The one show that wholly justifies an Amazon Prime subscription (besides the free shipping), the brazenly original “Transparent” (Amazon Prime, streaming) unleashes its long-awaited second season today. It begins at a festive event, the wedding of Melora Hardin’s Tammy. Yet things have a way of going wrong in the world in the Pfeffermans. This season isn’t always about Jeffrey Tambor’s extraordinary late life transgender character, who is living with the wife, Judith Light’s complex and accommodating character, but wants to keep moving on.
The sub stories about the adult children are more compelling and cut deeper as they advance into new relationships or edge toward their own self-made nontraditional family units. Despite the flash of the gender issues, there is something fresh and honest about the entire family’s stories that seem to ring more honest than almost anything else on TV. Plus it’s enjoyable, which, with its 30 minute running time, is what must qualify it as a comedy. The only problem of binging all 10 episodes is having to wait another year for more.
Penn and Teller are grand marshals of the 84th annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (The CW, 8 p.m.), with appearances from Oscar De La Hoya, Erik Estrada and Taylor Hicks among others.
The finale of “The Amazing Race” (CBS, 8 p.m.) is a showdown between the engaged couple, the dating news anchors and dating paparazzi, traveling from Macau, China to the Long Island finish line.
There’ a medical board hearing on Ballinger’s sterilizations of disabled men on “The Knick” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi is guest judge on “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
A new stand-up special, taped in D.C., is “Jermaine Fowler: Give ‘Em Hell Kid” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
Cameron Crowe’s “Aloha” (Starz, 9 p.m.), from earlier this year, with Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone and Rachel McAdams, makes its premium cable debut.
Dannys former partner is accused of planting evidence on “Blue Bloods” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
Did you forget that “Unforgettable” (A&E, 8 p.m.) is now on cable?
Mike bans physical gifts for Christmas on “Last Man Standing” (ABC, 8 p.m.). There is a Christmas decorating scheme picked on “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
“The Leftovers” (HBO, 9 p.m.) got renewed for a third and final season. Watching the second season finale a second time, I’m afraid, won’t make it any more understandable.
Something is done about the Wesen gang violence on “Grimm” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
It’s all felt puppets on AMC with “The Muppet Movie” (AMC, 7 p.m.), “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” (AMC, 9 p.m.) and “Muppet Treasure Island” (AMC, 10 p.m.).
“Lidia Celebrates America” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) looks at Italy’s holiday traditions. Yuletide decor is the focus of “Craft in America” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
Other Christmas fare includes “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family, 6:45 p.m.), “A Gift Wrapped Christmas” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.), “I’m Not Ready for Christmas” (Hallmark, 10 p.m.) and “The Road to Christmas” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies has more Christmas classics, or classics with memorable Christmas scenes, with “The Man Who Came to Dinner” (8 p.m.), “Scrooge” (10 p.m.), “A Christmas Carol” (midnight), “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1:15 a.m.) and “In the Good Old Summertime” (3:15 a.m.).
NBA action includes Miami at Indiana (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Lakers at San Antonio (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
College football has Charleston Southern at Jacksonville State (ESPN2, 8 p.m.).
In women’s college basketball, it’s Florida State at Connecticut (ESPN2, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Lupita Nyong’o, Kristen Dunst. The View: Hugh Bonneville, Phyllis, Allen Leech, Kevin Doyle. The Talk: Josh Groban, Michael Starr. Ellen DeGeneres: Andy Samberg, America Ferrera. Wendy Williams: Nina Terrero, Lloyd Boston. The Real: Rick Ross. Meredith Vieira: Jay Leno, David Gregory.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ike Barinholtz, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Jimmy Kimmel: Adam Sandler, Taylor Lautner, Luke Wilson, Terry Crews, Jorge Garcia, Rob Schneider, Fall Out Boyz II Men (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Will Smith, Kirsten Dunst, Calvin Harris. Seth Meyers: Sarah Palin, David Tennant, Holly Holm, “Spring Awakening” cast, Brian Chase (rerun). James Corden: Nathan Lane, Rachel Bloom, the Maccabees (rerun). Carson Daly: Jeff Daniels, Handsome Ghost, Colin Hanks (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Tom Jones.