Kennedy Center Honors (9pm, CBS) - This is always one of my favorite shows of the year! This year, the Kennedy Center honors David Letterman, Dustin Hoffman, Buddy Guy, Natalia Makarova and the members of Led Zeppelin. Performers and presenters include Alec Baldwin, Robert De Niro, Tina Fey, Foo Fighters, Morgan Freeman, Ray Romano, Naomi Watts, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Beck and Jack Black.

Border Wars (9pm, National Geographic Channel) - Tonight's episode focuses on law enforcement animals, including horses and dogs.

The Hour (9pm, BBC America) - Bel is shaken by news of a source's murder and tries to stop the team's pursuit of corrupt Cilenti.

Ghost Hunters (9pm, Syfy) - The Friars Club in New York City is investigated.

Hot in Cleveland (10pm, TV Land) - Marnie gets flirting lessons from Elka on a trip to the vet, and Victoria discusses second chances in life in an interview with her daughter.

Top Chef (10pm, Bravo) - The chefs harvest oysters and then prepare them for judge Emeril Lagasse. Later, they serve up fare for a Seattle sports team, and host Padma Lakshmi makes an appearance on roller skates.

12.12.12 (The Concert for Sandy Relief) (7:30pm) - A concert to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy features perhaps the most incredible lineup ever: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Kanye West, Jon Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Alicia Keys, the Who, Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl and others. In fact, McCartney is reportedly subbing for Kurt Cobain for a Nirvana reunion with Grohl and Krist Novoselic. Airing a bunch of channels, including but not limited to HBO, Showtime 2, AMC, VH1 Classic, IFC, Sundance, Encore, Discovery Fit & Health, WeTV, and ION. Also, streaming online via Youtube, MTV.com, Hulu, MySpace and lots of other channels. Here's the full info on where to watch.

Arrow (8pm, CW) - Oliver throws a family Christmas party in an attempt to restore a sense of normalcy to the Queen household.  

The Neighbors (8:30pm, ABC) - Debbie and Marty explain the concept of death to the aliens after the longtime gardener for their gated community dies, but Larry Bird isn't quite ready to accept it.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - Claire and Cameron try house-flipping after they renovate an overgrown baseball field for Manny and Luke's playoff game, but Phil and Mitchell aren't buying their pitch.

Barbara Walters Presents (9:30pm, ABC) - A look at people Barbara Walters found fascinating in 2012.

American Horror Story: Asylum (10pm, FX) - Good news: Ian McShane (aka Murder Santa) is around for tonight's episode. Also, Lana uncovers evidence that can help exonerate Kit.

Top Chef (10pm, Bravo) - The chefs must create dishes inspired by their genealogy, and later must cater a homecoming party for celebrity couple Anna Faris and Chris Pratt. Rick Moonen is the guest judge.

Whitney (8pm, NBC) - Money problems plague Whitney, so she shares a joint checking account with Alex, only to discover that he's in having cash flow problems as well.

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (8pm, ABC) - In this Thanksgiving classic, Charlie Brown is the hapless host and Snoopy is in the kitchen dishing up ice cream, popcorn and toast. Includes the cartoon, "This is America Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyage," which finds the gang aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

Nova: Inside the Megastorm (9pm, UNC-TV) - A repeat of Sunday's look at Hurricane Sandy, its impact and the future of storm prediction.

American Horror Story: Asylum (10pm, FX) - A young girl is mysteriously abandoned at Briarcliff. Later, Bloody Face's past is revealed.

Chicago Fire (10pm, NBC) - Severide delays taking a drug test after he and the rest of the firehouse staff are exposed to a meth lab over the Thanksgiving holiday. Elsewhere, Truck and Squad run into problems while coming to the aid of a gang-related shooting victim, and a deep-fried-turkey fire gets out of control.

Top Chef (10pm, Bravo) - Emeril Lagassee and Tom Colicchio lead teams in a grand-scale Thanksgiving-theme challenge. The guest judge is Dana Cowin.

Hell on the Highway (10pm, NGC) - The first snowstorm of the season causes problems along the Donner Pass. An accident leaves a rig sprawled across the highway and a tow-truck driver is almost injured while trying to clear a jackknifed truck.

Arrow (8pm, CW) - Oliver is arrested for murder and demands that Laurel represent him in court. Later, Oliver recalls a confrontation on the island with Deathstroke.

The Neighbors (8:30pm, ABC) - The Zabvronian mating season coincides with Debbie and Marty's wedding anniversary, and Debbie and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Toks Olagundoye at right with Simon Templeman) are intrigued by alien and human expressions of love. Meanwhile, Amber is invited to a party by a handsome boy and Reggie Jackson tags along. (I love this sitcom a little more each week.)

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - Haley gets arrested for underage drinking, prompting a frantic trip to the police station for Clarie, Phil and the family lawyer, Mitchell, leaving Alex and Luke under Cameron's shaky supervision.

Nova: The Mystery of Easter Island (9pm, UNC-TV) - A documentary examining Easter Island, the remote island in the middle of the Pacific that is home to almost 900 giant statues known as moai.

Nashville (10pm, ABC) - Deacon wants to draw lines in his relationship with Rayna, and Teddy fears his problems (secrets!) will be exposed and hurt his campaign.

American Horror Story: Asylum (10pm, FX) - In part one of  a two-part story arc called "I Am Anne Frank," a patient exposes secrets about Dr. Arden. Also, Kit learns the truth about Grace's past. (Note: This is a particularly gory episode and not my favorite. But next week is fantastic.)

Top Chef (10pm, Bravo) - Season 10 opens with 21 chefs battling for culinary honors in Seattle.

Today's other cookbook giveaway is a chance to win "Fire in My Belly: Real Cooking," by former Top Chef contestant Kevin Gillespie with David Joachim.

Leave a comment below this post before noon Friday, Nov. 9. Good luck!

And check back on the blog tomorrow and Friday for a chance to win books by two British celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver.

A gentle reminder: Make sure the email you registered with newsobserver.com is still valid. I can't tell you how many times I've chosen a winner only to have the email notifying them of their prize bounce back. If I can't reach you, you can't receive your prize.

Top Chef Texas finalist Lindsay Autry (pictured at right) is coming to Cary to cook a special dinner on Sept. 7.

Autry will cook with her former co-worker, Steven Devereaux Greene, the executive chef at An New World Cuisine in Cary.

Autry and Greene worked together in Charleston, S.C. and Greenville, S.C. Autry most recently worked as an executive chef at one of James Beard-award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein's restaurants in Florida. Autry, a Fayetteville native, was a contestant on Top Chef Texas.

The five-course meal with wine pairings will cost $125 per person, not including tax or gratuity. The menu includes:

• Amberjack crudo with celery salad, toasted soy, radish and ceviche vinaigrette.
• Butternut squash soup with lamb dumpling, pomegranate puree and curried crème fraiche.
• Grilled octopus with crispy bread, caper leaf remoulade and charred chickpeas.
• Berkshire pork loin and belly with Okinawan yam, romanesco sauce and cassia caramel.
• And for dessert, heirloom apple tart with wild huckleberry jam, sesame-walnuts and maple ice cream.

Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Call 919-677-9229.

(photo credit: photographer Alissa Dragun)
 

I have a profile in today's paper of Chef Keith Rhodes, who you may remember from his brief appearance on Bravo's "Top Chef." He's become a spokesman for the Wilmington dining scene and owns two restaurants there, Catch and Phun.

Suzanne Havala Hobbs' On the Table column is about New York City's recent ban of large soft drinks.

Linda Gassenheimer's Quick Fix column shares a recipe for Buffalo Burgers. (Remember: Recipes are now listed to the right of the story but links to printable versions are at the bottom of the story.)

We are seeking your memories of Julia Child just in time for what would have been her 100th birthday. HERE are instructions on how to send those to us.

We share David Tanis' colum in the New York Times with a recipe for paella with shrimp and fava beans.

We share a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution story with a recipe for rhubard-strawberry salsa.

And if you missed Debbie Moose's Sunday Dinner column, go HERE.

America's Next Top Model: British Invasion (9pm, CW) - The 18th season begins with seven American models competing against seven British hopefuls who were previously featured on "Britain's Next Top Model."

Criminal Minds (9pm, CBS) - The team investigates when prostitutes are murdered in Atlanta and their probe reveals the killer isn't working alone.

Happy Endings (9:30pm, ABC) - Dave's "Steak Me Home Tonight" food truck becomes the trendy hot spot in town thanks to its new liquor license, but Dave (Zachary Knighton) is upset because his friends have stopped coming around. He thinks they are jealous of his newfound fame, but it's really because his signature drink induces erotic dreams in which he's the star. Colin Hanks (left, with Knighton) appears as himself.

Revenge (10pm, ABC) - In the wake of the engagement party murder, Emily gets nervous while the Graysons band together. Also, Amanda's disappearance causes much speculation.

Face Off (10pm, Syfy) - The artists must modify an ordinary occupation into a character worthy of a Tim Burton movie, and three contestants face elimination. Guest judge is Catherine O'Hara. Meanwhile, "Beetlejuice" is airing at the same time on Encore.

Top Chef: Texas (10pm, Bravo) - A winner is named in the season finale.

One Tree Hill (8pm, CW) - A new cafe in town gives Haley unexpected competition. Also, Chase's new girlfriend has a puzzling secret.

NC State at Boston College (8pm, WRAL) - The only CBS programming you'll miss because of this is a special about Super Bowl commercials and a repeat of "Criminal Minds." If you really want to see those, you know the drill.

Ghost Hunters (9pm, Syfy) - Jason and Grant investigate a Tennessee bed and breakfast, where there are reports of shadowy figures and images of a little girl.

Top Chef: Texas (10pm, Bravo) - The chefs make pancakes for Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens with Padma Lakshmi at right) and later hit the streets of San Antonio on bikes to gather ingredients for Pee-wee's big dinner party.

Royal Pains (10pm, USA) - Dr. Van Dyke fills in for Hank while he's sideline with back problems. Elsewhere, Divya and Jill come to the aid of a thief who robbed them, and Jack starts a clinical trial that yields disappointing results.

Hot in Cleveland (10pm, TV Land) - Victoria's enemy Susan Lucci comes looking for support after the cancellation of "All My Children," but Victoria warns her friends that the soap star is not to be trusted. Also, Elka (SAG Award winner Betty White) talks hoops with Baron Davis of the Cleveland Caveliers.

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - Season 11 opens with auditions in Savannha, Georgia. Auditions will go on for quite awhile, with episodes airing on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Nova: 3D Spies of WWII (9pm, UNC-TV) - A WWII Allied initiative to locate Nazi rocket bases is recalled. The program brought together experts from British universities and Hollywood to study 3-D stereoscopic photos of German territory that had been shot specially by Spitfires.

Happy Endings (9:30pm, ABC) - Penny decides to stop adapting her lifestyle to the guys she dates and elects to change them to be more like her. Her first attempt is with a thirty-something slacker who still acts like a teenager. Also, Max and Alex try to get Dave to stop wearing v-neck t-shirts.

Law & Order: SVU (10pm, NBC) - A private military contractor CEO is sexually assaulted following a run-in with protesters, and as the case is investigated, links are made to a conspiracy in Iraq. Harry Connick Jr. (right) begins a guest arc playing Executive ADA David Haden, who is also Olivia's boyfriend.

Inside Nature's Giants (10pm, UNC-TV) - The first installment of a new four-part PBS series looks at the sperm whale. That's right, the show dissects -- as in, performs an autopsy on -- a 45-foot sperm whale. Future episodes will study the monster python, the great white shark, and big cats.

Revenge (10pm, ABC) - Daniel proposes to Emily and Nolan convinces Emily not to act hastily. Meanwhile, Charlotte is upset when she learns she must return to living under Victoria's roof.

Top Chef: Texas (10pm, Bravo) - The chefs create a gothic dish fit for a queen, but the plate must embody the essence of evil. Whatever that means. Guest judge is Charlize Theron.