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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘Elton John’ relies on familiar tunes

Kevin McDonough United Feature Syndicate

Prime-time network musical specials have become so rare that attention must be paid to “Elton John: The Red Piano” (8 p.m., NBC). This easily could have been titled, “Elton John: Live at Caesars Palace,” but “The Red Piano” sounds more pretentious, and it does include the color of his piano, which happens to be red.

John has been singing, recording and performing for the better part of the past four decades, selling hundreds of millions of records, CDs and downloads. But artists do not go to Las Vegas to challenge their audience and experiment with new sounds.

While a local Nevada newspaper described John’s casino lounge act as “the most exciting thing in Las Vegas,” I believe that encomium says a lot more about Vegas than John.

This television special was shot with 36 high-definition cameras, and the cinematography does offer a sense of dynamic movement to a show that by its very nature consists of a man sitting at a piano. In fact, in one of his witty asides, John complains that a life spent sitting before a keyboard has done nothing for his physique.

I have no idea what casino patrons paid to see “The Red Piano” stage show, but I’m not sure they were getting their money’s worth. For starters, this version consists of only eight songs.

As these things go, that’s roughly two Super Bowl halftime shows. And in the spirit of safe, nonthreatening Las Vegas entertainment, the playlist is very vintage John.

In fact, if you stopped listening to new music sometime before the bicentennial, you wouldn’t have missed any of the musical numbers performed here.

“World Wire” (8 p.m., Discovery Times) reporter Donal MacIntyre hosts the report “Hate Rock,” investigating the rise of a racist and anti-Semitic music industry in North America and Europe. This music not only serves as a recruiting tool but also provides a chief source of funding for neo-Nazi and other hate groups.

Other highlights

James Lipton guest-stars on “Arrested Development” (8 p.m., Fox).

A policewoman changes roles with a subservient house frau on “Wife Swap” (10 p.m., ABC).

Becky’s move on “Kitchen Confidential” (8:30 p.m., Fox).

A mysterious woman needs financial assistance on “Las Vegas” (9 p.m., NBC).

Six children out of control on “Nanny 911” (9 p.m., Fox).

The Falcons host the Saints on “Monday Night Football” (6 p.m., ABC).

The case of the flaming yacht on “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m., CBS).

A pilot’s wife vanishes on “Medium” (10 p.m., NBC).

Survivors of a Guatemala death squad seek revenge on “Wanted” (10 p.m., TNT).

“Fearless” (7 p.m., OLN, or immediately following the Penguins-Red Wings hockey game) profiles Penguins owner and NHL star Mario Lemieux.

Cult choice

Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson star in the 1971 fantasy “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (8 p.m., Family).

Series notes

Counseling on “The King of Queens” (8 p.m., CBS) … Snowbound on “One on One” (8 p.m., UPN) … Home for the holidays on “7th Heaven” (8 p.m., WB) … Nightclub nights on “How I Met Your Mother” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … Paroled for the season on “All of Us” (8:30 p.m., UPN) … A stand on principal on “Two and a Half Men” (9 p.m., CBS) … Custody and faith on “Girlfriends” (9 p.m., UPN) .. Confusion under the mistletoe on “Related” (9 p.m., WB) … Canine competition on “Out of Practice” (9:30 p.m., CBS) … Party time on “Half & Half” (9:30 p.m., UPN).

Late night

Jack Black and Sinead O’Connor appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Anthony Hopkins, Howie Mandel and Coldplay on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Korn performs on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC) … Lara Flynn Boyle, Steven Schirripa and The New Pornographers chat on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Craig Ferguson hosts Jon Cryer, Amy Yasbeck and Bob Marley on “The Late, Late Show” (12:37 a.m., CBS).