topol, Jon Friedman. Chelsea Handler: Chuck Lorre, James Davis, Ali Wong, Ross Mathews (rerun).