Hugh Laurie, the English actor who plays an American doctor on “House,” also sings. “Great Performances” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) offers “Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk — A Celebration of New Orleans Blues.” He’s accompanied by Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Tom Jones. Laurie also appears tonight with Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.”

• September’s over. That went fast. At the beginning of the month, I began soliciting suggestions from readers about renaming the History Channel, a network more concerned with “Ancient Aliens” than actual history. Most of the missives I received expressed concern about how the network had dumbed itself down and abandoned a credible study of the past for escapist fare, guy-centric docu-soaps and the ludicrous celebration of the occult.

Of the hundreds of emails and letters sent, I received only one defending the network! The names suggested were mainly on the whimsical side, an expression of viewer confusion and resignation. They include “The Everything But History Channel,” ”The Hodgepodge Channel” or “The Histrionics Channel.” Some focused on its appeal to older guys, such as “My Uncle Loves This Network.” Some of the more biting critiques assailed the network for groveling to viewers with the obvious and the stupid. Quite a few readers called it “The Low I.Q. Network.”

Some readers did not so much defend History as spread the blame. They argued that the Travel Channel has focused too much on food and that National Geographic is similarly scattershot. Some critiques were a little out of date. Many argued that the TLC network was not about learning. To be fair, TLC has not called itself The Learning Channel for some time. Others suggested that History was still “The Hitler Network.” Again, that perception of the History Channel was set in stone about a decade ago, when it was the favorite TV pastime of Tony on “The Sopranos.”

I’m not sure if anyone from History’s marketing department is paying attention, but they seem to have alienated many viewers. At least those who care enough to think and read and write.

Tonight’s other highlights

Note: Listings may be affected by local sports coverage.

• Two very different clients need special help on “A Gifted Man” (7 p.m., CBS).

• A family crisis in Montclair, N.J., on “Kitchen Nightmares” (7 p.m., Fox).

• An awkward teen would die to impress a cool girl on “CSI: NY” (8 p.m., CBS).

• Scheduled on “Dateline” (8 p.m., NBC): The real story surfaces, eight years after a wife reported her husband missing.

• A serial killer inspires cooperation on “Fringe” (8 p.m., Fox).

• Danny faces scrutiny after shooting a fellow officer on “Blue Bloods” (9 p.m., CBS).

• The dead return for vengeance on the second season finale of “Haven” (9 p.m., Syfy)