TV highlights Monday, Dec. 28, 2009: 'Motor City Motors' debuts; music shockers

HIGHLIGHTS

TLC gets dessert-happy with a slew of "Cake Boss" (at 5 p.m.) episodes, as Buddy and his team rush to fulfill every strange cake request, and the marathon leads into an airing of "Little Chocolatiers" (at 10).

If you've missed Joel McHale's comedy, "Community" (at 8), on Thursday nights in favor of "Survivor," "FlashForward" or even "The Vampire Diaries," NBC offers a chance to catch up with four episodes from the first half of the season, ending with the last one aired before the holiday hiatus.

After Cesar travels to Australia to help a fitness coach train his Great Dane, the dog expert assists a family that has a collie with aggression problems on "Dog Whisperer" (National Geographic at 8).

"100 Most Shocking Music Moments" (VH1 at 9) starts the countdown, kicking off with the Britney Spears head-shaving incident and Keith Richards allegedly saying that he snorted his father's ashes.

A soccer player, a singer and an Olympic hopeful beg stars for cash for their dreams on "Bank of Hollywood" (E! at 9).

"American Masters" (WETA at 9, MPT at 10) features "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women."

Jamie and Adam field questions from fans on "MythBusters" (Discovery at 9), and the duo do their best to find out the answers to questions such as whether a coconut with an engraved address can make it through the mail system.

Joe, understandably, would rather have dinner with his bookie than attend an event where his ex-wife will be present with her new boyfriend on "Men of a Certain Age" (TNT at 10); unfortunately, Joe's best friend, Terry, ends up going, and also encounters trouble with an ex.

"Hoarders" (A&E at 10) focuses on kids at risk on Monday's episode, as a woman loses custody of her son, and four other children are exposed to a trash-filled and rodent-infested house with their parents.

New series "Motor City Motors" (Discovery at 10) follows Detroit brothers Dave and James Kaye as they transform a 1928 Ford Model T into a hot rod in just five days.

In late-show repeats, actor Matt Damon and musical guest Barry Manilow stop by "The Jay Leno Show" (NBC at 10); "Late Show With David Letterman" (CBS at 11:35) hosts actress Kate Hudson, author/climate expert James Hansen and singer Tori Amos; actress Drew Barrymore and jockey Joe Talamo visit "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" (NBC at 11:35), along with the band Paramore.

-- Emily Yahr