‘Nashville Star’ finds new home on NBC
Tonight’s must-see
“Nashville Star” season-opener, 9-11 p.m., NBC. After five misplaced seasons on the USA Network, “Star” might get noticed on NBC. It copies “American Idol,” with some pluses and one minus. The minus: Judges and hosts have had a feel-good blandness. We’ll see if this new, high-IQ panel (John Rich, Jewel, songwriter Jeffrey Steele) over-censors itself.
The good: Contestants play instruments and sometimes write songs. Country’s do-it-yourself charm works well.
Tonight includes a glimpse at auditions and a song by teen wonder Taylor Swift. Judges choose 12 people, then trim two; Billy Ray Cyrus hosts.
Tonight’s might-see
“The Bill Engvall Show,” 8 p.m., CBS. This pleasant-enough comedy starts its second season Thursday on cable. First, CBS offers a sampling.
The husband and wife (Bill Engvall and Nancy Travis) recall how they met. The result is standard, but fairly funny.
Other choices include
“The Bachelorette,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. The field is trimmed from 9 to 6, after some guy-type dates: The bachelors drive at a race track and one has a Natasha Bedingfield concert.
“Masters of Dance” debut, 8-9 p.m., TLC. This is becoming reality-overload day. The gimmick here is that dancers must shift styles in mid-song.
“How I Met Your Mother,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. A funny premise is overstretched, but still funny: The friends can’t watch the Super Bowl, so they tape it and insist on not hearing who won. That isn’t easy, because Robin works at a newscast.
“Two and a Half Men,” 9 p.m., CBS. Finally dating someone his age (Ming-Na Wen), Charlie must watch her 4-year-old son. He’s not happy.
“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,” 9 p.m., HBO. Thirty years ago, Polanski was convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old girl. He fled the country, remains free and won an Academy Award. This documentary tells the story.
“The Mole,” 10 p.m., ABC. In the second week of the season, the contestants pause to face a strong soccer team.
TV ratings
TV-Y: Specifically for children of all ages.
TV-Y7: For children 7 and older.
TV-G: For all audiences.
TV-PG: Parental guidance suggested.
TV-14: Parents strongly cautioned.
TV-M: Mature audiences only.