I have to say much lauded reunion of the surviving Beatles at the Grammys Sunday wasn’t that big a deal. Ringo Starr was purely an ornamental additional drummer to Paul McCartney’s new single. But the impending 50th anniversary of the Beatles first TV appearance in the U.S. is still bringing some other specials, including one tonight that’s part of an on-going 10-part series on the 1960s.
“The Sixties – The British Invasion” (CNN, 9 p.m.) is co produced by proven 60s rock fan Tom Hanks, whose directoral debut was the period musical “That Thing That You Do!” That means the special might not only include the Beatles, but also the Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five and, with any luck, The Animals, the Who and the Kinks. And if they keep Piers Morgan from narrating, so much the better.
“Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) began with Rashida Jones’ Ann Perkins a citizen with a complaint. She has since grown into a key character, a member of city hall and an on and off partner of Rob Lowe’s Chris Traeger. They’re now expecting a child and with tonight’s episode both characters bid farewell to Pawnee. Hope it’s not too long before either of them again lands in a comedy.
Originally planned for last Saturday, “Saturday Night Live Presents a SNL Sports Spectacular” (NBC, 9 p.m.) is a pre-Super Bowl compilation of sports-related clips from over three decades, heavy on the show that Peyton Manning hosted. Seth Meyers hosts becausehe’s about to be installed as the new host of “Late Night.” It pre-empts a number of scheduled NBC shows except for “Sean Saves the World,” which has been cancelled.
Annie turns the cafeteria into a dance space on a new “Community” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
The “Sherlock” on “Masterpiece Mystery” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) plays opposite the Holmes on “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
The auditions portion of “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) end up in Omaha.
Amish beard shaving case means that “Rake” (Fox, 9 p.m.) intends to rip from the headlines. Or at least chins.
Sheldon tries to have his own Comic-Con and James Earl Jones and Carrie Fisher come by on a new “Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Steve Lawrence, Tim Conway and Garry Marshall show up for Carl Reiner’s bachelor party on “Two and a Half Men” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.).
A “Full House” reunion of Bob Saget, John Stamos and Dave Coulier visit “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo, 11 p.m.).
The 62-movie, month-long, Thursday night salute to Joan Crawford comes to an end with “The Best of Everything” (8 p.m.), “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (10:15 p.m.), “Della” (12:45 a.m.), “Trog” (2 a.m.), “The Karate Killers” (3:45 a.m.) and “The Caretakers” (5:30 a.m.).
One network jumps the gun three days by playing “Groundhog Day” (Esquire, 10 p.m.). Six more weeks of winter.
NBA action includes Cleveland at New York (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State (TNT, 10:30 p.m.). In hockey, Montreal at Boston (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Cincinnati at Louisville (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Florida at Mississippi State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Providence at Marquette (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m), Bryant at Robert Morris (ESPNU, 8 p.m.), Purdue at Michigan (ESPN, 9 p.m.), UCLA at Oregon (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Houston at Connecticut (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.) and Saint Mary’s (Calif) at San Diego (ESPNU, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jimmy Johnson, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Curt Menefee, Jay Glazer, Barry Gibb. The View: Dr. Phil McGraw, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jay Mohr. The Talk: William H. Macy, Diana Madison, Fabio Viviani. Ellen DeGeneres: Zac Efron, Fitz & the Tantrums. Wendy Williams: Tom Arnold.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Dr. Phil McGraw, Dum Dum Girls. Jay Leno: Miley Cyrus, Howie Mandel, Sarah McLachlan. Jimmy Kimmel: Zac Efron, Alison Brie, Sara Bareilles. Jimmy Fallon: Melissa McCarthy, David Crosby. Craig Ferguson: Max Greenfield, ZZ Ward. Carson Daly: Liz Meriweather, K. Flay. Tavis Smiley: Sam Freedman & James Harris. Jon Stewart: Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Stephen Colbert: Drew Brees. Arsenio Hall: Steve Austin, Lamorne Morris. Conan O’Brien: Gen. Ray Odierno, Bill Burr. Chelsea Handler: Vanessa Hudgens, John Caparulo, Fortune Feimster, Julian McCullough.