Too early for awards season? You bet it is. But here’s The Hollywood Film Awards (CBS, 8 p.m.), on TV for the first time to fulfill the never ending desire to see stars in evening wear. The awards, being held at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, have been occurring for 17 years but were never taken completely seriously by stars since it was never exactly clear who was giving the awards (and it still isn’t). Maybe that doesn’t matter. Queen Latifah hosts and Janelle Monae performs.
For a show that was run by one guy for years, CBS is going all in on this premiere, with a red carpet pre show at 7:30 p.m. and a “CBS This Morning Post-Awards Show” (CBS, 10 p.m.) with Charlie Rose, Norah O’Donnell and Gayle King, as if this will be something worth analyzing.
What’s happened to the music industry? They try for answers on a documentary called “The Hitmakers” (PBS, 9 p.m.). But it also has time for performances from Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars but talks to people like Questlove, Lorde, Melissa Etheridge and Sharon Jones on how to craft a hit.
Comedy specials tonight include “Sebastian Maniscalco: Aren’t You Embarrassed” (Showtime, 11 p.m.) and just after midnight, “Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats” (Netflix, streaming).
Martin Short, Sen. Rand Paul, Andrew Sullivan and Jeremy Scahill appear on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
There’s no “Daily Show” on tonight, but Jon Stewart returns to “The O’Reilly Factor” (Fox News, 8 p.m.) to do his occasional sparring, and to promote his film “Rosewater.”
On the 100th episode of “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.) the hosts recall their favorite deals so far.
There’s a clay-suffocating death on “Grimm” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Equal pay becomes an issue on “Cristela” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.).
It’s hard enough for models to find their way around New York. On this week’s “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 9 p.m.), they try to find locations in Seoul.
The month-long Friday night spotlight on road movies on Turner Movie Classics pauses for some really great ones: “Wild Strawberries” (8 p.m.), “Five Easy Pieces” (10 p.m.), “Lost in America” (midnight), “Wild Boys of the Road” (1:45 a.m.) and “Bound for Glory” (3 a.m.).
The college basketball season begins with a flurry of games including Hampton-Sydney vs. Coast Guard Academy (ESPNU, 1 p.m.), Presbyterian at Duke (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Tennessee vs. Virginia Commonwealth (CBS Sports, 6:30 p.m.), Louisville vs. Minnesota (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.), North Carolina Central at North Carolina (ESPNU, 8 p.m.), Michigan State at Navy (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.), Milwaukee at Auburn (ESPNU, 10 p.m.).
One college football game: Tulsa at Florida (ESPN2, 8 p.m.).
In professional basketball, it’s Denver at Indiana (NBA, 7 p.m.) and San Antonio at Lakers (ESPN, NBA, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Liam Hemsworth, Katherine Heigl, Tony Robbins. The View: Drew Barrymore, Kellie Pickler. The Talk: Tom Cavanagh, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: LL Cool J, the New Basement Tapes. Wendy Williams: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker. Meredith Vieira: David Hyde Pierce, Cameron Mathison. Queen Latifah: Cast of “Beyond the Lights.”
Late Talk
David Letterman: Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Dunham, Chris Young. Jimmy Fallon: Liam Hemsworth, Katherine Heigl, Sebastian Maniscalco, Kool & the Gang. Jimmy Kimmel: Julie Bowen, Kacey Musgraves, Florida Georgia Line (rerun). Seth Meyers: Kerry Washington, Michael C. Hall, Joe Hill (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Jeff Daniels, Paula Poundstone. Carson Daly: Lauren Cohen, Dum Dum Girls, Meatbodies (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Dave Koz.