MUST-SEE

"Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve" (9 p.m. and 11:35 p.m. to 2 a.m., ABC. Dick Clark came up with a clever idea when he created this show, long ago: He taped a rock party in advance, pretending it was happening on New Year's Eve. Then he intercut live shots of himself, counting down on Times Square. Still, the notion has been improved by adding live music. Tonight, Clark and Ryan Seacrest will be at Times Square with performance by Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. They'll be mixed with the pre-taped party. It has Fergie, Sean Kingston, Natasha Bedingfield, Akon, One Republic, will.i.am, Plain White T's and country whiz kid Taylor Swift.

"Shrek 2" (2004), 7 p.m., ABC. Kids might not make it to midnight so they should have their fun now. In this sequel, Fiona's parents learn she's married an ogre. Expect a happy ending.

OF NOTE

Football, all day. There are six bowl games, including an ESPN triple-header. It's the Armed Forces Bowl (Air Force and California) at 7:30 a.m., the Music City Bowl (Kentucky and Florida State) at 11 a.m. and the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Auburn and Clemson) at 2:30. And the big bowl day is Tuesday — like Hawai'i in the Sugar Bowl.

"Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation," 7 p.m., NBC. This lacks the bite of the documentaries viewing previous decades. Still, it has pieces of terrific sketches.

"Live From the Lincoln Center," 8 p.m., PBS. It's the New York Philharmonic with violinist Joshua Bell.

"How I Met Your Mother," 7 p.m., CBS. In this rerun, Ted must fire his former boss, played by Bryan Cranston, the "Malcolm in the Middle" dad.

"Big Bang Theory," 7:30 p.m., CBS. Here's the third run of the pilot film. It's pretty good, but this show has kept getting better since then.

"New Year's Eve Live," 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Fox. The live parts have Cat Deeley introducing Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, and Lifehouse. On tape are concert performances by Mariah Carey and Fall Out Boy.

"Tila Tequila's Masquerade Party," 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., MTV Tequila has her friends for a live party while introducing tape of Mary J. Blige, Wyclef, Kid Rock, Good Charlotte, Fabolous and more.

"New Year's Eve With Carson Daly," 11:35 p.m. to 12:35 a.m., NBC. Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz work live.

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