LJWorld.com

Does the sitcom have a future? If you, like Whitney Houston, believe that the children are the future, then the comedy genre appears to be safe. Who else is watching shows like “iCarly” (7 p.m., Nickelodeon)?

Now in its fourth season, “iCarly” stars Miranda Cosgrove as a sassy teen who hosts a homemade web series with a budget exceeding that of most local-news bureaus. Everything on the show is exaggerated and unreal, including the characters’ relationship to money, time and each other.

Like many live-action shows on both Nickelodeon and Disney aimed at kids 13 and under, it’s more manic and less realistic than a cartoon.

In an effort to give his little sister the best birthday ever, Spencer (Jerry Trainor) builds Carly a bedside lamp made out of gummy bears. Spencer may be an ex-law student turned artist and Carly’s legal guardian, but he doesn’t know how to wire a lamp or assess the flammable nature of candy. But on the bright side, the ensuing blaze offers an opportunity for an awesome teenage bedroom makeover.

Trainor steals most of the episode with his frantic slapstick and desperate effort to introduce a new generation to the charms of Jim Carrey-style humor.

And perhaps he’s trying to distract us from wondering why a guy in his late 20s spends so much time with kids who appear to be rather worldly high school students.

Despite the show’s G-rating, Carly’s pal Samantha (Jennette McCurdy) drops loaded references to prison weaponry and her mother’s many lovers. There’s a recurring gag about a goat doing something unspeakable.

• “Say Yes to the Dress” (8 p.m., TLC) concludes its season with a visit from “American Chopper” star Paul Teutul Jr. The franchise moves south for “Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta” (8:30 p.m., TLC), where strong-willed brides to be channel their inner Scarletts and Sugarbakers on their way to becoming “Real Housewives.”

• Turner Classic Movies shines a light on rock-and-roll movies, starting with “Let the Good Times Roll” (7 p.m.), a 1973 showcase for rock pioneers including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley and Little Richard. “Elvis on Tour” (9 p.m.) documents a Presley concert from 1972 and Director Hal Ashby chronicles the Rolling Stones during their 1981 U.S. concert tour in “Let’s Spend the Night Together” (11 p.m.).

• Chick flick math quiz. What do you get when you subtract “27 Dresses” (7 p.m., FX) from “50 First Dates” (7 p.m., Oxygen)?

Tonight’s other highlights

• X Games action (6 p.m., ESPN) includes freestyle BMX, Moto X and skateboarding.

• Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (7 p.m., CBS): tragedy in Mexico.

• Eric makes a tough call while Tami battles her critics on “Friday Night Lights” (7 p.m., NBC).

• Space Week results in mayhem on “Eureka” (8 p.m., Syfy)

• Drug dealers kidnap Parker on “Flashpoint” (9 p.m., CBS).

• A photo sends Audrey in search of her roots on “Haven” (9 p.m., Syfy).

• The quarry remains out of bounds on “Pillars of the Earth” (9 p.m., Starz).

Copyright 2012 The Lawrence Journal-World. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. We strive to uphold our values for every story published.