Neil Patrick Harris and the Academy Awards scare off Sunday TV

Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, February 22. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
E! Live From The Red Carpet: 2015 Academy Awards (E!, 5:30 p.m.) / ABC Special: Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From The Red Carpet, Pts. 1 & 2 (ABC, 7 p.m.): Here’s the thing about the Academy Awards: They’re going to be boring. Yes, Neil Patrick Harris is a good host, and sure, there will be some moments in which celebrities act like regular human people and give us material for reaction GIFs. But we’ve seen the Neil Patrick Harris Hosts Things show before, and the Oscars are bloated and staged and predictable so, you know, yawn. Instead, we suggest checking out some of the extensive pre-show business going on, which always yields the weirdest moments out of this or any other award show night. We will, however, understand if you reject this option for its potential to make your night too Giuliana Rancic-heavy. That is always a valid concern.
Also noted
The 87th Annual Academy Awards (ABC, 8 p.m.): If you are committed to watching the Oscars, here they are in all their whatever glory! But who will take home the most glory? Boyhood? Birdman? The umpteen grumpy old white men who make up the Academy? Only time will tell! (Though come on, the answer is always and forever and infuriatingly c).)
Downton Abbey (PBS, 9 p.m.): The fifth season finale invites us to “observe Mrs. Patmore’s surprise, Anna’s predicament, and Robert’s revelation.” This is unhelpful as far as plot summaries go, but Emily L. Stephens will still be observing, for that is her job.
Girls (HBO, 9 p.m.): Adam and Hannah have revelations, Shoshanna maybe sort of bombs an interview, Ray goes to his neighborhood council, and Marnie and Desi argue over their “sound,” which we hope for Joshua Alston’s sake isn’t along the same lines as Ross Gellar’s sound:
(Yes, we got stuck in the Friends Netflix hole, what of it?! At least you’re not What’s On Tonight’s roommate, who’s probably hearing The Rembrandts in his goddamn sleep. If any of you have roommates in similar boats, do let us know so we can maybe start a support group. Or we can just talk about how Chandler and Monica’s secret relationship is an ideal situation, either/or.)
Togetherness (HBO, 9:30 p.m.): Nicole Holofcener directed tonight’s episode, which also features Mary Steenburgen. Gwen Ihnat is just so lucky, you guys.