With Barbara Walters suffering chicken pox, it’s time for another former morning anchor to take over the annual Academy Award special. “20/20: Mad About Oscar with Katie Couric” (ABC, 10 p.m.) features interviews with nominees Jennifer Lawrence, bradley Cooper, Sally Field, Denzel Washington. It also looks back at highlights from past shows with Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Marisa Tomei, some classic clips from even older shows and a look backstage at Sunday’s event.
Also helping out the network promotion of the show: an Oscar-themed episode of “The Neighbors” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.).
We’re left with 40 finalists on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) as they move to perform before a live Las Vegas audience; Ten by 10 they will perform over the next four episodes, and judges will cut the group down by half night by night .
James Corden hosts The 2013 Brit Awards (Fuse, 6 p.m.), the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys. Mumford & Sons lead nominations there along with Alt-J and Emeli Sande. Performers include Justin Timberlike, Robbie Williams, One Direction and Taylor Swift.
More of the weeklong coverage of the Newtown massacre continues with a “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) that looks at the motivations of mass killers. It’s followed by “The Path to Violence” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
Legalizing pot will only lead to more reality shows about it. Tonight’s “Weed Country” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) kicks off a new “Weed Wednesday” promotion, following growers in Northern California.
“The Moment” (USA, 11 p.m.) is a new series that helps people achieve their old dreams. In the premiere, that means becoming captain of an America’s Cup boat.
Jorja Fox’s Sara is herself a suspect on tonight’s “CSI” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
Claire goes to a school reunion on a new “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.) and runs into David Faustino.
The finale of season 10 “Top Chef” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) begins and it’s down to Brooke Williamson, Sheldon Simeon and one to be determined from the Last Chance Kitchen, Lizzie Binder or Kristen Kish.
Another daytime ancor has a big day as Robin Roberts returns to “Good Morning America” (ABC, 7 a.m.) after time off for cancer treatment.
Oscar winners and nominees from Paramount Pictures and the 1940s are on Turner Classic Movies tonight with “Hold Back the Dawn” (8 p.m.), “Going My Way” (10:15 p.m.), “The Lady Eve” (12:30 a.m.), “Hail the Conquering Hero” (2:15 a.m.), “The Great Mcginty” (4:15 a.m.) and “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” (5:45 a.m.).
NBA action includes New Orleans at Cleveland (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Boston at Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.)
In hockey, it’s Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7:30 p.m.) and St. Louis at COlorado (NBC Sports, 10 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Providence at Syracuse (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Oklahoma at Texas Tech (ESPNU 7 p.m.), Kansas at Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Iowa State at Baylor (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Colorado State at UNLV (CBS Sports Network, 10 p.m.), Washington at Arizona (ESPN2, 11 p.m.) and Santa Clara at Gonzaga (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Johnny Galecki, Chris Wallace. The View: Don Cheadle, Abby Lee Miller. The Talk: Benjamin Bratt, Drew Carey, Chris Kimball. Ellen DeGeneres: Wanda Sykes, Kate Upton, Kym Douglas.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Hugh Jackman, the Americans. Jay Leno: Chelsea Handler, Edythe Kirchmaier, Sky Blu. Jimmy Kimmel: Michael Strahan, Miles Teller, Dido. Jimmy Fallon: Don Cheadle, John Oliver, Ke$ha, Keith Sweat. Craig Ferguson: Lisa Kudrow, Bonnie Raitt. Carson Daly: Joel McHale, Eddie Huang, ZZ Ward. Tavis Smiley: Anthony Edwards. Jon Stewart: Helaine Olen. Stephen Colbert: David Goldhill. Conan O’Brien: Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Ken Marino, Mark Normand. Chelsea Handler: Dov Davidoff, Annie Lederman, Ross Mathews.