Fireworks

A Capital Fourth (8pm, UNC-TV) - Jimmy Smits hosts a celebration and fireworks display in honor of America's 235th birthday. The special features Josh Groban, Steve Martin and the Deep Canyon Rangers, Little Richard, Jordin Sparks, Matthew Morrison, Broadway's Kelli O'Hara, and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jack Everly. Live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capital. Repeats at 9:30.

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular (9pm, NBC) - Nick Lachey anchors live coverage of Manhattan's celebration and fireworks display with performances by Beyonce and Brad Paisley. Repeats at 10pm.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular (10pm, CBS) - Lionel Richie performs live with the Boston Pops under the direction of conductor Keith Lockhart at the Charles River Esplanade. The show's finale includes an explosive fireworks display accompanied by the "1812 Overture." Michael Chiklis hosts.

News 14 Carolina will also broadcast local fireworks live this evening. Raleigh's fireworks show will begin around 9:45 p.m. News 14 will also show the Charlotte fireworks, which start around 9:30.

Other stuff

Citizen U.S.A.: A 50 State Road Trip (9pm, HBO) - Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi's patriotic travelogue crisscrosses the country to attend naturalization ceremonies in all 50 states and listens to recent immigrants from around the world explain their decision to become American citizens. The film was inspired by the naturalization process experienced by Pelosi's Dutch-born husband, Michael Vos, and includes remarks from former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, commentator Arianna Huffington, and rock star Gene Simmons.

Hoarders (9pm, A&E) - Tonight's episode is a follow-up show that looks at the progress of people who were profiled during the show's second season. Cary organization specialist Geralin Thomas appears with some of her clients.

Single Ladies (9pm, VH1) - A trainer pushes Keisha to the limit in more ways than one, and Val is tired of bad first dates and decides to swear off men for awhile. Also, newscaster Sharon Love (Queen Latifah) lets a secret about Val slip.

Teen Wolf (10pm, MTV) - Scott tries to control his transformations so he can spend more (safe) time with Allison. Also, Derek continues trying to make Scott his ally.

Weeds (10pm, Showtime) - Nancy tries to adjust to live in New York City and gets a surprise when Andy and Shane unexpectedly show up, fresh from Copenhagen.

The Big C (10:30pm, Showtime) - Cathy tries dabbling in the supernatural after she's unsuccessful at scoring a spot in a clinical trial for a new cancer treatment overseen by a renowned oncologist, played by Alan Alda.

If your town has canceled their fireworks, either to save money or because of dangerous drought conditions, you can still catch the pyrotechnic action -- and stay cool!

Time Warner Cable has fireworks on their Carolina On Demand channels 199 and 1047 (check the ‘All New’ tab under ‘Seasonal’). The fireworks display has a beach scene backdrop and you can choose from patriotic music or the popping, exploding sounds.

It should be popular since the channel's top viewed program in 2010 was the On Demand Holiday Yule Log.

And you can watch the On Demand fireworks anytime.

Other fireworks and 4th of July televised celebrations taking place on Monday:

Jesse Stone: No Remorse (8pm, CBS) - This is a repeat, but it's pretty good. It's  Tom Selleck's sixth movie as New England police chief Jesse Stone. In this one, Jesse investigates a series of murders in Boston that may be linked to a mob boss, while deputies Rose (Kathy Baker) and Suitcase (Kohl Sudduth) probe a crime spree in Paradise.

Elf (8pm, USA) - A human (Will Ferrell, left) who has been raised by elves leaves the North Pole to search for his birth father (James Caan) in New York. It's hilarious. Also stars Bob Newhart, Edward Asner, Mary Steenburgen, and Zoey Deschanel.

Scrooged (8pm, AMC) - A twist on the Dickens classic with Bill Murray as a miserly TV executive who learns the true meaning of Christmas. Also stars John Forsythe, Bobcat Goldthwait, Robert Mitchum, and Carol Kane.

TV's Funniest Holiday Moments (8pm, Fox) - Jane Lynch counts down 30 memorable TV holiday moments, including scenes from "Cheers," "Family Guy," and "Friends."

48 Hours Mystery (10pm, CBS) - Members of the Gotti family discuss their father, the deceased godfather John Gotti, and life inside the mob. 

Heads up for Sunday: Turner Classic Movies is having an all-day marathon of live-action Disney classics, starting at 6:30am with "Old Yeller." You might want to go ahead and set your DVR tonight if you think you'll be in the mood to cry till you heave anytime soon. "Pollyanna" comes on at 8am, then "The Apple Dumpling Gang" at 10:15. Check back here tomorrow morning for the full schedule.

For the third year in a row, News 14 Carolina will televise Christmas Eve services live from Duke Chapel tonight.

The telecast of the Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols will air at 11 p.m.

News 14 Carolina is a news station available for Time Warner Cable customers.

Miracle on 34th Street (10am, AMC) - Edmund Gwenn (the real Santa as far as I'm concerned) as the Macy's department store Santa who goes on trial to prove he's the real deal. Also stars Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood. This movie alternates all day with "White Christmas," going until 6am Christmas Day.

White Christmas (12 noon, AMC) - Irving Berlin's music is the big draw in this classic Christmas movie starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. This alternates all day with "Miracle on 34th Street," going until 6am Christmas Day.

It's a Wonderful Life (8pm, NBC) - Frank Capra's classic starring Jimmy Stewart as a small-town banker who learns what life would have been like if he'd never been born. Also stars Donna Reed and Henry Travers.  Perfect Christmas Eve viewing.

The Bishop's Wife (8pm, Turner Classic Movies) - A dapper angel (Cary Grant) tries to solve social and domestic problems of a bishop (David Niven). Along the way, the angel and the bishop's wife (Loretta Young) form a special bond.

Tom & Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale (8pm, Cartoon Network) - Jerry is transported to a magical land with dancing toys, but his trip is ruined by alley cats, led by Tom, who kidnap a ballerina doll and destroy the holiday spirit.

The Christmas Story (8pm, TBS) - The story of a 9-year-old who badly wants a BB gun for Christmas, though all the adults around him strongly oppose the idea. This is the first showing in a 24-hour marathon of repeats, which has become a holiday tradition for TBS.

Joy of the Season: North Carolina Master Chorale (8pm, UNC-TV) - Vocalist Bill Leslie joins the North Carolina Master Chorale for a concert of holiday songs. Taped in 2006.

Christmas in Rockefeller Center (8pm, NBC) - Natalie Morales and Al Roker host the 78th lighting of the Christmas tree in Manhattan. Scheduled performances by Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Jessica Simpson, Susan Boyle, Annie Lennox, Katherine Jenkins, Charice, Kylie Minogue, and Jackie Evancho.

Glee (8pm, Fox) - The glee kids head to Sectionals to compete against the Warblers and the Hipsters. Meanwhile, Emma and Carl (John Stamos) grow closer while teen romances begin to fray.

Raising Hope (9pm, Fox) - Jimmy gets Burt's idol, Smokey Floyd (Jason Lee -- you knew that guest spot was coming, right?), to help him realize the rock-and-roll dreams the elder Chance gave up when he became a father.

Detroit 1-8-7 (10pm, ABC) - Longford, Mahajan, Stone, and Sanchez investigate the slaying of a wealthy, retired auto industry executive in his palatial home, while Fitch, Washington, and Lt. Mason comfort the family of an 11-year-old bboy who was killed by a drive-by shooter.

Sons of Anarchy (10pm, FX) - In the Season 3 finale, the ATF and Russians stand in the way as the SAMCRO looks to heal old wounds.

Victoria Secret Fashion Show (10pm, CBS) - Katy Perry and Akon perform as supermodels take to the runway to showcase the company's latest lingerie.

Strange Days with Bob Saget (10pm, A&E) - Bob Saget explores America's subcultures in this new series. In tonight's opener, he travels with the Iron Order Motorcycle Club and rides in a sidecar from Kentucky to Florida. At 10:30, Saget travels with members of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization in the Pacific Northwest as they search for Sasquatch.

We have winners in our MGM HD "Price of Fear" dvd prize pack giveaway! Congrats to Janey in Raleigh, Cindy in Fuquay-Varina, and John in Havelock. The dvds are in the mail.

And a big thanks to everyone else who entered. If you didn't win, you can still watch the Vincent Price classic horror marathon this Sunday on the MGM HD channel. They have a full day of Vincent Price - Edgar Allen Poe movies lined up. Here's more info on the marathon and on MGM HD.

If you're in the mood for some classically creepy horror flicks on Halloween, the MGM HD channel has you covered with a full-day marathon of movies based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe and starring Mr. Halloween himself, Vincent Price.

The Price of Fear marathon runs all day on Halloween.

But wait, there's more! We're giving away three awesome 10-DVD sets of Price of Fear classic movies, courtesy of MGM HD. Here's how to enter...

Here's a breakdown of the July 4th television specials airing tonight:

-UNC-TV will have "3,2,1 Fireworks" at 7:30pm, a behind-the-scenes look at the July 4th celebration from our nation's capital. At 8pm there's a special 30th Anniversary broadcast of "Capital Fourth: America's Independence Celebration," live from the west lawn of the U.S. Capital. This will include fireworks captured by 18 TV cameras positioned around Washington, D.C. There's also a concert hosted by Jimmy Smits, and featuring performers Reba McEntire, Gladys Knight, Darius Rucker, David Archuleta, John Schneider, Lang Lang with the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Choral Arts Society of Washington. The concert ends with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, featuring the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and live cannon fire from the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.

The whole thing will re-broadcast again at 9:30 PM. 

-NBC's celebration, "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular," comes fom New York City with performances from Justin Bieber, Enrique Iglesias, and LeAnn Rimes. That runs from 9pm to 10pm.

-CBS camps out in Boston for the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" starting at 10pm. That's hosted by Craig Ferguson and features performances from Toby Keith. and Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under the direction of Keith Lockhart.

-ABC ran their July 4th special on Friday. I know...

-News 14 Carolina will show live fireworks from Raleigh and Charlotte starting around 9:10pm.

What do TV fans think of when a long July 4th weekend rolls around?

That's right: A "Law & Order" marathon.

Don't judge. You have to have something to watch while you're nursing your sunburn and fighting that  hot dog-induced coma.

Not only is there a "Law & Order" marathon on the horizon (two! "L&O: CI" also gets one!), there's a marathon on the books this weekend for just about anything you might like, from "Anthony Bourdain" to "John Adams" -- or if you have more discerning television tastes, from "A-Team" to "Bewitched."

Because we're proud Americans, our spotlight is on "Greatest American Hero," playing Sunday on Syfy starting at 8am. But that "John Adams" marathon over on HBO looks pretty good, too.

Here's a full list of all the marathons over this 4-day holiday weekend.