What looks to be an event with all the production quality of a CSPAN show — Mel Brooks sitting down in Los Angeles to talk about his career with a guy from the BBC, actually turns into an entertaining diversion as the subject of the oddly-titled “Mel Brooks Strikes Back!” (HBO, 9 p.m.) drifts into stories about his upbringing and some of his big successes in TV and movies, augmented by generous-sized clips.
Because all the other country music awards shows were attracting too many foreigners, I suppose (curse you, Keith Urban!), here are the “American Country Awards” (Fox, 8 p.m.) from Mandalay bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, hosted by kristen Chenoweth and Trace Adkins. Luke Bryan leads all nominees with seven; Lady Antebellum and the Zac Brown Band each have six nominations; Taylor Swift and Eric Church each have five. Performers include Rascal Flatts, Kip Moore, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town, Jake Owen and hey! Keith Urban.
Two decades of some interesting series and some absolutely schlocky films mark the two decades of the channel that began with a slightly different name on the “Syfy 20th Anniversary Special” (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
The one performer with the best selling holiday album gets his own special with “Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays” (NBC, 10 p.m.). Guest singing partners include two others who have had their own Christmas specials, Rod Stewart and Blake Shelton as well as one who has had his own scandal, Elmo.
An injured Iraqi veteran gets a new renovation in Texas on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Plus he gets visits from J.R. Martinez and Lee Greenwood.
The father and son Teutuls compete again in a bike building competition “Chopper Live: Road to Revenge” (Discovery, 9 p.m.). Viewers vote for their favorite; results come tomorrow.
Speaking of which, it’s semifinals week on the singing competitions, with the Top Four vying for votes on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.), as Adam Levine and Christine Aguilera, both without teams to cheer for or mentor, sit there with less to do. It’s an odd bunch of finalists: One female, Cassadeee Pope and three very different guys, Terry McDermott, Nicholas David and Trevin Hunte.
It’s weird to see which shows come in to fill space in the holiday weeks when a lot of shows take time off. Instead of “The Sing Off” this year is a different limited game show, “Take It All” (NBC, 9 p.m.), in which all purpose game show host Howie Mandel leads the contestants in the various swaps that could give them a nice stack of dough or something much less.
Tonight’s entry for Big Cat Week is “Attack of Big Cats” (Nat Geo Wild, 10 p.m.) looks at the ones who qualify for the title: lion, tiger, leopard and jaguar.
“Gossip Girl” (The CW, 9 p.m.) ends for good next week, with a reported major death of a character. So they’re probably setting up something big on tonight’s second to last episode.
The men are starting to make themselves seem more known on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo, 9 p.m.). But they are no prizes either.
Production designers Guy Hendrix Dyas and Lilly Kilvert discuss production design among a few films that provide classic examples on Turner Classic Movies: “Grand Hotel” (8 p.m.), “My Fair Lady” (10:15 p.m.), “The Grapes of Wrath” (1:15 a.m.) and “The Leopard” (3:30 a.m.).
The 1947 “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC, 8 and 10:15 p.m.) may be a Christmas classic. But should it really be on twice a night all week long?
The impact of Stalin’s death is covered on “Oliver Stone’s Untold History of the United States” (Showtime, 8 p.m.).
“Big Top Pee-wee” (IFC, 8 p.m.) stars Paul Reubens’ best known character.
And a new series “Finding Bigfoot: Further Evidence” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.) implies there was actual evidence to build on.
“Hoarders” (A&E, 9 p.m.) proves that piling up possessions shouldn’t be competitive.
The 10-part miniseries from 1983 is back: “The Thorn Birds” (Encore, 8 p.m.) with Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward and and Barbara Stanwyck.
It’s Houston at New England (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.) in Monday Night Football.
Kelly & Michael: Hugh Jackman, Howie Mandel, Richard Marx. The View: Piers Morgan, Jason Mraz. The Talk: Anderson Cooper, Gayle King, Charlie Rose, Norah O’Donnell, Sandra Lee. Ellen DeGeneres: Fergie, Nathan Lane.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Anne Hathaway, Jake Johnson, the U.S. Marine Corps Band. Jay Leno: Matt Damon, Chris Pratt, Of Monsters and Men. Jimmy Kimmel: Ted Danson, Emilia Clarke, Larry Gee. Jimmy Fallon: Laura Linney, Dave Attell, Solange, Chuck Leavell. Craig Ferguson: Kristen Stewart, Sloane Crosley, Terry Fator. Carson Daly: “The Voice” Final Four, the Hives. Tavis Smiley: Kristen Stewart. Jon Stewart: Bishop Gene Robinson. Stephen Colbert: Diana Krall, Elvis Costello. Conan O’Brien: Seth MacFarlane, Retta, Jack White. Chelsea Handler: Gerard Butler, Nico Santos, Arden Myrin, Mo Mandel.