Ear on TV: Week of 09.12.10: Brandon Flowers

When The Killers recently decided to take some time off, frontman Brandon Flowers had a bunch of songs already written burning a hole in his notebook. Instead of waiting for the band to reconvene, Flowers took the opportunity to try it out alone.

The result is the glitzy debut Flamingo, where Flowers lyrically aims for Springsteen while filtering it through the bright lights and sequins of Las Vegas, Flowers' home town. Flowers appears to be going for the brass ring with Flamingo, relying more on safe-for-radio pop than his band's trademark synth-heavy guitar rock. To support his Phil Collins-like turn (see Genesis), Flowers is making multiple appearances this week, with performances of "Crossfire" on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Monday and Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is hosting Broadway Week, featuring performances from a different current Broadway musical each night. Monday features the cast of "Memphis," which features Bon Jovi's keyboardist David Ryan (who will do the introduction). Tuesday sees the Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth starring "Promises Promises," a sort of reboot of Billy Wilder's Oscar winning film, The Apartment. Wednesday sees Green Day's American Idiot, with Billie Joe Armstrong guesting and Thursday things wrap up with a performance from the buzzworthy "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." Fallon has hosted several Broadway performances in the past, including a memorable one from the Tony award winning musical "Fela." Between that and the Glee parodies, Jimmy Fallon and crew have proven they have the musical bug.

Picks for the week
Monday, September 13
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Green Day
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Vampire Weekend (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Brandon Flowers
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Robert Plant, The Cast of "Memphis" featuring David Bryan of Bon Jovi
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Janelle Monae (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Usher
TBS: Lopez Tonight:Goo Goo Dolls
Tuesday, September 14
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Brandon Flowers
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Katy Perry (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Sara Bareilles
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Trash Talk (REPEAT)
IFC: 360 Sessions: Stereophonics
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The cast of "Promises Promises"
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Black Lips (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Bettye LaVette
Wednesday, September 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Trace Adkins
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Nas & Damian Marley (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Shadows Fall (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Weezer
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The cast of "American Idiot" featuring Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Surfer Blood (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Nate Berkus Show: Dolly Parton
Thursday, September 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Usher
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Santana & India.Arie
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The cast of "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson"
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Never Shout Never (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: John Mellencamp
TBS: Lopez Tonight:Devo
Friday, September 17
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Phoenix (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Norah Jones
Saturday, September 18
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Jay-Z (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: The Avett Brothers, Heartless Bastards (REPEAT)