Music’s annual event of diminishing returns and occasional surprises, the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Disney+, 8 p.m.), eminates this year from Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. Chappell Roan will induct Cyndi Lauper, Donald Glover will induct OutKast.
Comedians have a couple of the coolest assignments — David Letterman will induct Warren Zevon, finally getting in as a musical influence (and not a performer). And Conan O’Brien is supposed to induct the White Stripes, above, who got in on their first year of eligibility.
Other honorees are Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Salt-N-Pepa, Wrecking Crew bassist Carole Kaye (who has already announced she won’t attend), Nicky Hopkins (who is dead), record exec Lenny Waronker and Philly producer Thom Bell.
There hasn’t been an announcement of the full roster of performers and appearances and who will be honoring who, cut Elton John will be on hand to pay tribute to Brian Wilson, who died earlier this year.
But names announced as guests include Missy Elliott, Beck, Brandi Carlisle, Doja Cat, Killer Mike, Questlove, Avril Lavigne and Janelle Monae.
The band honoring Soundgarden will include Nancy Wilson of Heart, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains and singers Iggy Pop, Taylor Momsen and Olivia Rodrigo.
The live event tonight is the one to watch – likely running long and full of cussing. By the time it’s on Hulu Sunday, it might be trimmed and there will be an even tighter network version broadcast on ABC on Jan 1.
It actually started Friday, but the new “Pluribus” (Apple TV, streaming) is worth a watch. It’s the first thing from “Breaking Bad” co-creator Vince Gilligan since “Better Call Saul,” and it stars the latter show’s standout star Rhea Seehorn, as a disillusioned but popular romance novelist who suddenly finds herself immune to a planet-wide takeover that turns everyone else into one big happy family. It’s infuriating for her character, though, and she must figure out a way to save humanity. Inventive and full of long, wordless scenes of the type “Saul” excelled, it may also be the best series for misanthropes since “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Primetime college football has Navy at Notre Dame (NBC, 7:30 p.m.), LSU at Alabama (ABC, 7:30 p.m.) and Nebraska at UCLA (Fox, 9 p.m.). The day’s other games are listed below.
“Christmas Love the Clouds” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) evolves a CEO who books an international trip meant to miss the holiday. But as in Dickens, she is visited by three spirits.
A military widow meets a Sgt. Ryan in another original romance, “A Soldier for Christmas” (UPtv, 7 p.m.).
A rapper and a minister meet in the made-for-TV romance “Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.).
“48 Hours” (CBS, 10 p.m.) investigates the murder of a family of three in Santa Barbara.
The live action version of “The Little Mermaid” (Disney, 7 p.m.) makes its cable debut.
“Materialists” (HBO, 8 p.m.) the matchmaker romance with Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, makes its premium cable debut.
Sen. Adam Schiff and comedian Jenny Hagel are guests on “Have I Got News for You” (CNN, 9 p.m.).
Brian Tyree Henry picks a pair for Turner Classic Movies tonight with “Imitation of Life” (8 p.m.) and “The Learning Tree” (10:15 p.m.). The midnight noir is “Blind Spot” (12:15 a.m.), followed by two with Laurence Olivier: “The Beggar’s Opera” (1:45 a.m.) and “The Prince and the Showgirl” (3:30 a.m.). The midday musical is “Mahogany” (noon).
NBA action includes Lakers at Atlanta (NBA, 8 p.m.) and Phoenix at Clippers (ESPN, 12:30 p.m.).
College football begins at noon with gams that include Indiana at Penn State (Fox), BYU at Texas Tech (ABC), Colorado at West Virginia (TNT), Georgia at Mississippi State (ESPN), Southern Mississippi at Arkansas State (ESPNU), James Madison at Marshall (ESPN2) and Temple at Army (CBS Sports).
After Maryland at Rutgers (Fox Sports 1, 2:30 p.m.), games at 3:30 include Iowa State at TCU (Fox), Texas A&M at Missouri (ABC), Oregon at Iowa (CBS), Syracuse at Miami (ESPN), Kansas at Arizona (ESPN2) and Duke at Connecticut (CBS Sports).
Then comes South Dakota State at South Dakota (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), Stanford at North Carolina (CW, 4;30 p.m.), Air Force at San Jose State (Fox Sports 1, 6 p.m.), Wake Forest at Virginia (ESPN, 7 p..), California at Louisville (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Nevada at Utah State (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.), UNLV at Colorado State (Fox Sports 1, 9:30 p.m.) and Sam Houston State at Oregon State (CW, 10 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Alabama at St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, noon), Western Carolina at Duke (CE, 1:30 p.m.), Providence at Virginia Tech (Peacock, 4 p.m.), Arkansas at Michigan State (Fox, 7 p.m.) and Oklahoma at Gonzaga (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.).
Motor sports include the sprint races at the São Paulo Grand Prix (ESPN2, 9 a.m.) and the Portugal Grand Prix (Fox Sports 1, 10 a.m.).
Women’s hockey has Canada at United States (NHL, 6 p.m.).
The legacy of the venerable nightclub Antone’s is celebrated on a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
Nikki Glaser hosts a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:35 p.m.) with musical guest sombr.