“New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly” (NBC, 10 and 11:30 p.m.) will also emanate from Times Square, hosted by a guy who has seen success since last year as host of “The Voice,” whose Cee Lo Green and blake Shelton join him. Also taking part: Drake, Jessie J,Tony Bennett, the Roots, Megan Hilty, Brian Williams and Ricky Gervais. JB Smoove and Amy Robach are street reporters.
Fox tries something different this year with the “American Country New Year’s Eve” (Fox, 11 p.m.), featuring top acts from Nashville, performing on the Los Angeles strip. Rodney Carrington and the characters from “Pawn Stars” play host to a roster that includes Toby Feith, Eli Young Band, David Nail, Lauren Alaina and Rodney Atkins.
Country stars Big & Rich and Trace Adkins also pop up on “All American New Year” (Fox News, 11 p.m.) hosted by Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly.
PBS is getting in the act this year, with its biggest name New Year’s Eve act, above, on “Coldplay New Year’s Eve: An Austin City Limits Special” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings). It follows a concert by the New York Philharmonic featuring work by Leonard Bernstein “Live from Lincoln Center” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).
“MTV’s New Year’s Eve Bash 2012” (MTV, 11 p.m.) promises Selena Gomez and Tyler Posey as cohosts, with performances from Demi Lovato, J. Cole, Jason Derulo and Mac Miller.
The news network undercuts its credibility with another “New Year’s Eve with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin” (CNN, 11 p.m.). Stop trying to make the nice grey-haired man giggle.
ESPN provides another extreme sports variation on the New Year’s Eve celebration, following freestyle motorcross rider Robbie Maddison and snowmobile dude Levi LaVallee trying to break records but not limbs with their feats on “New Year. No Limits” (ESPN, 11 p.m.).
And the Spanish language ¡Feliz 2012! (Univision, 9:55 p.m.) is hosted by Mr. Saturday night, Don Francisco and features Magic Unlimited, Anthony Delon, Arielle Dombasle, Daniela Lumbroso and Virginie Guilhaume among others.
Among the many marathons this weekend, the classiest may be the annual “Twilight Zone” (Syfy, 9 a.m.), which runs its classic episodes through 6 a.m. Monday.
Other marathons include five hours of “Human Planet” (Discovery, 10 a.m.), every episode of “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 11 a.m.) and the complete 15th season of “America’s Next Top Model” (Style, 11 a.m.).
Five Bowl games are played today, with Texas A&M vs. Northwestern in the Meineke Car Care Bowl (ESPN, noon), Georgia Tech vs. Utah in the Sun Bowl (CBS, 2 p.m.), Illinois vs. UCLA in the Fight Hunger Bowl (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.), Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl (ABC, 3:30 p.m.) and Virginia vs. Auburn in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
College basketball today includes Louisville at Kentucky (CBS, noon), Illinois at Purdue (ESPN2, 4 p.m.) and Ohio State at Indiana (ESPN2, 6 p.m.).
For movies tonight, you cant beat thedouble feature of Stanley Kubrick with “2001: A Space Odyssey” (Sundance, 7:05 p.m.) followed by “Lolita” (Sundance, 9:30 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies counters the New Year’s Eve countdown with its own doomsday countdown with “Fail Safe” (8 p.m.), “Panic in the Streets” (10:15 p.m.), “D.O.A.” (midnight), “Ice Station Zebra” (1:30 am.) and “Juggernaut” (4:15 a.m.).
New movies on cable tonight include Channing Tatum in “The Eagle” (HBO, 8 p.m.) and Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in “Go With It” (Starz, 8 p.m.).
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 12:30 a.m.) is a rerun with Jason Segel hosting and Florence + The Machine performing. But it’s bumped an hour late this week by the other activities live from New York.