"Biography" (7 p.m., A&E) celebrates its 15th anniversary with a gimmick. Hosted by Brad Garrett, "Biography" will count down the 15 funniest comedians in television history, concluding with the selection of the medium's funniest star.
To compile the list, "Biography" consulted more than 250 comics, critics, scholars and comedy club owners. Presented in alphabetical order, their punch-line pantheon enshrines: Steve Allen, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, Johnny Carson, Bill Cosby, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Ernie Kovacs, Steve Martin, Groucho Marx, Richard Pryor and Robin Williams.
It's surprising to note that 10 of the comics on the list came to fame before 1960. Most of their careers pre-date television itself. With so many old-timers, George Burns should be on this list. "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" was goofier and more inventive than most contemporary comedies.
I'm a little shocked that Steve Martin is the only "Saturday Night Live" veteran to make the cut. Bill Murray belongs here, at the very least. Robin Williams has made some very funny films, but for every "Bird Cage" he seems to make five versions of "Patch Adams." For that movie alone, he should be cut. And does his inclusion here mean that the panel considers "Mork & Mindy" funnier and more influential than "Seinfeld"? That's right Jerry Seinfeld doesn't make the cut! And any roundup of TV comedy that does not acknowledge "SCTV" is meaningless in my book. At the very least, John Candy belongs here. Obviously, compiling a list about comedians is no laughing matter.
What is the most complex creation in the universe? The five-part series "The Secret Life of the Brain" (8 p.m., PBS) examines revolutionary new discoveries in neuroscience, and new perspectives on the changing nature of the brain that may lead to breakthrough treatments of learning disorders, addiction, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Produced by David Grubin ("Napoleon") and narrated by Blair Brown.
On "Nova" (7 p.m., PBS), scientists debate the status of ancient Homo Sapiens on "Neanderthals on Trial." Were the Neanderthals a distant relative of modern man? Or merely a beastly primitive and an evolutionary dead end? Some experts contend that we have genetic links to the 40,000-year-old Neanderthals. Others deny any connection and demand that they be thrown out of the "human" family. The academic battle presented here gets quite heated and shows how contemporary attitudes affect our perception of the very distant past.
Tonight's other highlights
The rich and fabulous tie the knot in extravagant and expensive ways on "InStyle Celebrity Weddings II" (7 p.m., NBC).
Emily offers Lorelai a loan on "Gilmore Girls" (7 p.m., WB).
Ewan McGregor roughs it in the rain forest on "Trips Money Can't Buy" (7 p.m., Travel Channel).
Nick contests a dowager's will on "The Guardian" (8 p.m., CBS).
Jack's story doesn't pass muster with the Secret Service on "24" (8 p.m., Fox). Fox recently announced that Dennis Hopper will join the cast.
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