‘SNL’ performers team up in ‘Improv’
“Upright Citizens Brigade” veteran Amy Poehler joins forces with her “SNL” cast mates Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch and Horatio Sanz, along with former “Conan” sidekick Andy Richter, on the one-hour improvisational comedy special “A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T: Improv” (11 p.m., Bravo).
The absurdly named hybrid troupe also includes the rest of the “Upright Citizens Brigade,” including Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh. Viewers may recall “Upright” from its extended run on Comedy Central some years back.
The performers have honed their craft of absurd situational comedy at a Manhattan storefront theater for the past 10 years.
On this special, they need only one word from their studio audience to get the comedy rolling. The word “squish” launches Tina Fey on a rambling monologue about a gypsy-moth infestation that may have coincided with America’s bicentennial.
This in turn inspires an extended skit about competitive patriotism, waterbeds and a host of odd associations.
Rachel Dratch all but steals the show as a precocious child actress out to sing and dance her way into the cast of “Annie.”
“American Masters” (8 p.m., KSPS) profiles novelist Willa Cather. Marcia Gay Harden, an Oscar winner for “Pollock,” provides the voice of the novelist. While Cather has influenced and inspired generations of writers and was “rediscovered” on every decade of the 20th century, she did not make matters easy for scholars. The writer destroyed most of her personal correspondence and put restrictions on the use of her work.
Still, she attracts fascination as a prolific writer from the late Victorian era who dressed like a man, smoked and spoke her mind freely, defying the conventions of her era.
Other highlights
Gender roles reversed on “Meet Mister Mom” (8 p.m., NBC).
The top 10 compete on “So You Think You Can Dance” (8 p.m., Fox).
A scheming teen (Kyle Massey) adopts a stray and enters a dog show in the 2005 comedy “Life is Ruff” (8 p.m., Disney).
A desperate husband (Karl Malden) protects his child bride (Caroll Baker) from his business rival (Eli Wallach) in director Elia Kazan’s 1956 potboiler “Baby Doll” (5 p.m., Turner Classic Movies).
On back-to-back episodes of “Law & Order” (NBC), stepping on the brass’ toes (9 p.m.), and a celebrity chef feels the ax (10 p.m.).
A hapless baseball fan breathes his last on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).
On back-to-back episodes of “Lost” (ABC), Claire enters labor (9 p.m.), and dire warnings from the mystery Frenchwoman (10 p.m.).
Cult choice
Terumi Matthews had the thankless job of impersonating the Material Girl in the 1994 TV biography “Madonna: Innocence Lost” (10 p.m., WE). Wendie Mallick and Dean Stockwell also appear.
Matthews would reprise her Madonna role in the 1998 TV atrocity “Bad as I Wanna Be: The Dennis Rodman Story.” Talk about typecasting!
Series notes
One for the road on “Still Standing” (8 p.m., CBS) … On back-to-back episodes of “George Lopez” (ABC), sisterhood is a pain (8 p.m.), and home improvement (8:30 p.m.) … The search continues on “R U the Girl” (8 p.m., UPN) … Nathan’s evening is surprising on “One Tree Hill” (8 p.m., WB) … The management shuffle on “Yes, Dear” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … Results revealed on “Rock Star: INXS” (9 p.m., CBS).
A year after her party incident, Veronica examines key witnesses on “Veronica Mars” (9 p.m., UPN) … Kryptonite affects Lex’s mood on “Smallville” (9 p.m., WB).
Free tickets bring complications on “King of Queens” (9:30 p.m., CBS) … Isaac Hayes appears on “Bernie Mac” (9:30 p.m., Fox).
Late night
Gwyneth Paltrow appears on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie and Michael Bolton on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Adam Brody appears on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC).