Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Independent Spirit Awards
5 pm/ET IFC
British actor-comedian Steve Coogan (Hamlet 2) hosts the 24th annual gala celebrating independent films. Known as the "Oscars for indies," the uncensored, party-like ceremony is broadcast live from a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, Cal. Ballast, Frozen River, Rachel Getting Married, Wendy and Lucy and The Wrestler are Best Feature contenders. Acting nominees include Anne Hathaway, Javier Bardem, Michelle Williams, Sean Penn and Debra Winger.
Read on for previews of Gone Country, Taking Chance, Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin and Aisha Tyler Is Lit: Live at the Fillmore.
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Traylor Howard and Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Monk
9 pm/ET USA
The seventh season wraps up tonight with a case that has special significance to Monk. He's investigating the disappearance of a city official who was lobbying to preserve a parking garage. But what's so personal about that? Well, it's the garage where Monk's wife was killed by a car bomb that he believes was intended for him. The series is scheduled to return for its eighth and final season this summer.
Read on for previews of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Psych, Real Time with Bill Maher and Battlestar Galactica.
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Emily Deschanel and Marisa Coughlan, Bones
Survivor: Tocantins — The Brazilian Highlands
8 pm/ET CBS
"Crazy" Sandy managed to avoid being ousted last week since her tribemates could no longer tolerate bossy Carolina. But if the Jalapao tribe doesn't win immunity tonight, the team's resident "old lady" will likely be sent packing. A key challenge for everyone is a rain-soaked basketball-like game that turns into a physically draining adventure.
Read on for previews of ER, Grey's Anatomy, Bones and Being Erica.
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Jeremy Davies, Lost
The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306
8 pm/ET HBO2
For years, Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles wondered why he alone was with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. By the end of this stirring, Oscar-nominated 2008 documentary, you'll hear Kyles' conclusion. Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, the film tells the story of King's support for the strike by the city's sanitation workers, and shows footage of what turned out to be the last of his many memorable speeches.
Read on for previews of Lost, American Idol, Spectacle and Top Chef: New York.
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Real Housewives: New York
Leverage
10 pm/ET TNT
The catchy caper show's inaugural season begins winding down with the first of a two-part finale. (Part 2 airs next week.) Tonight's mission impossible turns intensely personal for team leader Nate Ford. Our modern-day Robin Hoods close in on one Ian Blackpoole (Kevin Tighe), the big-business miscreant who denied medical treatment for Nate's son, leaving the boy to die. The crack crew schemes to steal the greedy CEO's Michelangelo maquette, but their plan is jeopardized when Nate's ex-coworker (Mark A. Sheppard) makes an unforeseen appearance. The episode was directed by Dean Devlin, producer of the films Independence Day and Godzilla.
Read on for previews of Real Housewives of New York City, Frontline, The Mentalist and Dogg After Dark.
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Chuck
Chuck
8 pm/ET NBC
Chuck takes a walk on the mild side, leaving the hustle and bustle of the big city for the quietude of sunny suburbia. Chuck and Sarah go undercover as a happily married couple (a dream come true for Chuck?) in an outlying residential community. But do dark forces lurk under the green-grass splendor? On the surface, at least, there's a merry neighbor (Andy Richter) and a seductive siren named Sylvia (Jenny McCarthy), a cougar-in-training who sets out to win Chuck's affections. Meanwhile, Valentine's Day was just honored, but there's no love in the air here: Big Mike's wife files for divorce, driving the Buy More bigwig into an overly foul funk.
Read on for previews of House, The Closer, Right America: Feeling Wronged — Some Voices from the Campaign Trail and Spectacular!.
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Teri Hatcher, Desperate Housewives
Daytona 500
2 pm/ET FOX
Gentlemen, start your season. The struggling economy forced a few race teams to trim cars or merge, but the starting field is still 43-drivers strong for the 51st Great American Race in Daytona Beach. After Florida governor Charlie Crist gives the starting command, look for usual suspects like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and three-time series champ Jimmie Johnson near the front. Sentimental fans may prefer to follow veterans Mark Martin (now in the No. 5 car) and Tony Stewart (now in No. 14) as they debut new rides while chasing their long-sought first trip to NASCAR's ultimate Victory Lane.
Read on for previews of Amazing Race 14, Desperate Housewives, Eastbound & Down and Masterpiece Classic.
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Alec Baldwin
NBA All-Star Saturday Night
8:30 pm/ET TNT
Before you see the fan-selected, all-around best of the best in tomorrow's All-Star Game, check out some of the best of various aspects of the game. Individual and team events include the skills challenge and shooting stars competition. Also, Toronto's Jason Kapono looks to three-peat in the three-point shootout against such long-shot specialists as Rashard Lewis of the Magic and Roger Mason of the Spurs. And Dwight Howard, take note: the slam dunk title has not been successfully defended since Jason Richardson won back-to-back in 2002-03. And he was the first since some guy named Jordan did it in 1987-88.
Read on for previews of Christopher Titus: Love Is Evol, Saturday Night Live, Austin City Limits and Before You Say 'I Do'.
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Eliza Dushku, Dollhouse
NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
7 pm/ET ESPN
Until President Obama, the First Baller, makes an appearance in this annual pick-up game to tip off the NBA's All-Star Weekend, we'll have to settle for a unique mix of musicians, actors, NBA legends, Harlem Globetrotters and Terrell Owens. "T.O." arrives in Phoenix with a second straight celeb MVP award in mind, but he'll have to outshine the likes of Hollywood hoopsters Zach Levi (Chuck), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Michael Rapaport (Prison Break), James Denton (Desperate Housewives) and Nick Cannon. Don't be surprised to see Owens finagle his way into the Globetrotters' trademark "Sweet Georgia Brown" routine at halftime.
Read on for previews of Dollhouse, Psych, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009 and Ghost Whisperer
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Tyler Perry
My Name Is Earl
8 pm/ET NBC
Crabman's witness-protection journey continues tonight in an episode featuring guest stars Morgan Fairchild, Joan Van Ark and Andrea Parker. The enigmatic Darnell and his family land squarely in an upscale community, courtesy of their new identities. But you can't take the trailer park out of Joy, who struggles to adjust to her new luxury lifestyle and her privileged neighbors — desperate housewives, slinky cougars and trophy wives all. Meanwhile, Darnell's beloved Mr. Turtle (slowly) comes home, so Earl sets out to return the pet to its rightful owner.
Read on for previews of Survivor: Tocantins — The Brazilian Highlands, Grey's Anatomy, NAACP Image Awards and ER.
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