Two concert shows tonight herald upcoming events.
Once Grammy nominations were just announced; now they’ve made a big deal for the fourth year running with “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! – Countdown to Music Biggest Night” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
Performers include Jason Aldean and Ludacris, pictured right, as well as Lady Gaga, Rihanna, the Band Perry, Usher, Sugarland and Katy Perry. L.L. Cool J returns to the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live to host. The Grammys themselves won’t be held until Feb. 12.
Coming much sooner than that – and almost seeming a little late for a season that malls and commercials have gotten into weeks ago — “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (NBC, 8 p.m.) gets the big tree lit after fitting in a bunch of performances from Justin Bieber, Michael Buble and Carole King – who each have Christmas recordings out — Cee-Lo Green and Katharine McPhee, who are set to appear on upcoming NBC shows as well as Tony Bennett, Faith Hill, Javier Colon, the Rockettes, Neil Diamond and Big Time Rush. Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie host; playing the part of the tree is a 74-foot Norway spruce from Mifflinville, Penn.
Two new sitcoms start tonight, neither of them so hot. Besides the off-putting title, “I Hate My Teenage Daughter” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) is defiantly unfunny. It may be because it’s so miscast. The mothers would be more believable as needy, nerdy outcasts who lack self-confidence if they also weren’t the most glamorous women in the show, Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran.
We’re used to TV Land borrowing stars from bygone network sitcoms – that’s how “Hot in Cleveland” (TV Land, 10 p.m.) became a hit. Along those line “The Exes” (TV Land, 10:30 p.m.) features such familiar sitcom stars as Kristen Johnston, Wayne Knight and Donald Faison (fresh from “Scrubs,” whose career expiration date would still seem to be a ways away). But this one also borrows a concept from old sitcoms: A fussy divorced man who has to move in with slobbier divorced men. That there are three of them means there isn’t just an odd couple, just an odd threesome. It’s utterly predictable and comfortable in its way, but only half amusing. On “Hot in Cleveland,” meanwhile, it’s almost worth watching for the male guest stars that include Bubk Henry, Carl Reiner and Don Rickles.
Rod Roddenberry was only 17 when his father died in 1991, somewhat unaware of all he had created with the “Star Trek” franchise. For the film “Trek Nation” (Science, 8 p.m.), he tries to find out about his legacy by not only interviewing some of the cast and fans, but also directors from George Lucas to J.J. Abrams. It’s a pretty well done portrait of the “Trek” creator and its effect on science fiction and actual science. Where is William Shatner, though? On a new episode of “Psych” (USA, 10 p.m.).
With its characters suddenly hot again at the boxoffice, the old holiday special “Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” (The CW, 8 p.m.) gets a timely replay. Other holiday fare includes the made for TV movies “Moonlight & Mistletoe” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), “Noel” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), “First Christmas” (Hallmark, 10 p.m.) and “Home by Christmas” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.).
You’d think my old stomping grounds of Hartford were completely haunted, as the “Ghost Hunters” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) investigation something like their fourth building there. This time, it’s the stately Elk’s Lodge 19 (More likely explanation for the return trip: Hartford isn’t far from their Rhode Island base).
The final four on “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 9 p.m.) have to write a blog. Ew, since when was that glamorous?
They dropped doomed members of the opposite tribe two by two on “Survivor: South Pacific” (CBS, 8 p.m.), so finally it’s time to start breaking up the remaining six-strong alliance.
Just seven are left to sing on the Michael Jackson night of “The X-Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.), and another double elimination is set for Thursday. So far, all of Simon Cowell’s girls and L.A. Reid’s boys are in the running; just one of Nicole Scherzinger’s over-30s is around (burrito Josh) and Paula Abdul has seen all of her groups eliminated (opening up her days up with a lot of sudden free time).
Can the women of the new “Baseball Wives” (VH1, 9 p.m.) be half as catty as those on “Basketball Wives”? Well, at least their husbands are working.
“The Soup” (E!, 10 p.m.) makes its move to midweek, from Fridays to Wednesdays. But has there been enough on TV for Joel McHale to make fun of in the last five days?
The ever-busy John Corbett (featured on “The Soup” last week actually) stars in the latest mystery movie on TNT, portraying a detective in Savannah in “Ricochet” (TNT, 9 p.m.) with Julie Benz.
Mena Suvari guest stars on the latest “American Horror Story” (FX, 10 p.m.).
“Whitechapel” (BBC America, 10 p.m.) ends its season and its investigation of copycat murders done in the style of the Kray twins.
A final night in the month-long blondes salute on Turner Classic Movies offers Grace Kelly in “To Catch a Thief” (8 p.m.) and “Dial M for Murder” (10 p.m.) and Kim Novak in “Pushover” (midnight) and “Jeanne Eagels” (1:45 a.m.).
College basketball includes Indiana at N.C. State (ESPN2, 7:15 p.m.), Florida State at Michigan State (ESPN, 7:30 pm.), Virginia Tech at Minnesota (ESPN2, 9:15 p.m.) and Wisconsin at North Carolina (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
In hockey, it’s Lightning at Red Wings (Versus, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Jaime Presly, Kristen Johnston, Hot Chelle Rae, Neil Patrick Harris. The View: Jeremy Piven, Dane Cook. The Talk: Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Mitchell. Ellen DeGeneres: Stevie Wonder, Kristin Chenoweth, Kym Douglas. Wendy Williams: Lonica, Linda Evans. Rosie O’Donnell: Lisa Kudrow (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Esposito, the Civil Wars (rerun). Jay Leno: Bill Cosby, Raini Rodriguez, Iron & Wine. Jimmy Kimmel: Jim Parsons, Taylor Kitsch, My Morning Jacket. Jimmy Fallon: Jeremy Piven, T.I., Hot Chelle Rae. Craig Ferguson: David Sedaris, Needtobreathe, Jeff Cesario, Tom Lennon. Tavis Smiley: Harry Belafonte. Carson Daly: Amber Heard, Chef Jacques Gautier, Mona (rerun). Jon Stewart: Bono. Stephen Colbert: Stephen Sondheim. Conan O’Brien: Claire Danes, Nick Kroll. Chelsea Handler: Moshe Kasher, Arden Myrin, Gary Valentine, Brad Wollack, Josh Wolf, Jeff Wild, Chris Franjola.