One benefit of having Frank Rich work for HBO instead of the New York Times is that he presumably helped pave the way for a pretty strong film about the work of Stephen Sondheim. “Six by Sondheim” (HBO, 9 p.m.) navigates the story of the leading Broadway composer and lyricist by weaving interviews from the start of his career to the present. You see him young, old, young again, middle aged and back to old and through it all he remains constant in his consideration and analysis of his influences and work.
The other conceit is that the story is told through just six of his songs, each of them sung completely in old clips or brand new production pieces from “Something’s Coming” to “Opening Doors,” a musical segment starring Derren Criss and America Ferrera among others. There’s a splendid bit with dozens of singers handling his best known “Send in the Clowns” before Audra McDonald (in her second major Broadway bit for TV in five days) takes it home.
One unusual number is Jarvis Cocker of the band Pulp doing a torchy version of “I’m Still Heree” from “Follies” in a piece directed by Todd Haynes. Sondheim’s genius shines throughout.
It will be lesser songs, we imagine, that will populate the short run of “The Sing-Off” (NBC, 9 p.m.), back to fill in the programming holes through the holidays. Jewel is the new judge joining Ben Folds and Shawn Stockman. Nick Lachey returns to host the a capella competition for $100,000. The season four premiere is two hours.
If it’s holiday-time reality you want, though, I’m more exited about “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (ABC, 9 p.m.), which has a premise of who can outdo the other on holiday lighting displays. Twenty families compete and one will win $250,000. Michael Moloney and Sabrina Soto of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” judge.
The semifinals begin on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.), with Adam Levine’s team pretty much intact since the Top 12.
As if the new album “Midnight Memories” hasn’t gotten enough promotional push already, here’s the “One Direction iHeartRadio Album Release Party” (The CW, 9 p.m.) from a Nov. 22 performance in Los Angeles.
Network holiday specials tonight include the 1970 “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” (ABC, 8 p.m.) with Fred Astaire and Micky Rooney doing voices, and two more recent movie related ones, “Kung Fu Panda Holiday” (The CW, 8 p.m.) and “Merry Madagascar” (The CW, 8:30 p.m.).
Holiday movies tonight include the Jim Carrey “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.), “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (AMC, 8 and 10:30 p.m.), “Naughty or Nice” (Halmark, 8 p.m.) and “Trading Christmas” (Hallmark, 10 p.m.).
Lots of reruns of the regular network shows, except for “Mike & Molly” (CBS, 9 p.m.) and “Hostages” (CBS, 10 p.m.), in which somebody finally goes to the police.
You may have forgotten about Heidi Montag and the awful Spencer Pratt. We get an update on how they lost all their money (and thus have to do a reality special) on the reality special “After Shock: Heidi & Spencer” (E, 10 p.m.). It follows a 90 minute Christmas special, “Keeping up with the Kardashians” (E, 8:30 p.m.).
The two hour conclusion to the two-night miniseries of “Bonnie & Clyde” (A&E, History, Lifetime, 9 p.m.) may include more William Hurt than night one (which is repeated at 7 p.m.), but let’s face it, it will conclude with a hail of gunshots.
You’ll have to be up early to see “Bobby McFerrin: A YoungArts Masterclass” (HBO, 8:30 a.m.).
“The Story of Film: An Odyssey” (TCM, 2 a.m.) reaches its 15th and final episode, “2000 Onwards – Film Moves Full Circle and the Future of Movies.” The excellent series on world film history concludes with some of the most recent films ever shown on Turner Classic Movies, the 2002 French documentary “To Be and to Have” (TCM, 8 p.m.), the unusual 2001 Russian pageant “Russian Ark” (TCM, 10 p.m.), the 2006 Turkish drama “Climates” (TCM, midnight) and the 2003 South Korean “Memories of Murder” (3:15 a.m.).
It’s Cowboys at Bears (ESPN, 8:25 p.m.) in Monday Night Football.
NHL action includes Blue Jackets at Penguins (NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Tyler Perry, faith Ford. The View: Garth Brooks, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Johnny Mathis, Clinton Kelly. The Talk: Garth Brooks, Perez Hilton, Scot Conant. Ellen DeGeneres: Jake Gyllenhaal, Kings of Leon. Wendy Williams: Constance Marie, Kyle Richards, the Radio City Rockettes.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Stephen Colbert, ian McKellen. Jay Leno: Simon Cowell, Megyn Kelly, MS MR. Jimmy Kimmel: Queen Latifah, Cage the Elephant. Jimmy Fallon: Amy Adams, Oscar Isaac, Jack Johnson. Craig Ferguson: Demi Lovato, Louie Anderson. Carson Daly: Bandaloop, Soko, Rebecca Sugar. Tavis Smiley: Dr. Regina Benjamin, Jeff Henderson. Jon Stewart: Idris Elba. Stephen Colbert: David Keith. Arsenio Hall: Donald Faison, Tiffany Hadish. Conan O’Brien: Snoop Lion, Mike Birbiglia, 7 Days of Funk with Snoopzilla and Dam Funk. Chelsea Handler: Jesse Bering, James Davis,Jen Kirkman, Brad Wollack. Pete Holmes: Schoolboy Q, Gabe Liedman.