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Beyonce delivers a rousing version of the national anthem on Thursday. Photo credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
The NFL extravaganza is the most-watched program each year, and the game transforms commercial-watching into a sport for a day. CBS anchor Scott Pelley will interview Barack Obama at 4:30 p.m. at the White House. The game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens starts at 6:30 p.m.
The halftime will be closely watched because Beyoncé has vowed to sing live after acknowledging she sang to a prerecorded track at Obama’s second inauguration. (She was sensational Thursday singing the national anthem live at a news conference.)
The main thing: Here’s hoping the game will be exciting after the big buildup. CBS will use the Super Bowl as a lead-in for “Elementary,” the new spin on Sherlock Holmes. The show deserves the showcase: “Elementary” was the best new series to arrive in the fall, and Jonny Lee Miller is fascinating as Sherlock.
CBS also offers the “NFL Honors,” an awards show hosted by Alec Baldwin, at 9 p.m. Saturday. OneRepublic will perform. CBS promises appearances by Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders.
The Friday night lineup will be mostly new. CBS should do well with fresh installments of “Undercover Boss” at 8, “CSI: NY” at 9 and “Blue Bloods” at 10. In the February sweeps, “Undercover Boss” will actually show someone getting fired. ABC will bring in the young adults with “Shark Tank” at 9. To start Black History Month, NBC rolls out the 44th NAACP Image Awards at 8.
Lifetime makes its contribution to Black History Month with “Betty & Coretta” at 8 p.m. Saturday. The film charts the bond between Coretta Scott King (Angela Bassett) and Betty Shabazz (Mary J. Blige).
If you don’t care about the Super Bowl, PBS offers the next installment of “Downton Abbey” at 9 p.m. Sunday on “Masterpiece.” After last week’s tragic episode, the family tries to carry. If you’re fascinated by prizes, by all means watch to see Maggie Smith in action. This is the episode that’s likely to bring her a third Emmy for playing the dowager countess. Smith wins the Super Bowl of acting.
