The Opening Ceremonies for the XXII Olympic Winter Games are tomorrow night. Competition in Sochi, Russia, however, begins today, at least in a few events, and NBC is eager to present them in prime time, while setting up its 2014 Winter Olympics coverage and, at the same time, giving departing Tonight Show host Jay Leno a strong lead-in for a final send-off. Tonight’s coverage includes a first-time Olympics event, a team event in figure skating.

2014

Feb

THE BIG BANG THEORY By David Bianculli

It’s the Valentine’s Day episode of The Big Bang Theory – and for this new outing, Penny and Leonard (Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki) try to steal some alone time, while most of the rest of the gang boards a train en route to a potentially romantic visit to California wine country. But for Sheldon (Jim Parsons), it’s all about the train. It’s the voyage, not the destination.

2014

Feb

AMERICAN IDOL By David Bianculli

More Hollywood round, with more of this season’s new wrinkle: an instant save possibility after the performance of one more song. Of course, after more than a dozen years of this televised singing competition, sometimes the wrinkles appear regardless – and Idol just feels a little old.

2014

Feb

THE SPOILS OF BABYLON By David Bianculli

MINISERIES FINALE: This six-part spoof of classic TV miniseries, a miniseries in itself, concludes tonight, with a few final hairdos, a big explosive climax, and one last set of appearances by the story’s “auteur,” Eric Jonrosh, played so smarmily by Will Ferrell. Kristen Wiig, Tobey Maguire, Tim Robbins, Haley Joel Osment and Jessica Alba co-star.

2014

Feb

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO By David Bianculli

SERIES FINALE: In 1992, Jay Leno took over the Tonight Show reins from Johnny Carson, with Billy Crystal as his first guest. Tonight, as Leno says farewell to his Tonight throne and audience (for the second time, after a temporary step-down in 2009), his final guest is… Billy Crystal. Jimmy Fallon takes over Feb. 17, with a post-Olympics midnight start featuring opening-night guests Will Smith and U2. Under Steve Allen’s creative guidance, NBC’s late-night Tonight franchise la

2014

Feb

AMERICAN IDOL By David Bianculli

It’s Hollywood Week, which means the first group meltdowns as contestants, who have made it past the first audition rounds, confront the reality of what it means to try to “play well with others.” Some do. Most don’t – and at this stage in the competition, it costs them. Meanwhile, the judges, this season, are playing well with others. Each other. And that’s a huge change from last year.

2014

Feb

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES By David Bianculli

This 1946 movie won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Director (William Wyler), Actor (Fredric March) and Supporting Actor (Harold Russell, a real-life war veteran who, like his character, lost both hands in a wartime explosion). Few postwar movies during this period took this serious, balanced and thoughtful a look at the problems of veterans returning to civilian life. It’s as potent now as it was then.

2014

Feb

NOVA: "ROMAN CATACOMB MYSTERY" By David Bianculli

Nova seems to be on a binge of cold cold cold cases. In tonight’s new installment, it explores a mass grave discovered in the catacombs of Rome – and asks the logical, scientific questions, “How did they die? And why?” Check local listings.

2014

Feb

INSIDE THE NFL By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: The Super Bowl was a blowout, but that doesn’t mean this show’s final postmortem of the 2013 pro football season, deconstructing the game score by score and error by error, won’t be entertaining. Especially with some of the players miked for the occasion.

2014

Feb

TOP CHEF By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: Part 2 of 2. Last week, the finalists’ challenges included cooking something with Spam. Tonight, for the crowning of the winner, things are a little more complicated. Contestants are plopped into an established restaurant in Maui, and have two days to generate a four-course menu that will wow the judges, and a restaurant full of invited patrons.

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