1600PennThe official time slot premiere comes tonight for “1600 Penn” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.), the family comedy set in the White House that pretty much made its debut last month with a full airing of the pilot last month (that reruns tonight at 8:30 p.m.).

While it’s clear that the comedy possibilities are solely in the hands of the unpredictable Josh Gad, the breakout star from “The Book of Mormon,” who is electric every time he’s on the screen, the bad news is that producers have said they are moving away from Gad as focal point, and away from his visual slapstick and moving more toward the family dynamic. Which will make it just another bland family sitcom with a slightly more exotic setting that won’t last much longer than the season.

We’re heavy into awards season, with the People’s Choice yesterday, the Golden Globes on Sunday and today, the announcement of the Academy Award Nominations (ABC, NBC, CBS, E!, 8:30 a.m.) and the presentation of the much more lowly Critics’ Choice Movie Awards (The CW, 8 p.m.). The 18th annual event of the Broadcast Film Critics Association is being held live at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. Classy!

Ten days after embarrassing herself one more time on CNN New Year’s Eve, Kathy Griffin returns for a second season of her talk show, “Kathy” (Bravo, 10 p.m.). First guests: Liza Minnelli and Jane Lynch.

Also returning for new seasons on cable: Patti Sanger the “Millionaire Matchmaker” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) and “Law on the Border” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.) that follows the cops in Nogales, Ariz.

New episodes come for just about everything on broadcast TV except for “Glee” (Fox, 9 p.m.), which precedes it with another leftover episode of “Mobbed” (Fox, 8 p.m.).

Most excited about the return of “The Office” (NBC, 9 p.m.) and “30 Rock” (NBC, 8 p.m.), both of which end their runs soon and sooner.

Sherlock is faced with a fellow Brit on a new “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.).

Karolina Kurkova plays herself on a new “Person of Interest” (CBS, 9 p.m.).

Contestants get a peek at Valentino’s new collection when all go to Paris on “Project Runway All Stars” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).

A Jimi Hendrix guitar is at the heart of case on “The Will” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).

There are three consecutive episodes of “Cajun Pawn Stars” (History, 9 p.m.).

If it’s not wintery cold outside, it is on “North Woods Love: On the Hunt” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).

There’s one day for thrifty shoppers that beats all others, so there’s a special episode “Extreme Couponing: Black Friday Blitz” (Discovery Fitness, 9 p.m.).

Robert Osborne makes his picks early this month: “Demetrius and the Gladiators” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “Roughly Speaking” (TCM, 10 p.m.), “Old Acquaintance” (TCM, midnight), “The Hurricane” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and “The Tuttles of Tahiti” (TCM, 4 a.m.).

NBA action includes Knicks at Pacers (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Heat at Trail Blazers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).

Men’s college hoops includes Michigan State at Iowa (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Miami at North Carolina (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Old Dominion at George Mason (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Northwestern at Penn State (ESPNU, 8 p.m.), Arizona at Oregon (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Massachusetts at Saint Louis (CCBS Sports, 9 p.m.), Kentucky at Vanderbilt (ESPN, 9 p.m.), USC at Colorado (ESPNU, 10 p.m.) and Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga (ESPN2, 11 p.m.).

Daytime Talk

Kelly & Michael: William H. Macy, Jenna Elfman. The View: Rob Lowe, Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein. The Talk: Don Cheadle, Jamie Krell. Ellen DeGeneres: Emma Stone, Common.

Late Talk

David Letterman: Michael J. Fox, Lena Dunham. Jay Leno: Ryan Seacrest, Keith Urban, Randy Jackson, Anthony Jeselnik, For King and Country. Jimmy Kimmel: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Bruno Mars. Jimmy Fallon: Cast of “30 Rock,” John Cale. Craig Ferguson: Tim Allen, Margaret Cho. Carson Daly: Sarah Wayne Callies, Joshuah Bearman, Fidlar (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Sally Field (rerun). Jon Stewart: Josh Brolin. Stephen Colbert: Ben Gibbard. Conan O’Brien: Ryan Gosling, Kevin Hart, ZZ Ward. Chelsea Handler: Cyndi Lauper, Gary Valentine, Fortune Feimster, Ryan Stout.