It’s the big day we’ve all been waiting for — Groundhog’s Day.
But there are also a number of big TV events today that involve masks. There are facemasks in that football game of Kansas City vs. San Francisco (Fox, 6:30 p.m.) that’s known as Super Bowl LIV, apparently after Liv Tyler, star of the network’s new “9-1-1: Lone Star.” There are more elaborate masks, though, in the prime post-game slot, for the third season premiere “The Masked Singer” (Fox, about 11 p.m.), with Jamie Foxx as guest judge.
The rest of the pregame entertainment schedule on Fox includes Dan + Shay performing at 3 p.m.; Pitbull at 4 p.m.; DJ Khaled spinning at 5 p.m.; and Yolanda Adams singing “America the Beautiful” and Demi Lovato singing the National Anthem at game time.
Sometime in there is the usual Super Bowl day interview with the president, which will be more of a propaganda event than ever, as a cheerleader and confidant rather than a journalist was chosen as interviewer, Sean Hannity. It’s a combination that’s toxic enough to sully the whole day, or at least sour your chip dip.
That mens it’s better year than usual to spend your time with Puppy Bowl XVI (Animal Planet, 3, 6 and 8 p.m.) or Kitten Bowl VII (Hallmark, 2 and 5 p.m.). Alas, they’re not doing the Fish Bowl any more. For some human activity, there is the U.S. Championships Skating Spectacular (NBC, 4 p.m.) recorded last month in Greensboro, N.C.
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira perform the official Halftime Show; opposite is a high wizard and an alien zoo in “Tzgz’s Half Baked Halftime Show” (Syfy, 8:15 p.m.).
Lest there be a Sunday without an awards show here’s the BAFTAs — the 2020 EE British Academy Film Awards (BBC America, 9:10 p.m.), where “Joker” leads in nominations, with “The Irishman” and “Once Upon a Time …in Hollywood” close behind. Graham Norton hosts from the Royal Albert Hall.
Tomorrow’s Iowa caucus gets its final campaigning covered on “The Circus: Inside the Craziest Political Campaign on Earth” (Showtime, 8 p.m.).
Then Trump tries to turn the tide on “Our Cartoon President” (Showtime, 8:30 p.m.).
On “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.), Larry messes up his chance to make amends with Alice.
A missing astronaut gets the attention of “Doctor Who” (BBC America, 8 p.m.).
Anthony Mingella’s version of Puccini’s opera is on “Great Performances at the Met” (PBS, noon, check local listings) with a cast that includes Hui He and Bruce Sledge.
On the series finale of “Howard’s End” (PBS, 8 p.m.), the three families have their showdown.
On “Sanditon” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) a worker boycott is threatened that would affect the annual cricket match.
Jack is acting weirder and weirder on “The Outsider” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
“Avenue 5” (HBO, 10 p.m.) has an unruly press conference.
Victims are chosen at random in a series of slum murders on “Vienna Blood” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar, which aligns winning films that have a common star continues with “Ninotchka” (6:30 a.m.), “Morning Glory” (8:30 a.m.), “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (10 a.m.), “The Maltese Falcon” (noon), “Little Women” (2 p.m.), “Lassie Come Home” (4:15 p.m.), “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex” (6 p.m.), “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (8 p.m.), “Hold Back the Dawn” (10 p.m.), “All This, and Heaven Too” (12:15 a.m.), “Dark Victory” (2:45 a.m.) and “42nd Street” (4:45 a.m.).
Hockey has Pittsburgh at Washington (NBC, 12:30 p.m.).
NBA has New Orleans at Houston (ABC, 2 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Georgetown at St. John’s (CBS, 1 p.m.), Illinois at Iowa (Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m.) and Utah at UCLA (Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m.).
Women’s games include South Florida at Cincinnati (ESPNU, noon), Tennessee at South Carolina (ESPN2, 1 p.m.), Saint Louis at George Washington (CBS Sports, 2 p.m.), U.S. national team at Louisville (ESPN, 2 p.m.), Iowa State at West Virginia (ESPNU, 2 p.m.) and Rutgers at Minnesota (ESPN2, 3 p.m.).
Final rounds are played in golf’s Phoenix Open (Golf, 1 p.m.; CBS, 3 p.m.).
There’s the FIS skateboarding world cup (NBC, 3 p.m.).
And in women’s college gymnastics, it’s Auburn at Georgia (EPSN, 4 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Pete Buttigieg and Andrew Yang. CBS: Buttigieg, White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien, Rep. Adam Schiff, Republican chair Ronna McDaniel. NBC: Buttigieg, Sen. Lamar Alexander. CNN: Buttigieg, Sen. Joni Ernst, Rep. Cindy Axne. Fox News: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Alan Dershowitz.