Robert Levi’s documentary “Playwright: From Page to Stage,” premiering tonight on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) is an entertaining and instructive look into how good plays are made, nurtured and finally staged.
It follows the progress of two works which won a 2009 playwriting competition. Rajiv Joseph’s “Benghal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” first staged in Los Angeles before moving to a bigger theater, and finally Broadway, not normally a hotbed of interesting new plays, but this one has a star attached, Robin Williams.
The other, a trilogy called “Brother/Sister Plays” by MacArthur Fellow winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, investigates African American life in the city. It makes its way to the Public Theater in New York as well. The film hints at a growing creativity and experimentalism in regional theater that only occasionally makes the bigger platform of the Great White Way.
The final night of performances for the finalists of “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.), Tessanne Chin, Cacquie Lee and Will Champlin, is not the time to load the show up with guest stars like OneRepublic, Celine Dion, Ne-Yo and Lady Gaga. Still, they are all part of the two hour episode, as are the judges. Tomorrow, it all ends.
In a rush to complete before the holidays, “The Sing Off” (NBC, 10 p.m.) is on again.
Animal Planet drops further into fiction as it continues its absurd “Mermaids: The Body Found” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.).
The rapper completes his transition to cartoon in the special “T.I. & Tiny: Holiday Hustle” (VH1, 8 p.m.) in which the couple travel to the North Pole to save Christmas.
I admit “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (ABC, 9 p.m.) is pretty entertaining, though the judges have a tough time criticizing anybody’s excess. But two hours of it might be excessive on its own.
Loads of Christmas specials tonight, including the two well-done Disney productions “Prep & Landing” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.), “Ice Age: Mammoth Christmas” (Fox, 9 p.m.) and “Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
Am I the only one who can’t believe this stupid wedding is still going on in “How I Met Your Mother?” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
“Lizard Lick Towing” (truTV, 9:30 p.m.) returns for its fourth season.
A major league baseball coach is murdered on a Christmas edition of “Major Crimes” (TNT, 9 p.m.).
As if you’ve been dying to know more about her, here’s “Nene Leakes” (E!, 10 p.m.).
The one extreme reality show that’s had me fascinated lately is “Best Funeral Ever” (TLC, 10 and 10:30 p.m.). Can these things possibly be real?
The underdog Frank Capra Christmas film I keep championing is his 1941 “Meet John Doe” (TCM, 10 p.m.). It’s on amid a group of Christmas movies without Christmas in the name: “O.Henry’s Full House” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “Good Sam” (TCM, 12:15 a.m.), “It Happened on 5th Avenue”(TCM, 2:15 a.m.) and “Mr. Soft Touch” (4:14 a.m.).
Not like any Christmas party you’ll go to this year: “Eyes Wide Shut” (IFC, 8 p.m.).
“The Santa Clause” (ABC Family, 7 p.m.) is paired with “The Santa Clause 2” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.) “Just as Night at the Museum” (FX, 6 p.m.) is paired with its sequel “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” (FX, 9 p.m.).
Alert Megyn Kelly not to watch: “Black Christmas” (Syfy, 9 p.m.). It’s a remake of the slasher flick actually.
Monday Night Football has Baltimore at Detroit (ESPN, 8:40 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Toronto at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.). In basketball, Minnesota at Boston (NBA, 7:30 p.m.). College basketball includes Gardner-Webb at Duke (ESPNU, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Christina Applegate, John Leguizamo, Alfred Portale. The View: Mary J. Blige, Marlo Thomas. The Talk: Jay Manganiello. Ellen DeGeneres: Colin Farrell, Kathryn Hahn, Kings of Leon. Wendy Williams: Meagan Good, Chassie Post.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Will Ferrell, Jameis Winston, Chris Cornell with Joy Williams. Jay Leno: Meredith Vieira, Jake Bugg. Jimmy Kimmel: Colin Farrell, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Megadeth. Jimmy Fallon: Bill Cosby, Bonnie Raitt (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Joe Theismann. Carson Daly, Capital Cities, Nightmare and the Cat (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Angela Lansbury. Jon Stewart: Haifaa Al mansour. Stephen Colbert: Jonah Peretti, Gregg Allman, the National. Arsenio Hall: Rocky Carroll, Nadine Velazquez, Gladys Knight. Conan O’Brien: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Tom Papa. Chelsea Handler: Trace Adkins, Julian McCullough, Sarah Colonna, Kurt Braunohler.