“Racing Dreams,” as it name may suggest, follows three tweens whose dream is to become NASCAR drivers. Too young for a drivers’ license they cut their teeth on go-karts.

But not the kind of go-karts you remember. As seen in Marshall Curry’s film, their  souped-up machines that can go 70 mph, where the biggest race is the World Karting Association’s national Pavement Series. Following Brandon, Josh and Annabeth, though, is also about watching them navigate the equally treacherous course toward becoming a teen. It debuts tonight on “POV” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).

Of that more familiar exercise of dream chasing, choosing the Top 24 this week on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) has been excruciating – a four hour exercise that finally ends tonight. Only 14 were chosen in Wednesday’s show and the time was taken with those ridiculously long walks to hear their fate and the judges’ poor and repetitive fake outs (“There were so many good people this year”) and pleas for sympathy (“We’ve had such a hard job”).

You may want to skip directly to next week, when they’ll all actually sing and you can vote.

Showtime has been adamant that comedy has been part of Black History Month, so a documentary tonight, “Phunny Business: A Black Comedy” (Showtime, 8:30 p.m.) looks at a Chicago club that was the springboard for the careers of the likes of Bernie Mac, Jamie Foxx, Steve Harvey and Mo’Nique.

Malcolm McDowell returns as cult leader on “The Mentalist” (CBS, 10 p.m.).

After his regular gig on “30 Rock” (NBC, 8 p.m.) Jack McBrayer lends his voice to an episode of “Archer” (FX, 10 p.m.) set in West Virginia.

The trip to Tallahassee has been a good one for the Dwight-led team on “The Office” (NBC, 9 p.m.).

It’s the motion picture that the series was based on “Parenthood” (CMT, 9:30 p.m.).

Two Bryan Singer movies with Hugh Jackman and Ian McKellen on the same mutant outcasts, “X-Men” (Fox Movie Channel, 8 p.m.) and its sequel “X2” (Cinemax, 8 p.m.) play opposite one another. And there’s a third Marvel film: “Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer” (Fox Movie Channel, 10 p.m.).

Reese Witherspoon stars in “Legally Blonde” (A&E, 7 p.m.) and “Legally Blonde 2: Re White & Blonde” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.).

Everyone forgets Jerry’s birthday on “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.). Doesn’t this happen every year?

The 31 Days of Oscar are nearly over on Turner Classic Movies. But tonight’s batch of films all set in Southeast Asia: “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (8 p.m.), “The Letter” (11 p.m.), “The Year of Living Dangerously” (1 a.m.), “Objective Burma” (3 a.m.) and “The Hasty Heart” (5:30 a.m.).

In NBA action, it’s Knicks at Heat (TNT, 7 p.m.) and Lakers at Thunder (TNT, 9:30 p.m.). In college hoops, Duke at Florida State (ESPN, 7 p.m.).

Daytime Talk

Kelly Ripa: Rico Rodriguez, Cobra Starship, Mark Consuelos. The View: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Paul Adelstein.  Ellen DeGeneres: Jennifer Aniston, Cirque du Soleil’s Juggling Ants.

Late Talk

David Letterman: Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Scarborough, K’naan featuring Nelly Furtado. Jay Leno: Meredith Vieira, Jackson Murphy, Redlight King. Jimmy Kimmel: Justin Theroux, Die Antwoord. Jimmy Fallon: William Shatner, Padma Lakshmi, cast of “Anything Goes.” Craig Ferguson: Malin Akerman, Jon Ronson. Tavis Smiley: Peggielene Bartels. Carson Daly: Jamal Simmons, Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter, Young the Giant. Jon Stewart: Paul Rudd. Stephen Colbert: Placido Domingo. Conan O’Brien: Kevin Nealon, Mike Epps, Dhani Harrison. Chelsea Handler: Tyler Perry, Bobby Lee, Sarah Colonna, Gary Valentine.

“American Weed” (National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.) looks into the rise of the commercial pot centers in Colorado, where skeptics in one community – Fort Collins – tries to shut them down. Then of course, the series discovers, what would the cancer patients do if they can’t find the best way many of them have found to ease pain?

Beverly McIver is a an accomplished artist and one of the most successful people in her family So it was natural for her to agree to raise her developmentally disabled sister if anything happened to their mother. Their mother died the year after that agreement.

The film “Raising Renee” (HBO2, 8 p.m.) looks at how Beverly is coping in raising her sister, who can be a handful, but also turns out her own popular art, in the form of potholders.

There hasn’t been one for a while, and by that I mean 10 days or so. But the Republian Presidential Debate (CNN, 9 p.m.) will likely feature more Rick Santorum vs. Mitt Romney than before. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul will have to fight for time. It’s from Arizona, which is soon to have its primary, along with Michigan on Tuesday.

Oscar week means a series of meaningless specials on the network that’s presenting the Academy Awards. The first of them is the pointless “20/20: Before They Were Famous with Robin Roberts” (ABC, 10 p.m.) that looks at early roles and class pictures of some of the nominees.

“Royal Pains” (USA, 10 p.m.) reaches its season finale.

Chad Michael Murray finally returns to “One Tree Hill” (The CW, 8 p.m.) before the series is over for good.

Gloria learns Claire’s secret on a new “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.).

The world of dolphins and whales are explored on a night-long, three-hour “Nature” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).

The news special “Apocalypse 2012” (CNBC, 8 p.m.) actually runs opposite the apocalyptic movie “2012” (FX, 7 p.m.).

Mario Lopez appears on “Are You There, Chelsea?” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) in both pillow form and in person.

My place of residence, the District of Columbia is setting tonight for a Washington-themed evening of Oscar movies that include “Strangers on a Train” (8 p.m.), “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (10 p.m.), “All the President’s Men” (12:15 a.m.), “Logan’s Run” (2:45 a.m.) and “So This is Washington” (5 a.m.).

NBA action includes Celtics at Thunder (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Lakers at Mavericks (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).

Daytime Talk

Kelly Ripa: Patricia Heaton, Carson Kressley, Carrie Ann Inaba. The View: Star Jones. The Talk: Joan & Melissa Rivers. Ellen DeGeneres: Randy Jackson, Justin Theroux, Natasha Bedingfield.

Late Talk

David Letterman: Paul Rudd, John Witherspoon, Heartless Bastards. Jay Leno: Tim Allen, Rocket City Rednecks, Jessie Baylin. Jimmy Kimmel: Jessica Alba, Rep. Barney Frank, Natahan Myhrvold, Tower of Power. Jimmy Fallon: Alan Alda, cast of “Ghost the Musical.” Craig Ferguson: Carson Kressley, Anne Rice. Tavis Smiley: Steve Martin. Carson Daly: J.B. Smoove, Annie Mumolo, Bombay Bicycle Club. Jon Stewart: Bruce Bartlett. Stephen Colbert: Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Conan O’Brien: Jennifer Aniston, Ron & Amy Shirley, Jay Larson. Chelsea Handler: Gabourey Sidibe, Lavell Crawford, Tiffany Haddish, Loni Love.

Gary Clark Jr., Shemekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks will also be there.

And with any luck, Barak Obama will extend his vocal workout of Al Green at the Apollo a few weeks back and sing with them.

It’s the big “In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues” and I’m not invited even though it’s just down the hill on 16^th Street NW in the East Wing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

But I can see the whole thing happening live in real time on my computer – and you can too – at www.pbs.org/whitehouse tonight at about 7:20 p.m.

For those who can wait, the special will premiering on PBS Monday at 9 p.m.

And Mick, if you want to go out and get some chow at Ben’s Chili Bowl, after, give me a call.

After the outrageous investigations of a special prosecutor fishing for something, and the overkill of the partisan impeachment proceedings, the public ultimately found that the whole thing was overblown at the time; viewers of this marred history will come to that same conclusion. To let Ken Starr tsk-tsk on the matter without taking to task his methods (or apparently even asking about it) shows this rehash to be toothless.

The winter finale of “Glee” (Fox, 8 p.m.) – it will be back in the spring – closes with, of course, Regionals against the rival Dalton Warblers Warblers.

It’s the 200^th episode of “The Biggest Loser” (NBC, 8 p.m.). Would that we could reduce that number as well. Running opposite it on cable. “My 600 Lb. Life” (TLC, 8 p.m.). Hey, it is Fat Tuesday…

“Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) repeats its report on child abuse investigations.

The baby’s due date is fast approaching on “Parenthood” (NBC, 10 p.m.).

Progress is being made on “Undercover Princes” (TLC, 10 p.m.).

The curses are starting to come on “The River” (ABC, 9 p.m.).

Harlan and Boyd battle for the local oxy trade on a new “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.).

Robert Forster and Mike Rowe guest star on “Last Man Standing” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Cause they’re guys.

When Jamie Lee Curtis begins a series of episodes on “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.) it will represent a “Freaky Fridy” reunion with Mark Harmon.

Misha Collins of “Supernatural” guest stars on a new “Ringer” (The CW, 9 p.m.).

Joey King plays a student who bullies Jess on “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.).

A documentary crew gets in the way on a new “Southland” (TNT, 10 p.m.).

Dan Savage explains his movement on a special with the same name, “It Gets Better” (MTV and Logo, 11 p.m.).

Wingsuit jumper Jeb Corliss goes on a jump in Cape Town and nearly dies on a new “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (HBO, 10 p.m.), which also looks at even more deadly event: the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv hockey plane crash in Russia.

Not Sly: “The Family Stone” (Fox Movie Channel, 9 p.m.).

South America is the setting for the Oscar movies on Turner Classic Movies starting with Luis Bunuel’s  version of “The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” (8 p.m.),  followed by “Flying Down to Rio” (9:45 p.m.), “Down Argentine Way” (11:30 p.m.), “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (1:15 a.m.) and “Only Angels Have Wings” (3:30 a.m.).

In college hoops, it’s Illinois at Ohio State (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Kansas State at Missouri (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and Kentucky at Mississippi State (ESPN, 9 p.m.).

In hockey, it’s Red Wings at Blackhawks (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).

Daytime Talk

Kelly Ripa: Jorge Garcia, Matthew Morrison. The View: Tyler Perry, Abby Lee Miller, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. The Talk: Regis Philbin, Elisabeth Shue, Shaun T. Ellen DeGeneres: Taylor Swift, Zac Efron.

Late Talk

David Letterman: Alec Baldwin, Eric Hutchinson. Jay Leno: Bill O’Reilly, Rob Rigle, Rumer. Jimmy Kimmel: Eric Stonestreet, Kate Upton, Jake Owen. Jimmy Fallon: Tyler Perry, David Wain, David Alan Grier. Craig Ferguson: Bill Maher, Eloise Mumford. Tavis Smiley: Thomas Frank, Don Cheadle. Carson Daly: Dan Lindsay, T.J. Martin, Lucy Walker, Fool’s Gold. Jon Stewart: Russ Feingold. Stephen Colbert: Robert Kagan. Conan O’Brien: Amanda Seyfried, Andy Lewis, fun.. Chelsea Handler: Jennifer Aniston, Ross Mathews, Arden Myrin, Josh Wolf.

“As the hub around which the republic turns, I can understand why the machinery of this great nation ground to a halt last week when you were denied this,” he said,  gesturing to his face. “Now I’m sure you felt the way I do when I’m in a room with no mirrors.”

He denied some of the wild speculation in the actual press speculated that the show had been cancelled (even while it was rerunning recent episodes in place of the new ones). He wasn’t in rehab (unless it was for Diet Coke) and he specifically refuted Joan Rivers’ suggestion that he was off having a nose job or getting his eyes done.

“I did not have my eyes done. That’s ridiculous. I had my ass done. The doctors cranked this thing so high and tight it can barely blink now,” he said. “Anyway, rumors quelled; movin’ on.”

Colbert never said explicitly that it was because his 92 year old mother had taken ill. But he did say: “One more thing: Eveidently, having 11 children makes you tough as nails. Confidential to a lovely lady,” he said, putting finger to his nose and nodding in salute.

That’s what happens in “Clinton,” the two night presentation on “American Experince” that uses one of its four hours dealing with the fallout.

Filmmaker Barak Goodman defended the choice at the TV Critics winter press tour last month. After all, he says, “he’s the first president to be impeached since the 19th century,” he says. “It provided the lever with which his enemies and opponents tried to unseat him from power. So that makes it, de facto, hugely important in the story.”

And while it’s common that the subject of the presidential biographies on “American Experience” are specifically not interviewed for their films, Goodman added, “we consciously did not pursue interviews with either Monica Lewinsky or Linda Tripp for the program because we felt that would tilt it too far in the direction of sort of the sensational.”

David Maraniss, the Washington Post writer who covered the matter and appears in the film says that “time does diminish it somewhat.”

But he adds that the documentary is “not really about just about Clinton and Lewinsky and what they did wrong, but about the context of those times and why it happened — not just what Clinton did, but why his enemies reacted the way they did and how it all evolved. And I think that has many important lessons for the political context that we deal in today as well.”

It’s a fascinating story, of course, that begins with the Lewinsky scandal and will return to it in Tuesday’s two hour part two.

Yes, the biography is as long-winded as Clinton’s 1988 Democratic Convention speech that almost ended his political career. But he’s been noting if not a man who has been given more than his share of second chances.

The narrative zigs back to his beginnings, his certainty about going into high office and his audacious run for governor of Arkansas. He lost in a race for the Senate before he got the governorship, then lost it, then won it back again. A wealth of journalists and some Clinton aides and cabinet members chime in with their memories in telling the very colorful story of idealism and self-defeating choices.

It’s a very timely story too – like the current President, he evoked an unprecedented hatred in his opponents, one of whom was a dude named Gingrich.

It’s time for hometown visits on “The Bachelor” (ABC, 8 p.m.), which is one of the better parts of the season since it usually includes disapproving parents – the first negative comments Ben will face all season. The other good thing: An indication the season is almost over.

One of reality TV’s least appealing people continues a new season on “Bethenny Ever After” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).

There’s a freak snowstorm in the “Heart of Dixie” (The CW, 9 p.m.).

Shaquelle O’Neal hosts The 2^nd Annual Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards (Cartoon Network, 7 p.m.) honoring things like major sports’ best mascots.

“Degrassi” (TeenNick, 9 p.m.) returns with a new batch of episodes.

The Oscar movies on Turner Classic Movies originate in Austria with “The Smiling Lieutenant” (8 p.m.), “The Third Man” (10 p.m.), “Amadeus” (midnight), “The Red Danube” (2:45 a.m.) and “Bitter Sweet” (5 a.m.).

In NHL action, it’s Capitals at Hurricanes (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.). In the NBA, it’s Celtics at Mavericks (TNT, 8 p.m.). In men’s college hoops, Baylor at Texas (ESPN, 9 p.m.), in wormen’s basketball, Notre Dame at Louisville (ESPN, 2 p.m.).

Daytime Talk

Kelly Ripa: Jon Cryer, Derek Hough, Daniel Dae Kim. The View: William Shatner, M. William Phelps. The Talk: Jamie Lee Curtis, Rocco DiSpirito. Ellen DeGeneres: Amanda Seyfried.

Late Talk

David Letterman: Jack Hanna, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Jay Leno: Taylor Swift, Michael Clarke Duncan, Robert Randolph, Chris Layton, David Hildago, Cesar Rosas. Jimmy Kimmel: Nathan Fillion, Josh Hucherson, Far East Movement (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Anjelica Huston, Hugh Dancy, Todd Glass, Nick Jonas. Craig Ferguson: Jayma Mays, Jean Michel Cousteau. Tavis Smiley: Charlotte Beers. Carson Daly: Howard Gordon, Michel Hazanavicius, Mastodon. Jon Stewart: Alan Huffman & Michael Rejebian. Stephen Colbert: Ann Patchett. Conan O’Brien: Adam Sandler, Christina Tosi, Joe Jonas (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Amanda Seyfried, John Caparulo, Jen Kirkman, Whitney Cummings.

Kind of like David Brent in “The Office” except with a short person.

But it’s more than that, say Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who were behind both series.

Brent is in fact “a staple particularly of British comedy [in] that this man’s got a blind spot,” Gervais told reporters at the TV critics winter press tour last month.

“That why we laugh at Warwick and David Brent and many others like Basil Fawlty or any of those people,” he said. “We’re laughing at the difference between how they see themselves and how the rest of the world sees them. The other thing that you’d recognize is the fact that because it’s a fake documentary [with] those looks to camera.”

The slow burn expression to the audience have a history, Gervais says. “I seem to have claimed those of my own but they’re not. Laurel & Hardy did them 100 years ago.”

The new comedy from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, “Life’s Too Short” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.) is likely their funniest since the original version of “The Office.” In this case, the guy who’s delusional and full of himself is the small person actor Warwick Davis. And he’s just the right guy to test an almost scientific approach to humor – poking fun at things surrounding touchy subjects but not the subject itself. A Liam Neeson bit in tonight’s opener is uproarious in that regard.

It accompanies a vibrant episode of “Eastbound & Down” (HBO, 10 p.m.) which finds Kenny Powers back in the U.S., playing for a Myrtle Beach minor league team and the show itself on its best footing yet. A longer review of it I wrote for Salon can be found here.

It’s always a pleasure to welcome a new season of “The Amazing Race” (CBS, 8 p.m.). Among the 11 teams is a pair of professional clowns and a recycled reality couple—Brendon and Rachel of “Big Brother.”

Less welcome is the new season of “Celebrity Apprentice” (NBC, 9 p.m.) full of rehashed reality stars and former stars smelling of desperation. Among them: Dee Snider, Clay Aiken, Cheryl Tiegs, Arsenio Hall, Lou Ferrigno and George Takei. The first challenge has the two teams, men and women, opening sandwich shops and hoping to raise the most money for charity. Trump’s boardroom is excruciating; and some people wanted this guy to run for president?

“The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.) reaches an amazing touchstone: its 500^th episode. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange guest stars as himself as the family finds itself exiled from Springfield.

One thing Comedy Central can do surprisingly well are thoughtful tributes to comics who die. The latest one comes tonight in “I Ain’t Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) .

A number of guest stars return to “The Good Wife” (CBS, 9 p.m.) including Parker Posey, Rita Wilson and Amy Sedaris.

Mo’ non-zombies, mo’ problems on “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 9 p.m.).

“Comic Book Men” (AMC, 10 p.m.) is certainly the most entertaining “Pawn Shop” style show around.

Joan Allen is a pretty good love interest for Dustin Hoffman’s character on “Luck” (HBO, 9 p.m.).

If Jasmine is throwing an end of the summer bash, it’s pretty assured you’ll want to be there on “Shameless” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).

Fresh back from Whitney’s funeral, the star and director puts the dress back on for “Tyler Perry’s Madea goes to Jail” (TBS, 8 p.m.).

“Khloe & Lamar” (E!, 10 p.m.) start up a new season, as does that other reality show couple “Ice Loves Coco” (E!, 10:30 p.m.).

France is still the setting for the Oscar films on Turner Classic Movies with “The Song of Bernadette” (8 p.m.), “The Razor’s Edge” (11 p.m.), “Roberta” (1:30 a.m.) and “The Last Metro” (3:30 a.m.).

NBA action includes Mavericks at Knicks (ABC, 1 p.m.), Magic at Heat (ABC, 3:30 p.m.) and Nuggets at Thunder (ESPN, 8 p.m.).

Sunday Talk

ABC: Sen. John McCain, Robert Gibbs. CBS: Rick Santorum. NBC: Reps. Paul Ryan and Chris Van Hollen. CNN: Reps. Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann, Gov. Mitch Daniels. Fox News: Newt Gingrich, Rep. Eric Cantor.

That meant Amy Poehler in three different sketches (“Bronx Beat,” Weekend Update including a “Really?!” with Seth Meyers; and briefly as Hilary Clinton); a nearly unrecognizable Justin Timberlake in two others; and a “What’s Up with That?” with the real Bill O’Reilly and the even more real Kate Upton among the guests.

Rudolph seemed largely underused throughout her seven year stint on the show, but she was in just about every sketch Saturday. She was prevented by taste from doing her impersonation of Whitney Houston, but she did that one better by being Beyonce in a sketch in which she and Jay-Z welcomed a string of pop star impersonations to see their baby – and what a wonderful string of stars it was, from Fred Armisen’s Prince (his gift: a smirk) to Kristin Wiig’s Taylor Swift (in perpetual surprised look) to Nasin Pedrad’s passable Nicki Minaj to Kenan Thompson’s lip-licking LL Cool J. Best of all may have been Timberlake’s Bon Iver, who put himself to sleep with his own song (after Wiig’s Laura Del Mar impersonation a couple of weeks back, “SNL” is becoming expert in mocking indie stars. But are they well known enough to a wide audience to work nationally? (Among the N.Y. audience, of course, they kill).

Just about the best in that Beyonce sketch was the way underused Jay Pharoah doing Jay-Z with a perfect inflection. Having Rudolph host was a godsend for Pharoah, who has been so rarely seen on the show this season you might have thought he quit. Here he was used in a number of sketches, including a brainy Maya Angelou reality show bit, a talk show about black support for Obama, and the cold open about the racial stereotypes being heaped on Jeremy Lin. The only thing more topical would have been Whitney, but even “SNL” knows it couldn’t go there.