Golden Globes (8pm, NBC) - The 70th annual Golden Globes awards show recognizes achievements in 25 movie and TV categories. This year, it's hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and there's a tribute to Jodie Foster, who receives the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man (and on the will of a stubborn one). Also, Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment, and Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.

Secrets of Highclere Castle (10pm, UNC-TV) - A look at the real Downton Abbey! Highclere Castle, the setting for the popular British series, was the social epicenter of Edwardian England, playing host to royalty, nobility and celebrity alike. This documentary shows how all the inhabitants of Highclere lived, from the aristocrats who enjoyed a life of luxury and indolence for centuries (on an estate as large as New York's Central Park) to the army of servants toiling "below stairs."

Shameless (9pm, Showtime) - In the Season 3 premiere, Fiona adapts to living with Jimmy, Frank awakens in a strange place, and Lip gets sentenced to community service.

Girls (9pm, HBO) - In the Season 2 premiere, Hannah throws a party with her new roommate, Elijah, and is ready to move on in her romantic life despite still tending to needy Adam and his broken leg. Meanwhile, Shoshanna does her best to avoid Ray, Marnie gets bad news from her boss, and Jessa returns from her honeymoon with Thomas-John.

Enlightened (9:30pm, HBO) - In the second season premiere, Amy fears her job is about to be eliminated so she contacts an investigative reporter with incriminating emails from Abaddonn executives, which she gathers using Tyler's IT password.

House of Lies (10pm, Showtime) - In the season 2 premiere, the aftermath of the sexual-harassment scandal leaves Marty and his Pod adjusting to a new corporate culture at Galweather Stearn.

Californication (10:30pm, Showtime) - Season 6 opens with Hank still reeling from the murder attempt on his life, and accompanying Charlie to a meeting with a rock star who wants to mount a Broadway musical based on Hank's story.

The Golden Globes Awards show airs tonight at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Ricky Gervais (left) is hosting for the second year in a row -- and really playing up the "Oh, aren't I naughty?" angle after many felt he went too far last year teasing the Hollywood elite.

He's sure to offend again, though this time the shtick will be more self-conscious and perhaps less funny because we're all expecting it. But then again, I pretty much always think Gervais is funny, so I'm betting I'll be amused.

Oh, yeah -- awards! They are also giving out some awards! Almost forgot about that part. Raleigh's Evan Rachel Wood is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV movie for her role in HBO's "Mildred Pierce," so there's that. 

Whatever you tune in for, I'll be back here tonight at 8 doing a live recap on the blog. Follow along and comment or if you're unable to watch the show tonight, check back later to find out what you missed.

Recap begins below.

Golden Globe Awards (8pm, NBC) - Ricky Gervais hosts again, so tomorrow we can all get together and either rave or complain about the job he did, and discuss whether any rich, beautiful movie stars got their feelings hurt. Morgan Freeman gets the Cecil B. DeMille Award and Raleighite Evan Rachel Wood is up for a Supporting Actress award.

Once Upon a Time (8pm, ABC) - Emma tries to help two homeless siblings find their father before they're put into foster care and separated. In the fairy tale realm, the Evil Queen forces Hansel and Gretal to steal something from a blind witch.

Undercover Boss (8pm, CBS) - CBS's series of one-hour love letters to various giant corporations returns for its third season tonight, and by 9 p.m., we're all going to feel warm and cozy inside about the benevolent leaders of Diamond Resorts International and its CEO, Stephen J. Cloobeck. (I honestly hope these companies are paying CBS for their hour-long primetime commercials).

Napoleon Dynamite (8:30pm, Fox) - The premiere of a new animated series based on the hit movie, featuring the voices of the original movie cast. Amy Poehler has a guest performance in the opening episode. A second new episode airs at 9:30. Worth checking out? We have a review from a guest correspondent.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - Episode two of the second season continues with the estate being turned into a convalescent home for wounded veterans. In other news, Lavinia (right) and Sir Richard's secret comes out, and Anna locates Bates.

Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain (9pm, Comedy Central) - A comedy concert film featuring stand-up comic Kevin Hart performing on his highly successful "Laugh at My Pain" tour, which broke sales records formerly held by Eddie Murphy.

House of Lies (10pm, Showtime) - The owner of a major sports franchise is going through a messy divorce, so the team flies to Phoenix to help him smooth the rough spots.

We had the Screen Actors Guild nominations yesterday, and today it's time for the Golden Globes. No nominations for our homeboy, Michael C. Hall, or his hit cable show "Dexter," but his fellow Raleigh native Evan Rachel Wood (left) did snag a nomination for her supporting role in the HBO miniseries, "Mildred Pierce."

And unlike the SAG shutout, Hollywood Foreign Press had plenty of love for Showtime's newest (and excellent) drama, "Homeland," which is filmed in Charlotte. Those kudos are deserved, but I can't get over the fact that "Breaking Bad" isn't in the Best Drama Series category. Nothing against the other nominees, because they are all very fine, but you just can't leave "Breaking Bad" off that list. Period.

HBO led everyone -- by a mile -- with 18 nominations. Of the TV nominations, "Mildred Pierce" (HBO) and "Downton Abbey" (Masterpiece) led with 4 each.

Keep reading for the rest of the television nominees (for a full list including film nominees, check out the Golden Globe website).

What a difference a day makes. Last night as I was recapping the Golden Globes and following comments by TV critics and entertainment writers on Twitter, it was clear that I wasn't the only one who thought host Ricky Gervais was funny. There were guffaws over the jabs at Cher, Charlie Sheen, Hugh Hefner, and praise for Gervais for not being afraid to go for the jugular a little.

This morning, in the middle of a Golden Globe hangover of sorts, the world is a little more cranky. My Twitter feed (which also includes some Hollywood types -- actors, directors, screenwriters) is about 50/50 between "Gervais is a lazy jerk" and "Gervais is brilliant!" Even the media seems to be more critical of the British comic. One of the first headlines I saw this morning was this one, from the Washington Post: "'Glee' and 'Boardwalk' soar while Gervais crashes at Golden Globes."

"Crashes?" Really? The writer described his performance as a "meltdown."

I'll be live-blogging the Golden Globe action tonight, beginning around 8pm. Just keep checking this link for updates.

Host Ricky Gervais has promised that after tonight, the Globes will not invite him back. How can you resist that?

If you're in to the designer clothes and Red Carpet stuff (best Red Carpet show is on E!), you might as well know I'm wearing flannel pj pants from the Gap and a Northface sweatshirt. I picked it out myself. No stylist here. I'm also taking a lot of cold medicine so if I type something inappropriate, that's my defense.

Click below to read the recap in progress!

The Golden Globes Awards Show airs tonight (8pm, NBC), and even though some of the nominations are pretty wack, Ricky Gervais as host should be reason enough to tune in.

Gervais, hosting for the second time, promises after tonight, the Globes will not invite him back.

Gervais told the Associated Press of his first hosting stint, "I don't think I went far enough. Obviously not, because they invited me back. So I'm going to do it again, do a proper job. And I guarantee they will not invite me back. . . . I honestly can't wait to do it. I'm going out there guns blazing like it's the end of the world."

Sounds like presenter Justin Bieber is right to feel "petrified" about the evening.

I'll be live blogging here tonight and will try hard to catch all of Gervais's barbs. Oh yeah, and the big TV winners.

Golden Globe Awards (8pm, NBC) - Maybe the best awards show of the season, mostly because the attendees sometimes get a little drunk before making their speeches. In addition to awards in movies and television, Robert DeNiro will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Raleigh native Michael C. Hall (left) is nominated for his starring role in "Dexter" (Hall won the award last year). Hosted by Ricky Gervais, who promises after tonight, the Globes will never invite him back. We'll be live-blogging here, so check in.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - In part two (of four) of this excellent Masterpiece series, Mary continues to entertain suitors, including a Turkish diplomat. Also, much to his dismay, the former life of Mr. Carson is revealed, and Mr. Bates risks his health in order to keep his post as valet.

Desperate Housewives (9pm, ABC) - Lynette tries to stop her mom (Polly Bergen) from marrying an odious man (Larry Hagman). Also, Bree learns some trouble things from Keith's ex-girlfriend, Carlos worries about Gaby's obsession with a doll, and Susan befriends a depressed and curmudgeonly dialysis patient.

Californication (9pm, Showtime) - Hank's efforts to mend things with Becca by taking her to a guitar store run by musican Zakk Wylde fail. Hank later takes a meeting with Oscar-winning actor Rick (Rob Lowe, doing his best Brad Pitt), who is set to play him in the film of his novel.

Big Love (9pm, HBO) - In the fifth season premiere, which picks up in the ugly aftermath of Bill's election victory and his revelation of polygamy, the Henrickson family suffers indignities and scorn wherever they go. Also, Alby returns to Juniper Creek from his exile in the desert.

Episodes (9:30pm, Showtime) - Sean and Beverly are wined and dined at Merc's elegant house party, and Sean is flattered by a very smooth Matt LeBlanc. Matt also flirts a little with Beverly, who discovers too late that it's better to be on the star's good side than be his enemy.

Ted Haggard: Scandalous (10pm, TLC) - TLC continues its examination of the sordid with a profile of disgraced pastor Ted Haggard, founder of Colorado's New Life Church who left the ministry in 2006 following a sex and drugs scandal. The TLC show follows Haggard as he tries to start a new life and new church.

Denis Leary & Friends: Douchebags and Donuts (10pm, Comedy Central) - Leary performs at New York City's Town Hall with help from comedians Whitney Cummings, Lenny Clarke, and Adam Ferrara.

The Screen Actors Guild announced their nominations today. They aren't quite as puzzling as the Golden Globe nominations announced earlier this week, but there are a few head-scratchers.

Like the cast of "Hot in Cleveland" (or "The Office," for that matter) getting an ensemble nod over say, "Community." But I quibble. All in all, it's a much more legitimate nomination list, even if it does inexplicably exclude Connie Britton, Kyle Chandler, and anything remotely related to "Friday Night Lights." I will never understand that.

Click below to read the full list of TV nominees.

If at some point today you sense the weight of indignation and outrage pressing down on you, it's coming from the Twitterverse and it's over the Golden Globe Best Actress nomination of  Piper Perabo (right).

You read that right. Piper Perabo was nominated for a Golden Globe for USA's lightweight drama "Covert Affairs." Over Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights"). Over Glenn Close ("Damages"). Over Melissa Leo and Khandi Alexander ("Treme").

It's hardly surprising, really. The awards folks are always a little bit screwy in some categories and fans and critics are always a little bit angry over the nominations. In addition to Perabo, other targets of outrage today are the nomination of Scott Caan ("Hawaii Five-0"), too much love for "Glee" (specifically Matthew Morrison), and the omission of "Name Your Favorite Show." (I'll name mine: "Terriers," "Justified," "Friday Night Lights" -- no nominations for any.)

Click below for the full list of Television nominees. If you're ticked off (or pleased), tell us in the comments. The Golden Globes will be presented on January 16 and hosted by Ricky Gervais.