Last week it was all about elephants. Tonight, rhinos.
Poachers have made the rhinoceros an endangered species as well, with nearly 700 killed last year alone. They’re after the horns, still prized in Asia for bogus medicinal qualities. How to stop the slaughter? On “Battleground: Rhino Wars” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) they call in four former and current members of U.S. Special Forces, who fly in to South Africa and take aim. Tonight’s the first of a three-episode series (they must clear up the problem pretty quickly).
It will take 90 minutes to hear who voters determined who of the Top 20 who performed this week will go on to be the Top 10 on the third of three episodes of “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) this week. Tonight’s is the first one from the show’s Hollywood studio. From here on out, the eliminations will slow to one a week.
The results show bumps “Glee” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) to a later start time, playing havoc with the start of local news on afilliates. “Glee” can boast putting on its 500th musical number in tonight’s episode.
“Zero Hour” had zero future; it was canceled after just three episodes. It had the distinction of being the lowest rated premiere for a scripted ABC show for the regular TV season ever, with just 6.3 million watching its debut. Numbers dropped in subsequent weeks. Filling its place tonight is a repeat of “Shark Tank” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
“What Not to Wear” (TLC, 10 p.m.) will begin its final season later this year, the network announced Wednesday. Tonight, just another episode.
Making prom dresses out of duct tape is the challenge on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.). Chris Benz is guest judge.
James Brolin guest stars as Joel McHale’s dad on a new “Community” (NBC, 8 p.m.) in which they also celebrate Thanksgiving.
A vintage clothing boutique is covered in the new reality series “L.A. Frock Stars” (Smithsonian CHannel, 8 p.m.).
Skip starts a podcast on “1600 Penn” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.).
The surprise about the final four of “King of the Nerds” (TBS, 10 p.m.) is that three of them are women. A winner will be named in the first season finale.
Musicals set in Paris is the focus of Turner Classic Movies tonight with “Can-Can” (8 p.m.), “Love Me Tonight” (10:15 p.m.), “Folies Bergre de Paris” (midnight), “Roberta” (1:30 a.m.) and “April in Paris” (3:30 a.m.).
NBA action includes Oklahoma City at New York (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Los Angeles Clippers at Denver (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Kentucky at Georgia (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Virginia at Florida State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Penn State at Northwestern (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Butler at Massachusetts (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Wisconsin at Michigan State (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Oregon at Colorado (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Oregon State at Utah (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and Long Beach State at UC Davis (ESPN2, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Goran Visnjic, Peter Gros. The View: Lily Tomlin, Dr. Gail Saltz. The Talk: Ricky Schroder, Jillian Michaels, Arsenio Hall. Ellen DeGeneres: Howie Mandel.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jennifer Lawrence, lan Zweibel, A$AP Rocky (rerun). Jay Leno: Anne Hathaway, Lester Holt, Eli Young Band (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Kobe Bryant, Dominic Monaghan, Rival Sons. Jimmy Fallon: Joel McHale, Al Roker, Matt Pond (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Zach Braff, Alison Brie. Carson Daly: Benh Zeitlin, Roman Coppola, Damien Jurado (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Anthony Greenwald. Jon Stewart: Tom Coughlin. Stephen Colbert: John Sexton. Conan O’Brien: James Franco, Robert Kirkman, Jamie N. Commons. Chelsea Handler: Jeff Wild, Loni Love, Julian McCullough.