Chris Isaak

It was no surprise to Chris Isaak when people compared the seriously sexy, pouting look he showed on his first album cover to a "Love Me Tender"-era Elvis Presley photo. "I copied that image directly from an Elvis picture," says Isaak sheepishly, "but I didn't think I'd get caught so quickly. It was just my luck that someone put out an Elvis coffee table book with the same picture on the cover. " Now on the basis of his second album (simply called "Chris Isaak" on Warner Brothers)

WHO WILL replace Simon Cowell on "American Idol"? The Hollywood Reporter says it could be Chris Isaak (of the 1989 hit "Wicked Game"), who's met twice with the network. (Can a TV talent show survive if none of the judges is British?) Also, at least one candidate has set off a tug-of-war between "Idol" exec producer Simon Fuller and Cowell, whose upcoming Fox singing competition, "The X Factor," is also seeking judges - and is very much the same concept as "American Idol" except that the judges are more hands-on.

Late Show With David Letterman (11:35 p.m., CBS3) - Salma Hayek; Louis Zamperini; Jane's Addiction performs. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (11:35 p.m., NBC10) - Jonah Hill; Paula Deen; Chris Isaak performs. Jimmy Kimmel Live (midnight, 6ABC) - Zach Galifianakis; Mike Judge; Primus performs. The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (12:37 a.m., CBS3) - Bryan Cranston; Amos Lee performs.

The War on Drugs / Sun Airway Fishtown quartet The War on Drugs cap off an excellent year with a homecoming show at Union Transfer on Saturday. The Adam Granduciel-led band followed up 2008's Wagonwheel Blues and last year's Future Weather EP with the full-length Slave Ambient , its most fully realized conflation of modal guitar ambience and beat poet wordslinging. Also on the bill: Philly band Sun Airway, back home after a European tour in support of last year's Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier , and Ape School, the one-man band of Michael Johnson, formerly of the Lilys and Holopaw.

In the same way 1967's Valley of the Dolls took the trash prose of Jacqueline Susann's L.A. novel and turned it into eye-poppingly awful cinema, Bret Easton Ellis' The Informers - another tale of Tinseltown drugs, sex and excess - has transferred itself to the screen with mind-boggling, laugh-inciting horribleness. Set in 1983, when the hair was big and the music bad (Pat Benatar, Gary Numan, Flock of Seagulls), The Informers tracks a beautiful group of guys and gals who party like their lives depend on it. In fact, one of them dies right off the bat - hit by a car as he's heading off to a menage a trois.

Conan (11 p.m., TBS) - Emmy Rossum; Dave Atell; musical guest Chris Isaak. Late Show With David Letterman (11:35 p.m., CBS3) - News anchor Brian Williams; Wu Lyf performs. Jimmy Kimmel Live (Midnight, 6ABC) - Actress Octavia Spencer; Lloyd performs. The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (12:37 a.m., CBS3) - Actor RZA; actress Melissa Rauch.

The War on Drugs / Sun Airway Fishtown quartet The War on Drugs cap off an excellent year with a homecoming show at Union Transfer on Saturday. The Adam Granduciel-led band followed up 2008's Wagonwheel Blues and last year's Future Weather EP with the full-length Slave Ambient , its most fully realized conflation of modal guitar ambience and beat poet wordslinging. Also on the bill: Philly band Sun Airway, back home after a European tour in support of last year's Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier , and Ape School, the one-man band of Michael Johnson, formerly of the Lilys and Holopaw.

WHO WILL replace Simon Cowell on "American Idol"? The Hollywood Reporter says it could be Chris Isaak (of the 1989 hit "Wicked Game"), who's met twice with the network. (Can a TV talent show survive if none of the judges is British?) Also, at least one candidate has set off a tug-of-war between "Idol" exec producer Simon Fuller and Cowell, whose upcoming Fox singing competition, "The X Factor," is also seeking judges - and is very much the same concept as "American Idol" except that the judges are more hands-on.

Family Outside In. This hands-on nature discovery museum at the Academy of Natural Sciences - best enjoyed by children ages 3 to 8 - takes little adventurers on a magical trip to the great outdoors. Visit a forest, an ocean shore, and a mountain pond, touch a real meteorite, crawl through a fallen log, pan for shark teeth, watch a working beehive, and build a sand castle. Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th Street and the Parkway. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays.

In Concert 9 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr; 610-864-4303. www.brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com . Ken Ulansey Ensemble. $10; free 16 & under. 7/10. 7 pm. 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228. www.thecolonialtheatre.com . Mama Mac. $7 advance; $8 day of show. 7/13. 10:30 am. 251 Beach Ave., Cape May; 888-944-1816. www.congresshall.com . Ann Oswald & Don Shaw. 7/13. Kate Delany. 7/14. Darin MacDonald. 7/10. Charlie Sleeth. 7/12. 421 N. Seventh St.; 215-569-9400.