All about soul Nearly 20 years before "Glee," a group of Irish kids made beautiful music together in Alan Parker's 1991 movie "The Commitments" (7 p.m., Fox Movie Channel), in which soul music is favored over show tunes. Look for Glen Hansard, who would go on to win an Oscar for his music in another musical favorite, 2006's "Once."
That's what friends are for ABC leans on the some big-name guest stars to lure new viewers to its stellar sitcom lineup, starting with Brooke Shields as a confrontational neighbor on "The Middle" (7:30 p.m., KSTP, Ch. 5). That's followed by Benjamin Bratt's turn as a slimy father on "Modern Family" (8 p.m., KSTP, Ch. 5) and the much anticipated reunion of Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow on "Cougar Town" (8:30 p.m., KSTP, Ch. 5).
We, the people Turns out "the people" don't choose Meryl Streep. It's beyond me how "The People's Choice Awards" (8 p.m., WCCO, Ch. 4) could have a favorite movie actress category and not include Streep, who shined this past year in "It's Complicated," "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" and "Julie & Julia." (For the record, the slate features Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart and Drew Barrymore.) Don't feel too bad for Streep; she's on the verge of getting her 16th Oscar nomination.
NEAL JUSTIN
