Primetime network musical specials have become so rare that attention must be paid to “Elton John: The Red Piano” (7 p.m., NBC). This could easily have been titled, “Elton John: Live at Caesars Palace,” but “The Red Piano” sounds more pretentious, and it does include the color of his piano, which happens to be red.

John has been singing, recording and performing for the better part of the last four decades, selling hundreds of millions of records, CDs and downloads. But artists do not go to Las Vegas to challenge their audience and experiment with new sounds. While a local Nevada newspaper described John’s casino lounge act as “the most exciting thing in Las Vegas,” I believe that encomium says a lot more about Vegas than John.

This television special was shot with 36 high-definition cameras, and the cinematography does offer a sense of dynamic movement to a show that by its very nature consists of a man sitting at a piano. In fact, in one of his witty asides, John complains that a life spent sitting before a keyboard has done nothing for his physique.

I have no idea what casino patrons paid to see “The Red Piano” stage show, but I’m not sure they are getting their money’s worth. For starters, this version consists of only eight songs. As these things go, that’s roughly two Super Bowl halftime shows. And in the spirit of safe, nonthreatening Las Vegas entertainment, the playlist is very vintage John. In fact, if you stopped listening to new music sometime before the bicentennial you wouldn’t have missed any of the musical numbers performed here.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ James Lipton guest stars on “Arrested Development” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ A policewoman changes roles with a subservient house frau on “Wife Swap” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ Becky’s move on “Kitchen Confidential” (7:30 p.m., Fox).

¢ A mysterious woman needs financial assistance on “Las Vegas” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ Six children out of control on “Nanny 911” (8 p.m., Fox).

¢ The Falcons play host to the Saints on “Monday Night Football” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ The case of the flaming yacht on “CSI: Miami” (9 p.m., CBS).