After a preliminary round that has lasted as long as the presidential-primary process, “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox) enters its serious stage with the top-12 contestants’ names written in stone.

During every past season of “Idol,” I’ve managed to convince myself – or at least fool myself into thinking – that at least one singer had real magic. This year, I’ve yet to get that tingle.

But I don’t think I’m the only one who is bored and distracted by the proceedings. Last week, the generally positive Randy and Paula seemed more interested in talking about their own backgrounds as producers, dancers and choreographers than focus on the talent at hand. I would have felt sorry for the contestants if I wasn’t uninspired to the point of indifference.

As usual, Simon kept his comments brief and brutally to the point. I generally agree with his assessments, but when he’s wrong, it’s usually by a country mile. Apparently, Cowell’s musical expertise doesn’t go back to the days before Wham!

A few weeks back, he confessed complete ignorance of the blues classic “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” popularized by Van Morrison and Them and covered by artists including Ted Nugent, AC/DC and Aerosmith. He also seemed to think that the old hit “Where the Boys Are” was a country song. I think Connie Francis (born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero) and her old neighbors from Newark, N.J., will get a kick out of that.

¢ Give the CW credit for guts. While other networks avoid competing with “Idol,” the fledgling network has scheduled new shows right in the teeth of Fox’s ratings tsunami.

Tonight marks the season premiere of “Beauty and the Geek” (7 p.m., CW), the reality TV “social experiment” that asks shy guys of the pocket-protector set to compete and cooperate with brash and attractive women who have never cracked a book.

Despite the show’s rather cruel premise, the results are often more heartwarming than not. Like most shows of its ilk, “B&G” is at least 95 percent casting. In what may be a first, one of the beauties sheepishly confesses that as hard as her friends have tried to teach her, she’s never been able to tell time.

¢ When last seen, Kiss star Gene Simmons was doing his darndest to get The Donald to fire him off the set of the “Celebrity Apprentice.” Was he anxious to make it back in time for a new season of “Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels” (9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., A&E)?

¢ The amusing sketch comedy series “Human Giant” (10 p.m., MTV) returns with frequently raunchy but often spot-on parodies of Internet spots, reality shows and movies. My favorite bit is a “Kid Nation” spoof called “Kid-i-tentiary,” a heart-tugging series about a maximum-security prison run by children.

Look for guest spots from fellow comics from “SNL,” “The Daily Show” and “The Upright Citizens Brigade.”

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ “Bizarre Foods” (8 p.m., Travel) visits Iceland.

¢ Termination day on “Jericho” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Ultimate fighting exacts an ultimate price on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Candid camera challenges on “Primetime: What Would You Do?” (9 p.m., ABC).