Teen pop stars have been showing up on TV shows ever since Ricky Nelson turned himself into a teen sensation on “Ozzie & Harriet.”

The WB’s “Charmed” worked emerging and established artists and bands into its stories. But like Ricky, they appeared and performed as themselves.

Not content to dominate the country and pop charts, Taylor Swift turns in a dramatic guest spot on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS). She portrays Haley Jones, the daughter of the owners of a seedy Las Vegas motel that draws Nick’s (George Eads) attention after it plays host to three homicides in a single year.

All of 19, Swift has already used prime time for promotional purposes. Her song “White Horse” was heard on “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2008.

Swift isn’t the only notable guest star appearing tonight. A documentary crew interviews present and past staff members (including Noah Wyle) about conditions at County General on “ER” (9 p.m., NBC). Look for Amy Madigan (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Sam’s (Linda Cardellini) mother, too.

• In my recent review of Discovery’s “American Loggers” and its similarities to “Ax Men” (9 p.m., History) and any number of new and imitative features, I forgot to mention “Heli-Loggers” (9 p.m., TLC), a new series whose title says it all. It’s about loggers in helicopters — and presumably, the women who love them.

• TiVo/DVR/VCR alert. Viewers in search of old-fashioned family fare are in luck. Four “Nancy Drew” detective movies from 1938/1939 air back-to-back on TCM: “Nancy Drew, Detective” (11:15 a.m.); “Nancy Drew, Reporter” (12:30 p.m.); “Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter” (1:45 p.m.); and “Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase” (3 p.m.). Bonita Granville stars as the teenage sleuth.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Four episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” (6 p.m. through 10 p.m., Sci Fi) unfold in marathon fashion.

• Memories of space camp prove faulty on “My Name Is Earl” (7 p.m., NBC).

• The judges choose three favorites on a special wild-card round of “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Homeownership beckons on “Ugly Betty” (7 p.m., ABC).

• Michael donates blood only to lose his heart on “The Office” (8 p.m., NBC).

• “The Billionaire Next Door” (8 p.m., CNBC) profiles Warren Buffett.

• The district attorney seeks the death penalty for a teen in a capital case on “Sin City Law” (8 p.m., Sundance).

• Adult women spend much time and money caring for lifelike dolls in the peculiar documentary “My Fake Baby” (8 p.m., BBC America).

• Liz stalks a teenage doughnut-shop employee on “30 Rock” (8:30 p.m., NBC).

• A poisoning epidemic shakes a city on “Eleventh Hour” (9 p.m., CBS).

• Michael plans to come to terms with Carla as “Burn Notice” (9 p.m., USA) wraps up its second season.

• It feels like the first time on “Being Erica” (9 p.m., Soapnet).

Cult choice

Julie Christie received rave reviews for her portrayal of a woman with Alzheimer’s in the 2007 drama “Away from Her” (7 p.m., TMC).