It was a big night for Toby Keith at the 'American Country Awards' (Mon., 8PM ET on FOX), as he took home honors not just for work he's done in the past year, but over the past decade. Co-hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth were on hand to bestow upon Keith the Artist of the Decade Award, but Keith's good buddy Stephen Colbert couldn't miss out on the opportunity, sending kudos from his desk at 'The Colbert Report.'

It was only the second year of the fan-voted country music competition, but the stars weren't shy at showing up to the sophomore event. Fan support certainly helped former 'American Idol' contestants from the first season to now.

Eric Stonestreet came onto the stage at 'The 45th Annual CMA Awards' (Wed., 8PM ET on ABC) with a mission. While these superstars of country music were busy celebrating their industry and receiving awards for their work this past year, they were ignoring the elephant in the room.

"I think you forgot to sing a song about what's weighing on everyone's mind in this room," Stonestreet told hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. "The divorce of Kim Kardashian and What's-His-Name."

With two songs on the 'Cars 2' soundtrack, Brad Paisley could be opening up a whole new, younger audience for himself. That was certainly the case Friday morning on 'Good Morning America' (weekdays, 7AM on ABC), when Paisley performed his song 'Nobody's Fool' for a crowd that included a four-year-old lifelong fan.

Anchor Robin Roberts was interviewing Paisley, who was named CMA Entertainer of the Year and will co-host the awards with Carrie Underwood in November, and asked him what his favorite song to perform was. "Anything new that's a hit, anything that's brand new, because you haven't worn it out and you're still experimenting with it," said Paisley, noting he was learning in front of the fans.

Roberts pointed to the boy in the crowd, who was hoisted on his father's shoulders, and suggested Paisley use him as inspiration. The father said it was his son's fourth birthday, and that Paisley had been his favorite "ever since he was two" years old. "His whole life," Paisley said. It doesn't get too much more brand new than that.

It was a big night for Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood at the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards (Sun., 8PM ET on CBS). Nominated for seven awards, Lady Antebellum took home three: Top Vocal Group, Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Need You Now".

Watch the video after the jump.

I've never been a big fan of 'American Idol.' Mostly because the show rips up the FOX schedule to the point that viewers forget programs like 'Bones' and 'House' still exist on the network. And don't get me started on what it did to the 'Glee' schedule!

Still, the show does redeem itself once a year with 'Idol Gives Back,' which raises a good deal of money for various charities ($140 million to date). This year, the program will take up the entire FOX schedule on Wednesday, April 21st with performances by Alicia Keys, regular 'Gives Back' performer Carrie Underwood, The Black Eyed Peas, Annie Lennox, and Jeff Beck.

Donations raised from the show will benefit the Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children, and the United Nations Foundation. Donations can be made via phone during the broadcast as well as online, through text messaging, and via the primitive mail service.

Oh, to make sure viewers don't think the show is too charitable, the week's voting results will be revealed and a finalist will go home during the show. Hey, they have a reputation to keep!

Jeff Glor, co-host of 'The Early Show' (weekdays, 7AM ET on CBS), seems to have a bit of a crush on singer Carrie Underwood. In fact, he makes a special request: can he sit next to her? "I know you want to sit next to Carrie..." says co-host Maggie Rodriguez. Mr. Glor plops down next to Carrie Underwood, and then they all discuss Underwood's new fiancee: hockey player Mike Fisher.

So we've already got Glor flirting with Underwood. But then, Rodriguez asks to see Underwood's engagement ring, and her fingers caress Underwood's hand for an... oddly long time. Are both CBS anchors flirting with Ms. Underwood? Judge for yourself.

Watch the video after the jump.

(S05E16) When I was out in LA for the press tour in January, I had the pleasure of watching the table read for this episode. This was the actual Monday-morning table read, not a show for the gathered critics; the writers were sitting by taking notes that would be used to make changes before shooting.

What struck me about the table read was that, despite the fact that it was the first draft and the cast hadn't fully gotten into how exactly they were going to play the script, the episode was funny. People were genuinely laughing, including the writers, who have lived with the script for some time; they weren't cackling in an effort to sell their funny lines. In fact, it was one of the funniest episodes of the season.

Watching the final version, I noticed that not a whole lot changed from that table read. And, even though I knew most of what was coming, I laughed as hard as I did when I was on the set a month and a half ago. If that's not the sign of a top-notch episode, I don't know what is.

It takes some chutzpah to turn down Carrie Underwood, but Ted did the right thing on 'How I Met Your Mother' (Mon., 8PM ET on CBS).

Ted, listen to us: You absolutely did the right thing. You don't need to get snarled up in that vicious cycle of deceit and hook-ness. You're a man for walking out that door, and don't you forget it. (Cue Carly Simon's 'Let the River Run.')

Watch the video after the jump.

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• This isn't a spoiler, because I honestly know nothing about 'Dear John,' but just based on the trailer, I have a feeling that something bad happens to John-- perhaps it's the fact that it's based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. Is this the next 'The Notebook'? Cinematical has their review here.
• Speaking of lost loves, Cinematical Seven has Romantic Tragedies.
• Eric Dane is in the upcoming film, 'Valentine's Day,' and the character he plays is gay, although you wouldn't know that from the trailer. Cinematical discusses the ugly art of de-gaying films.
• Would you watch a 'Shattered Glass' remake about film critics who plagarize? Here's the pitch.
• American Idol alum, Carrie Underwood is set to star in her first film, 'Soul Surfer,' about female surfer, Bethany Hamilton, who had her arm bitten off by a shark. Underwood plays a church youth group leader.

Carrie Underwood will kick off the Feb. 7 Super Bowl in a big way.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 'American Idol' winner has been selected to perform the National Anthem during the televised game, following in the footsteps of past 'Idol' champs Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Hudson.

Meanwhile, Queen Latifah will sing 'America the Beautiful'; as previously announced, the Who will take on halftime show duties.

More of our best of the decade coverage, which started on Tuesday. You can read the other posts at the link above. Here, we talk about a major category that came of age in the aughts: Reality shows.

While I would never call myself a reality TV junkie, it really bugs me when people make blanket statements like, "I hate reality TV," or, "Reality TV is the bane of my existence." The genre has grown so much in the past decade that it has become just like scripted television, in that there's good and there's bad. Even though we're splitting this up into two lists, "Reality," and "Trashy Reality," you won't see a single show that starts with, "Who Wants to Marry" on either list.

This list is dedicated not to the guilty pleasures, but to the shows that you wouldn't be embarrassed for your neighbors to know you watch: the classy reality, if you will. So without further ado, here is TV Squad's list of the best reality shows of the decade.

It's been a busy fall for multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood. In early November, the 'American Idol' winner released her third studio album, 'Play On,' and reprised her role as co-host of the CMA Awards, along side Brad Paisley. But she's also been in the Christmas spirit this season, as indicated by her two-hour variety special, 'Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special,' which airs tonight at 9PM on Fox.

The show will feature musical performances as well as skits, pairing Underwood with Dolly Parton, Kristin Chenoweth, 'Idol' season 7 winner David Cook and Christina Applegate.

Underwood recently spoke to reporters via a conference call about her special, plus her own thoughts on the holiday season. Here's what she had to say.

Oh man, that variety show format worked so well for Nick & Jessica! Remember what a smash sensation the Osbournes variety show was? Boy, Rosie O'Donnell sure rewrote the book on how to do a great variety special! The networks remember how great these attempts to revive the long dead TV format went, because they're at it again.

This time, FOX is dipping back into the American Idol well and plucking out plucky season four winner Carrie Underwood. They've scheduled Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special for a December 7 air-time. Luckily, since Underwood is doing just fine in her recording career, this isn't likely to be an attempt at a weekly series.

If the networks really do believe they can revive the variety format, this is a good way to do it. The holiday season seems to be the best time to lure American audiences into one-off specials and different kinds of programming. If the special does well, they can look for another one next year maybe. Or perhaps they'll have found something to do with all those former Idol contestants.

'American Idol''s Carrie Underwood has landed her very own holiday special, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

The two-hour telecast will air Dec. 7 on Fox, under the direction of 'So You Think You Can Dance' judges Adam Shankman and Nigel Lythgoe. For now, the show is being called 'Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special.'

Carrie is one of two 'Idol' alums slated to appear in a holiday special this year. The other is season 3's Jennifer Hudson, who will star in ABC's recently announced 'Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas,' airing sometime later this season (more on that here).

We're excited to watch both specials. But what we really want to know is: Whose will be better? Will J-Hud give another Oscar-winning performance? Or will Carrie steal her holiday thunder?

'Reading Rainbow''s contract expires Friday, 'American Idol' books Neil Patrick Harris, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return as CMA hosts and more of today's top TV headlines.