Stars to appear on ‘Billboard’
The “2006 Billboard Music Awards” (8 p.m., Fox) honors singer Tony Bennett with the Century Award. The awards bestowed tonight are determined by the artists’ performances on Billboard’s weekly charts. Look for performances by Janet Jackson, Fergie, the Killers, Gwen Stefani, the Fray, Ludacris and Mary J. Blige, and special appearances by Carrie Underwood, Carmen Electra, Dave Navarro and Flavor Flav. The leading contenders for multiple award categories include Nickelback, Rascal Flatts, T.I. and Blige.
Patrick Stewart (“X-Men,” “Star Trek”) returns to episodic television in “Eleventh Hour” (6 p.m., BBC America). This new police drama runs for only four episodes, but Stewart fans shouldn’t miss it.
Stewart portrays Ian Hood, a former physics professor hired by British police to solve cases in which scientific “progress” and technological excess have homicidal consequences.
“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (10 p.m., NBC) is the first network show out of the gate with a Christmas episode. The ever-cranky Matt (Matthew Perry) feels personally responsible to bring Christmas spirit to Tinsel Town.
Holiday highlights
A young Natalie Wood tugs Santa’s beard in the 1947 favorite “Miracle on 34th Street” (8 p.m., AMC).
Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn and Shirley Booth provide voices for the animated special “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (8 p.m., Family).
Presents are in peril in the animated sequel “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys” (9 p.m., Family).
Other highlights
While on leave, Brenda investigates the death of an Arab teen on a new two-hour episode of “The Closer” (8 p.m., TNT).
Philadelphia hosts Carolina in NFL action (5:30 p.m., ESPN).
Tragedy in Texas and a dire warning for New York on “Heroes” (9 p.m., NBC).
British domestics take on all-American brats on “Supernanny” (9 p.m., ABC).
The hunt for Marisol’s murderer takes Horatio to Brazil on “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m., CBS).
Brian woos Bridget on “What About Brian” (10 p.m., ABC).
Repeats of the 2002 Dick Wolfe series “Crime and Punishment” (7 and 10 p.m., MSNBC) migrate to a new cable perch. This is a cable news network.