When I was growing up in Nutley, N.J., I spent many of my idle summer hours at something called “recreation,” set up by the parks department to keep bored kids busy with board games, arts and crafts, softball and checkers. How did I know that I was really doing research for 21st-century television programming?

Now that “Extreme Dodgeball” (9 p.m., Game Show Network) has found a home on cable, can “Extreme Tetherball” be far behind? It’s easy to imagine a whole schedule devoted to schoolyard games played by celebrities, wannabes and never-beens.

How about “Celebrity Shuffleboard”? Given its association with players of a certain age, maybe the cast of “The Golden Girls” can reunite for the pilot episode. Wouldn’t it be fun to watch professional bounty hunters and former felons and fugitives team up to play “Hide & Seek”? That sounds like a natural for Court TV. Former NFL stars can take on over-the-hill cheerleaders on “All Star Competitive Hopscotch”! Hello ESPN 2. Imagine what an energetic camera crew could do with “Tag! You’re It! The game where nobody wants to get caught!”

Tonight’s other highlights

• On back-to-back episodes of “Bernie Mac” (Fox), Thanksgiving ruined (7 p.m.), a family reunion (7:30 p.m.).
• Luke’s flaky sister offers unexpected insight on “Gilmore Girls” (7 p.m., WB).
• Monique is host of “The BET Awards” (7 p.m., BET), honoring achievements in music, sports and acting.
• Cast members from “Oz,” including George Morfogen, Eamonn Walker, J.K. Simmons, Mums and others, portray jurors on “The Jury” (8 p.m., Fox), from Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana, creators of “Oz.”
• A gruff 20-year veteran officer talks a despondent loner off a highway bridge on “NYPD 24/7” (9 p.m., ABC).
• Robin faces battery charges on the season finale of “Real World: San Diego” (9 p.m., MTV).

Late night

Kiera Knightley and Joseph Wilson appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno welcomes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Steve Irwin and Sonic Youth on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC) … Nicole Richie and Uncle Kracker appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:05 p.m., ABC).

Lorraine Bracco is booked on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Leslie Nielsen is scheduled on “The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn” (11:37 p.m., CBS).