TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

Rose Bowl parade, 6 a.m., and game, 12 p.m., both ABC; parade is also on NBC, HGTV and Travel Channel. This is the one that started it all, back in the 19th century. It started the notion that New Year's Day is a big-deal entertainment event. The game could be a good one — the University of Southern California, playing on in its home turf, faces hugely improved Illinois. Beyond that, the parade reminds us that this is all a big deal.

"The Biggest Loser" season opener, 7 p.m., NBC. While viewers launch their annual New Year's resolutions to lose weight, NBC brings back its weight-loss series. This edition has been split into duos, each with a different relationship. There's a husband and wife; there's even a divorced couple, seemingly getting along well now. There are former college football teammates, once admirably hefty and now combining for almost 700 pounds. A mom and son get along well, but one woman gets increasingly angry with her father. Mixed in are the challenges. It's moderately interesting to watch teams pulling giant, colorful balloons.

OF NOTE

"Making of the Rose Parade 2008," 7 a.m. ET, HGTV. This is a key hour for the HGTV people. "We actually started working on it on Jan. 2 (2007)," said Michael Dingley, the HGTV programming chief. And if that's not early enough, there's another parade preshow on the Travel Channel.

More football, all day. Hard-core fans can skip the parade and start right away. There's the Outback Bowl (Wisconsin and Tennessee) at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN2 and the Cotton Bowl (Missouri and Arkansas) at 7 a.m. on Fox. And yes, there's more. At 8 a.m., ABC has the Capital One Bowl (Michigan and Florida) and CBS has the Gator Bowl (Virginia and Texas Tech). After the Rose Bowl, fans shift to Fox for the Sugar Bowl (3:30 p.m., with pre-game at 3); Hawai'i — propelling into the top tier of bowl games — faces Georgia.

"Desperate Spaces" debut, 10 a.m., HGTV. As soon as the parade ends, this channel starts bringing out its new shows. In this one, we see three rooms that need help. After plans are made, one gets an overhaul.

"The Music of Seal on Ice," 11 a.m., NBC. In the past on New Year's Day, Olympic champion Brian Boitano has led well-crafted figure-skating shows. This time, the skaters — Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi and more — are skating to the music of Seal. And yes, we're used to seeing bodies moving to his music: For the last couple years, Seal has sung to the Victoria's Secret fashion show.

"Ocean Force: Huntington Beach, OC" debut, 6 and 6:30 p.m., Tru TV. Today, Court TV changes its name and (at times) its attitude. This reality show is set in Huntington Beach, Calif., in prosperous Orange County, near Los Angeles. It's a blue-sky, sunny setting, filled with people who look fine in swim trunks and bikinis. It also has crises, caused by drunkenness, riptides or sheer happenstance: In the opener, a teenager inexplicably has a heart attack on the beach. A few situations seem exaggerated by the narrator, but there are genuine life-and-death issues at stake here. At its best moments, this pumps adrenaline and stirs emotions; it's followed at 7 p.m. by reruns of "Ocean Force: Panama City."

"According to Jim" season opener, 8 and 8:30 p.m., ABC. After showing reruns in recent weeks, this series launches its final season. The first episode puts Jim in a dream scene, talking with God — who is, of course, played by Lee Majors. In the second, Jim works too hard at encouraging his wife.

"Dream Home 2008," 9 p.m., HGTV. Tonight, we see the show that some viewer will win: The good news — it's stunningly beautiful, in a gorgeous spot on the Florida Keys. The bad — these projects have become so fanciful that few people can afford to own them; whoever wins will have to sell it quickly.

"Sleep On It," 10 p.m., HGTV. In a new twist, potential homebuyers get a chance to sleep in a house before making a decision. Tonight, we meet a likable couple, facing modest choices in a steeply expensive area near San Francisco.

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