From what we’ve heard about Sochi so far, the “XII Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony” (NBC, 7:30 p.m.) may consist of stray dogs and odd toilet configurations.
But no, it will likely have its own brand of state-sponsored spectacle, kept under wraps until the event begins. But conductor Valery Gergiev and the soprano Anna Netrebko are expected to take part. And whatever the entertainment value of the ceremony, there will at least be the pageantry of Olympic athletes walking in in the Parade of Nations, demanding to know why their hotel rooms aren’t ready.
Security has been heightened for the event, so much so that toothpaste tubes were banned from U.S. flights to Russia at the last minute. So if we don’t get gold medals, maybe we’ll end up with gold filling.
The Pulitzer Prize winning author of “The Color Purple” is profiled on “Alice Walker –Beauty in Truth” on a Black History Month edition of “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m.,check local listings). The film includes interviews with Walker as well as Quincy Jones, Danny Glover, Sapphire, Steven Spielberg and Howard Zinn.
There will be no tears, or much of a big deal, for the final episode of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (NBC, 12:05 a.m.). Andy Samberg and the Muppets are guests; Fallon moves across the hall to host “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” Feb. 17. Seth Meyers takes over “Late Night” Feb. 24.
Guests on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) has as scheduled guests former Gov. Charlie Crist, Tom Colicchio, S.E. Cupp, Alicia Menendez and P.J. O’Rourke.
“Oprah: Where Are They Now?” (OWN, 9 p.m.) could have snagged half the people who joined her on a farewell song to Jay Leno Thursday. Instead tonight they have Rick Springfield, the Village People, Jill Zarin and Terry Fator.
For the 19th season start of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (Food, 10 p.m., Guy Fieri returns to his home town of Ferndale, Calif., and the people all make fun of his hair.
‘Ghost Adventures” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.) seems like it’s barking up the wrong tree by visiting Transylvania.
The fancier the structures get on “Treehouse Masters” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.), the less they seem like treehouses, right? (And where are the animals?).
The 1953 best actor nominees are saluted tonight on Turner Clasic Movies, starting with “From Here to Eternity” (8 p.m.) that featured two, Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift, and continuing with the winner, William Holden, in “Stalag 17” (10:15 p.m.) and other nominees Richard Burton in “The Robe” (2:30 p.m.) and Marlon Brando “Julius Caesar” (5 a.m.). Plus thre is a replay of the new documentary “And the Oscar Goes …” (12:30 a.m.).
NBA action tonight includes Portland at Indiana (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Minnesota at New Orleans (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Rangers at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Mens college hoops includes Seton Hall at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Manhattan at Canisius (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), DePaul at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), Detroit at Valparaiso (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and Marshall at Southern Mississippi (CBS Sports Network, 9:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Matt Damon, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Toni Braxton. The View: Rosie O’Donnell. The Talk: John Goodman, Dean Sheremet. Ellen DeGeneres: Steve Harvey, American Authors.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jimmy Dunn, Lauryn Hill. Jimmy Kimmel: Morgan Freeman, Anna Faris, Motley Crue (rerun). Jimmy Fallon:Andy Samberg, the Muppets. Craig Ferguson: Tom Lennon, Sarah Paulson, Yakov Smirnoff, Tony Deyo. Tavis Smiley: Merry Clayton Darlene Love. Arsenio Hall: Drew Carey, Charlamangne Tha God, Don Felder. Chelsea Handler: Vanessa Hudgens, John Caparulo, Fortune Feimster, Julian McCullough (rerun).