ELLEN DEGENERES: THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE
PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET
This salute to Ellen DeGeneres was taped a week ago Monday in Washingon, D.C., the same evening as the third and final presidential debate between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama. Alluding to Romney’s one specific announced proposed budget cut, revealed during an earlier debate and aimed at eliminating federal funding for PBS, DeGeneres began her thank-yous by saying, to the network airing the awards ceremony, “Thanks to everyone at PBS. I’m so glad to be a part of your farewell season.” Let’s hope she was joking. Guests on hand to honor DeGeneres include Jane Lynch, Sean Hayes and Jimmy Kimmel. But while the comedienne deserves lots of credit for coming out, in and out of character, on her Ellen sitcom, might I just ask: How in the world has The Mark Twain Prize not yet been awarded to the Smothers Brothers? Check local listings.