It was the end of his 1978 film “Manhattan” that Woody Allen enumerated a list of things worth living for. It’s a similar ambition for the character in “Every Brilliant Thing” (HBO, 8 p.m.), a theater piece by Duncan Macmillan about a boy who grew up under a suicidal mother. What makes it more vivid is the dynamic performance by British comic Jonny Donahue and the manner in which he enlists members of the audience to not only shout out various brilliant things from the list when asked, but to also play key characters. As sad as the central story can be, there’s no denying the generosity and depth of empathy found in audiences such as the ones filmed for this remarkable film.
The Indian-American actor Ravi Patel looks into the tradition of arranged marriages in the documentary “Meet the Patels,” on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
It’s not live this time around but the elaborate “Hairspray Live!” (NBC, 8 p.m.) is run again, and there are some pretty strong moments, particularly from Jennifer Hudson and the big finale, led by newcomer Maddie Baillio.
One holiday down, it’s time to get ready for the next with “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!” (NBC, 8 p.m.) and “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
“iHeart Radio Jingle Ball 2016” (The CW, 8 p.m.) gets a replay.
It’s makeover night on “America’s Next Top Model” (VH1, MTV, 10 p.m.).
Football is the theme on “Cake Wars” (Food, 9 p.m.).
“Booze Traveler” (Travel, 10 p.m.) goes to Siberia.
“Hotel Impossible” (Travel, 9 p.m.) visits ice hotels in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Scheana is not sure about vacationing with Stassi and Katie after fighting with them on “Vanderpump Rules” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
A three hour “River Monsters: Legendary Locations” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.) goes to the Amazon.
A crime novelist’s teenage daughter falls in love with a mysterious stranger on the made for TV movie “His Secret Past” (Lifetime Movie Network, 10 p.m.). With Brigid Brannagh, Gatlin Green and Austin James. It follows “The Wrong House” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.), about a bidding war that escalates, with Clare Kramer, Tilky Jones and Allison McAtee.
“People Magazine Investigates” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) looks into the Grim Sleeper cases in South Central Los Angeles.
Films built around the last human survivors are on Turner Classic Movies tonight, with “The Omega Man” (8 p.m.), “The World, The Flesh, And the Devil” (10 p.m.), “On the Beach” (midnight), “Five” (2:30 a.m.) and “No Blade of Grass” (4:15 a.m.).
Earlier there’s a spate of Elvis movies, with “Tickle Me” (11:15 a.m.), “Double Trouble” (1 p.m.), “Stay Away, Joe” (2:45 p.m.), “The Trouble with Girls” (4:30 p.m.) and “Charro!” (6:15 p.m.). Yet, despite it being Boxing Day, no “Kid Galahad.”
Bowl games start to pile up with Miami Ohio vs. Mississippi State (ESPN, 11 p.m.) in the St. Petersburg Bowl, Maryland vs. Boston College (ESPN, 2:30 p.m.) in the Quick Lane Bowl and North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt (ESPN2, 5 p.m.) in the Independence Bowl;
Monday Night Football has Detroit at Dallas (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
The View: Neil Patrick Harris, Tim Tebow (rerun). The Talk: Dr. Phil McGraw (rerun). Harry Connick: Sandra Bullock, Kevin James, Taraji P. Henson. Ellen DeGeneres: Stephen Curry, Bradley Cooper, Usher, Michelle Obama (rerun). Wendy Williams: Rita Ora (rerun). The Real: Monica (rerun).
Late Talk
All reruns: Stephen Colbert: Emily Blunt, Gael Garcia Benal, Phantogram (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Rami Malek, Samantha Ponder, Gucci Mane with Travis Scott, Aubrey Logan. Jimmy Fallon: Vin Diesel, Norman Reeds, Christine and the Queens. Seth Meyers: Vice President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Sturgill Simpson, Thaddeus Dixon, Corey Glover & Vernon Reid. James Corden: Andrew Garfield, January Jones, LL Cool J. Carson Daly: John C. McGinley, Wild Nothing, Andy Puddincombe. Tavis Smiley: Freddy Cole.