Fortunately there are plenty of people whose job it is to do just that, like Greg Proops, Wendy Liebman, Harland Williams, Will Ferrell, Al Madrigal or Bill Cosby (does he still tell jokes?)

Wednesday, July 30

Julianne Hough – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun

Greg Proops – “Chelsea Lately”

Crosby, Stills & Nash – “The Colbert Report”

Atmosphere – “Late Show with David Letterman”

Sergio Mendes and Ledisi – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”

Gogol Bordello – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”

Katharine McPhee, Wendy Liebman – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Jakob Dylan – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”

Harland Williams, Sheryl Crow – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Thursday, July 31

Toby Keith – “The View”

Selena Gomez – “Live with Regis and Kelly”

Randy Sklar, Jason Sklar, Natasha Leggero – “Chelsea Lately”

Joan Jett – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos” – rerun

Michael Lauziere – “Late Show with David Letterman”

Robin Thicke – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”

Mariah Carey – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Will Ferrell – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”

Sean Kingston – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Friday, August 1

Jonas Brothers – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun

Al Madrigal, Chris Franjola – “Chelsea Lately”

Foo Fighters – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos” – rerun

Bill Cosby – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”

The Airborne Toxic Event – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”

Huey Lewis and the News – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

The Hold Steady – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”

The Heavy – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Saturday, August 2

James Blunt, James McMurtry – “Austin City Limits” – rerun

Spoon – “Saturday Night Live” – rerun