CBS airs ‘Kennedy Center ’
An annual post-Christmas treat for 32 years, “The Kennedy Center Honors” (9 p.m., CBS) is the closest thing America has to an official academy, a pantheon of the performing arts.
For record collectors of a certain age, Dave Brubeck is most associated with a single work, the iconic 1958 jazz album “Time Out.”
Mel Brooks has been making Americans laugh from his days as a writer on “Your Show of Shows” through his movie sendups (“The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,”“Young Frankenstein”).
The second actor to win an Oscar for playing Don Vito Corleone, Robert De Niro deserves a lifetime of awards for a handful of towering performances in “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” and “Goodfellas.”
A Jersey-shore phenomenon, Bruce Springsteen burst onto the national stage in 1975, appearing on the covers of Time and Newsweek in the same week.
In 1961, at age 24, Grace Bumbry was the first black opera singer to perform in Bayreuth. Some Wagner buffs disapproved, but her performance in “Tannhauser” resulted in a 30-minute standing ovation and 42 curtain calls.
Performers from Aretha Franklin to Sting will be on hand to laud the honorees. The president and first lady also attend.
•Having cornered the market on “Little People” and multiple-birth reality series, TLC turns its talents toward collective weight loss with “One Big Happy Family” (9 p.m., TLC).
This six-part series visits with the Cole family. Mom, Dad and two kids tip the scales at more than 1,400 pounds combined.
Other highlights
“Web Soup: 2009 Golden Download Awards” (4 p.m., G4) celebrates the notable viral videos of 2009.
Nothing says “Auld Lange Syne” like a red nose on “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-G).
“What Darwin Never Knew” on “Nova” (7 p.m., KSPS/KCDT/KUID) examines the advance of evolutionary science over the past 150 years.
On four episodes of “Parks & Recreation” (NBC, r, TV-14): a penguin wedding that dare not speak its name (8 p.m.), controlled substances (8:30 p.m.), Leslie judges a pageant (9 p.m.), Leslie preps for a date (9:30 p.m.).
David Spade, Jon Heder and Rob Schneider star in the 2006 comedy “The Benchwarmers” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
Elliott counsels Lucy on “Scrubs” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Ted pulls an intervention with Veronica on “Better Off Ted” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
“20/20” (10 p.m., ABC) looks at the true story behind the movie “Blind Side.”
Cult choice
A pigeon-raising palooka (Marlon Brando) wrestles with his conscience and his relationship with corruption in director Elia Kazan’s 1954 drama “On the Waterfront” (5 p.m., TCM).
Late night
Penelope Cruz and Dolly Parton are booked on “The Jay Leno Show” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) … Ellen DeGeneres, Eva Longoria Parker, Kobe Bryant and Carlos Santana appear on “Lopez Tonight” (11 p.m., TBS, r) … Robin Williams and Ashley Greene appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) … Conan O’Brien hosts Jamie Foxx, Jason Alexander and Grizzly Bear on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r) … William Shatner and Kristin McMillan appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC, r) … Fred Armisen, Carey Mulligan and Daniel Boulud chat on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Craig Ferguson hosts Harry Connick Jr. and Peter Sagal on “The Late Late Show” (12:37 a.m., CBS, r).