The new “Cheer Perfection” (TLC, 10 p.m.) focuses on a top cheerleading squad in Arkansas and like “Dance Moms,” is built around a tough taskmaster, Alisha Dunlap, who keeps the kids and their mothers in line. It’s from the makers of “Toddlers & Tiaras” (TLC, 8, 9 and 11 p.m.) and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”Bravo programmer and talk show host Andy Cohen shows exactly how short he is by returning to host the 61st Miss Universe (NBC, 8 p.m.) from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas with Giuliana Rancic. Train and an Aussie group Timomatic perform. The 89 contestants need no talent. Their only tests are swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Among the judges are Cee-Lo Green, Nigel Barker and Lisa Vanderpump.
The year-end review and clip-reuse vehicle gets a more urgent use this year as Joel McHale hosts “The Soup: End of the World – We Told You So” (E!, 10 p.m.) special, incorporating favorite clips from eight years of the show. They would normally wait until 10 years for this kind of thing, but with the end of the world and such, there’s no time to wait.
With a winner determined for “The Voice,” now it’s time for “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.) to have its own finale. It’s between country singer Tate Stevens, whose mentor is L.A. Reid; Carly Rose Sonenclar, who was working with Britney Spears, and Fifth Harmony, the hand-picked girl group led by Simon Cowell, whose other group, Emblem3 was eliminated last week. Only judge Demi Lovato is not represented in the finals and tonight is the last chance to vote before the bloated $5 million recording contract is awarded Thursday.
Melissa Eheridge, Matchbox Twenty and Phillip Phillips join the country group on “A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts” (CBS, 8 p.m.), the annual special that includes songs of the season and pitches for adoption.
“Invention USA” (History, 10 p.m.) ends its second season with hosts Reichart Von Wolfshield and Scotty Ziegler looking into Yule Log splitting.
It’s Christmas on “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
The hardly ever seen 2004 film “Noel” (The CW, 8 p.m.) with Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz and Robin Williams makes an unusual prime time network appearance.
The ABC comedies are all reruns but there is a special 90 minute edition of “20/20” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) in which Katie Couric hosts her own look back at the year.
They’re getting closer to the conspiracy at the center of “The Hour” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
A new season starts for the “Full Throttle Saloon” (truTV, 9 p.m.), about the seasonal biker bar that arises at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
A former contestant, Steaphanie Izard, returns to be guest judge on “Top Chef” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
America’s biggest cuisine export is the subject of “Fast Foods Gone Global” (Travel, 10 p.m.).
A “One Day at a Time” reunion occurs on “Hot in Cleveland” (TV Land, 10 p.m.) when Pat Harrington guest stars on the show with Valerie Bertinelli.
The month-long Wednesday night salute to Barbara Stanwyck on Turner Classic Movies includes some of her finest work with “Double Indemnity” (8 p.m.), “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” (10 p.m.), “Sorry, Wrong Number” (midnight), “Clash by Night” (1:45 a.m.), “Jeopardy” (3:45 a.m.) and “Witness to Murder” (5 a.m.).
Prepare for Kathryn Bigelow’s new war film “Zero Dark Thirty” with a look at her last one, the Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker” (FX, 8 p.m.).
NBA action includes Nets at Knicks (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Bucks at Grizzlies (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
College hoops includes Xavier vs. Cincinnati (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Western Michigan at Duquesne (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Cornell at Duke (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Oregon at UTEP (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), North Carolina at Texas (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Oakland at West Virginia (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and Mississippi at Loyola Marymount (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Lance Ulanoff. The View: Brad Garrett, Marlo Thomas. The Talk: Valerie Bertinelli, Cyndi Lauper, Kristan Cunningham. Ellen DeGeneres: Megan Fox, Eddie Redmayne, Bethenny Frankel.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Lance Ulanoff. The View: Brad Garrett, Marlo Thomas. The Talk: Valerie Bertinelli, Cyndi Lauper, Kristan Cunningham. Ellen DeGeneres: Megan Fox, Eddie Redmayne, Bethenny Frankel.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Seth Rogen, John Witherspoon. Jay Leno: Jamie Foxx, Carl Reiner, Cassadee Pope. Jimmy Kimmel: Eric Stonestreet, L.A. Reid, Aimee Mann & James Mercer (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Ed Burns, Victor Cruz, Jeff Musical, Backstreet Boys. Carson Daly: Elvis Mitchell, Joe Letteri, Wolfgang. Tavis Smiley: Noel “Paul” Stookey. Jon Stewart: Bishop Gene Robinson (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Malcolm Gladwell, Audra McDonald (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Kyle Kinane, Natalie Irish. Chelsea Lately: Kevin Pollak, Chris Hardwick, Loni Love, Kurt Braunohler.