The fifth season winner of “The Next Iron Chef” (Food Network, 9 p.m.) is named by host Alton Brown after a final competition between Alex Appleman, Amanda Freitag and Alex Guamaschelli. Their task is to pay respect to the culinary heritages of the chefs who will be the final judges: Bobby Flay, Michael Symon and Masaharu Morimoto.
It takes mixed martial arts fighter Chuck Liddell to decide who makes the best edible scene depicting a gladiator showdown on “Sugar Dome” (Food, 8 p.m.).
They’re showing “The Sound of Music” (ABC, 7 p.m.) at what they’re calling “its original length.” This doesn’t mean they’ll include the intermission curtain, but it is 174 minutes altogether. On TV, it will stretch beyond 11 p.m., maybe so late you’ll have to say “so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen goodbye” before it’s all over.
There’s big movies all over, though, from “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (TV Guide Network, 6 and 8:30 p.m.) to “The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King” (TNT, 7 p.m. (which also goes four hours). And Maria Falconetti plays the martyr in Carl Dreyer’s clasic 1928 silent film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (TCM, midnight.
A couple of Christmas movies from 1947 without Christmas in the titles: “The Bishop’s Wife” (TCM, 8 p.m.) and “It Happened on 5th Avenue” (TCM, 10 p.m.). And then there’s a lot of bad Christmas movies too, from those that were in theaters, such as “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (ABC Family, 7 and 9:30 p.m.),“Christmas with the Kranks” (FX, 8 and 10 p.m.), “The Santa Clause” (Disney 8 p.m.) or the 1994 version of “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC, 5:45, 8 and 10:30 p.m.), not nearly good enough to play this often.
James struggles with his dad’s health issues on “Ax Men” (History, 9 p.m.); maybe he’ll have to ax him some questions about it.
Two are attacked while camping on a fishing trip in Virginia on “Fatal Encounters” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
The two part interview with Jamie Foxx concludes on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” (OWN, 9 p.m.); part one shows at 8.
Reruns abound of course of shows that include “Blue Bloods” (CBS, 8 p.m.), “The Good Wife” (CBS, 9 p.m.) and “The Mentalist” (CBS, 10 p.m.). There’s a couple of a repeats of “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) but new episodes of “Family Guy” (Fox, 9 p.m.) and “American Dad” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.), that weren’t shown last week because of the memorial service in Newtown, Conn.
In the new “Magic Man” (Travel, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) magician JB Benn does his illusions in various locales; first off, San Francisco and the Bahamas.
“Gator Boys” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) isn’t a repeat, it’s “an enhanced episode,” which means it’s mostly a rerun with a little but of outtakes and scenes not previously seen. There is a new episode, though, of the croc seekers on “Outback Hunters” (History, 11 p.m.).
It’s good to have a goal in life. On “Rattlesnake Republic” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.), Jackie tries to brake his own goal for holding live rattlesnakes in his mouth. Anybody could go to law school.
More carols from a midwest college: “Christmas at Luther: Tidings of Comfort and Joy” (PBS, 8 p.m.) originates from Luther College of Decorah, Iowa.
Barton’s estranged wife arrives just in time for the first season finale of “The Soul Man” (BET, 9:30 p.m.). There’s also a new episode on at 9.
The Antiqulla Trip doesn’t end harmoniously on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo, 9 p.m.). But you didn’t expect it to, did you?
You are justified in your worry about radiation exposure during “X-Ray: Yellowstone” (Discovery, 9 p.m.).
Who goes to Nauvoo, Ill., for vacation? Polygamists like the “Sister Wives” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
Yeti is tracked by a hot air balloon on “Finding Bigfoot” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.), the series on which they aren’t.
It’s Chargers at Jets (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) on Sunday Night Football. Earlier NFL games include Washington at Philadelphia (Fox, 1 p.m.), Browns at Broncos (CBS, 4 p.m.) and Giants at Ravens (Fox, 4:25 p.m.).
Any enlightenment and understanding gained from the PBS documentary “The Iranian Americans” last week, is promptly erased by tonight’s “Shahs of Sunset” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
The funny part of“Extreme Cougar Wives” (Discovery Fitness & Health, 9 p.m.) is watching the reaction of peers of the young men who are dating women in the 50s, 60s or 70s. (Of course when very old men date young women, it’s not a show at all).
Giving Clark Griswold a run for his money: The guy looking to light 1 million lights on his house, or the dude with 120 Christmas trees on “My Crazy Obsession: Christmas Collection” (Discovery Fitness & Health, 8 p.m.).
Why is it only the “Extreme Cheapskates” (Discovery Fitness & Health, 10 and 10:30 p.m.) who discover such logical things as washing clothes while showering?
There’s so little on TV tonight, you may become nostalgic for last week, when there was not only the finales of “Dexter” (Showtime, 7 p.m.) and “Homeland” (Showtime, 8 p.m.), but the special “The Bachelorette: Ashley and J.P.’s Wedding” (E!, 8 p.m.) which are all repeated tonight.
Sunday Talk
ABC: Former Rep. Asa Hutchinson, Sarah Brady, Sens. Johnny Isakson and Amy Klobuchar, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Grover Norquist. CBS: NRA president David Keene, Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Mark Mark warner, Rep. Tim Scott, Ben Affleck. NBC: NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. CNN: Hutchinson, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Reps. Mick Mulvaney and Steve LaTourette. Fox News: Sens. John Barrasso and Kent Conrad, Bill Kristol.