As Big Cat Week rolls along on Nat Geo Wild, they bring in a celebrity to look over the animals. Noted animal lover Betty White is brought into three Southern California zoos to coo over the lions, tigers and cheetahs.
“Betty White Goes Wild” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 p.m.) doesn’t compare that well to other specials that track the cats in their natural habitat. In that, zoos are more like jail visits. But it’s a lot better than “Off Their Rockers.”
Another day, another country music special. Tonight, it’s the “CMT Artists of the Year” (CMT, 8 p.m.) honoring Florida Georgia Line, Hunter Hayes, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Tim McGraw, with live performances from Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum and Lionel Richie, among others.
“Sons of Anarchy” (FX, 10 p.m.) throws a season finale.
Though it plays like a game show, or at least entertainment, “What Would You Do?” (ABC, 10 p.m.), returning tonight for its eighth season, is actually run by the news division. John Quinones hosts.
Returning for its fifth season is “Shipping Wars” (AE, 10 p.m.).
Mindy throws the office’s Christmas party on “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
When two are eliminated on “The Voice” (NBC, 9 p.m.), they will be down to a final four.
In a tie in to the start of a mini-series on sister station TNT, “Mob City,” Turner Classic Movies begin 24 hours of mobster yarns starting with “White Heat” (8 p.m.), “The Roaring Twenties” (10 p.m.), “The Big Heat” (midnight), “Key Largo” (2 a.m.) and “The Petrified Forest” (4 a.m.).
College hoops tonight include Indiana at Syracuse (ESPN, 7:15 p.m.), Illinois at Georgia Tech (ESPN2, 7:15 p.m.), Penn State at Pittsburgh (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), Notre Dame at Iowa (ESPN2, 9:15 p.m.) and Michigan at Duke (ESPN, 9:15 p.m.), Florida State at Minnesota (ESPNU, 9:30 p.m.) and Utah at Boise State (CBS Sports, 10 p.m.).
Hockey action includes Dallas at Chicago (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Claire Danes, Joe Manganiello, Goo Goo Dolls. The View: Trisha Yearwood, Babyface, Toni Braxton. The Talk: Malin Akerman, Kevin Frazier, John Besh. Ellen DeGeneres: Britney Spears, John Legend. Wendy Williams: Hill Harper, David Tutera.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Ray Romano, James Franco (rerun). Jay Leno: Liam Hemsworth, Jayma Mays, the Rides with Stephen Stills and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Zoe Saldana, Toro Y Moi. Jimmy Fallon: Michael J. Fox, Blake Shelton, Kings of Leon (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Will Arnett, Pau Gasol. Carson Daly: Kira Soltanovich, the Naked and Famous (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Peter Yarrow, India.Arie (rerun). Jon Stewart: Jared Leto. Stephen Colbert: Ed Stone. Arsenio Hall: The Game, Steven Michael Quezada, Daughtry. Conan O’Brien: Will Forte, Felicity Jones, Dawes. Chelsea Handler: Baron Davis, Josh Wolf, April Richardson, Julian McCullough. Pete Holmes: Marc Maron, Pastor Rob Bell.