“Christmas morning every morning, who doesn’t want that?” says one of the sad young people in the chilling new documentary “Heroin: Cape Cod, USA” (HBO, 9 p.m.) where seemingly well adjusted suburban kids are lured into heroin through painkillers. They do their deals in Dunkin’ Donuts parking lots and cut their rock with Dunkin’ cards. They also overdose in alarming numbers.
Steven Ozazaki gets close access to the young people, but nobody wants to see this many people shooting up. Especially when half of his very honest interviewee are identified as dead a few weeks later. You wish he’d take them all to rehab and make pharmaceuticals defend the addictions they’ve started.
This is the week you’re supposed to be glued to games like the Military Bowl with Pittsburgh at Navy (ESPN, 2:30 p.m.) and the Quick Lane bowl with Central Michigan vs. Minnesota (ESPN2, 5 p.m.). But tonight is also a two-hour “Bible Bowl” (TLC, 8 .m.) between seven teams of largely homeschooled kids in the Cincinnati finals. According to the press “it’s a battle of determination, memorization and patience.” But not faith?
New Year’s cartoon specials aren’t great, but they keep coming around anyway. “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown” (ABC, 8 p.m.) is from 1986 is followed by “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Hey, what happened to Robert Blake? The former “Baretta,” age 82 has his murder case reviewed on “Barbara Walters Presents American Scandals” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.).
The Sean Bean spy caper “Legends” (TNT, 11 p.m.) has its second season finale.
The title of the new “20/20 on ID Presents: Crime” (Investigative Discovery, 9 p.m.) tells all you need to know about the spinoff of the longtime network newsmagazine to cable. Its first case is a mother and son who disappeared.
The month-long Monday night spotlight on films about girlfriends on Turner Classic Movies concludes with “The Children’s Hours” (8 p.m.), “These Three” (10 p.m.), “Little Darlings” (11:45 p.m.), “Stage Door” (1:30 a.m.), “four Girls in White” (3:30 a.m.) and “When Ladies Meet” (5 a.m.).
Monday Night Football has Cincinnati at Denver (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
In men’s college basketball, it’s North Carolina Greensboro at North Carolina (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Pennsylvania at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Elon at Duke (ESPNU, 8 p.m.) and Coppin State at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.).
In women’s games, it’s Maryland vs. Connecticut (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.).
Pro basketball has Toronto at Chicago (NBA, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: James Spader, Elizabeth McGovern. The View: John Kasich, Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T (rerun). The Talk: LL Cool J, Jenny Hutt (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Bradley Cooper, Melissa Benoist, Gary Clark Jr. (rerun). Wendy Williams: Jermaine Dupri (rerun). The Real: Stephen Bishop, B.J. Britt, Richard Brooks, Steven Cojocaru (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Patti LaBelle.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Michael Caine, Larry Wilmore, Boots, Vulfpeck (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Wanda Sykes, Lewis Hamilton, Band of Merrymakers (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Tina Fey, Dane DeHaan, Kenny Rogers (rerun). Seth Meyers: Ralph Fiennes, Dr. Jill Biden, Against Me! (rerun). James Corden: Rob Lowe, David Spade, Shawn Mendes with Camila Cabello (rerun). Carson Daly: Travis Barker, NOFX, Dan Carlin (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Rita Moreno. Conan O’Brien: Sarah Silverman, Paige, Megan Gailey (rerun).