Ear on TV: Week of February 23 - Smokey on Spectacle Finale

I'd like to make the suggestion that Elvis Costello keep his day job. I'm of course talking about his job hosting the incredibly fascinating talk/music show Spectacle on Sundance, which has it's first season finale this Wednesday, featuring Smokey Robinson as the guest. There were a couple misteps along the way (James Taylor was a snoozer,) but Costello got really good at the interview portion in the shows taped towards the end*. Costello puts those skills to good use this week interviewing The King of Motown, getting to sing a few songs with is idol along the way. Here's hoping Spectacle gets picked up for second season soon.

*This oddly coincides with the point in the series when he started wearing glittery hats -- are they his secret weapon for interviews, perhaps making his guests feel less nervous through distraction?

Elsewhere, the kid's channel Nickelodeon has found itself barraged with a letter-writing campaign, as viewers are clamoring for them to show more episodes from the second season of Yo Gabba Gabba that have as yet gone unaired. This Friday we'll finally get to see a new one, as part of Nick's "Filthy Friday," for which musical guest Chromeo will perform a song they wrote for the occasion called "Nice and Clean." Just remember kids, don't take your 80's synch keyboards in the bathtub with you.

Outside of that, it's pretty much reruns all week, as the hosts go on vacation following Conan's big farewell week. Some highlights of repeats include Conor Oberst debuting a new song ("Nicorette") on Conan (re-airing Wednesday) and Glen Campbell reaches back and sings a touching version of his hit "Rhinestone Cowboy" on Ferguson (re-airing Thursday).

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, February 23
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Black Tide
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Nikka Costa (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: LMFAO (REPEAT)
Tuesday, February 24
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Steve Martin (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Adele (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ida Maria (REPEAT)
Wednesday, February 25
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Living Things
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Glasvegas (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Conor Oberst (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Smokey Robinson
Thursday, February 26
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Glen Campbell (REPEAT)
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Kris Kristofferson
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Bronx
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Boz Scaggs (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Yelle (REPEAT)
Friday, February 27
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Knux (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: B-Real
NICK: Yo Gabba Gabba: Chromeo
Saturday, February 28
VH1: Storytellers: Kanye West