Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Feb. 26, 2010

Winter Olympics
8/7c NBC
It's a big night for short-track speed skating, so, of course, it's a big night for Apolo Ohno. "I'm an old man at 27," he claims, "but I just love this sport." Tonight he'll try to re-create his 2006 gold-medal performance in the 500-meter sprint; and anchor the U.S. team in the wild-and-wooly 5,000-meter relay. The women short-track skaters are in action as well, with Katherine Reutter (who comes from the same hometown as speed skating legend Bonnie Blair) the top hope for the U.S. Heading outdoors, the big event this evening is the women's slalom, with Lindsey Vonn making her final Vancouver appearance, and attempting to improve on her 14th place finish in Torino. "My work ethic is so much better now," she says. "It's given me more passion." On the track, it's four-man bobsled runs, with Steve Holcomb and his "Night Train" sled the team to beat. Also today are the men's ice hockey semis (on NBC this afternoon and CNBC this evening), and the women's curling final (CNBC tonight). — Dave Roeder
NAACP Image Awards
8/7c Fox
There's no better time than Black History Month to hold this 41st annual gala, which celebrates the contributions of people of color to the arts, including movies, television, music and literature. This year, Tyler Perry receives the Chairman's Award, and Wyclef Jean receives the Vanguard Award. Nominees appearing include Jamie Foxx, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Mo'Nique and Mekhi Phifer. Anika Noni Rose and Hill Harper are the hosts. — Fred Mitchell
Smallville
8/7c CW
Aliens — they walk among us. Or so Dr. Bernard Chisholm (JR Bourne) would have Smallvillians believe. Having escaped from the hands of the Kandorians (whose experiments once killed him), the good doctor kidnaps one of his oppressors to prove to the world that Earth has, in fact, been invaded. When Lois refuses to write Chisholm's story, she is also kidnapped, but it's Zod who comes into the line of fire when he tracks down the doctor's secret lab and finds a bullet waiting for him. — Rhoda Charles
Caprica
9/8c Syfy
If there's one thing that's certain about this sci-fi drama, it's that being a dad isn't easy on "Caprica." For Joseph Adama, there's a fishing trip with his son that turns out to be emotionally revealing, and the avatar that represents his dead daughter has fallen in with the wrong crowd in a virtual world. The other dad, Daniel Graystone, has to tap the fighter within as his professional life takes a beating. — Michael Chant
Live From Abbey Road
8/7c Sundance
In this Tribute to the Beatles' Abbey Road Album, Sugarland vocalist Jennifer Nettles sounds just the right note when she says there is "no way to re-create a masterpiece." But that's just what eight performers valiantly attempt in this program. They offer their unique and interesting interpretations of 10 numbers, including Seal's silkily soulful "Something," Sugarland's twangy take on "Come Together" (in which country and rock do just that) and Melody Gardot's melodiously mellow "Because." — Ray Stackhouse