Merge Records' year of living fabulously continues. The Durham-based label has picked up three nods in the latest round of Grammy nominations, for Arcade Fire's chart-topping "The Suburbs," including album of the year. That one's a longshot, but Arcade Fire looks to be the front-runner for best alternative music album. If that comes through, it will be Merge's first-ever Grammy. The album is also nominated for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals.

The Grammys will be presented on Feb. 13.

Other Grammy nominations of local interest:

Carolina Chocolate Drops scored a nomination for best traditional folk album with their major-label debut, "Genuine Negro Jig."

Triangle gospel institution Shirley Caesar's "A City Called Heaven" was nominated for best traditional gospel album.

High Point "American Idol" Fantasia's "Back To Me" picked up nominations for best R&B album and best female R&B vocal performance. "Bittersweet," a track from her album, was nominated for best R&B song (a songwriter's award).

Monroe native Calvin Richardson's "You're So Amazing" got a nod for best traditional R&B vocal performance.

UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus Lewis Black's "Stark Raving Black' was nominated for best comedy album.

Lewis Black: Stark Raving Black (9pm, Comedy Central) - Lewis Black rants and raves about politics and society in a 2009 performance filmed at the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit. 

Robert Klein: Unfair and Unbalanced (10pm, HBO) - A new stand-up concert from comedian Robert Klein, filmed this year in Fort Lauderdale. Klein covers political indiscretions, hypocrisy in Washington, love scenes on film, and strange marketing techniques. He also does some musical numbers about Barack Obama and gay marriage (featuring the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra). Klein starred in HBO's first stand-up special in 1975.

Pit Boss (10pm, Animal Planet) - Shorty retrieves a mistreated pit bull from its negligent owner, and later tries to rescue a dog about to be euthanized at a shelter. 

That Metal Show (11pm, VH1 Classic) - A metal music talk show in its fifth season hosted by New Jersey-based DJ Eddie Trunk. Metal legend Alice Cooper is tonight's guest.

It's hard to imagine professional contrarian Lewis Black having a soft spot for anything. But he actually has one for this very newspaper, which goes back to when he was a UNC-Chapel Hill student 40 years ago.

"I have a soft spot for the News & Observer," Black said in a recent interview. "Bill Morrison, who was the drama critic there for a long time -- when there were drama critics -- wrote a review of a play I worked on while in school. It's still the best I ever got, and it was life-changing. So when I walk onstage now and yell and scream, that's his fault. I owe him a debt of gratitude."

For more see the interview in Tuesday's paper, and catch his Wednesday night performance at the Durham Performing Arts Center. And for another sampling of Bill Morrison's reviews from way back in the day, check this.