The 50th anniversary of the National Theatre of Great Britain is marked with a compilation of their best stuff from over the years on “Great Performances” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
That includes Benedict Cumberbatch in Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” “The History Boys” with playwright Alan Bennett and two original stars, Dominic Cooper and James Corden; and Helen Mirren in “Mourning Becomes Electra.”
There will be a scene from “War Horse,” Maggie Smith in “Hay Fever,” Judi Dench in “A Little Night Music,” Ian McKellen in “Richard III,” and Penelope Wilton of “Downton Abbey” in “Bedroom Farce.”
“House of Cards” (Netflix) has unleashed every episode of season two today. The resulting binge watching may ruin many a Valentine’s Day dinner.
A house of Valentine’s Day cards, on the other hand, may be found in the two specials “A Charlie Brown Valentine” (ABC, 8 p.m.) from 1975 and “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.), cobbled together for the one animated holiday special of the season.
The Winter Olympics (NBC, 8 p.m.) slog on, with or without Bob Costas or Matt Lauer. There will be a medal ceremony for men’s figure skating, finals in men’s Alpine skiing, women’s freestyle aerial skiing and more women’s skeleton. Earlier it’s women’s biathlon and more aerials in women’s skiing at 3 p.m. and In men’s hockey, Switzerland vs. Sweden (NBC Sports Network, 7:30 a.m.).
If you watch the games for wipeouts you may be better off with “Tosh.0 Sports Night” (Comedy Central, 8 p.m.), a two-hour compendium of the worst sports related clips, dumb stunts and skateboard wipeouts over the years.
Bill Nye, Eric Klinenberg, Dylan Ratigan, Jeremy Scahill and Mayim Bialik are guests on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 8 p.m.)
Lisa Marie Presley, Jane Seymour and Adam Ant resurface on “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
Most Valentine’s Day programming is against the holiday. As if to add a degree of smarminess, Wendy Williams hosts another compendium of relationship deaths, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) that only includes three ways.
Jenny McCarthy hosts a night of female comedians carping on the date in an hour-long comedy special “Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty Sexy Funny” (Epix, 11 p.m.) with Tammy Pescatelli, Lynne Koplitz, Paula Bel, Tiffany Haddish and Justine Marino.
There may be more rom coms on than usual, from “Date Night” (FX, 8 and 10:30 p.m.) and “50 First Dates” (Encore, 9:40 p.m.) to “Chance at Romance” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) and “The Prince in Me” (ABC Family, 8:30 p.m.). “Date Night” isn’t that romantic, though. Nor are “Eyes Wide Shut” (IFC, 8 p.m.),“The Hangover” (TBS, 8 p.m.), “Identity Thief” (Cinemax, 8 p.m.) and “Unfaithful” (Sundance, 9 p.m.).
Two days late for his birthday: “Lincoln” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
The Academy’s best actor nominations from 1955 are on Turner Classical Movies tonight with James Dean from “East of Eden” (8 p.m.), winner Ernest Borgnine in “Marty” (10:15 p.m.), James Cagney in “Love Me or Leave Me” (midnight), Frank Sinatra in “The Man With the Golden Arm” (2:30 a.m.), Spencer Tracy in “Bad Day at Black Rock” (4 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ian McKellen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. The View: Maury Povich, Connie Chung, Carole Radziwill, cast of “Bridges of Madison County,” Lynne Koplitz. The Talk: Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, Aimee Teegarden, Matt Lanter. Ellen DeGeneres: Kevin Costner, Band of Horses. Wendy Williams: Joe Levy, Megan Alexander, Dr. Rachel Ross.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Michael Strahan, Jennifer Nettles (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Zac Efron, Alison Brie, Sara Bareilles (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Elizabeth Banks, Chris Voth. Tavis Smiley: Joel Kinnaman, Joy Bryant. Arsenio Hall: Regina King, Patti Stanger, Dean Edwards. Chelsea Handler: McG, Jeff Wild, Cameron Esposito, Matt Braunger (rerun).