The real story about Christopher McCandless, whose solo hike into the Alaska wilderness in 1992 was grippingly told in Jon Krakauer’s book “Into the Wild” and the subsequent movie by Sean Penn, is revisited in “Return to the Wild: The Chris McCandless Story” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), made from the newly released letters McCandless had written to his sister before he was found dead in an abandoned bus.
A mirror ball trophy is handed out for the 19th season finale of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) from among the final three, Alfonso Janel and Sadie. But first they’ll have to do a fusion dance combining two different styles. There’s plenty of time for performances by Meghan Trainor, Nick Jonas and Jennifer Hudson & Gorgon City.
The guest on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) results show is Taylor Swift.
One of your most unusual holiday moments may be the “T.I. & Tiny: the Family Hustle Thanksgiving Special” (VH1, 9 p.m.) in which they decide to serve at a local shelter — and not because of fulfilling some community service or something.
There’s Thanksgiving, too, on “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
And as if Thanksgiving travel isn’t difficult enough, there’s a terror threat at Dulles Airport on “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Think of it as sort of a “Breaking In: Amish” as a new reality series follows five young women on the road to taking vows at three different convents in “The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.).
A more familiar turf may be “Nellyville” (BET, 10:30 p.m.) which follows the life of the rapper Nelly. It follows the season finale of “Real Husbands of Hollywood” (BET, 10:30 p.m.).
The season two finale of “Finding Your Roots with Henry Gates Jr.” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) looks at the families of Jessica Alba, Anderson Cooper, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Valerie Jarrett and the host himself.
This week’s foe on “The Flash” (The CW, 8 p.m.) is Farooq, an electricity hog.
Kids on “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.) see how many eggs they can cook in 10 minutes.
Mindy sets Danny’s mom on a blind date on “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
Brandi moves into her new house on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
The new documentary “A Night at the Movies: George Lucas and the World of Fantasy Cinema” (TCM, 8 and 11:15 p.m.) has the famed “Star Wars” director talking about fantasy films that have had an influence on him over the years including “King Kong,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Dr. Strangelove,” “2001: A Space Odyssey, and maybe the 1947 “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (9:15 p.m.), which is sandwiched in between. Later is “The Thief of Bagdad” (TCM, 12:30 p.m.), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (TCM, 2:30 a.m.) and “Wings of Desire” (TCM, 5 a.m.).
College hoops includes Purdue vs. Missouri (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), BYU vs. Chaminade (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.), Northern Iowa vs. Virginia Tech (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Kansas State vs. Arizona (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.), Virginia Commonwealth vs. Oregon (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), Arkansas at SMU (ESPNews, 7:30 p.m.), Eastern Illinois at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 8 p.m.), Northwestern vs. Miami (Ohio) (CBS Sports, 9:30 p.m.), Villanova vs. Michigan (ESPN2, 10 p.m.), Pittsburgh vs. San Diego State (ESPN, 10 p.m.).
In college football, it’s Ohio at Miami (Ohio) (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
In NHL action, it’s Pittsburgh at Boston (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.). Pro basketball games include Golden State at Miami (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Garth Brooks, Russell Brand. The View: Pitbull. The Talk: Kristin Chenoweth, Susan Feniger. Ellen DeGeneres: Jennifer Aniston, Garth Brooks. Wendy Williams: Joy Behar, Clinton Kelly. Meredith Vieira: Ian Ziering, Cheryl Hines.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Emily Blunt, Adam Resnick, Wu-Tang Clan. Jimmy Fallon: Bill O’Reilly, Lorde. Jimmy Kimmel: Chris Pine, Evangeline Lilly, Pitbull with Ne-Yo. Seth Meyers: Jason Sudeikis, Aubrey Plaza. Craig Ferguson: Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Ealy. Carson Daly: William H. Macy, Lemaitre, Tearist (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Joni Mitchell. Jon Stewart: John Cleese (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Zooey Deschanel, Breckin Meyer, Beck (rerun).