Fashion plate Debra Messing of “Will & Grace” is host for the 2002 “Vogue Fashion Awards” (8 p.m., VH1). Pink, David Bowie, Santana, Michelle Branch and other artists will perform live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Moby, Shakira and the White Stripes have been nominated for the Visionary Video Award.

Some time back, VH1 promised us a “reality show” featuring Liza Minnelli and her new husband, David Gest. While little news has been forthcoming about that enterprise, viewers can catch “Liza and David’s Wedding” (10 p.m., VH1), an elaborate multicamera videotape of one of the most hyped and talked about nuptials in years. The list of invitees included tycoons, stars and more has-beens than a season of “Love Boat” episodes. And who doesn’t want to see home movies of a ceremony that included Michael Jackson as Best Man and Elizabeth Taylor as Maid of Honor?

Alan Alda hosts “Make Up Your Mind” on “Scientific American Frontiers” (8 p.m., PBS). The show explores the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that scientists believe makes us most human. It’s also the part of the brain that monitors the individual behavior that makes us who we are.

Alda lends a friendly and accessible show-business spin to all of this science. At one point, he even chats with researchers who use an episode of “MAS*H” to demonstrate a point about ethical reasoning and brain development. Who says television can’t be cerebral?

Tonight’s other highlights

Burton’s new firm takes on a hospital mercy killing case on “The Guardian” (8 p.m., CBS).

Claude fears that her boss will look down on her nerdy pals on “Less Than Perfect” (8:30 p.m., ABC). This comedy, along with two other ABC shows, “8 Simple Rules” (7 p.m.) and “Life With Bonnie” (8 p.m.), has been picked up for a full season.

A badly handled adoption separates a boy from his birth mother on “Judging Amy” (9 p.m., CBS).

Scheduled on “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC): A troubled teen accuses a caring teacher of seducing him.

A child goes missing on “NYPD Blue” (9 p.m., ABC).

Series notes

Mac defends two SEALS on “JAG” (7 p.m., CBS) Victor ruins Marlene’s real-estate deal on “The In-Laws” (7 p.m., NBC) Paul likes Bridget’s new boyfriend on “8 Simple Rules” (7 p.m., ABC) Buffy counsels a student with a grim premonition on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (7 p.m., UPN) Lorelai’s career-day chat hits a few bumps on “Gilmore Girls” (7 p.m., WB).

Finch sabotages Vicki on “Just Shoot Me” (7:30 p.m., NBC) Eavesdropping on “According to Jim” (7:30 p.m., ABC).

A visit from Roz’s spunky cousin on “Frasier” (8 p.m., NBC) Bonnie has to host the show with the station owner’s son on “Life with Bonnie” (8 p.m., ABC) Frank looks into a voodoo legacy on “Haunted” (8 p.m., UPN) Clark discovers kryptonite in the school’s class rings on “Smallville” (8 p.m., WB) Doug mulls a major change on “Hidden Hills” (8:30 p.m., NBC).

Late night

Faith Hill and Thandie Newton appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) Jay Leno welcomes David Arquette and Tracy Chapman on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC).

Dave Chappelle, Seth Green and Badly Drawn Boy are booked on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (11:35 p.m., NBC) Patrick Swayze and Richard Jeni appear on “The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn” (11:37 p.m., CBS).