“Smash” (NBC, 9 p.m.) returns for another try in a second season.
The Marilyn Monroe musical is poised to open on Broadway, but there are complications.
Primarily there are more pop songs being performed in addition to the new numbers. And it helps that there’s a pop singer in the two hour premiere, Jennifer Hudson.
Some of the themes of the first season continue, but several others are dropped altogether. It’s still an interesting show about creative people, with a good cast and some smart writers. In the current network TV landscape, it’s certainly worth a watch.
Its lead-in is “Betty White’s 2nd Annual 90th Birthday Special” (NBC, 8 p.m.), a kind of scubbed up roast from the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, Sean Hayes, Sarah Silverman, Vicki Lawrence, Katie Couric, Bill Clinton and Bill Cosby. For a more scathing, undiluted roast, there is always “The Burn with Jeff Ross” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.).
Silicon Valley predates the current cyber crowd and dates back to the late 1950s and the invention of the integrated circuit. The story is told on “Silicon Valley,” a 90 minute overview on “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
“Tosh 2.0” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) starts a new season, with a bunch of new clips and a new set.
“Emily Owens M.D.” (The CW, 9 p.m.) can stop showing up at the hospital. Tonight’s the final episode of the cancelled show.
Not sure you’ve caught on yet, but it’s Elvis impersonator week on “Late Night with David Letterman” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.).
When do you think the Alabama hostage-taker will turn up on “Doomsday Preppers” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.)?
Raylan looks for Drew Thompson on a new “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.).
A second two hour episode of “The Bachelor” (ABC, 9 p.m.) comes in as many days, this time from the Rockies.
Cece is trying to get a husband, too, on “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.). “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) readies for Valentine’s Day.
Matt forgets his anniversary on “Southie Rules” (A&E, 10 p.m.). See? It is just like a sitcom.
The new “Strip the City” (Science, 9 p.m.) isn’t what it sounds like. It takes cityscapes and peels back the layers to its infrastructure, San Francisco first.
The Sahara gets a once-over on “Africa” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Jules is getting sick of real estate on a new “Cougar Town” (TBS, 10 p.m.).
The new model competition coming next week gets a prequel, “The Face: The Fight to Make the Final 12” (Oxygen, 9 p.m.) that looks at the audition process.
Lisa Ling looks at the elderly on a new “Our America” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
Chase is starting to suspect he’s being set up on “Joe Schmo” (Spike, 10 p.m.).
In what may be his sixth current show, Gordon Ramsey tries to make a prison bakery work in the new series “Ramsay Behind Bars” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies is showing Oscar nominated films from over the years, studio by studio. Tonight, it’s Allied Artists which produced “Billy Budd” (8 p.m.), “Cabaret” (10:15 p.m.), “Papillion” (12:30 a.m.), “Last Summer” (3:30 a.m.) and “Friendly Persuasion” (5:30 a.m.).
Men’s college basketball tonight includes Florida at Arkansas (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Villanova at DePaul (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Wake Forest at North Carolina (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Ohio State at Michigan (ESPN, 9 p.m.) and South Carolina at Kentucky (ESPNU, 9 p.m.). In a women’s game, it’s Notre Dame at Villanova (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.).
NHL action includes Tampa Bay at Philadelphia (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.). In the NBA, Lakers at Nets (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Katharine McPhee, Leeza Gibbons. The View: Jenna Miscavige Hill, Jewel. The Talk: Margaret Cho, Gretchen Rubin. Ellen DeGeneres: Jessica Chastain, Tim McGraw.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Eric Stonestreet, Pauley Perrette, Jimmy Cliff, Brandon Bennett. Jay Leno: Josh Duhamel, Kathryn Bigelow, Lianne La Havas. Jimmy Kimmel: Bradley Cooper, Mate Mara, Emeli Sande. Jimmy Fallon: Justin Bieber, Naomi Campbell, Local Natives, Jim James. Craig Ferguson: David Boreanaz. Carson Daly: David O. Russell, Twenty One Pilots, Tift Merritt. Tavis Smiley: Amy Wilentz. Jon Stewart: Ray Kelly. Stephen Colbert: Julie Andrews. Conan O’Brien: Jennifer Lawrence, Nick Kroll, Randy Houser. Chelsea Handler: Nas, John Caparulo, Fortune Feimster, Jo Koy, Dave Grohl.