Time to consider George W. Bush in a more kindly light? Not only in his efforts to quell anti-Muslim behavior after 9/11 (which sets him apart from every one of his party’s candidates for president today). But also because of the billions of dollars he dedicated to turning around HIV and AIDS in Africa – a program that had a tangible effect in that continent.
He gets the credit in a remarkably relaxed interview with Shane Smith on “Vice Special Report: Countdown to Zero” (HBO, 9 p.m.) in which he also talks to the guy who supposedly inspired Bush to action, Bono. The best news in the report, timed to mark World AIDS Day, is that researchers may be very close to a cure, interviewing the first person treated who became AIDS free.
Bono, the patron saint of cause, also pops up in late night when he joins a (RED) shopathon on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC, 11:35 p.m.) that also features Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Wilde, Snoop Dogg, Matt Damon, the Killers.
Streaming services don’t just save good discarded network shows like “Arrested Development,” “The Mindy Project” and “Longmire” it even revives bad ones. Rob Schneider’s terrible 2012 sitcom “Rob” has been essentially resurrected online as the appalling and dull “Real Rob” (Netflix, streaming), which again is about the mixed marriage of the star of “Deuce Bigelow,” using his actual wife and baby daughter in the cast. It’s full of the kind of casual racism and unfunny stereotypes Trump Nation will adore.
Also online today is a new standup comedy special, “I’m Brent Morin” (Netflix, streaming).
The appealing Lisa Edelstein starts a second season of the series “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) with a job offer from an online magazine. Also starting a new season: “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
On the oddly named “Santas in the Barn” (truth, 9 p.m.) ten people compete in Christmas challenges to see who has the most holiday spirit.
It doesn’t seem like the optimum time to go to Turkey to compete on the new season of “The Challenge” (MTV, 10 p.m.), on which competitors battle against loved ones this season.
Dave Grohl gets in a drum battle with Animal on “The Muppets” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and Joseph Gorden-Levitt also guest stars.
“Tosh 2.0” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) looks back at the year.
Black Friday shopping turns deadly, of course, on “Scream Queens” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
Two interesting foreign movies are on cable today: Louis Malle’s “May Fools” (TV5Monde, 8:30 p.m.) and Pedro Almodovar’s 2011 “The Skin I Live In” (Starz, 11:05 p.m.).
Miss your Ma and Pa? Here they are, all night on Turner Classic Movies with “Ma and Pa Kettle” (8 p.m.), “Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town” (9:30 p.m.), “Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm” (11 p.m.) and “Ma and Pa Kettle at Home” (12:30 a.m.). All were directed by Charles Barton, who earlier brought a whole other family movie series: “Five Little Peppers and How They Grew” (TCM, 2 a.m.), “Five Little Peppers at Home” (TCM, 3:15 a.m.), “Out West With the Peppers” (TCM, 4:30 a.m.) and “Five Little Peppers in Trouble” (TCM, 5:45 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Michigan at North Carolina State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Northwestern at Virginia Tech (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Villanova at Saint Joseph’s (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Maryland-Eastern Shore at Georgetown (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Virginia at Ohio State (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.), Purdue at Pittsburgh (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Miami at Nebraska (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Louisiana Tech at Memphis (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.) and Maryland at North Carolina (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
In women’s games, it’s TCU at Butler (Fox Sports 2, 7 p.m.).
In pro basketball, it’s Dallas at Portland (NBA, 10 p.m.).
Hockey action includes Minnesota at Chicago (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.) and Pittsburgh at San Jose (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Harrison Ford, Frank Grillo, Monica Mangin. The View: Neil deGrasse Tyson. The Talk: Mindy Kalong, Michael Yo. Ellen DeGeneres: Wanda Sykes, Kunal Kayyar, Sia. Wendy Williams: Lisa Edelstein. The Real: Jerry Springer, Wendy Raquel Robinson. Meredith Vieira: Bob Saget.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Oprah Winfrey, Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor, Judith Hill (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Bono, Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Wilde, Snoop Dogg, Matt Damon, the Killers. Jimmy Fallon: Harrison Ford, Seth MacFarlane, JoJo. Seth Meyers: Rooney Mara, Paul Reiser, Adam Lambert (rerun). James Corden: Krysten Ritter, Ted Danson, the Chainsmokers. Carson Daly: Michael Shannon, Cat Power, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Seal. Trevor Noah: Chris Brown. Conan O’Brien: Tom Jones, Oliver Hudson.