Dick Clark plays host to a two-hour salute to his role as rock and roll’s ageless chaperone on “American Band Stand’s 50th A Celebration” (7 p.m., ABC). “Bandstand” began as an afternoon teen-age dance show in Philadelphia in 1952. At the time, there were many such dance showcases airing in dozens of local television markets. Director John Waters lovingly re-created this scene in his 1988 musical comedy “Hairspray.” Dick Clark became host of “Bandstand” in 1956. The young ABC network aired “Bandstand” nationally in 1957, first as a daily afternoon and then as a primetime Monday-night series.

While the primetime “Bandstand” lasted only from October to December of that year, the series has aired continually as both a daily afternoon show until 1963 and then on Saturdays from 1963 to 1987, when ABC canceled the show. Dick Clark then brought “Bandstand” to syndication, where it has aired since.

Clark’s 46-year stewardship of “Bandstand” has given him ownership of a gold mine of performance footage by a Who’s Who of rock and pop music. Tonight’s special includes clips from performances by ABBA, Bryan Adams, Christina Aguilera, Paul Anka and Frankie Avalon. And that’s just the A’s!

And if that weren’t enough, there also will be live performances from Michael Jackson, Cher, Alanis Morissette, Brandy, Kiss, Stevie Wonder with Babyface, Dennis Quaid & The Sharks, Village People, KC & The Sunshine Band and A Taste Of Honey featuring Janice-Marie.

Thousands of musical acts appeared on “Bandstand,” but Clark never played host to the Beatles. Jay Leno has Paul McCartney on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC). McCartney will perform two songs and chat with Leno for the duration of the hour. This marks the first time in 10 years that the “Tonight Show” has booked only one guest.

Three Friday-night shows end their seasons tonight. Series creator James Cameron (“Titanic”) directs a 90-minute special episode of “Dark Angel” (7:30 p.m., Fox). Gerry Spence and Oliver North guest star as themselves on “First Monday” (8 p.m., CBS), and Samm Levine continues his guest stint as the nerdy son of a gangster on the engaging teen comedy “Maybe it’s Me” (8:30 p.m., WB).

All three series face an uphill battle for renewal. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that only “Maybe it’s Me” will survive. While “Maybe’s” ratings have been microscopic, it’s a smart, sweet show that has become a critical favorite.

If “Maybe” has a fault, it’s that it tries too hard to be cool. I’d ditch the frantic theme song and the “Ally”-inspired fantasy graphics and concentrate on Molly’s loopy family dynamics.

Tonight’s other highlights

A finicky dog-show diva (Melissa Gilbert) throws a tantrum at the clinic on “Providence” (7 p.m., NBC).

Steven Seagal and Keenen Ivory Wayans star in the 1996 cop drama “The Glimmer Man” (7 p.m., UPN).

On “48 Hours” (9 p.m., CBS): three women of a certain age agree to get plastic surgery together.

Mary Steenburgen guest stars on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC).