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Monday, Dec. 17: Who Will Win the Light Fight Trophy and $50K?

ABC/Byron Cohen

ALSO SEE: NFL Regular Season Schedule 2018

All Times Eastern.

Monday, Dec. 17

The Great Christmas Light Fight
ABC, 8pm
Season Finale!

In the first hour, four festive families from across the country showcase their spectacular displays, including 3D-printed light fixtures in Colorado; a mechanical display gone wild, including a moving elephant, alligator and more in Alabama; a house where every piece of furniture is removed to display wall-to-wall Christmas in Arizona; and an incredible hybrid North Pole light display in California. The second hour of the finale concludes with the presentation of $50,000 and the Light Fight trophy.

 

Candace Cameron Bure’s Christmas Across America
Hallmark Channel,
7pm
Candace Cameron Bure hosts this look at the many different ways Christmas is celebrated around the United States. Bure shares a taste of the country’s unique and festive fun. “There’s no wrong way to celebrate Christmas,” she says. “When it comes down to it, I think it’s all about being with family and friends.”

Very Merry Christmas Comedy Night
WGN America, beginning at 7pm

Enjoy a night of Christmas episodes from the sitcoms M*A*S*H, Last Man Standing, Married With Children and How I Met Your Mother.

The Neighborhood: “Welcome to the Fundraiser”
CBS, 8pm

Tina (Tichina Arnold) gets carried away when she tries to help Gemma (Beth Behrs) ace her first fundraiser as school principal in the new episode “Welcome to the Fundraiser.”

Bleed Out
HBO, 8pm

After a routine partial hip replacement operation leaves his mother in a coma with permanent brain damage, Steve Burrows starts a citizen’s investigation into the future of American healthcare. The film was initially a video diary but morphed into a deeply personal story that is part medical mystery and legal thriller, part investigative journey and meditation on family, which uses undercover footage, court testimony, verité scenes shot over several years and interviews with people on all sides of the story to go deep inside a flawed healthcare system.

The Voice: “Live Finale, Part 1”
NBC, 8pm Live

It all comes down to this! Find out who wins Season 15 of the singing competition series in a two-part finale that concludes tomorrow.

Happy Together: “A Claire-Free Lifestyle”
CBS, 8:30pm

Jake (Damon Wayans Jr.) worries about their finances when Claire (Amber Stevens West) quits her job to pursue her passion in the new episode “A Claire-Free Lifestyle.”

MARS: “The Shake Up”
National Geographic, 9pm
Season Finale!

Season 2 of Nat Geo’s exploration of what life will be like for Mars’ first permanent residents concludes tonight when a Mars-quake strikes, and not everyone will survive. “Season 1 was humans versus Mars,” explains series co-creator Justin Wilkes. “Season 2 is much more humans versus humans.” And when pressed about the possibility of Season 3, Wilkes teases, “Season 3 is going to focus on Mars versus Earth, as the people living on Mars strive for independence.”

Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville
PBS, 9pm
(BYUtv will be airing the full 90-minute version of the concert on Dec. 20 at 8pmET)
Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster and Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville — backed by the amazingly talented Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra — are beyond delightful in this charming 60-minute special.

Fail State
Starz, 9pm

Executive produced by news legend Dan Rather, this documentary investigates the dark side of American higher education, chronicling decades of policy decisions in Washington, D.C., that have given rise to a powerful and highly predatory for-profit college industry. With echoes of the subprime mortgage crisis, the film lays bare how for-profit colleges exploited millions of low-income and minority students, leaving them drowning in student loan debt with worthless degrees.

Who Do You Think You Are?: “Regina King”
TLC, 9pm

Actress Regina King investigates her maternal family tree and uncovers an ancestor who was a passionate civil rights activist in Alabama — a man who came out of slavery and endured horrific violence, but never stopped fighting for his people.

2018: In Memoriam
ABC, 10pm

Hosted by Robin Roberts, this special celebrates the lives of icons we lost in 2018, through stories shared by those closest to them. The show includes tributes to Aretha Franklin, Burt Reynolds, John McCain and Stephen Hawking.

America’s Got Talent: A Holiday of Champions
NBC, 10pm

Terry Crews, emcee of the upcoming America’s Got Talent: The Champions, gives viewers a glimpse at some fan favorites from the talent show who’ll appear on next year’s spinoff.

Independent Lens: “Man on Fire”
PBS, 10pm

Learn the story of an elderly white Texas minister who set himself on fire to protest the virulent racism of his community and the country at large. Friends, family members, neighbors and colleagues search for an explanation of his action.

Who Do You Think You Are?: “Matthew Morrison”
TLC, 10pm

Actor Matthew Morrison explores his American roots for the first time and is surprised to discover his family’s ties to the Revolutionary War. He learns of the bold lengths his ancestor went through to protect his allegiances and the brutality he faced on the battlefield.

Tuesday, Dec. 18

Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable
Netflix

Ellen DeGeneres takes a little break from her hit daytime talk show to go back to her roots with her first standup comedy special in 15 years, taped at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. “I just all of a sudden was like, ‘I miss standup, I want to do it,’” DeGeneres told her audience when she announced the special on the season premiere of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in September. “So, I made a deal with Netflix. I was working on standup all summer.”

“Cops” Ho Ho Ho Marathon
WGN America, 7pm

Bad girls, bad girls, whatcha gonna do? To celebrate the holidays, WGN America gifts us 10 episodes of the law enforcement reality series, all of which focus on police interaction with ladies of the not-so-silent night. Arresting TV!

Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2018
The CW, 8pm

Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight (Entertainment Tonight) host a countdown of the 12 best holiday commercials ever — one for each of the 12 days of Christmas. The special also features other great commercials from both the U.S. and abroad that capture the true spirit of the holiday season — from the heartfelt to the hilarious, the outstanding to the ridiculous.

We’ll Meet Again
PBS, 8pm

The emotional reunion docuseries hosted by Ann Curry brings together survivors of the 1964 Alaskan earthquake.

Legends of the Lost With Megan Fox: “America’s Lost Civilization”
Travel Channel, 8pm

Digging into some of Earth’s forgotten societies, Megan Fox has so far explored Viking warrior grave sites in Sweden, England’s Stonehenge and — for tonight’s episode — South Carolina’s Savannah River. That’s where scientists’ findings suggest giant humans roamed the area way back during the Ice Age.

Greatest Holiday Video Countdown
The CW, 9pm

This special is hosted by the Holderness family, the viral-video family who rose to internet fame with their hit “Christmas Jammies.” They will guide the audience through this showcase of video greeting cards from around the world, from agencies and companies to families and friends and everything in between.

The Voice: “Live Finale, Part 2”
NBC, 9pm Live
Season Finale!

Season 15 crowns its winner. This episode is preceded by an hourlong recap of the live finale performances.

Lidia Celebrates America: “A Heartland Holiday Feast”
PBS, 9pm

Join Emmy- and James Beard Award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich as she travels to the heartland of America, immersing herself in diverse cultures that provide inspiration for the holidays.

The Guest Book: “Someplace Other Than Here”
TBS, 10:30pm
Season Finale!

Dave is in an unhappy marriage and uses his family vacation as an excuse to finally stand up to his nagging wife, but the stress of the event sends him on an adventure he never could have dreamed of. This episode guest-stars Matt Walsh, Michael Kenneth Williams and Oliver Hudson.

Wednesday, Dec. 19

Survivor: David vs. Goliath
CBS, 8pm
Season Finale!
The winner of Survivor: David vs. Goliath is revealed in the two-hour Season 37 finale, immediately followed by the tell-all Survivor Reunion Special.

College Football: DXL Frisco Bowl
ESPN, 8pm Live

The San Diego State Aztecs clash with the Ohio Bobcats in the DXL Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

NHL Hockey: Pittsburgh at Washington
NBCSN, 8pm Live

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Alex Ovechkin and the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Hockey.

America’s Mississippi: “The Bayou”
Smithsonian Channel, 8pm
Miniseries Finale!

The final episode heads to the mouth of the Mississippi River as it winds through a maze of bayous to the Gulf of Mexico, where the water creates a constantly shifting landscape.

Schitt’s Creek Holiday Special
Pop TV, 10pm

Christmas comes to Schitt’s Creek for the first time ever! Well, as far as the Roses are concerned. Four years after losing their fortune and relocating to the tiny town, Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy), wife Moira (Catherine O’Hara) and their selfish kids David (Daniel Levy) and Alexis (Annie Murphy) attempt to have a jolly holiday, spurred on by Johnny’s nostalgia for their lavish parties of the past.

WWE SmackDown: “New Day’s WWE 2018 Pancake Powered Year End Super Spectacular”
USA Network, 10pm Live

New Day hosts a fun look back at all the historic, outrageous and unforgettable WWE moments of 2018. This WWE SmackDown special features Ronda Rousey, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, AJ Styles, John Cena and Becky Lynch, along with some surprise superstar sightings.

Thursday, Dec. 20

The 4th Annual Howie Mandel Stand-Up Extravaganza
The CW, 8pm

Hosted by Howie Mandel, this special was recorded at the biggest comedy event in the world, the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. The event features stand-up performances from some of the hottest comedians today including Amanda Seales, Maz Jobrani, Lil Rel Howery, Laurie Kilmartin, Garfunkel and Oates, and many others.

College Football: Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
ESPN, 8pm Live

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., is the site of the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the South Florida Bulls.

Timeless: “The Miracle of Christmas”
NBC, 8pm
Series Finale!

The two-hour series finale of NBC’s cult-favorite drama that was canceled, then revived, then canceled again, airs tonight. A release for the episode promises the usual thrill ride through history along with, fittingly, a “healthy dose of Christmas spirit.” The finale’s story is spread across three centuries and two continents, and will test Lucy (Abigail Spencer), Wyatt (Matt Lanter) and the whole Time Team as they try to save Rufus (Malcolm Barrett), preserve history and put a stop to Rittenhouse once and for all.

Ex on the Beach
MTV, 8pm
Season Premiere!

Rapper and actor Romeo Miller returns to Malibu Beach to host a new season of celebrities searching for love while being confronted by their past romances. This season, romantically embattled stars from SurvivorThe Bachelorette, Big Brother, Bad Girls Club, Teen Mom, The Challenge, Are You The One? and Fire Island arrive in paradise in search of love only to be blindsided by the arrival of their exes.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live

TNT’s Thursday NBA doubleheader has the Houston Rockets at the Miami Heat, followed by the Dallas Mavericks at the L.A. Clippers.

The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition
ABC, 9pm
Season Finale!

Five finalists remain in the tent as they face their final three bakes, all hoping to make it to the final round. With their toughest challenges ahead, like French custards and cakes, the heat is on where only one baker will be named America’s Best Amateur Baker.

American Pickers: “Picks in Toyland”
History, 9pm

Professional dumpster-divers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz hit the road to hunt down classic toys that may be worth more than just fond memories.

Baroness von Sketch Show
IFC, 9pm
Season Finale!

The all-female sketch comedy series from Canada ends its third season with back-to-back episodes tonight. The series will return for Season 4 next year.

WWE Monday Night RAW: “WWE Tribute to the Troops”
USA Network, 9pm

In this annual patriotic holiday special, keeping with the long-standing tradition of the USO supporting and entertaining troops at home and abroad, WWE brings together sports, entertainment and pop culture.

Murphy Brown: “Happy New Year”
CBS, 9:30pm
Season Finale!

Murphy Brown is a workplace comedy, yet some of the best moments on the revival take place between curmudgeon TV news veteran Murphy (Candice Bergen), and her grown son, Avery (Jake McDorman, Limitless). Their mother-son bond takes center stage tonight for the conclusion of an emotional two-episode arc that began last week. Avery had traveled to the Middle East to help Murphy and her CNC news network team, and while searching the country for CNC’s valuable source who’s gone quiet, Avery suddenly stops communicating with his mom. The normally steely Murphy becomes unnerved at the thought of a tragedy befalling her only boy.

Watch What Happens Live
Bravo, 11pm
Season Finale!

Rejoice, Real Housewives fans! For a special holiday outing of his talk show, Andy Cohen hosts a handful of “OG Housewives” (original franchise stars). Stopping by: Teresa Giudice (New Jersey), NeNe Leakes (Atlanta), Vicki Gunvalson (Orange County) Bethenny Frankel (New York City) and more.

Friday, Dec. 21

Vanity Fair
Amazon
New Series!

Amazon Studios and Brit TV network ITV present a star-studded, seven-part adaption of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1848 novel, which follows upstart heroine Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke, Ready Player One and Bates Motel) as she claws her way from poverty into the heights of English society. The series’ ensemble cast includes Tom Bateman, Suranne Jones, Martin Clunes, Johnny Flynn, Simon Russell Beale, Frances de la Tour and Michael Palin.

Bird Box
Netflix
Original Film!

Sandra Bullock leads the cast in this thriller from Emmy- and Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier (The Night Manager). When a mysterious force decimates the world’s population, Malorie (Bullock) must flee with her two children down a treacherous river to the one place left that may offer sanctuary. But to survive, they’ll have to undertake the perilous two-day journey blindfolded. Sarah Paulson and John Malkovich also star in this film based on Josh Malerman’s novel.

Diablero
Netflix
New Series!

In this supernatural thriller from Mexico, Father Ramiro Ventura finds himself seeking the aid of legendary “diablero,” or demon hunter, Elvis Infante. Joined by Nancy, a modern-day superhero, this improbable trio lives in a constant battle between two worlds and sets in motion a series of events that could determine the fate of humanity.

3Below: Tales of Arcadia
Netflix
Season Premiere!

The second series in producer Guillermo del Toro’s animated Tales of Arcadia trilogy that began with Trollhunters, 3Below follows two royal teenage aliens and their bodyguard, who crash-land in Arcadia after their home world is taken over by a dictator. Now on the run from intergalactic bounty hunters, they struggle to blend in and adapt to the bizarre world of high school while trying to repair their ship so they can return to and reclaim their planet.

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
ABC, 8pm

Touched by the bond that Charlie Brown and Snoopy share, Linus and Lucy’s little brother ReRun puts a puppy at the top of his wish list on this 2003 animated favorite. Special guest star: Snoopy’s sibling from California, Spike!

A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary
CBS, 8pm

This star-studded holiday special features musical performances and uplifting stories of adoption from foster care to raise awareness of this important social issue.

Dynasty: “Crazy Lady”
The CW, 8pm

As the Carringtons track down a dangerous enemy on Christmas Eve, Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) and Blake (Grant Show) clash on how to best handle the situation. Meanwhile, Cristal (Ana Brenda Contreras) suspects Alexis (Nicollette Sheridan) may not be telling the whole truth to the authorities, and Kirby (Maddison Brown) is cast out by Anders (Alan Dale) for having an immature reaction to the grave situation at hand.

A Christmas Kiss
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!

It’s a battle over a boy when high-end interior designer Priscilla (Elizabeth Röhm) and her assistant Wendy (Laura Breckenridge) vie for the attention of Priscilla’s socialite boyfriend (Brendan Fehr) while decorating his home for the holidays.

Midnight, Texas: “Patience Is a Virtue”
NBC, 8pm

Manfred (François Arnaud) and Kai (Nestor Carbonell) team up against a common foe. Olivia (Arielle Kebbel) and Bobo (Dylan Bruce) search for a way to bring Fiji (Parisa Fitz-Henley) back to their side. Joe (Jason Lewis) gets a surprising visitor.

Christmas at Grand Valley
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9pm
Original Film!

Danica McKellar stars as Kelly, an artist who returns home to the picturesque Grand Valley for Christmas. While spending time in her favorite small town, she meets Leo (Brennan Elliott), a businessman and single dad who has brought his kids to Grand Valley to extend a work trip into a family vacation. When Kelly re-experiences her favorite Grand Valley traditions with Leo and his children, she begins to find her way back to her passion for art.

Craft in America: “California”
PBS, 9pm
Season Premiere!

Tonight, the Peabody Award-winning series about artisans and their handmade items features California creators, including a basket weaver reviving techniques used by the Pomo Native American tribe.

Z Nation: “At All Cost”
Syfy, 9pm

Warren (Kellita Smith) and the others must free the Talkers being held in Quarantine and prepare to attack Altura.

Van Helsing: “Christ Pose”
Syfy, 10pm

Scarlett (Missy Peregrym) is reunited with Axel (Jonathan Scarfe), but he is badly injured before they can find Vanessa (Kelly Overton). Later, a mysterious man helps them find their way.

Tales From the Tour Bus
Cinemax, 10pm
Season Finale!

The animated curiosity — an insidery oral history of music- (and headline-) makers ranging from George Jones to James Brown — ends its sophomore season of funk with the genre’s queen, Betty Davis. Her brief reign in the ’70s should provide Tales of raw performances and her symbiotic relationship with jazz legend (and, for a time, husband) Miles Davis.

Saturday, Dec. 22

Syfy Original Christmas Movie Marathon
Syfy, beginning at 10:15am

Kick off your holidays with this cheese platter of Yuletide-themed Syfy original movies, starting with Snowmageddon, and continuing with Santa Jaws, Christmas Icetastrophe, 12 Disasters of Christmas, and Santa’s Slay.

College Basketball
ESPN2 & CBS, beginning at 12pm Live

A big Saturday of college hoops tips off with Wake Forest at Tennessee on ESPN2. Connecticut takes on Villanova in the MSG Classic at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on CBS. Chicago’s United Center hosts the CBS Sports Classic doubleheader on CBS with UCLA vs. Ohio State and North Carolina vs. Kentucky.

College Football
ESPN, beginning at 12pm Live

Enjoy wall-to-wall college football postseason games on ESPN with Memphis vs. Wake Forest in the Birmingham Bowl, Army vs. Houston in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Buffalo vs. Troy in the Dollar General Bowl and Hawaii vs. Louisiana Tech in the Hawaii Bowl.

NFL Football
NFL Network, beginning at 4:30pm Live

NFL Network’s Week 16 Saturday games have the Washington Redskins at the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens at the L.A. Chargers.

Jingle Around the Clock
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!

Elle Bennet’s (Brooke Nevin) plans for a Christmas reunion with her college friends are thwarted by a promotion-promising work opportunity. And when she’s forced to team up with advertising campaign “fixer” Max (Michael Cassidy), who has a completely different take on the holidays, they unexpectedly find themselves falling for each other.

The Alec Baldwin Show
ABC, 10pm

First, multitalented performer RuPaul, who revels in using all of the colors in the crayon box to push back against the establishment, sits down with Alec. Celebrating 10 years of his uber-popular RuPaul’s Drag Race, he talks about how being gay was never really a driving force in his decision-making and why he is not defined by representing change. Then, Erna Solberg, the second female prime minister in the history of Norway, joins Alec to talk about the global environmental movement in her country, its strict immigration policy and generous social system, the differences between Norway and the United States, and her passion for education and mental health among the youth.