Mike Hughes on TV

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Image Awards,”
8-10 p.m., NBC.

Black History Month is big on PBS and
cable, smaller elsewhere. But on its first day, NBC has the NAACP
awards, with Steve Harvey hosting and music by Gladys Knight, Wyclef
Jean and Common.

The awards – shows and individuals –
cover movies, TV, music and books. Best-movie nominees are “Red
Tails,” “Flight,: “Django Unchained,” “Good Deeds” and
“Beasts of the Southern Wild.” TV has dramas (ABC's “Scandal”
and “Grey's Anatomy,” HBO's “Treme,” “True Blood” and
“Boardwalk Empire”) and comedies (“Glee,” “Mindy
Project,”“Modern Family,” “The Game” and “Soul Man”).

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Malibu
Country,” 8:31 p.m., ABC.

In its own broad and brash way, this
has some funny moments.

Reba's son was urged to write a one-act
play based on something he knows. When she finds it and has an
informal reading, the story – a cheating husband, a smack-talking
redheaded wife – sounds familiar.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Shakespeare
Uncovered,” 9 and 10 p.m., PBS (check local listings).

With an entire theater company to
support, William Shakespeare turned to what his audiences loved –
epics based on British history. He told of Richard II … and the
duke who overthrew him to become Henry IV … and his son (Henry V),
first a disappointment and then a triumphant warrior.

Now – as a mini-series is being
filmed incorporating them – these hours trace all those stories.
Derek Jacobi and Jeremy Irons host, making rich use of historic
settings, film clips and more.

Other choices include:

– “Batman” (1989), 7:15 p.m.,
Independent Film Channel, or “Batman Begins” (2005), 8 p.m., TNT.
Choose between two darkly stylish visions of the hero, played by
Michael Keaton or Christian Bale.

– “Last Man Standing,” 8 p.m.,
ABC. Inspired by her dad's patriotism, Eve joins the Junior ROTC.
Then she has a chance meeting with a female armory gunner.

– “CSI: NY,” 9 p.m.,CBS. A young
pizza maker has been carjacked. Now the police suspect that the car
wasn't what the crooks were really after.

– “The Following,” 9 p.m., Fox.
Here's a rerun of Monday's episode, the show's second. It offers a
strong – and sometimes startling – focus on a sweet-faced nanny.
She's key to Joe Carroll's plan to kidnap his own son; she's also in
an emerging love triangle.

– “Carrie Diaries,” 9 p.m., CW.
Now for the rerun of a gentler Monday episode, with Carrie learning
why her dad told her not to see Sebastian. It's a good hour, despite
her tendency to blurt too much.

– ”Spartacus,” 9 p.m., Starz. The
rebels have their most daring goal – overthrowing an armed, gated
Roman town. Meanwhile, a tough opponent is ready. Julius Caesar –
portrayed here as a rock-star type, handsome and untamed – is
working with Marcus Crassus, the earnest, self-made businessman.

– “Blue Bloods,” 10 p.m., CBS.
Danny tries to determine why a man, covered with rat bites, has been
thrown from a moving car. Meanwhile, his dad the police commissioner
(Tom Selleck) tries to be diplomatic when a bigoted radio host comes
to town.

– “Banshee,”10 p.m., Cinemax.
This all seemed too easy at first, when an ex-con took the identity
of incoming Sheriff Lucas Hood, in the town where his ex-lover is now
married to the prosecutor. Now this strong hour starts with him in
mid-crisis, scrambling in a heist gone bad. Things build from there.

– “Merlin,” 10 p.m., Syfy. Three
soothsayers order Arthur to legalize magic in Camelot.

TONIGH'T'S MUST-SEE: “30 Rock”
finale, 8-9 p.m., NBC.

One of TV's top shows – a three-time
Emmy winner as best comedy – ends its seventh and final season.

The big steps began last week: Liz and
Criss (Tina Fey and James Marsden) adopted kids, while her TV show
was being canceled. Jack (Alec Baldwin) promoted Kenneth from page to
network president.

Now Liz fidgets with a stay-at-home
life, Jack re-examines his world and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) ponders
the right song for a farewell episode.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Do No Harm”
debut, 10 p.m., NBC.

The “Jekyll & Hyde” story
becomes slicker, more precise and (at times) less interesting.

Dr. Jason Cole knows that Ian (his
alternate personality) will arrive at 8:25 p.m. and leave at 8:25
a.m.; he's been blunting him with drugs, but now Ian is developing
resistance.

What's next? Some of the steps are
wildly illogical; some are OK. “Harm” is skillfully acted and
filmed, but the precision of both personalities robs the show of its
emotional energy.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Death: It's a
Living,” 9 p.m., CNBC.

At first glance, the “death care”
seems to b thriving. It totals $17 billion a year, this excellent
report says. We visit a factory that employs 200 people, making
160,000 caskets a year.

But times are changing. The percentage
of bodies cremated has gone from 3.4 to 42; in three states
(Washington, Oregon, Seattle) it tops 70.

New ideas emerge. Some remains are sent
deep in the sea; the estate of actor James Doohan (of “beam me up
Scotty” fame) spent a reported $3,000 to send some of his ashes
into outer space. At one funeral home, doves cost you an extra $200;
for $500, you get an old hearse pulled by a Harley-Davidson.

Other choices include:

– “The Big Bang Theory,” 8 p.m.,
CBS. This is the first night of the “sweeps” ratings month, when
shows switch away from reruns. So “Big Bang,” TV's best comedy,
has a new episode: Sheldon must work with his nemesis, Barry Kripke;
Howard and Raj pay for action figures of themselves.

– “American Idol,” 8 p.m., Fox.
After three weeks and six episodes, the auditions finally conclude.

– “Glee,” 9 p.m., Fox. Rachel
finds one of the complication of life as a college student in New
York: She has a role in a student film, but nudity is expected. Back
in the simpler world of high school, the glee club plans to make a
calendar to raise money to go to regionals.

– “Elementary,” 10 p.m., CBS.
This above-average show will have the key spot Sunday, after the
Super Bowl. To warm up for it, you might catch tonight's regular
episode. After barely being stopped from torturing and killing a
villain, Sherlock Holmes has been suspended from police work. Watson
tries to broker a compromise while he probes a hit-and-run accident
involving a conspiracy theorist.

– “Archer,” 10 p.m., FX. The
humor turns very dark, at the expense of Ray's paralysis. There are
some laughs, however: Krieger wants to give him bionics; Sterling –
fearful off a robot takeover – resists.

– “Legit,” 10:30, FX. Who would
ever take dating advice from Jim? Billy (who has advanced-stage
muscular dystrophy) and his brother Steve (who's merely hopeless) do,
with mixed, but funny, results.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “The Americans”
debut, 10 p.m., FX.

We're in suburban Washington, D.C.,
early in the 1980s. Ronald Reagan, who will dub the Soviets an evil
empire, is president. And the Jennings family seems cozy.

Elizabeth and Matthew (Keri Russell and
Matthew Rhys) have kids, 13 and 10, and a secret: Born in Russia,
they are Soviet spies with fake identities. The result is smart,
complex and well-acted.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Suburgatory,”
9:31 p.m., ABC.

Life is difficult when you have a
broken heart or a grumpy dog. Both are addressed in a funny episode.

Now that Tessa is semi-happy dating
Ryan, she's asked to find a new boyfriend for his sister Lisa.

Tessa's dad is happy dating Dallas, but
floundering with her dog and her daughter. She brings in her ex-lover
Yoni (wonderfully played by Wilmer Valderrama), who is full of
new-age dog psychology.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Nature,” 8
p.m., PBS (check local listings).

In decades of nature programming, David
Attenborough has seen ideas appear and grow.

He interviewed Konrad Lorenz, who first
proved a human could “imprint” as the parent of geese. Now,
almost 60 years later, Attenborough zooms in a boat, as a flock soars
alongside.

He traced discoveries about DNA, chimp
behavior and natural selection. He discussed continental drift as
lava crashed toward him; pursuing a boyhood obsession with birds of
paradise, he saw New Guinea tribesman racing at him in war mode. This
hour, the second of three, is filled with great stories.

Other choices include:

– “American Idol,” 8-10 p.m.,
Fox. The third and final auditions week begins.

– “Super Bowl's Greatest
Commercials,” 8 p.m., CBS. Leading up to the Super Bowl on Sunday,
CBS has set up shop in New Orleans. That's the site for the morning
show, newscasts, “The Talk,” 50 hours of CBS Sports Network shows
and this special. Boomer Esiason, the former Bengal quarterback,
hosts with Aisha Tyler of “The Talk.” In a live portion, viewers
can vote on their all-time favorite.

– “The Middle,” 8 p.m., ABC. This
rerun piles up troubles for Frankie: On her first day of
dental-assistant school, she's mocked by her teacher (Jane
Kaczmarek). She takes a maybe-valuable item to a pawn-shop guy (Rick
Harrison of “Pawn Stars”). And now that her son has less chance
for a sports scholarship, he might actually have to study.

– “The Neighbors,” 8:30, ABC. The
neighbors from outer space have been blissfully unaware of race,
ethnicity and social class. All of that surfaces in some funny
scenes, when a new country club opens.

– “Modern Family,” 9 p.m., ABC.
In a fun rerun, Cam wants to save a tree … but also has a musical
to perform in. The button-down Mitchell reluctantly joins the
protest.

– “Chicago Fire,” 10 p.m., NBC.
Chief Boden tried to help a young firebug, but now there's a fatal
fire. Also, we meet Severide's dad … played by Treat Williams, who
is Neal's dad on “White Collar.”

– “Necessary Roughness,” 10 p.m.,
USA. Last week, T.K. – fresh from rehab, but not back in uniform –
gave key advice to his replacement, who promptly took credit for the
game-winning score. Now he tries to get his job back, while the team
adjusts to Juliette, its 23-year-old owner.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “NCIS,” 8 p.m.,
CBS.

For 10 seasons, Abby Sciuto has been
part of this ratings-winner – a bit in the background, a tad
off-center. As played by Pauley Perrette, she's a smart forensic
scientist with a goth look and eclectic tastes.

Now we finally go back to her roots …
way back. A Marine's car accident triggers memories; we see Abby at
age 10, working what she considered her first case.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Jimmy Kimmel
Live,”10 p.m., ABC.

As ABC reshuffles, viewers are
perplexed. This hour was slated for the “Body of Proof”
season-opener. Then it switched to a “Body” rerun (with the
opener Feb. 19). Then it switched to this Kimmel rerun.

For a decade, his show has taken digs
at Matt Damon, even winning an Emmy for the song “I'm (Bleep)ing
Matt Damon.” Last Thursday, Damon seized the show and stuffed it
with stars.

That reruns now, with Andy Garcia as
sidekick, Sheryl Crow as band leader and guests including Reese
Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams, Robin Williams and Sarah
Silverman, Kimmel's ex-lover,

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: American
Experience,” 9-11 p.m., PBS (check local listings).

Towering over modern American history,
Henry Ford remains an enigma.

He propelled the new standard of
middle-income pay for the working man … but hired goons who
attacked union members. He brought great progress for blacks … but
wrote anti-Semitic diatribes. He savored the bucolic, rural days …
but stirred the industrial revolution.

Kind and cruel, he was a fascinating
figure. This documentary catches rich detail

Other choices include:

– “Raising Hope,” 8-9 p.m., Fox.
With “Ben & Kate” shelved, “Hope” gets two episodes
tonight. First is the wedding day for Jimmy and Sabrina; then the
honeymoon is a family road trip to Los Angeles.

– “The Taste,” 8-9 p.m., ABC. The
auditions round ends, with each judge having a four-person team.

– “Happy Endings,” 9-10 p.m.,
ABC. Some clever ABC comedies have wobbled. “Don't Trust the B”
was shelved; “Happy Endings” is burning off episodes before
February's “sweeps” ratings month. So enjoy “Endings” while
you can. There are funny moments when friends pull a cruel trick on
Max and he retaliates, obscuring some key news. That nudges the 9:30
episode, which has a wedding expo.

– “NCIS: Los Angeles,” 9 p.m.,
CBS. Callen goes undercover in a terrorist unit.

– “Face Off,” 9 p.m., Syfy. So
far, all three challenges hav been won by Anthony Kosar, 26. He tries
to extend this streak ias the 12 surviving contestants creating
demons from a frozen-over Hell.

– “Vegas,” 10 p.m., CBS. There
are tricky times for two deputies: Sheriff Lamb's son Dixon saves a
woman from drowning; Lamb's brother Jack is smitten with Mia and
grilled by her mobster dad.

– “Wild Things,” 10 p.m., BBC
America. Dominic Monaghan (“Lost”) heads to Laos,in search of the
giant huntsman spider. The result is similar to last week's opener:
The creature is anti-climactic, but the journey – with dangers
ranging from snakes to undetonated bombs – is interesting.

– “Cougar Town,” 10 p.m., TBS.
One notion – solemn Tom peeking through the window – has run out
of laughs. Now that gets a fresh twist, in a fairly funny episode.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “The Following, 9
p.m., Fox.

The grisliest moment is past us now and
viewers can settle in for a great character drama.

At the core are Ryan Hardy (Kevin
Bacon), a former FBI agent, and Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), a
brilliant author, professor and serial killer. He's back in prison,
but his followers are at work.

To get back at Carroll's wife (and
Hardy's ex-lover), they've kidnapped his son. That's led by a nanny
with a sweet face and fierce mind. A flashback with her own mom is
stunning and startling.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Dallas”
season-opener, 9 and 10 p.m., TNT.

Larry Hagman – who died Nov. 23, at
81 – was still in fine form when these episodes were filmed.
Still, don't expect the sly pace of his old “Dallas.” This is
soap-on-steroids, with absurd developments shoveled atop each other.
No one needs to dig for dirt; it's all on the surface, waiting to be
strip-mined.

Even Bobby Ewing's family is
susceptible. His new wife is reduced to a whimper; his adopted son
Christopher learn the true identity of the woman he briefly married.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “The Carrie
Diaries,” 8 p.m., CW.

There would be every reason to give up
on this teen version of Carrie Bradshaw, who's kind of a snitch.
Tonight, she tells on herself (needlessly) to her dad and her
boyfriend; she also tells on her sister.

Still, “Diaries” is fun to watch.
Set in 1984, it offers bright colors, big hair and bursts of
optimism. AnnaSophia Robb is immensely likable as Carrie weaves
between her suburban life and the Manhattan that her future self
mastered in “Sex and the City.”

TONIGHT'S ODDITY: “Built” debut, 9
p.m., Style.

A reality show about guys who are
models and handymen? It sounds silly, especially when following the
truly awful season-opener of “Jerseylicious.” Still, it's a
competent home-improvement show.

The guys – educated as a lawyer, an
aeronautical engineer, etc. – have a “Hot and Handy” company
and work with a skilled designer. Tonight, they convert a mansion's
third floor into a gorgeous mega-closet for a woman who has, we're
told, $300,000 in handbags alone.

Other choices include:

– “The Bachelor,” 8-10 p.m., ABC.
One woman gets a glamorous date, but the others don't have it as
easy. There's rock-climbing, roller derby and an ambulance ride to
the hospital.

– “How I Met Your Mother,” 8
p.m.,CBS. In a rerun, people have a haunting realization: They're
dating (or married to) people a lot like one of their parents.

– “Jerseylicious” season-opener,
8 p.m., Style. One woman announces she'll have “the Jersey version
of the royal wedding, only bigger.” Then people screech at each
other a lot.

– “The Big Bang Theory,” 8:30,
CBS. In its final Monday rerun (before “Rules of Engagement”
returns), this show finds Sheldon being jealous, when the comic-store
guy asks Amy for a date.

– “2 Broke Girls,” 9 p.m., CBS.
In a funny rerun, two Amish men want to sample city life. Max and
Caroline are glad to help – especially if the guys will build a
barn for Caroline's horse.

– “Castle,” 10:01 p.m., ABC. In a
rerun, Castle and Beckett plan a romantic weekend in the Hamptons.
Then, of course, a dying man stumbles into the yard and falls into
the swimming pool.