(ALL TIMES ET)

8PM | FOX
American Idol – Preliminary auditions move to Portland, Oregon. Five things about Portland: 1) The city’s nickname is The City of Roses; 2) The Simpsons papa Matt Groening is from Portland; 3) Also from Portland: Beverly Cleary, the author of the beloved Ramona Quimby and Henry and Ribsy books; 4) Home of Powell’s Books = 68,000 square feet of books; and 5) And, of course, it is the home of and inspiration for Portlandia.

8PM | CBS
Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials – Boomer Esiason and Jillian Michaels co-host this look back at the all-time best SB commercials, and a look ahead at the best ones we’ll see this Sunday.

10PM | ID
Dark Minds – Are the 2006 murders of Atlantic City prostitutes the evil handiwork of the same person who later killed prostitutes in Long Island?

10PM | MTV
Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Exes – Wes is pining for Mandi, while one contestant gets wicked drunk and causes serious issues.

10PM | USA
Royal Pains – Hank’s back probs lead Dr. Van Dyke to fill in for him.

10PM | BRAVO
Top Chef: Texas – Pee-wee Herman‘s the guest, and the chefs have to create “imaginative” pancakes he’ll love. Love so much that he wants to marry them.

Worth flipping to during commercials:
– Julian has a big case of the guilts on One Tree Hill (8PM, The CW);
– On Hot in Cleveland (10PM, TV Land), Elka talks about basketball with Baron Davis, while Susan Lucci visits Victoria.

And the late-night line-up:
– Conan (11PM, TBS): Ringo Starr;
– The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (11PM, Comedy Central): Brad Pitt;
– The Colbert Report (11:30PM, Comedy Central): Ameena Matthews;
– The Late Show with David Letterman (11:35PM, CBS): Howard Stern;
– The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35PM, NBC): Daniel Radcliffe;
– Jimmy Kimmel Live (12:05AM, ABC): John Krasinski;
– Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35AM, NBC): Tim Tebow;
– The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (12:37AM, CBS): William Shatner;
– Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35AM, NBC): Glenn Howerton.

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• Filed in American Idol, Betty White, Late Night, Sports, TV Commercials, TV Picks
• Tags: Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials CBS

(ALL TIMES ET)

9PM, SUN | HBO – SERIES PREMIERE
Luck – David Milch (Deadwood) + Dustin Hoffman + Dennis Farina + Nick Nolte + Michael Mann = a slowly developing, horse-racing track-set drama about Chester “Ace” Bernstein (Hoffman), who did a prison stint – in the name of protecting some friends of his? – and is now out and looking to get payback for those actions. Hoffman in a regular TV role should be enough to prove the show is at least worth checking out, and the other impressive names should be enough to make you give it at least a few episodes to pull you in, even if it doesn’t grab you – pun intended – right out of the gate.

8PM, SAT | LIFETIME
The Pregnancy Project – Based on a true tale (and book), the movie unfolds the story of a top student who pretends to be pregnant to test how teen moms are really treated.

9PM, SAT | HBO
Namath – The documentary follows the career of “Broadway Joe” Namath as NFL superstar and celebrity, including his Super Bowl III upset win and his 1985 induction into the NFL Hall of Fame … and that drunken 2003 incident with ESPN’s Suzy Kolber, who talks about the Namath come-on in the doc.

10PM, SAT | COMEDY CENTRAL
John Mulaney: New in Town – The Saturday Night Live writer and producer (and co-creator of Stefon) talks about his days as a big drinker, his new girlfriend and his ongoing love of all things Law & Order.

8PM, SUN | TBS and TNT
18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards – Mary Tyler Moore gets the Lifetime Achievement Award from her old TV hubby Dick Van Dyke, and the usual TV and movie suspects are up for top honors from their peers. Wish list of winners: Melissa McCarthy (for anything she’s ever nominated for, by the way), Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston and Betty White.

8PM, SUN | FOOD NETWORK
Cupcake Wars – What does an I Love Lucy cupcake look like? We will find out with tonight’s installment, in which the competitors try to win the chance to supply goodies for an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the classic TV comedy.

8PM, SUN | VH1
Mob Wives – While Drita continues to pursue her divorce, her BFF Carla continues to make a major enemy of Ramona. Meanwhile, VH1 follows the episode with the premiere of Mob Wives: The Sit Down, a new aftershow series, at 9.

8PM, SUN | FOX
The Simpsons – Bart is one sorry Simpson when he and Milhouse get into a fight and he has to beg his BFF for forgiveness.

9PM, SUN | PBS
Downton Abbey – Vera wreaks havoc on Bates and Anna, while Matthew and William are in a dangerous battle on the war front.

9PM, SUN | CBS
The Good Wife – Will and Alicia’s relationship is a mystery no more.

9PM, SUN | BRAVO
Real Housewives of Atlanta – The women arrive in Cape Town and, of course, the trip of a lifetime takes a back seat to the petty drama they could have (and will again) address back in the ATL.

9:30PM, SUN | VH1
The TRL Decade – Carson Daly, of course, is among those interviewed for this look back at the decade-long reign of TRL, the daily MTV series that was hugely influential not just in the music biz, but in its general pop culture impact. Remember Mariah Carey‘s crazy ice cream cart meltdown, for instance?

9 and 10PM, SUN | FOOD NETWORK – 1ST SEASON FINALE
Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off – The two finalists in this cook-off series, one of the pleasant surprises among the network’s recent offerings, have to open their own restaurants to see who’ll win cash for charity.

Worth flipping to during commercials:
– A 24-hour marathon of the classic detective series Mannix (Sat., 6AM, Cloo) includes an early-career guest appearance by Diane Keaton;
– Cesar helps former gang members rehab their doggies’ bad behaviors on Dog Whisperer (Sat., 8PM, Nat Geo Wild);
– The U.S. Figure Skating Championships (Sat., 9PM, NBC) air live from San Jose;
– On Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry (Sat., 9 and 9:30PM, ID), back-to-back episodes of one of the best-titled shows ever;
– On Til Debt Do Us Part (Sat., 10PM, CNBC), a woman who has taught her kids to lie about her spending is confronted by her partner;
– Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart guest on The Graham Norton Show (Sat., 10:15PM, BBCA);
– King Leopold is granted three wishes on Once Upon a Time (Sun., 8PM, ABC);
– Napoleon gets a job on a liger farm on the ‘toon series version of Napoleon Dynamite (Sun., 8:30PM, Fox);
– On Family Guy (Sun., 9PM, Fox), Stewie’s new pal has cancer, but his parents object to medical treatment because of their religious beliefs;
– A man is murdered and the investigation reveals that 1) he has 100 kids and 2) all of them are suspects, on CSI: Miami (Sun., 10PM, CBS);
– Marty takes Roscoe on a business trip to San Francisco on House of Lies (Sun., 10PM, Showtime).

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• Filed in Award shows, Betty White, Sports, TV Picks
• Tags: Luck HBO

(ALL TIMES ET)

9PM | FOX – SERIES PREMIERE
Touch – Kiefer Sutherland is back on TV as New York City widower Martin Bohm, whose autistic son detects patterns in numbers that allow him to predict the future. I know, I know, it’s tough to really get a feel for the show from the commercials. And it’s even tougher when, during a confrontation with a man in the premiere, Kiefer gets punched in the stomach … that never would have happened to Jack Bauer! But once you get past that, and resolve to sit back and enjoy the story as it unfolds at a leisurely and mysterious pace, it’s a fine premise, with an emotional payoff. It’s still not 24, but … definitely worth checking out this preview airing, before the show premieres in its regular timeslot in March.

8PM | FOX
American Idol – The action moves to Aspen, Colorado, where Nicolas Cage‘s kid auditions. I kid. I think.

9PM | CBS
Criminal Minds – In the show’s 150th episode, the team tracks a serial rapist known as “The Piano Man.” I hope Mr. William Joel has his people registering his offense at that name.

10PM | CBS
CSI – Farewell, Marg Helgenberger.

10PM | ID – SERIES PREMIERE
Dark Minds – Yes, it’s like a real-life Silence of the Lambs when crime author M. William Phelps, criminal profiler John Kelly and a convicted serial killer team up to reexamine serial killer cold cases. This reality show’s version of Hannibal Lecter: “13.”

10PM | MTV – 22ND SEASON PREMIERE
c – The contestants arrive in the Dominican Republic to try to win their share of the $300,000 grand prize. The glitch: they’re paired with the ex-boyfriends/girlfriends/flings/one-night stands, etc. in their quest for the cast. Among the pairs unhappy to find out they’re face-to-face (and other body parts-to-body parts during the challenges): C.T. and Diem, who I always thought (hoped) would eventually reunite.

10PM | USA
Royal Pains – Hank goes golfing with Jack (Tom Cavanagh), but has to deliver some bad news. If it’s the news that Ed has been cancelled, we know, and we’re still sad about it.

Worth flipping to during commercials:
– Haley gets help from Dan at the café on One Tree Hill (8PM, The CW);
– Elka’s making crank calls on Hot in Cleveland (10PM, TV Land);
– Cat Cora is the guest judge on Top Chef: Texas (10M, Bravo).

And the late-night line-up:
– Conan (11PM, TBS): Timothy Olyphant and John Mulaney;
– The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (11PM, Comedy Central): Paula Broadwell;
– The Colbert Report (11:30PM, Comedy Central): Terry Gross;
– The Late Show with David Letterman (11:35PM, CBS): Scarlett Johansson (REPEAT);
– The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35PM, NBC): Robin Williams (REPEAT);
– Jimmy Kimmel Live (12:05AM, ABC): Cuba Gooding Jr.;
– Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35AM, NBC): Robin Thicke and Donnie Wahlberg (REPEAT);
– The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (12:37AM, CBS): Jean-Michel Cousteau (REPEAT);
– Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35AM, NBC): Weezer (REPEAT).

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• Filed in American Idol, Betty White, Late Night, TV Picks
• Tags: Dark Minds ID, Real World/Road Rules Challenge Battle of the Exes, Touch premiere

(ALL TIMES ET)

8PM | FOX – 11TH SEASON PREMIERE
American Idol – The new season opens with first round auditions in Savannah. Who’s excited for another season? Will you watch Idol, The Voice, both, neither? Are you still tired of singing competition series after X Factor and America’s Got Talent? Will Steven Tyler‘s nonsensical ramblings seem as charming this time around? Is it at all possible this season will produce a contestant we can all be excited about, someone on the level of a Chris Daughtry or Carrie Underwood?

8PM | ABC
The Middle – Frankie is an official Super Bowl volunteer, but, surprise, that does not prove to be as exciting a job opportunity as she had hoped.

8PM | THE CW
One Tree Hill – Nathan heads off to Europe, while Dan stays behind to play family, and Millie has trouble being honest with Mouth.

9PM | ABC
Modern Family – Yup … this would be the episode in which Lily drops the F-bomb.

9:30PM | ABC
Happy Endings – Max (the scene-stealing Adam Pally) and Alex band together to try to get Dave to stop wearing v-neck tees. And yes, they call it an “in-T-vention.”

10PM | CBS
CSI – Tick, tick, tick … that’s the clock counting down to Marg Helgenberger‘s departure, which happens in next week’s episode.

10PM | ABC
Revenge – Jack’s in danger after he trusts the wrong person, Charlotte wigs when she has to move back in with her mom and Daniel’s romantic agenda may carry some bad consequences for him.

10PM | USA
Royal Pains – Eric Kassabian’s (guest star Wilmer Valderrama) life is still in danger, which Hank blames on Dr. Van Dyke (Kyle Howard).

Worth flipping to during commercials:
– George takes his neighbors on a trip to Atlantic City on Suburgatory (8:30PM, ABC);
– A series of murders in San Francisco remind the team of the Zodiac Killer on Criminal Minds (9PM, CBS);
– It’s Elka’s 90th birthday on Hot in Cleveland (10PM, TV Land) … yes, just like Betty White;
– On Law & Order: SVU (10PM, NBC), a private military contractor is sexually assaulted after an incident with protestors;
– On Toddlers & Tiaras (10PM, TLC), the kiddies compete for a $10,000 prize at the Universal Royalty Hollywood pageant;
– Charlize Theron is the guest judge on Top Chef: Texas (10PM, Bravo);
– Jimmy Fallon guests on Watch What Happens: Live (11PM, Bravo).

And the late-night line-up:
– Conan (11PM, TBS): Shaun White;
– The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (11PM, Comedy Central): Joe Nocera;
– The Colbert Report (11:30PM, Comedy Central): David Frum;
– The Late Show with David Letterman (11:35PM, CBS): Michael Fassbender;
– The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35PM, NBC): Jennifer Garner;
– Jimmy Kimmel Live (12:05AM, ABC): Will Arnett;
– Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35AM, NBC): Bill Cosby;
– The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (12:37AM, CBS): Dr. Sanjay Gupta and David Duchovny;
– Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35AM, NBC): The Decemberists and David Guetta (REPEAT).

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• Tags: American Idol season 11

(ALL TIMES ET)

8PM | NBC
Betty White’s 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America’s Golden Girl – Her Mary Tyler Moore Show co-stars, her Hot in Cleveland co-stars and funny people like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Joel McHale show up to celebrate the birthday of the national treasure that is Betty Marion White.

8PM | FOX – SERIES PREMIERE
Alcatraz – Hurley! Lost alum Jorge Garcia stars (and J.J. Abrams produces) in this new drama about prisoners who mysteriously disappeared from Alcatraz prison years earlier, and are reappearing in the present.

8PM | THE CW
Gossip Girl – Vera Wang guest stars as Vera Wang, who pops in at Blair’s wedding dress fitting.

8PM | FOOD NETWORK – 2ND SEASON PREMIERE
Heat Seekers – Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking continue traveling the country to find the spiciest foods, starting with ghost pepper enchiladas and hot wings in Dallas.

8PM | CBS
How I Met Your Mother – As Lily and Marshal prepare to move to the ‘burbs, their friends deal with it by going to a strip club.

8PM | SUNDANCE
The Mortified Sessions – Filmmaker Edward Burns and actor/writer/Freaks and Geeks and Bridesmaids producer Paul Feig share their blasts from the pasts, including the genesis of Feig’s fondness for cross-dressing and Burns’ memories of his cop father’s fondness for locking him up in jail cells to deter him from engaging in “tough guy” behavior.

9PM | OWN
America’s Money Class With Suze Orman – On tonight’s installment, Suze dishes on the cost of having a baby, retirement planning and the four documents every family must have to protect their future.

9PM | BRAVO
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – Kim tells everyone the truth about her boyfriend, and Lisa‘s launch party for her new lounge turns into a drama-laden affair. Of course.

9:30PM | NBC – SERIES PREMIERE
Betty White’s Off Their Rockers – Think Punk’d, with Betty White replacing Ashton Kutcher, and a gang of senior citizens replacing Kutcher’s minions. So, awesome, right?

10PM | ABC
Castle – A dead body in the mayor’s motor pool jeopardizes Castle’s partnership with the police department, because the mayor arranged the deal and the mayor is in a mess o’ trouble.

Worth flipping to during commercials:
– Singer Matt Nathanson is too cool to be on this show, but nonetheless, enjoy his performance on The Bachelor (8PM, ABC);
– A three-hour marathon of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (8PM, Comedy Central) includes “Dee Gives Birth,” the season 7 premiere and “The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore”;
– The Big O interviews the cast of Roots on Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots 35 years Later (8PM, OWN);
– Caleb is desperate to locate the MIA Lucas, but Hanna isn’t on Pretty Little Liars (8PM, Network);
– It’s the season two premiere of Being Human (9PM, Syfy);
– Three new inmates try to learn the rules (lest they face deadly consequence of their ignorance) on First Week In (9PM, Discovery);
– When Victoria is arrested, Molly asks Mike for help on Mike & Molly (9:30PM, CBS);
– Danny’s ex-wife goes into labor (early!) on Hawaii Five-O (10PM, CBS);
– On It’s a Brad, Brad World (10:15PM, Bravo), Brad meets with a writer about penning his memoirs, while, back in Los Angeles, his new assistant shows up hours late … on her first day;
– Kyle Richards and her hubby Mauricio Umansky are Andy Cohen‘s guests on Watch What Happens: Live (11:15PM, Bravo).

And the late-night line-up:
– Conan (11PM, TBS): Kate Beckinsale;
– The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (11PM, Comedy Central): Jodi Kantor;
– The Colbert Report (11:30PM, Comedy Central): Rev. Scott Douglas;
– The Late Show with David Letterman (11:35PM, CBS): Simon Baker and Seal;
– The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35PM, NBC): Melissa McCarthy (REPEAT);
– Jimmy Kimmel Live (12:05AM, ABC): Don Cheadle (REPEAT);
– Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35AM, NBC): Liam Neeson and Piers Morgan;
– The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (12:37AM, CBS): Lucy Liu and Kevin Sorbo;
– Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35AM, NBC): Lisa Ling (REPEAT).

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• Filed in Betty White, Late Night, Real Housewives, TV Picks
• Tags: Alcatraz premiere, America's Money Class With Suze Orman, Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl, Betty White's Off Their Rockers