Tonight's TV Hot List: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010

The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3D! On Ice!
8:30/7:30c Fox
Director Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) is the ringmaster for this celebration of two decades of America's first family of animated dysfunction, featuring comments from auteur Matt Groening; executive producer James L. Brooks; writers Conan O'Brien, David Cross and Dana Gould; and voice artists Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria and Yeardley Smith. Also weighing in are pop-culture icons John Waters, Sting, Jimmy Kimmel, Moby, Jerry Springer and Dr. Ruth. — Fred Mitchell
Chuck
9/8c NBC
Chuck's got luck, and so do fans of this spirited, spyjinks-laded dramedy, which finally returns with new episodes after a nearly nine-month layoff. Season 3 opens with a two-hour outing, and it appears Chuck has gone from zero to hero, dud to stud, cold to cool. Now possessing new, upgraded Intersect abilities, he trains to be a master spy — but he flunks spy school and his relationship with Sarah shatters. Later, while trying to mend his broken relationship with Sarah, Chuck takes on a mission when Sarah's gal pal and her fiancé (Vinnie Jones) arrive. Another new episode airs tomorrow night at 8/7c. — Dean Maurer
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
9/8c Syfy
If Battlestar Galactica's disappearance from the prime-time grid has left a void in your life and you're aching for a people-vs.-machines fix, you won't want to miss this reexamination of the saga directed by Adama (Edward James Olmos) himself, which looks at the story from the often-conflicted view of the Cylon skin-jobs. Fans, here's a chance to see how things could have turned out very differently. — Michael Chant
Big Love
9/8c HBO
Will the Prophet rise again? The producers say no (Roman Grant is "absolutely dead," said cocreator Will Scheffer last spring), but reports of the fall of Roman's empire may be exaggerated as the popular polygamy drama unveils its fourth season. The power vacuum at Juniper Creek could be an interesting subplot, but Bill Henrickson, already preoccupied in tonight's premiere with his casino's grand opening, has his sights on something bigger this time around — a seat in the Utah state senate. — Joe Friedrich
Masterpiece Classic
9/8c PBS
The further adventures of Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford characters kick off the Masterpiece Classic season premiere. Dame Judi Dench returns as Miss Matty, the matriarch of a quaint English village who finds herself at loggerheads with the coming railroad. At the same time, Septimus (Rory Kinnear), the wastrel son of Lady Ludlow (Francesca Annis), returns home and soon turns the town upside down with his actions. — Jeff Gemmill