Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, James Taylor, Alison Krauss, the Band Perry, darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, right, and Lauren Alaina pay tribute to country music in a concert introduced by President Obama and staged in the East Room.
The latest edition of “In Performance at the White House” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) was filmed only on Monday and makes its debut tonight. If the classic old time country acts aren’t there at least their songs are, from Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” to Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to Townes Van Zant’s “Pancho and Lefty.”
The president praises the form of music and does all but don a cowboy hat to do so.
Slum kids in India’s biggest city organize to perform “The Sound of Music” with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra, an event documented in the film “The Sound of Mumbai: A Musical” (HBO, 8 p.m.).
The first season winner from the last American show Simon Cowell was judge on, Kelly Clarkson, sings on the results show of “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.). Bruno Mars also performs. But the best thing of all is that two contestants will get eliminated. Let’s move this competition along.
They were eliminating two by two on “Survivor: South Pacific” (CBS, 8 p.m.) in recent weeks as well, mostly because it was so obvious the one tribe was going to pick off the other one by one no matter what else happened. So now they get to the part where they have to start eliminating people who are part of the surviving tribe – or the one person that put them in that position, the turncoat Cochran.
Thanksgiving is the theme, of course, of every ABC sitcom from “The Middle” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and “Suburgatory” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) to “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.) and “Happy Endings” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.). But there’s no Thanksgiving on “Revenge” (ABC, 10 p.m.), because gratitude is incongruous with the show’s title and theme.
One thing to be thankful for on the eve of Turkey Day: Howie Mandel’s “Mobbed” (Fox, 9 p.m.) only comes around once every quarter or so.
Pay no attention to the man in the rubber suit. Or maybe you should. It’s on “American Horror Story” (FX, 10 p.m.).
Hot peppers is the key ingredient on “Top Chef: Texas” (Bravo, 10 p.m.). Don’t let that affect your own cooking.
Parallell universes are explained on the latest installment of Brian Greene’s “The Fabric of the Cosmos” series on “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
This morning it’s three films in four hours about the monkey and the man in the yellow hat – a “Curious George Holiday Spectacular” (PBS, 8 a.m., check local listings).
Willing to devote another two hours tonight to this reality show? “The Biggest Loser: Where are They Now?” (NBC, 9 p.m.) looks at how past contestants have fared. I’m thinking not the best programming the night before the nation’s biggest day of feast.
“The Making of ‘South Park’: 6 Days to Air” (Comedy Central, 9 p.m.) gets a replay amid a replay of recent episodes.
More blondes on Turner Classic Movies, with Betty Grable in “Sweet Rosie O’Grady” (8 p.m.) and “Down Argentine Way” (9:30 p.m.); Doris Day in “Tea For Two” (11:15 p.m.) and “That Touch of Mink” (1 a.m.) and Irene Dunne in “My Favorite Wife” (3 a.m.).
But one of Hollywood’s famous brunettes, Vivien Leigh, stars in “Gone with the Wind” (AMC, 7 p.m.). Is this someone’s idea of a holiday tradition?
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Howie Mandel, Miss Piggy, David Pogue, Jerry Seinfeld. The View: Justin Bieber, J.R. Martinez, Rob Kardashian. The Talk: Faith Ford, Carol Aebersold & Chanda Bell, David Tutera. Ellen DeGeneres: Sofia Vergara, Adam Levine, Gym Class Heroes. Rosie O’Donnell: Russell Brand (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Justin Bieber, Brian Regan, FreeSol. Jay Leno: Chelsea Handler, Dwight Howard, Gloriana. Jimmy Kimmel: Tim Allen, Jackson Rathbone, Miranda Lambert (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jason Schwartzman, Sandra Lee, Rodney Atkins (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Ty Burrell, Wilford Brimley. Tavis Smiley: Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez (rerun). Carson Daly: Chris Hayes, Justin Townes Earle, the Kills (rerun). Jon Stewart: Mark Kelly (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Seth Meyers (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Matthew Broderick, Paul Simon (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Brad Wollack, Natasha Leggero, Josh Wolf, Heather McDonald, Jen Kirkman, Sarah Colonna.