"American Idol" 8 p.m. KMPH (Channel 26.1) and "The Jay Leno Show," 10 p.m. KSEE (Channel 24.1): Tonight's TV options feature an arrival and a departure.

Ellen DeGeneres takes her spot as the new judge on the Fox competition series as the music series gets down to serious selections in Hollywood. DeGeneres brings a dry wit to the show that Paula Abdul never had. But, the big question is whether the show will suffer from not having Abdul's softer side to counter Simon Cowell's cranky ways.

The addition of DeGeneres becomes much bigger since Cowell announced this is his last year on the Fox show. If DeGeneres ends up a weak link as a judge, there will be huge problems when Cowell departs.

Over at NBC, Jay Leno says farewell to the time slot that almost ruined his career. The 10 p.m. weekly talk show has never been good and it will be nice to have Leno back at 11:30 next month.

The farewell episode will be interesting just to see how Leno wraps up his short run.

"CSI: Miami" 10 p.m. KGPE (Channel 47.1): Tonight's episode of the CBS procedural drama asks the burning question "If you take your sunglasses off in space, can you hear The Who scream?"

If you haven't picked up on it already, the February sweeps are in full swing. This is one of the four months during the year where the ratings are used to determine advertising rates. That's why big events like the Super Bowl are so important. More viewers mean higher rates.

Network shows tend to go for outlandish plots or big-name guest stars as a lure. "CSI": Miami" is going out of the world tonight in an effort to get the ratings numbers to skyrocket.

The CSI team must solve the murder of a man who was killed in outer space. That's no joke. The investigation goes out of this world.

"Smallville" 8 p.m. KFRE (Channel 59.1): The series about Superman's early days began to lose direction a few years ago when Clark Kent graduated from high school. The show's original design was not to be a comic book TV show but a series about parents dealing with a child who has special needs.

When Clark got too old for that plotline to work, the show shifted to more of a comic book TV series with the addition of DC Comics heroes ranging from Green Arrow to the Legion of Super Heroes.

Such dipping into the comic book company's roster has been slowly rolled out over the past few seasons. That changes with tonight's episode - "Absolute Justice" - that will feature a host of DC characters.

Clark goes to the former headquarters of the Justice Society of America where he meets Dr. Fate (Brent Stait), Hawkman (Michael Shanks) and Star Girl (Britt Irvin). The group is being targeted by a killer. Clark, John Jones (Phil Morris) and Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) begin a hunt to stop the killer.

If you a comic book fan, don't miss this episode.

"Fringe" 9 p.m. KMPH (Channel 26.1): This is the winter finale of the often creepy, always entertaining Fox series. The mid-season ends with a bang as the real and alternate worlds that have been explored throughout the series come crashing together.

This is certainly a series that belongs on your radar especially if you were a fan of "The X-Files." Anna Torv's Agent Olivia Dunham is as smart and capable as Gillian's Anderson's Dana Scully.

The biggest shock is Joshua Jackson's performance as Peter Bishop. The former "Dawson's Creek" star always seemed destined to play muddle-headed characters who would disappear into the background. He shows with this role that he has the emotional and physical skills to create a character that stands up to any leading man in TV sci-fi history.

Top it off with a wonderfully bumbling character from John Noble and this show deserves more viewers than it's getting. Check it out tonight and don't be surprised if you don't get hooked on "Fringe."

"Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials 2010," 8 p.m., KGPE (Channel 47.1): Most of the time, television commercials are those annoying - often VERY LOUD - breaks that signal it's time to make a kitchen or bathroom run.

The exceptions are the short pieces of art created to air during a Super Bowl broadcast. When a company has to spend so much money just to have their commercial air during the telecast, they want to make sure they are memorable.

This special will count down the decade's 10 greatest Super Bowl commercials. You can vote at cbs.com/specials/superbowl for your favorite. The top three picks will be revealed during the show.

Jim Nantz, lead play-by-play announcer of "The NFL on CBS" Lara Spencer, "The Insider," are the hosts.

My money's on the talking baby.

"Lost," 9 p.m., KFSN (Channel 30.1): The final season of the ABC series begins tonight. And maybe, just maybe, we will learn some of the answers to the hundreds of questions that have popped up over the years.

Viewers have invested hours watching survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 stumble through a clue-filled jungle on the mysterious island. Every question answered raised 15 more.

I don't expect a neat wrap up to the show's multiple mysteries. If even half are solved it will be something.

Television shows should be engaging. "Lost" has done that for those stubborn enough to stick with the program. One things certain. There's no doubt that even when the show ends in a few months, there will still be plenty of fodder for debates.

"24," 9 p.m., KMPH (Channel 26.1): Last week's episode of the Fox spy thriller was a little slow on action. If the "24" pattern continues, that mean's tonight's offering will include at least one big stunt.

What's been the most interesting part of the show this year is how the no-nonsense Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is being out Jack Bauered by agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching). Who would have thought Jack Bauer would be the level headed member of any team?

Walker's undercover mission seems to be working. But, nothing ever goes the way it should on this series. So, look for things to take a turn for the worse tonight.

This is the eighth season - or day - for the series and it shows no signs of slowing down. The only annoying part of this day is the secondary storyline involving Katee Sackhoff's character of Dana Walsh. Having a CTU agent with a secret is a tired gimmick.

Tonight's episode takes place between 9 and 10 p.m.

"Live for the Moment," 8 p.m., KGPE (Channel 47.1): Jeff Probst hosts this show about the necessity of making time for what is most important in your life. It should be subtitled "Get Out Your Tissues" because it will drain you emotionally.

Tonight's episode looks at a man dealing with the affects of ALS. The loss of the use of his hands has stopped him from leading the active live he once embraced. Probst and the crew show him how with a little help there is no reason not to live life to the fullest.

Probst continues to prove he is one of the best TV hosts working whether he's urging contestants to eat bugs or helping someone fulfill a dream.

"State of the Union," 6 p.m., (KSEE, 24.1; KMPH, 26.1; KFSN, 30.1; KGPE 47.1): President Barack Obama's address to the nation will include a jobs-heavy agenda designed to set up a plan to get the economy back on the right track.

Look for the President to touch on topics of education, health care and employment.

One date considered for the State of the Union speech to be given was Feb. 2. But, there was an outcry from "Lost" fans who were upset the start of the last season of the ABC series would not air as announced.

Because the speech airs so early on the West Coast, make sure to check the listings as prime-time programming will be jumbled tonight.

"NCIS," 8 p.m., (KGPE 47.1): It had to happen. If a crime series stays on the air long enough they will get around to an episode that takes place in an airplane.

That happens tonight with the always dependable "NCIS." Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) are on a flight from Paris to Washington, D.C., as the protection for a government witness.

They must uncover the identity of the person - or persons - trying to keep the witness from reaching the terminal.

It's a standard plot device but this is a solid cast that can make even a gimmick like this work.

"Secret Diary of a Call Girl," 10 p.m., Showtime: The show's third season begins with a one-hour special where Piper chats with Brooke Magnanti, the real "Belle de Jour" of the series. It's rare to get to see together the subject of a project and the actor playing the subject.

"Secret Diary" is a very personal story of a confident, capable and caring woman who has made a different kind of career choice. The new season deals with the aftermath of Belle writing a tell-all book and her efforts to find the same creative spark to produce a second book.

Billie Piper's performance is perfect. Just like the character she plays, the actress can shift from strong to helpless or from funny to serious as the situation warrants.

Don't let the show's adult subject matter keep you from checking out one of cable's better series.

"Caprica," 9 p.m., Syfy: This new series from Chowchilla's Ron Moore is a smart prequel to his version of "Battlestar Galactica." The blend of personal stories, high-tech imagery and religious overtones make this a winner. Be warned: this show is not for the passive TV watcher. There is so much going on, full concentration is mandatory.

The series is set 58 years before "Battlestar Galactica." It follows two rival families on Caprica: the Graystones and the Adamas. The peace is broken by a group that defies the accepted teachings of the 12 colonies and by the creation of technology designed to be a help but will eventually be the downfall of the worlds.

The rival families are exact opposites. Daniel Graystone (Eric Stolz) is a computer genius spearheading the development of artificial intelligence. Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) is a criminal defense attorney who depends on his street smarts to survive.

The blend of politics, religion, technology and human stories in "Caprica" is science fiction at its best.

"The Deep End," 8 p.m., KFSN (Channel 30.1): The end of "Boston Legal" and "Eli Stone" left ABC without a legal drama. It's found a worthy replacement with this new legal drama.

"The Deep End" uses the "Grey's" formula: Put a group of young, talented and slightly damaged people together in high-pressure situations. Like "Grey's," "Deep End" works because the group is interesting.

Dylan (Matt Long) is the lawyer with a heart, Liam (Ben Lawson) is the hunk and Beth (Leah Pipes) is the stereotypical blood-thirsty shark. Malcolm (Mehcad Brooks) is a little hard to peg because the character feels like a last-minute addition. Addy (Tina Majorino) is the most interesting as she tries to go from weakling to warrior.

The evidence is clear "The Deep End" capably fills that void.

"Burn Notice," 10 p.m. USA Network: New episodes of television's most under-appreciated series start tonight. This wry and clever spy drama should be on your must-see list.

"Human Target," 9 p.m., KMPH (Channel 26.1): One of the big surprises of the mid-season is this new action series. Christopher Chance (Mark Valley) is the perfect bodyguard who can do anything from keeping a new bullet train from being derailed or flying a jumbo jet upside down.

With those kind of credentials, this is certainly a television series that is not to be taken too seriously. But, if your idea of TV fun is watching some top-notch actors involved in some fun action scenes, this is your show.

Valley's a perfect pick as the show's central hero and he gets some great support from Chi McBride as his cranky boss and Jackie Earle Haley as a mysterious associate. McBride continues the solid work he was doing in the short-lived "Pushing Daisies."

If you like the TV show, it is based on a graphic novel of the same name.

"White Collar," 10 p.m., USA: This series about an unlikely partnership between a con artist and an FBI agent is the latest example of how the cable channel has been able to develop some of the most entertaining dramas on television.

The mismatched pair is nothing new for TV. But it's made fresh by the clever writing and smart cast. Instead of the con man, in this case the ultra charming Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), being able to run circles around a rather Neanderthal detective, he must deal with agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) who is equally as smart. Together they tackle some very high-end crimes.

Tonight's episode reveals some information about the show's running story of Neal's missing girlfriend. Don't let that stop you if this show has not been on your radar. It's such a rich blend of action, charm and intelligent writing that you should make it appointment viewing.

"Project Runway," 10 p.m. Lifetime: The seventh season of the design line show opens with 16 new contestants vying for the title of top designer. After spending last season in Los Angeles, the reality series moves back to New York. There's really a much better feel to the show when it is in the Big Apple because it is such a major fashion hub.

Heidi Klum returns as host while Tim Gunn will be there as support for the players. Michael Kors and Nina Garcia are returning judges.

And speaking of design line shows, the number of competing teams on Bravo's "Launch My Line," that airs Wednesday nights on the cable channel, has been reduced to four. Strathmore native Jim Tanner is still in the running. His denim design last night put him in the bottom two, but he survived to sew another day.

"Citi BCS National Championship Game," 5 p.m. KFSN (Channel 30.1): After months of college football, it all comes down to this one game to determine the national champion. By the end of the night we will know if it is Texas Longhorns or the Alabama Crimson Tide.

It looks to be perfect weather conditions for the game that will originate from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

The key to the game will be how well each standout player performs. Texas will need All-American quarterback Colt McCoy to play the best game of his sterling career.

Alabama's hopes rest on the feet of running back Mark Ingram, this year's Heisman Trophy winner. He will have to find a way around or through a tough Texas defense.

This hasn't been the most exciting college football bowl season because of too many mediocre teams getting invites. If these two teams play up to their potential, this game could make up for all of the other so-so post-season contests.

"The 36th Annual People's Choice Awards," 9 p.m. KGPE (Channel 47.1): Queen Latifah returns as host of this awards show that celebrate fan favorites in music, movies and television.

Scheduled to appear are Sandra Bullock, Colbie Caillat, Mariah Carey, Steve Carell, Jackie Chan, Chevy Chase, Kaley Cuoco, Ellen DeGeneres, Jenna Elfman, Johnny Galecki, Ginnifer Goodwin, Tim Gunn, Taraji P. Henson, Josh Holloway, LL COOL J, Hugh Jackman, Ashton Kutcher, Hugh Laurie, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Kellan Lutz, Kathryn Morris, Jim Parsons, Paula Patton, Ryan Reynolds, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sofia Vergara, Jessica Alba, Katie Cassidy, Sacha Baron Cohen, James Denton, Greg Grunberg, Alyson Hannigan, Diane Kruger, Cory Monteith, Jeff Probst, Rascal Flatts, Eli Roth, Christian Slater, Taylor Swift and Kate Walsh.

Mary J. Blige will perform as well as Cobra Starship with special guest Nicole Scherzinger.

There also will be sneak peeks of the remake of "Clash of the Titans" and "Robin Hood." and the opening minutes of "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" will be shown.

"The Biggest Loser: Couples," 8 p.m. KSEE (Channel 24.1): The latest edition of the NBC reality show starts with one big change. Contestants will have their initial weighing in at their hometowns in front of family and friends.

This edition's competitors include: identical twin brothers who have a combined weight that's close to half a ton; the heaviest contestant ever weighing in at 526 pounds; and several parent/adult child teams.

After they are weighed, the 11 couples will meet host Alison Sweeney and then face their first challenge where each team will have to cover the marathon distance of 26.2 miles on stationary bikes.

This will be the second year of the "Pound For Pound Challenge" where "The Biggest Loser" has partnered with General Mills, Feeding America, Subway and 24 Hour Fitness to get viewers to be more healthy and help fight hunger. Go to www.biggestloser.com where for every pound of weight loss pledged, a pound of groceries will be delivered to a local food bank.

"The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love," 8 p.m. KFSN (Channel 30.1): Love is in the air for the 14th edition of this ABC reality show. Jake Pavelka, a commercial pilot from Dallas, will look for love among 25 beautiful bachelorettes.

Pavelka knows what it's like to be rejected as he was given the boot by Bachelorette Jillian Harris on last season's "The Bachelorette." In tonight's opener, Pavelka comes in for a landing at the Malibu mansion where he first met Harris.

Here's what to expect if you watch the show : Pavelka is blown away by a stunning model, the first woman out of the limo; a fast-talking bachelorette wastes no time asking Pavelka whether she can touch his abs; and a sexy blonde falls into Pavelka's arms.

By the end of the episode 10 of the 25 women will be sent home.