CMT, 11:00 a.m. ET
It’s not often that a funeral takes place at the Grand Ole Opry, or is televised live and loaded with guest performers paying musical tribute — but George Jones was no ordinary country star. The seminal genre performer, who died last Friday, is being honored at a funeral service that is scheduled to celebrate his influence, music and legacy by including performances by Brad Paisley, Charlie Daniels, the Oak Ridge Boys, Wynonna Judd, Alan Jackson and many others.
CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET
This may be the TV casting coup of the season: Tonight’s new episode has the gang giddy about the chance to meet a childhood idol, TV science-show host “Professor Proton.” And he’s played, by what sounds like perfect casting, by Bob Newhart.
NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET
This new episode is called “Heroic Origins,” and has Abed (Danny Pudi) claiming that all the community college buddies have known each other before — not in a previous life, but earlier in this one. Cue Abed’s super-detailed investigative scrapbook, and a series of flashbacks.
Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET
Last week’s Idol shows were a total waste — a free pass for the final four female contestants, since the judges couldn’t agree (big surprise there) on a unanimous save. So, with one extra week to fill before the finale, Ryan Seacrest announced that no one would go home last week, with the week’s voting’s totals saved for, and added to, this week’s totals. Well, this week was a lackluster competitive session, memorable less for the singers’ performances than for the prominent appearance by guest mentor Harry Connick Jr., who even ended up on stage to support one candidate and sitting in the judges’ chair to spar verbally with Randy Jackson. That seating was temporary – but next year, I’m guessing, it’ll be a full-time gig. Meanwhile, tonight, for the first time in weeks, someone gets eliminated.
Fox, 9:00 p.m. ET
The good news: Katey Sagal, from Sons of Anarchy and Married with Children, guest stars in this new episode as the mother of Artie (Kevin McHale). The bad news: She doesn’t sing, even though Sagal once was one of the Harlettes, the trio of backup singers for Bette Midler. Bring Sagal back — and let her sing next time.