Since only about 10 of the 82 awards will be given during the three hours of primetime allotted to the 56th Grammy Awards (CBS, 8 p.m.), it will all be about the performances, which will include more duets than usual, with some odd pairings, from Kendrick Lamar with Imagine Dragons to Billy Joe Armstrong with Miranda Lambert on a Phil Everly tribute.
It’s not enough that Daft Punk will emerge from obscurity to perform; they’ll do so with Stevie Wonder. Carole King sings with a writer of another generation, Sara Bareilles. ROgin Thicke plays with Chicago; Metallica with classical pianist Lang Lang. Pink sings a new song with the vocalist from fun; Merle Haggard will sing with Willie Nelson. And there will be Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis (oh wait, they’re together all the time).
There’s a finale involving Nine Inch Nails, Dave Grohl and Lindsay Buckingham although, if it’s anything like SNL’s “What’s Up with That?” there may not be time for the latter. But that’s not Kenan Thompson hosting; it’s L.L. Cool J again.
Madonna is the latest performer to the roster that also includes Lorde, Keith Urban, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Trombone Shorty, Kacey Musgraves, Juicy J, John Legend, Hunter Hayes, Bruno Mars, Beyonce and Jay Z, who is incidentally up for most awards. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are to appear to accept a lifetime achievement for The Beatles, but not expected to perform together.
As the network can play up the fact that a few couples actually come out of “The bachelor” — and to have the network pick up the tab on the ceremony there is “The Bachelor: Sean and Catherine’s Wedding” (ABC, 8 p.m.), the marriage of the last bachelor and his choice. It could be that they can’t think of life away from network cameras. Current bachelor Juan Pablo is an invited guest. But there is no way this is part of a “two night ‘Bachelor’ event.”
Anna is being a little too tough on Bates in the latest “Downton Abbey” on “Masterpiece Classic” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
A barnstorming preacher is a person of interest on “True Detective” (HBO, 9 p.m.), as Hart gets sidetracked at a C&W bar.
Holmes is best man at Watson’s wedding on a new “Sherlock” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
A surprising death on “Girls” (HBO, 10 p.m.) brings some odd reactions from its characters as well.
Frank stalks his previously unknown daughter on “Shameless” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
You can meet people on BART; Patrick and Richie go out on a date on “Looking” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.).
Glad Churchill isn’t around to catch “Blood, Sweat & Heels” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
Your main Super Bowl activity this week is a story on “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 8:30p.m.). (It will be different next week). But there is the NFL Pro Bowl (NBC, 7:30 p.m.) pitting the AFC vs.the NFC.
Matt desperately tries to get off of “Pucks!” on the latest “Episodes” (Showtime, 10:30 p.m.).
The cold weather expected at the outdoor game of Rangers vs. Devils (NBC, 12:30 p.m.) from Yankee Stadium will be more fitting than the balmy weather and green grass at the stadium NHL game Saturday.
Because Destination America is one of the Discovery channels, it can’t help straying into fiction. Hence, “Monsters & Mysteries in America” (Destination America, 9 p.m.).
A couple of films with Henry Fonda, directed by John Ford, play back to back: “Young Mr. Lincoln” (8 p.m.) and “Drums Along the Mohawk” (TCM, 10 p.m.). It’s followed by Harold Lloyd’s silent classic “Speedy” (TCM, midnight).
NBA action includes Spurs at Heat (ABC, 1 p.m.) and Lakers at Knicks (ABC, 3:30 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, Rep. Peter King, Rick Santorum, filmmaker Greg Whitely. CBS: Sens. Ted Cruz and Chuck Schumer, Rep. Mike McCaul, former White House chief of staff Bill Daley. NBC: Sens. Rand Paul and Dick Durbin, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. CNN: White House Senior Adviser Dan Pfeiffer, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Evan Bayh.Fox News: Pfeiffer, Paul, Reps. Steny Hoyer and Tom Cole, Russian Ambassador to the U.S.