Let us now remember some of the people who died this year.
Turner Classic Movie does with a night in which they remember stars who died in 2011.
They salute Jane Russell, who died in February, with “The Paleface” (TCM, 8 p.m.); Peter Falk, who died in June, in “The In-Laws” (TCM, 10 p.m.); the director who died in April, is featured in a 2005 interview special “Private Screenings: Sidney Lumet” (midnight).
The biggest star extinguished this year may have been Elizabeth Taylor, pictured above, who died in March. She’s featured in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (TCM, 1 a.m.). Anne Francis, who died in January, follows in “Bad Day at Black Rock” (TCM, 3 a.m.). And Jackie Cooper, who died in May, closes out the evening in “The Champ” (TCM, 4:30 a.m.).
A day after “Extreme Couponing All-Stars” made their debut, here comes a special, “Extreme Cheapskates” (TLC, 9 p.m.) featuring people who grab the ketchup packets at restaurants and squeeze them into their own bottles at home. Irony: those who would recognize themselves in the show won’t be able to see it because they’re too cheap to get cable.
Felipe Esparza, who won the most recent season of “Last Comic Standing” on NBC, throws his first standup special, “Don’t Worry, They’re Not Gonna to Laugh at You” (Showtime, 10 p.m.).
The engaging documentary by Josh Fox on the effects of “fraking” to extract natural gas, “GasLand” (HBO2, 8 p.m.) gets a timely replay.
Most misplaced casting of the year? I’d submit Seth Rogen as “The Green Hornet” (Starz, 8 p.m.). He was much better in “Funny People” (USA, 8 p.m.).
Now that we’re out, let’s look back: “Inside the Iraq War” (National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.) and even further back, “Inside Saddam’s Reign of Terror” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.).
It’s the third movie in as many days for The CW, with Hilary Duff in “According to Greta” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
Every single thing on network TV tonight is a rerun. But Fox scrambles them up with a pair of episodes of “Raising Hope” (Fox, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) and two of “New Girl” (Fox, 9 and 9:30 p.m.), the first two episodes of the season to be specific.
Executive producer Sean Hayes guest stars on his own sitcom, “Hot in Cleveland” (TVLand, 10 p.m.).
The uptick in physical humor may be attributed to YouTube. It sure helped the roster on “40 Funniest Falls 2” (VH1, 9 p.m.).
Nobody told me “Full Throttle Saloon” (TruTV, 9 p.m.) was back on. There’s something mesmerizing about watching a bar rise from the South Dakota plains with the motorcycle convergence in Sturgis. Tonight, they try to snare Ted Nugent to the bandstand.
“True Life” (MTV, 10 p.m.) returns for a new season with a return visit to a shambling Louisiana family.
“24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic” (HBO, 10 p.m.) inches toward the game, which is Sunday.
Christmas lingers like a dried out tree with more replays of “The Polar Express” (AMC, 8 p.m.) and “Elf” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.).
It’s Toledo vs. Air Force in the Military Bowl (ESPN, 4:30 p.m.) and California vs. Texas in the Holiday Bowl (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
In NHL action, it’s Rangers at Capitals (Versus, 7:30 p.m.).
In college basketball, it’s Georgetown at Louisville (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and Mississippi State vs. Baylor (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
All reruns: Kelly Ripa: Reese Witherspoon, Chace Crawford, Michael Strahan. The View: Gabourey Sidibe, Tom Brokaw. The Talk: Steve Harvey, Camryn Manheim, Susie Essman. Ellen DeGeneres: Michelle Williams, Ariel Winter, Kevin Nealon. Wendy Williams: Kris Jenner, Gabourey Sidibe. Rosie O’Donnell: Jane Fonda.
Late Talk
Reruns all: David Letterman: Justin Bieber, Brian Regan, Freesol. Jay Leno: Rep. Ron Paul, Joe Rogan. Jimmy Kimmel: Matthew Morrison, Maggie Q, Yelawolf. Jimmy Fallon: Tom Cruise, Joshua Topolsky, Rufus Wainwright. Craig Ferguson: Claire Danes, Betty White. Tavis Smiley: Gloria Estefan. Carson Daly: Sean Durkin, Mr. Fish, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Conan O’Brien: Harrison Ford, Marisa Miller, Pitbull. Chelsea Handler: Robin Thicke, Mo Mandel, Heather McDonald, Greg Fitzsimmons.