Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

Kennedy Center Honors, 8 p.m., CBS. Each year, this show offers some of TV's classiest moments. Five great talents are honored with speeches and music. Loretta Lynn gets an all-star country tribute. That includes Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Lyle Lovett and a duet by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. James Brown draws soul power. That includes Brian McKnight, Yolanda Adams, British teen Joss Stone, Dan Aykroyd and — in the night's finale — Wayne Brady. Kids from the Perlman Music Group serenade Itzhak Perlman, the violinist. Carol Burnett has Scott Bakula and John Schneider singing, while women are clowning. Then there's Mike Nichols, whose stunning career has gone from comedy to directing HBO's "Angels in America." He draws verbal tributes, ranging from former partner Elaine May to Meryl Streep. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (filling in when Walter Cronkite had laryngitis) hosts, with former President George Bush as a speaker.

Of Note

College football, Noon and 3:30 p.m., ESPN. At noon, the Motor City Bowl has Bowling Green and Northwestern; at 3:30, the Insight Bowl, has Virginia Tech and California.

"The George Lopez Show," 7 p.m., ABC. In a rerun, George finally meets a guy he'll let date his daughter.

"Biography: Jesus Christ" (6 p.m.) and the "History of God" (8 p.m.), A&E. Here is a four-hour package, viewing what's known about Jesus' life, then how the world's religions have viewed God.

"Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (1994), 8 p.m., NBC. This is one of those silly comedies that helped propel Jim Carrey to the top. He's trying to find the kidnapped mascot of the Miami Dolphins.

"Hope & Faith," 8 p.m., ABC. In a rerun, we learn Faith didn't depart her soap-opera job with dignity. She started a fire on the set, owes money, and needs a job.