One of the best series yet of explicating and celebrating the work of the Bard, “Shakespeare Uncovered” (PBS, 9 and 10 p.m., check local listings) returns for a second season, starting with Hugh Bonneville, Lord Grantham himself, explaining the splendor of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” right in the middle of winter.
We not only get to see various film and stage versions of the popular play, from silents to Jimmy Cagney, Bonneville also discusses the pleasures of the work with those who, like him, got his start playing in it (or in his case, being understudy to Ralph Fiennes when he played it — they joke about it together). It’s followed by a second shot, with Christopher Plummer, above, ruminating on “King Lear” with Ian McKellen and SImon Russell Beale. together they’re part of a series that should be saved by teachers as the best way to teach Shakespeare to students by sharing the enthusiasms.
Fall Out Boy, who happen to have the No. 1 album in the country, headlines the “Super Bowl Blitz: A Concert for the Troops” (VH1, 9 p.m.), an event that seems to conflate too many events, when obviously the biggest event of the weekend is Sunday’s game between New England and Seattle in Arizona. Charlie XCX pits her Roman numerals against Super Bowl’s XLIX and there are appearances by Idina Menzel, Jordin Sparks and Nick Lachey, who hosts.
A better pregame preparation might be “Key & Peele Super Bowl Special” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.), with a halftime by Craig Robinson’s band. Overall, it might be the best game related entertainment of the weekend. Later, football’s Eddie George adds to the football humor on “Comedy Bang! Bang” (IFC, 11 p.m.).
Mel Brooks, Laura Poitras, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Katty Kay and Monica Mehta are guests on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
Cole travels all the way to 2014 seeking the origin of the virus in Haiti on “12 Monkeys” (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
Carrie quits her job on “Banshee” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
They try a little cosplay on “King of the Nerds” (TBS, 9 p.m.).
“Glee” (Fox, 9 p.m.) wraps up its two part episode.
Because February sweeps started yesterday, every episode on network TV tonight is new, from “Undercover Boss” (CBS, 8 p.m.) to “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.), “20/20” (ABC, 10 p.m.) to “Dateline” (NBC, 10 p.m.), “Last Man Standing” (ABC, 8 p.m.), “Christela” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.), “Constantine” (NBC, 8 p.m.), “Hawaii Five-0” (CBS, 9 p.m.), “Hart of Dixie” (The CW, 8 p.m.) and “Blue Bloods” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
The month-long Friday night salute to Neil Simon on Turner Classic Movies winds up with a rare screening of 1972’s “The Heartbreak Kid” (TCM, 8 p.m.), followed by “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” (10 p.m.) and “Sweet Charity” (midnight).
Men’s hoops tonight include Harvard at Princeton (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Monmouth at Fairfield (ESPNU, 8 p.m.) and Kent State at Buffalo (ESPNU, 10 p.m.).
NBA action has Dallas at Miami (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Chicago at Phoenix (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Buffalo at Vancouver (NHL, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Antonio Banderas, Ruth Wilson, Toma Dobrosavijevic. The View: Antonio Banderas, Tom Kenny, Dr. Amit Trivedi. The Talk: Sarah Hyland, Rocky Carroll, Jason Santos. Ellen DeGeneres: Jimmy Fallon, Sia. Wendy Williams: Randy Jackson, the Whispers. Meredith Vieira: Maria Menounos, Tony Danza. Queen Latifah: Bill Clinton (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Aziz Ansari, Brian Kiley, Ben Howard. Jimmy Fallon: Don Cheadle, Kate Bosworth, Lecrae (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Omar Epps, Steel Panther (rerun). Seth Meyers: Lauren Graham, Rainn Wilson, Brin Michael Bendis (rerun). Late Late Show: Ben Schwartz, Eric andre, Beth Stern, Death Cab for Cutie, Adam Pally. Carson Daly: Gillian Anderson, Alt-J (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Lupe Fiasco, Joanne Froggatt.