The Long Island piano man is honored in D.C. in the special “Billy Joel: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), taped in November at the DAR Constitution Hall.
In a kind of hybrid of recent honoree programs, a number of recording artists appear to sing his songs, but the highlight is when the honoree takes the piano himself for a a few songs with the band.
Joel is just the sixth recipient of the award after heavy hitters Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach-Hal David and Carole King, so it might bring up some questions: Joel before Brian Wilson? Bruce Springsteen? Ray Davies? Elton John? Smokey Robinson?
But that would be uncharitable. Instead, lets sit back as Boyz II Men harmonizes on “The Longest Time,” and LeAnn Rimes wrings emotion from “Lullaby.” Gavin DeGraw, who was just at Nationals Stadium Sunday, is back in the Disctrict with “It’s Still Rock ‘n’ Roll to Me.” Josh Groban does a trilling “She’s Always a Woman to Me” and Natalie Maine of the Dixie Chicks handles “She’s Got a Way About Her.”
All are quite reverent, except when John Mellencamp deconstructs “Allentown” as a folkie protest, robbing it of its melody. But Tony Bennett adds some class with a smooth, swinging’ take on “New York State of Mind.”
But a better performer than most is Joel himself, in old performance clips such as an urgent “Only the Good Die Young” in Russia, or, in the end doing “Moving Out,” “Vienna,” and “Miami 2017.” For the finale, host Kevin Spacey and the cast join him on “Piano Man.”
A new season starts for “Whale Wars” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.), but without its leader Captain Paul Wilson, who was ordered to curb his hectoring of Japanese whaling ships. It may take his charges a little longer to get their mission done; the first episode is three hours.
The head of Maaco checks under the hood on a new “Undercover Boss” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
“Alaskan Bush People” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) is not about the Palin family; it’s about the Brown family, who go back to the wild after a time in the big city — Ketchikan — for the start of the second season.
New seasons also start for the series “Mysteries at the Castle” (Travel, 9 p.m.), “Love It or List It, Too” (HGT, 9 p.m.) and “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
William Forsythe guest stars on a new “Hawaii Five-0” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
A month-long Friday night salute to the work of Neil Simon on Turner Classic Movies begins with “The Odd Couple” (8 p.m.), “The Out-Of-Towners” 10 p.m.) and “Come Blow Your Horn” (midnight).
A few more bowl games play today: Houston vs. Pittsburgh (ESPN, noon) in the Armed Forces Bowl; Iowa vs. Tennessee (ESPN, 3:20 p.m.) in the TaxSlayer Bowl; Kansas State vs. UCLA (ESPN, 6:45 p.m.) in the Alamo Bowl; and Washington vs. Oklahoma State (ESPN, 10:15 p.m.) in the Cactus Bowl.
Men’s college hoops include Florida State at Missisippi State (ESPNU, 8 p.m.), UCLA at Colorado (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.) and Southern California at Utah (ESPNU, 10 p.m.). Women’s games include Seton Hall at St. John’s (CBS Sports, 6 p.m.) and Marquette at Grorgetown (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.).
Pro basketball includes Dallas at Boston (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
The View: Seth McFarlane, Nene Leakes (rerun). The Talk: Matthew McConaughey, Jaymes Vaughan, Jessica Collins (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Kim Kardashian, Iggy Azelea & Rita Ora (rerun). Wendy Williams: Kelly Ripa, Patricia DiMango, Tanya Acker, Larry Bakman (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Jeff Daniels, Nico & Vinz (rerun). Queen Latifah: Emmy Rossum, John Cho, Keyshia Cole (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dr. John P. Holdren, Nico & Vinz (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Julianne Moore, Michael Cera, Kid Rock (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Michael Keaton, Megyn Kelly, George Ezra (rerun). Seth Meyers: Martin Freeman, Eliza Coupe, the Eeries, Bob Mould (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Shailene Woodley (rerun). Carson Daly: Kurt Sutter, Shannon and the Clams, Tiffany Haddish (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Cicely Tyson (rerun).