At 88, he’s amassed an awful lot of stories to tell, so in his special “Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen” (HBO, 9 p.m.) from the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles he talks about his upbringing, writing in the early days of television, marriage, and his long career in films. There is singing involved as well, as he croons his movie theme “High Anxiety.” And he takes advantage of being on HBO for using a little blue language.
Rob Lowe’s been pretty funny appearing as different versions of himself in those DirecTV ads, and he’s pretty good in the cable B-movies he’s been on. His latest appearance comes tonight as Ben Novack Jr., heir to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel, who is murdered. Paz Vega plays the wife, who is under suspicion in the made for TV “Beautiful & Twisted” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.).
Also new tonight is “A Wish Come True” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) in which Megan Park plays a woman on the verge of turning 30, who wishes all her earlier wishes had come true. Then they do.
Jason Bateman’s dark spelling bee movie, “Bad Words” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.) makes its premium cable debut as does the Liam Neeson action flick “Non-Stop” (HBO, 7:05 p.m.).
The night before the Super Bowl means a compendium of old skits in “Saturday Night Live’s NFL Saturday” (NBC, 8 p.m.) and the unnecessary two hour awards show “NFL Honors” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Eleanor is requested to depose a captain on “Black Sails” (Starz, 9 p.m.). Last week’s second season premiere precedes it at 8.
“MythBusters” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) test video game lore. So Super Mario probably can’t jump over a flagpole.
They’re burning off episodes of the canceled “Red Band Society” (Fox, 9 p.m.), so they play one you haven’t seen.
Loads of network reruns despite February sweeps and there is a prime time showing of the 2010 animated movie “Despicable Me” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
A blade shaped like a whale qualifies for “Big Giant Swords: Legend of the Blademaker” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Drew Barrymore gets to share the work of her grandfather John Barrymore on Turner Classic Movies tonight with “Twentieth Century” (8 p.m.), “Counsellor at Law” (9:45 p.m.), “Topaze” (11:15 p.m.) and “Svengali” (12:45 a.m.).
So much college basketball! It starts with the following games at noon: Providence at St. John’s (Fox), Tulane at Temple (CBS Sports Network), Wisconsin at Iowa (ESPN, noon), Auburn at Tennessee (ESPN2), Davidson at Saint Joseph’s (NBC Sports), Texas Tech at West Virginia (ESPU) and Xavier at Seton Hall (Fox Sports 1).
Then it’s Arkansas at Florida (CBS, 1 p.m.) and South Florida at Tulsa (ESPNews, 1 p.m.) before the following games at 2 p.m.: Richmond at VCU (ESPN2), Kansas State at Kansas (ESPN), Villanova at DePaul (Fox Sports 1), TCU at Iowa State (ESPNU) and Georgetown at Creighton (CBS Sports).
At 4 p.m., it’s Wichita State at Northern Iowa (ESPN2), North Carolina at Louisville (ESPN), North Carolina at Louisville (ESPN, 4 p.m), Georgia at South Carolina (ESPNU), Massachusetts at Saint Louis (CBS Sports). Then it’s Texas at Baylor (ESPN2, 6 p.m.), Fresno State at Colorado State (CBS Sports, 4 p.m.), Purdue at Northwestern (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Duke at Virginia (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Oklahoma at Oklanhoma State (ESPN2, 8 p.m.), UCF at SMU (ESPNU, 8 p.m.), Utah State at San Diego State (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), Memphis at Gonzaga (ESPN2, 10 p.m.) and Cal Poly at California Davis (ESPNU, 10 p.m.).
NBA action includes Clippers at San Antonio (ESPN, 9 p.m.). Hockey has Washington at Montreal (NHL, 1 p.m.) and Los Angeles at Boston (NHL, 7 p.m.).
In the Australian Open (Tennis, 5:30 p.m., midnight) it’s time for the men’s doubles final and the mixed doubles final.
The Black Keys headline a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) with J. Roddy Walston & the Business.
J.K. Simmons hosts a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with D’Angelo as musical guest.