After being named as one of Barbara Walters’ most fascinating people of the year, Robert Roberts host an over view of “The Year” (ABC, 9 p.m.) with People magazine that includes the Boston Marathon bombing, the trials of George Zimmerman and Jodi Arias and, probably, something about Miley Cyrus.
And since Roberts also just signed her own $14 million contract with ABC News and survived a cancer bout, maybe she’ll include herself as well.
Alex & Sierra will almost certainly win “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.), or there’s something very wrong. Before then, Mary J. Blige, Leona Lewis, One Direction and Lea Michele all perform on the two-hour finale.
It’s almost the end on “The Sing-Off” (NBC, 8 p.m.) where judges pick the songs for the four remaining groups.
Parties, weddings and probably a fight are probably all part of “A Very Merry Gypsy Christmas” (TLC, 10 p.m.). A look back at favorite deals is part of the barbecue party at the center of “Pawn Stars: A Very Vegas Christmas” (History, 9 p.m.), a second reality special with a variation on the title of “A Very Brady Christmas.”
Christmas specials start to recycle, to nobody’s complaint, with same season replays of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and “SNL Christmas” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
A third season begins for the wholesome King family farm on “Farm Kings” (Great American Country, 9 p.m.).
It only took two weeks to get to a bikini rodeo on “Rodeo Girls” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
If Patti Stanger actually finds a mate for Courtney Kerr on “The Millionaire Matchmaker” (Bravo, 9 p.m.), it could mean the end of her own reality show “Courtney Loves Dallas.”
Designers are asked the impossible on “Project Runway All Stars” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.): What will be the trends for 2014?
It’s a Dickens of a night on Turner Classic Movies with all manner of his famous holiday tale, from the 1970 Albert Finney “Scrooge” (8 p.m.) to the 1951 Alastair Sim “A Christmas Carol” (10 p.m.), the 1935 “Scrooge” (11:30 p.m.) with Sir Seymour Hicks, the 1938 “A Christmas Carol” (1 a.m.) with Reginald Owen, the 1964 “A Carol for Another Christmas” with Pat Hingle and, just for a change of pace, George Cukor’s 1935 “David Copperfield” (3:45 a.m.) with W.C. Fields as Micawber.
NBA action includes Chicago at Oklahoma City (TNT, 8 p.m.) and San Antonio at Golden State (TNT, 10:30 p.m.). Hockey has Minnesota at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Iona at Dayton (NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.), UCLA vs. Duke (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.), Grambling State at Texas Christian (Fox College Sports, 8 p.m.) and Southern California at Long Beach State (Fox College Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Women’s college basketball tournament semifinals include Wisconsin vs. Texas (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.) and Penn State vs. Washington (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Tessanne Chin, Andrew Carmellini. The View: Meryl Streep, Judy Gold, Jax Taylor, Mario Cantone. The Talk: Joan Jett, Lourdes Castro, Carnie Wilson. Ellen DeGeneres: Amy Adams, Mary J. Blige, Michael B. Jordan, Ellie Kemper. Wendy Williams: John Fugelsang, Alicia Quarles, Judy Gold, Ginger Zee.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Steve Carell, the Saint Johns. Jay Leno: Sylvester Stallone, Judd Apatow, Libera. Jimmy Kimmel: Will Ferrell, Adam Scott, Christopher Cross. Jimmy Fallon: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant, the Avett Brothers (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Cuba Gooding Jr., Emily Wickersham. Carson Daly: Erin Foley, Two Door Cinema Club (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Frank Gehry. Jon Stewart: Jonah Hill. Stephen Colbert: Ben Stiller, the Blind Boys of Alabama. Arsenio Hall: Meagan Good, Clay Aiken, TNT, Chance the Rapper. Conan O’Brien: Christina Applegate, Skylar Astin, Young the Giant. Chelsea Handler: Sara Bareilles, April Richardson, Ian Karmel, Heather McDonald.