TV watch list, Wednesday, Jan. 7

People’s Choice Awards

It’s not quite the Academy Awards, but it might be funnier: Allison Janney and Anna Faris are hosting this show, which aims to honor fan favorites, so the winners might be different from what you see at other shows.

9 p.m., CBS

‘Empire’

It’s King Lear by way of a record company: Terence Howard and Taraji P. Henson star in this show about a record mogul (Howard) who has to decide which of his three sons should inherit his company.

SERIES PREMIERE, 9 p.m., FOX

‘American Idol’

That old favorite, “American Idol,” returns. Is this the season where all those “Voice” fans return to it? The proceedings get off to a country start with auditions in Nashville.

SEASON PREMIERE, 8 p.m., FOX

‘Modern Family’

The Dunphys are forced to confront their mortality after a scary incident, leading them all to make a bunch of “live life to the fullest” promises that they probably won’t end up keeping.

9 p.m., ABC