Happy birthday, America. While Uncle Sam prepares to blow out 229 candles, Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence with various pursuits of happiness. Those in pursuit of gluttony will enjoy the traditional “Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest” (11 a.m., ESPN), live from Coney Island, N.Y.

¢ Like baseball, that most American of games, the hotdog eating pastime has inspired talented players from the land of the rising sun. Japanese competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi holds the record in frankfurter consumption, having downed 53 1/2 hotdogs (and buns) in the regulation 12-minute period. Frankly, that makes him the sumo cum laude of the wiener world.

Viewers who prefer a rounder bun can digest “Hamburger America” (7 p.m., Sundance). Filmmaker George Motz embarked on a trip around the United States to find the tastiest burgers as well as the most colorful spatula-wielding characters.

In Memphis, Tenn., he visits Dyers, a burger joint where they claim to have been deepfrying ground beef in the same grease for the last 90 years. When Dyers moved locations, the mayor offered a police escort for the restaurant’s legendary vats of “seasoned” grease.

In burger-world, one man’s grease is another man’s steam. Ted’s restaurant in Meriden, Conn., has been using vaporized water to cook burgers since 1959. Customers in Sedalia, Mo., have been parking at the Wheel Inn Drive-In since 1948. The attraction? The guberburger, a grilled burger topped with peanut butter. And New Haven, Conn., is not only home to Yale University, but it also touts Louis’ Lunch, the eatery that claims to be the birthplace of the hamburger.

¢ The annual “A Capitol Fourth” (7 p.m., PBS) fireworks extravaganza celebrates a birthday of its own, turning 25 this year. Performers include Gloria Estefan, The O’Jays and The Beach Boys, along with tenor Ronan Tynan and Erich Kunzel and the National Symphony Orchestra. Barry Bostwick is host, as he has been for some years now.

Elsewhere on the pyrotechnic front, Mariah Carey will perform at the “Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular” (8 p.m., NBC), live from New York City. Harry Smith and Jann Carl are host to “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” (9 p.m., CBS) live from the Charles River Esplanade.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Viewers can spend six hours with the first three episodes of the miniseries “Into the West” (11 a.m., TNT).

¢ Two hours of crises on “Nanny 911” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ The stars of “Newlyweds” entertain troops in Germany and Iraq on “Nick & Jessica’s Tour of Duty” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ Failing grades on “Everybody Loves Raymond” (7 p.m., CBS),

¢ A gamer clutches his last joystick on “CSI: Miami” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ A dream about her soldier brother haunts Allison on “Medium” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Jeff Foxworthy is host to “An American Celebration at Ford’s Theatre” (9 p.m., ABC), recently taped before a live audience including President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and many Washington dignitaries.