Ear on TV: The week of January 7

While most actors won't cross the picket lines for Jay, Conan, Carson and Jimmy, music artists aren't as beholden to unions, so it's a bit surprising that they're not leaning on music guests more than the late night shows are this week. Thankfully, there's more than just the usual late night talk shows to pluck from this week.

Austin City Limits, now in it's 33rd year, finally nabbed Texas rock & roll legend Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators) for a performance, and the result airs this coming Saturday*. His battle back from the effects of shock treatment were painfully documented in the 2005 film You're Gonna Miss Me, and now he's appearing on television for the first time since American Bandstand over 41 years ago. Backed on stage by The Explosives along with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Erickson deftly runs through much of the sci-fi garage rock days of his solo career, and sets the house on fire with crowd favorite "You're Gonna Miss Me" from days with 13th Floor Elevators. Opening the evening are Kings of Leon, the southern Strokes U2.

Also make a return to television is former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, who plays all week on the newly revamped The Early Show. Starr's new album Liverpool 8, much like McCartney's latest, is his first in a long time to take a look back at those days long gone. Apparently CBS is thinking in the past as well, since the revamp was done in part to expand their younger audience. Aside from narrating early seasons of Thomas and Friends, Starr's audience is more gray then Grey's Anatomy.

Playlist: Picks for this Week
Monday, January 7
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: RZA
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Morrissey
Tuesday, January 8
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: MGMT
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Rogue Wave
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Buzzcocks
Wednesday, January 9
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Chuck Prophet
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Panthers
Thursday, January 10
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ayo
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Every Time I Die
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Chingy
Friday, January 11
CBS: The Early Show: Ringo Starr
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Dropkick Murphys
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Spoon
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Tiger Army
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Gogol Bordello (REPEAT)
Saturday, January 12
PBS: Austin City Limits: Kings Of Leon, Roky Erickson

*As always, check local listings. We won't be seeing it on Seattle's poor excuse for a PBS affiliate any time soon.