Kaley Cuoco of the “Big Bang Theory,” right, returns to host the 39th People’s Choice Awards (CBS, 9 p.m.) from the Nokia Theatre in L.A. What kind of stars tend to win the populist vote? Well heartthrobs for one: Adam Levine leads all nominations with six, followed by Justin Bieber with five. Christina Aguilera, Jason Aldean and Alicia Keys are all slated to perform.
It’s preceded by an agreeable reality show precisely because it’s not on all that much: “I Get That A Lot” (CBS, 8 p.m.) in which stars like Jane Seymour agree to become a store greeter and deny any celebrity similarity. Sadly, the show taped months ago may be one of the final appearances of Larry Hagman who did a bit handing out food samples at a warehouse store.
After having tried to exploit the regional practice of the Jersey Shore, and just last week, rural West Virginia in the new “Buckwild,” MTV moves to uptown Manhattan to find the young cast of its new “Washington Heights” (MTV, 10 p.m.). There, instead of partying and grainy cinematography, the camera work is slick as “The Hills,” and the drama on screen is aspirational. This is not to say that there aren’t fights too. You may be tired of the whole thing after a two hour season premiere.
A nice example of Viacom synergy is the CBS to cable spinoff, “60 Minutes Sports” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) which spins off game-related reports from the venerable Sunday night newsmagazine for a show that follows its weekly “Inside the NFL” (Showtime, 9 p.m.). They’ve got something timely to start with: Scott Pelley’s report that Lance Armstrong tried to give a $2,500 donation to a U.S. agency looking into doping allegations.
Things are a little delayed among the folks on “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.) as they are just getting around to celebrating New Year’s Eve. Billy Dee Williams guest starts.
Dave Foley returns as Brick’s therapist on a new episode of “The Middle” (ABC, 8 p.m.); Jane Kaczmarek guest stars as a district attorney on a new episode of “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Steve and Antonio get a new office assistant on the season premiere of “Barter Kings” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
Bloody Face Jr. will probably lack all subtlety in his return visit to “American Horror Story: Asylum” (FX, 10 p.m.).
Dalla gets a car after her PSAT scores come in on “Suburgatory” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.).
There is apparently a new bride on “Nashville” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
See the two sides of the comic actress with new episodes of both her sitcom “Whitney” (NBC, 8 p.m.) and her talk show, “Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings” (E!, 10:30 p.m.).
For the second straight week, the fully armed lineup on Discovery that would have featured two episodes of “Sons of Guns” and one of “Ted Nugent’s Gun Country” is scrapped in the post-Newtown atmosphere for reruns of “Amish Mafia” (Discovery, 6,7,8 and 9 p.m.) and on “Moonshiners” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Dream crossover: If they found “Black Gold” (truTV, 10 p.m.) at the “Full Throttle Saloon” (truTV, 9 p.m.).
The month-long Wednesday night showcase of Loretta Young continues with mostly dramas from the early 1930s, “Employees’ Entrance” (8 p.m.), “Heroes for Sale” (9:30 p.m.), “Born to be Bad” (11 p.m.), “Midnight Mary” (12:15 a.m.), “They Call It Sin” (1:45 a.m.), “The Hatchet Man” (3 a.m.), “Play Girl” (4:30 a.m.) and “The Ruling Voice” (5:45 a.m.).
NBA action has the L.A. Lakers at San Antonio (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Dallas at L.A. Clippers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops tonight include Louisville at Seton Hall (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Iowa State at Kansas (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), West Virginia at Texas (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Arkansas at Texas A&M (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Washington at California (ESPN2, 11 p.m.) and Hawaii at UC Irvine (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: David Duchovny, Marlon Wayans, Dr. Melina Jampolis. The View: Jeff Bridges, Lisa Lillien. The Talk: Kaley Cuoco, Dr. Michelle Callahan. Ellen DeGeneres: Bethenny Frankel, Ricky Gervais, Kevin Nealon.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Josh Brolin, Kathryn Bigelow, Ray Wylie Hubbard. Jay Leno: Dave Salmoni, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Jimmy Kimmel: Ryan Gosling, Brad Paisley. Jimmy Fallon: William H. Macy, Ginnifer Goodwin, Rachael Ray. Craig Ferguson: Steven Wright, Genesis Rodriguez. Carson Daly: Adam Carolla, Murs, fun. (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Alicia Keys (rerun). Jon Stewart: Jeff Bridges. Steven Colbert: Neil Shubin. Conan O’Brien: Ricky Gervais, Deepak Chopra, Imagine Dragons. Chelsea Handler: The Saturdays, James Davis, Heather McDonald, Kurt Braunohler.