McCartney will sing at Grammy rite
Old-school talent and contemporary favorites meet on “The 48th Annual Grammy Awards” (8 p.m., CBS). Kelly Clarkson will make her Grammy debut. So will Paul McCartney.
The former Beatle has won 13 Grammy Awards, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award (1990) and President’s Merit Award (2004), but he has never sung on the show. His recent CD, “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard,” earned him his best critical reviews in decades and will be the subject of a “Great Performances” on PBS Feb. 27.
Clarkson may owe her fame to her status as the first-ever winner of “American Idol,” but her relationship with the talent showcase has grown complicated of late as she has tried to distance herself from the Fox series and become a star in her own right. What better way than to appear on a show going head to head with “Idol.”
Tonight’s Grammy Awards will feature an all-star salute to Sly Stone, an influential artist and former disk jockey whose work with Sly and the Family Stone presaged the funk and disco sounds of the 1970s and whose songs “Stand,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Family Affair” remain favorites to this day. Tonight’s other scheduled performers include Mariah Carey, John Legend, Madonna with Gorillaz, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Faith Hill and Keith Urban, Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock, Sugarland, Jamie Foxx with Kanye West and others.
“American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox) arrives in Los Angeles and not a moment too soon. The convocation of gold-ticket holders means that the painful, spiteful audition phase has been concluded and the ratio of bad performances to good will finally decline.
“America’s Ballroom Challenge” (8 p.m., KSPS) wraps up with 24 pairs competing in several categories, and the winner of each round enters a dance-off to determine America’s finest dancing couple.
“African American Lives” (9 p.m., KSPS) wraps up its final two hours, tracing the family history of eight contemporary black Americans back to before the Civil War. It then uses DNA science to trace roots back beyond the slave days to West Africa and meet people who may even be distant relatives to one participant.
Other highlights
High noon in the land of vast waistbands on “The Biggest Loser: Special Edition” (8 p.m., NBC).
The body of a murdered teen who had suffered from comic-book delusions yields clues on “Bones” (9 p.m., Fox).
In the midst of crisis, Sawyer’s indifference speaks volumes on “Lost” (9 p.m., ABC).
Kathleen Turner guest-stars on “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC).
New insights into the creatures on “Invasion” (10 p.m., ABC).
The three-part talk series “That’s What I’m Talking About” (10 p.m., TV Land) presents conversations about sports, politics and comedy.
Series notes
An organ recital on “George Lopez” (8 p.m., ABC) … A milestone for Brooke on “One Tree Hill” (8 p.m., WB) … The burdens of bachelorhood on “Freddie” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … Charm school on “Beauty and the Geek” (9 p.m., WB).