Jumping the gun on the anniversary date for the sake of February sweeps (or the schedule of its guests) the “SNL 40th Anniversary Special” (NBC, 8 p.m.) promises all manner of stars from its various incarnations from Chevy Chase and Laraine Newman to Dana Carvey, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. That means Bill Murray, Will Ferrell and Eddie Murphy, who hasn’t been on the show in 30 years.
But every past host has been invited as well, so there will be Jack Nicholson, Robert DeNiro, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Christopher Walken, Tom Hanks, Jon Hamm, Betty White, Jerry Seinfeld, Zach Galifianakis and Jim Carrey among others.
Every musical guest got an invite, too, so there will be Paul Simon and Paul McCartney to Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Fiona Apple, Jack White, Kanye West, Keith Richards, Miley Cyrus, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Justin Timberlake and an ’N Sync reunion. It’s such a potentially overstuffed event, it may the first variety show with its own Red Carpet Special (NBC, 7 p.m.).
Elsewhere, Bob Simon’s final report on “60 Minutes” (CBS, 8 p.m.) before he died in an auto accident this week, was on the Ebola crisis.
Lady Mary drops a suitor on “Downton Abbey” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) and Lady Edith’s secret is out.
A triumphant game of kick the can is played on “Togetherness” (HBO, 9:30 p.m.).
The failed sitcom by a former “SNL” writer, “Mulaney” (Fox, 7 p.m.) gets its final episode.
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS, 9 p.m.) also wraps up its season prematurely with a two hour episode.
Hannah finds a surprise when she quits Iowa and comes home on “Girls” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
The subject finally sits down to talk in part two of “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” (HBO, 8 p.m.), which otherwise concentrates on the disappearance of his wife years earlier.
“Grantchester” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings)
Filling up consecutive nights with “The Bachelor” (ABC, 8 p.m.) makes them call it “a TV event.” Actually, it’s just overkill. Especially when a “Bachelor Tells All” hour is tacked onto a two hour episode in which he takes the remaining women to Iowa to see if they can take it.
“The Walking Dead” (AMC, 10 p.m.) drew 15.6 million to its midseason premiere last week; it’s likely to continue with this week’s episode, where they’re back out on the road.
The NBA All-Star Game (TNT, TBS, 8:30 p.m.) is played in Brooklyn.
Fiona is thrown by the return of someone from the past on “Shameless” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
Matt has to spend time with his father in surgery on a new “Episodes” (Showtime, 10:30 p.m.).
It’s summertime down under, so it’s time to explore “Wild Australia” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 and 10 p.m.) with two episodes — one looking at wombats and the other, the red kangaroo. Two more episodes play Monday night.
A new season begins for the fishermen of “Wicked Tuna” (National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.).
Oscar contenders of the late 50s are on Turner Classic Movies with “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (8 p.m.), “The Defiant Ones” (11 p.m.), “I Want to Live!” (1 a.m.) and “Raintree County” (3:15 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Towson at College of Charleston (NBC Sports, 12:30 p.m.), Illinois at Wisonsin (CBS, 1 p.m.), Saint Joseph’s at Fordham (NBC Sports, 2:30 p.m.), Northern Iowa at Missouri State (ESPNU, 4 pm.), Bucknell at Army (CBS Sports, 4 p.m.), Stanford at Colorado (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.), Arizona at Washington State (Fox Sports 1, 6:30 p.m.), Miami at Boston College (ESPNU, 6:30 p.m.) and California at Utah (ESPNU, 8:30 p.m.).
Women’s games include Vanderbilt at South Carolina (ESPNU, noon), Saint Joseph’s at Dayton (CBS Sports, noon), North Carolina at Louisville (ESPN2, 1 p.m.), South Florida at East Carolina (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Army at Bucknell (CBS Sports, 2 p.m.), Kentucky at Tennessee (ESPN2, 3 p.m.), and West Virginia at Baylor (ESPN2, 5 p.m.).
In golf, they play the final round at Pebble Beach (CBS, 3 p.m.).
Hockey action includes Pittsburgh at Chicago (NBC, 12:30 p.m.) and Philadelphia at Buffalo (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Adam Schiff. CBS: White House chief of staff Denis McDonough, Sen. Bob Corker, Rep. John Lewis. NBC: Veterans Affair Secretary Robert McDonald, Sens. John McCain and Jack Reed. CNN: Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Fox News: Rep. John Boehner, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.