Dan Harmon was separated from his creation “Community” before last season. His first return to TV comes on a new animated show he’s created with Justin Roiland. “Rick & Morty” (Cartoon Network, 10:30 p.m.) is about a mad scientists who moves in with his daughter’s family. It’s all pretty weird.
A cartoon you expect this time of year: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
After a couple of specials the over the top ceremonies of a Dallas parlor are celebrated in a show called “Best Funeral Ever” (TLC, 10 p.m.). Its first episode has a “wedding funeral” and a “bowling funeral” theme. Speaking of funerals, Caroline goes to her nanny’s ceremony on “2 Broke Girls” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.).
Jennifer Nettles host the “CMA Country Christmas” (ABC, 9 p.m.) featuring holiday performances by Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Luke Byran, Darius Rucker, Sheryl Crow, Michael W. Smith,Jake Owen, Lucy Hale and Willie Robertson of “Duck Dynasty.” It was taped Nov. 8 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
A day late for World AIDS Day, the documentary “The Battle of AmfAR” (HBO, 9 p.m.) describes how Elizabeth Taylor and Mathilde Krim created the first national AIDS research foundation, which has granted more than $366 million since 1985.
“Cake Boss” Buddy Velasco changes his approach slightly as he becomes the “Bakery Boss” (TLC, 9 p.m.) (notice the distinction?), traveling the counry and fixing bakeries, starting with a shop in Queens.
They’re down to the Top six on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
A lot is supposed to happen on “The Blacklist” (NBC, 10 p.m.) because it’s the mid-season finale.
Holiday fare includes “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” (The CW, 8 p.m.) — minus Lady Gaga! and “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.), “The Christmas Blessing” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), “Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family, 10 p.m.) and “Call Me Claus” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.).
The penultimate film history chapter, “The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The 1990s – The First Days of Digital: Reality Losing its Realness in America and Australia?” (TCM, 12:45 a.m.) is accompanied by “The Hudsucker Proxy” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “Gladiator” ((TCM, 10 p.m.), “The Piano” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and “Reservoir Dogs” (TCM, 4:45 a.m.).
Monday Night Football features Saints at Seahawks (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.).
College hoops includes Florida at Connecticut (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Auburn at Iowa State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Mercer at Oklahoma (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and Vanderbilt at Texas (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Lucy Liu, Sheryl Crow. The View: Emile Hirsch, Holliday Grainger, Kirstie Alley. The Talk: Betty White. Ellen DeGeneres: Allison Janney, Gavin DeGraw. Wendy Williams: T-Boz & Chilli, Keke Palmer, Drew Sidora, Lil; Mama, Adrienne Bailon (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Sylvester Stallone, Anna Faris, Deltron 3030 (rerun). Jay Leno: Kim Kardashian, Abigail Breslin, Two Door Cinema Club (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Orlando Bloom, Ronda Rousey, the Wild Feathers. Jimmy Fallon: Paul McCartney, Dylan McDermott (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Betty Whie, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Blue. Carson Daly: Ghost Girls, Strfkr, Caitlin Crosby (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Chris Botti, booker T. (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Daniel Goleman. Arsenio Hall: Sean “Diddy” Combs, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Shahidah Omar, Nicole Ari Parker, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Theo Von. Conan O’Brien: Casey Affleck, Chris D’Elia, John Legend. Chelsea Handler: Mike Tyson, Fortune Feimster, Thomas Dale, Heather McDonald. Pete Holmes: John Mulaney.