The 2006 Billboard Music Awards (7 p.m., Fox) honors singer Tony Bennett with the Century Award. The awards bestowed tonight are determined by the artists’ performances on Billboard’s weekly charts. Look for performances by Janet Jackson, Fergie, the Killers, Gwen Stefani, the Fray, Ludacris and Mary J. Blige, and special appearances by Carrie Underwood, Carmen Electra, Dave Navarro and Flavor Flav. The leading contenders for multiple award categories include Nickelback, Rascal Flatts, T.I. and Blige.

¢ Patrick Stewart (“X-Men,” “Star Trek”) returns to episodic television in “Eleventh Hour” (8 p.m., BBC America). This new police drama runs for only four episodes, but Stewart fans shouldn’t miss it.

Stewart portrays Ian Hood, a former physics professor hired by British police to solve cases in which scientific “progress” and technological excess have homicidal consequences.

In tonight’s episode, Hood confronts the grim consequences of a multinational baby-cloning operation. Not for the squeamish, the episode begins with the discovery of a mass graveyard of discarded experimental fetuses. A subsequent installment follows the trail of death and despair left behind by a peddler of a bogus cancer cure.

While it seems natural to see Stewart portray a character at the cutting edge of science, don’t confuse Hood with the actor’s previous roles. Says Stewart: “It has nothing to do with science fiction whatsoever. No aliens in sight. These four stories deal with very pressing issues … things a lot of people feel very strongly about, and each story is quite controversial.”

¢ “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (9 p.m., NBC) is the first network show out of the gate with a Christmas episode. The ever-cranky Matt (Matthew Perry) feels personally responsible to bring Christmas spirit to Tinsel Town.

Holiday highlights

¢ A young Natalie Wood tugs Santa’s beard in the 1947 favorite “Miracle on 34th Street” (7 p.m., AMC).

¢ Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn and Shirley Booth provide voices for the animated special “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (7 p.m., Family).

¢ Presents are in peril in the animated sequel “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys” (8 p.m., Family).

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ While on leave, Brenda investigates the death of an Arab teen on a new two-hour episode of “The Closer” (7 p.m., TNT).

¢ Philadelphia hosts Carolina in NFL action (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

¢ Tragedy in Texas and a dire warning for New York on “Heroes” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ British domestics take on all-American brats on “Supernanny” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ Brian woos Bridget on “What About Brian” (9 p.m., ABC).