The odd midwestern show biz mecca of Branson, Mo., finally gets a showcase in the new “Branson Famous” (truTV, 10 p.m.), but it hardly gets outside of one theater, the family behind the longest running show there, The Baldknobbers Jamboree. The show quickly tries to initiate the various roles of the Mbe family — its matriarch and clownish patriarch (who appears in fake teeth as Droopy Drawers), its country singing younger folks, struggling to keep the show alive, a kind of a conniving and definitely paranoid wife, a young girl in the gift shop who yearns to be part of the show and a flashy new addition meant to bring the kids in.
That part seems manufactured in a way that all reality shows are manufactured, but “Branson Famous” has something other shows don’t — the ability of characters to not just do confessionals, but full songs about their backstage situations as if this were a musical. Part of this, I’m sure, is a way to get music into a show about a musical variety show (cable still won’t ante up for licensing fees for the songs they actually sing on stage). But it works as the first kind of musical reality show –part soap opera, part grand old opry. And that alone makes it stand out. If the Real Housewifes could do this, their bickering would be worth it (oops I just recalled “Don’t Be Tardy for the Party”).
Another reality show with singing gets the short shrift as the entire season of “Save My Choir” (USA, noon), all eight hours of it, is shown in order one random afternoon between holidays. In it, Gareth Malone, star of the British hit of the same name, comes to save various choirs in America with his techniques.
New Year’s doesn’t have a fraction of the holiday specials associated with it as Christmas, but there are a couple: the 1986 “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown” (ABC, 8 p.m.), paired with a Peppermint Patty short, “She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown.” It’s followed by a special that’s 10 years older, “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
A woman is invited on an all-guys fishing trip on “Mike & Molly” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.) which has the only new episode of anything on network TV.
Flynn tries to stop a man trying to jump off a bridge on a new “Major Crimes” (TNT, 9 p.m.).
The History channel has taken a weird turn to belief and superstition on the two hour “Revelation: The End of Days” (History, 9 p.m.).
Roasted chicken hearts qualify as “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” (Travel, 9 p.m.). But is it any more strange than fermented horse milk on “Booze Traveler” (Travel, 10 p.m.)?
The story of Arnel Pineda, the Filipino fan who became the replacement lead singer in Journey, is retold in “Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey” on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
It’s really timely or not timely at all to have a new episodes of “Why Planes Crash” (Weather Channel, 9 p.m.).
Events in the news involving Mama June has certainly changed TLC’s plans for a night-long “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” marathon. Instead, a double play of “You’ve Got Mail” (TLC, 7 and 9:35 p.m.).
Othere movies tonight include Vince Vaughn in “Delivery Man” (Showtime, 8 p.m.), “House of Secrets” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.), Kevin Hart in “About Last Night” (Starz, 9 p.m.), Adam Sandler in “That’s My Boy” (FX, 8 p.m.), “The Hunger Games” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.), “Grand Budapest Hotel” (HBO2, 7 p.m.), and “High School Musical 2” (Disney, 8 p.m.).
The month-long Monday night salute to Cary Grant on Turner Classic Movies concludes with “Father Goose” (8 p.m.), “Houseboat” (10:15 p.m.), “The Grass is Greener” (12:15 a.m.), “North by Northwest” (2:15 a.m.) and “Walk, Don’t Run” (4:45 a.m.).
Bowl games continue with Texas A&M vs. West Virginia (ESPN, 2 p.m.) in the Liberty Bowl, Oklahoma vs. Clemson (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.) in the Russell Athletic Bowl and Arkansas vs. Texas (ESPN, 9 p.m.) in the Texas Bowl.
College hoops include Toledo at Duke (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and San Francisco at St. Mary’s (ESPNU, 9 p.m.). In women’s games, it’s Duke at Connecticut (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
NHL action includes Detroit at Boston (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
The View: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Alfonso Ribeiro, Laverne Cox (rerun). The Talk: Anna Faris, Taylor Swift, Jet Tila (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Portia de Rossi, David Walton (rerun). Wendy Williams: Cedric the Entertainer (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Katherine Heigl (rerun). Queen Latifah: Dr. Drew Pinsky, Norman Reedus (rerun). The Real: Vincent Herbert, Adam Housley, Freddy Harteis (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Ben Stiller, Olivia Munn, LaLa Brooks (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Sailene Woodley, Michael Shannon, Eric Church, Lenny Pickett (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Garth Brooks, Tracey Ullman (rerun). Seth Meyers: Mark Wahlberg, Diane Von Fustenberg, Kyle Dunnigan, Bob Mould (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Zoe Saldana, T.J. Miller (rerun). Carson Daly: Eliza Coupe, Michaela Watkins, King Tuff (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Joe Perry (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Cast of “Sons of Anarchy,” First Aid Kit (rerun).