The Golden Globe Awards (NBC, 8 p.m.) occurs just as the rest of the TV midseason crashes in like a ton of bricks. Tina Fey and Amy Pohler parlay their acceptance speech schtick from the last two years into a full blown hosting gig, which should be refreshing after three years of unsolicited Ricky Gervais bile, only some of which was funny.
It’s not about the hosts anyway. It’s about the TV and movie stars crowded into the Beverly Hilton ballroom together, drinking. The choices of the Hollywood Foreign Press can be confounding, and every unexpected nod to a underdog series is matched by a head-scratcher for a deserving one. Still, for being the first big awards of the season, it brings some excitement.
A handful of strong cable series return tonight. The most curiosity may be for “Girls” (HBO, 9 p.m.), whether it continue its fascinating chronicle of downscale Brooklyn and the multiple adjustments by young women to align with the world. Lena Dunham and her great cast return, even as we await what’s happening in their lives.
Good time for Lena to throw a housewarming party for herself and her new roommate, her old college boyfriend Elijah, played by Andrew Rannells, who is much better here than he is on “The New Normal.” She’s also dating a guy played by Donald Glover of “Community,” as Adam is approaching stalker-crazy. Marnie gets canned, Shoshanna doesn’t know what to do about Ray and Jessa is back from her honeymoon. After tonight’s establishing episode, the action in the season only accelerates in the coming weeks.
Entirely different in tone, Laura Dern’s character in “Enlightened” (HBO, 9:30 p.m.) seems determined in her plan to undermine her company. It involves her co-worker Mike White, with whom Dern created the show, but also this season additional cast members Molly Shannon and Dermot Mulroney. Best of all it has a much stronger narrative shape than its first season and a real velocity toward its climax (yeah, I watched the whole season already).
At the same time Showtime has its premiere night for three of its comedies, each of which are filled with characters with dark motives and questionable morals. “Shameless” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) may be the most underrated comedy on TV. Each episode is so well constructed, full of surprise and bold moves. As season three begins, William H. Macy’s irrepressible Frank, who had been missing, finds himself in Mexico. Jimmy’s been part of the household with Fiona, and starting to drive him crazy. And Lip has a perfect solution to a robotics competition.
“House of Lies” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) still seems a little unsure of what it is, but it’s got a lot of energy and forward motion and will likely get there soon enough. In the mean time, they have to figure out what happened at the end of last season between Marty and Jeannie.
“Californication” (Showtime, 10:30 p.m.) knows exactly what it is, in its sixth season, with shambling, self-destructive Hank Moody surviving a murder suicide in last season’s finale (what? You thought he’d succumb?). His daughter is dropping out of college to become a writer. A rock star wants to make one of Hank’s books into a rock opera, and Charlie makes the wrong career move. Maggie Grace joins the cast as a rock groupie; Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols is here too if you look hard.
Elsewhere, it’s the second big wedding in as many weeks on “Downton Abbey” as Lady Edith prepares for her marriage to that old guy on “Masterpiece Theatre” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings). Tonight’s episode is a little more reasonable in length and thus is a more satisfying episode.
Today’s big NFL divisional playoff games are Seattle at Atlanta (Fox, 1 p.m.) and Houston at New England (CBS, 4:30 p.m.).
The New England fishermen hit the boats for the second season of “Wicked Tuna” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.).
Carrie Preston returns to “The Good Wife” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
Henry Ian Cusick guest stars on a new episode of “The Mentalist” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
An Irene Dunne double feature features “Anna and the King of Siam” (8 p.m.) and “Magnificent Obsession” (10:15 p.m.).
There’s a slew of women’s college basketball games, including Nebraska at Penn State (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), Rutgers at Notre Dame (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.) and California at Stanford (ESPN2, 4 p.m.).
Among men’s games are Michigan at Ohio State (CBS, 1:30 p.m.), Iowa at Northwestern (ESPNU, 5:30 p.m.) and Maryland at Miami (ESPNU, 8 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Sens. Jack Reed, Bob Corker and Joe Manchin, former Gov. Jon Huntsman, Richard Haass, president, Council on Foreign Relations. CBS: Sens. Manchin and John McCain, Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. NBC: Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. CNN: Sens. Manchin, Chris Murphy, Reps. Elijah Cummings and Marsha Blackburn, NRA president David Keene. Fox News: Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Richard Blumenthal, former Sen. Even Bayh.