Science fiction has long told stories about murderous robot armies, but Maxim Pozdorovkin’s “The Truth About Killer Robots” (HBO, 10 p.m.) shows how this is already happening, with people dying from malfunctioning factory robotics and self-driving cars. And it’s getting worse, according to this stylish report, narrated by a (non-murderous) robot infused with artificial intelligence.
As an actual probe is to land on the Red Planet for the first time in six years, a solar flare knocks out communication on the fictional series “Mars” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.). More about that planet is on “Mars: The Secret Science” (Science, 8 and 9 p.m.) and “NASA’s Mission to Mars: InSight Lander” (Science, 10 p.m.).
At least they waited until after Thanksgiving to begin “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (ABC, 8 p.m.), back for its sixth season with a two hour episode.
An effort to save missing passengers on “Manifest” (NBC,10 p.m.) leads to some fatalities.
Devon has second thoughts about his wedding on “The Resident” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Most such shows are promoting their “mid-season finales” which is invariably a break before holiday specials and reruns before they resume next year. But there’s an actual season finale for “9-1-1″ (Fox, 9 p.m.), marked by a series of Christmas-related maladies.
The Top 11 perform on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
On “Arrow” (CW, 8 p.m.), Oliver makes a choice that will change his life.
Barbra Streisand talks to Robert Rodriguez about her directing career on “The Director’s Chair” (El Rey, 8 p.m.).
There is some budgetary problems on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (CW, 9 p.m.), before they all go to 1920s Paris.
Jon Stewart joins in for something called “Stephen and Jon’s Cartoon Thanks-travaganza” is on an unusual episode of “Late Night with Stephen Colbert” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.).
A replay of the 2016 profile of magician James Randi, “An Honest Liar,” on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) comes following the death of another famous debunker, Ricky Jay, at 70.
Elena and Lila enter high school on “My Brilliant Friend” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
Amber struggles with depression on “Teen Mom OG” (MTV, 9 p.m.).
Hand-painted eggnog cakes are made on the “Holiday Baking Championship” (Food, 9 p.m.). Santa’s outfit is modernized on “Christmas Cookie Challenge” (Food, 10 p.m.).
Colin Cowherd looks back at the year in sports on “Herd for the Holidays” (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.).
“Elf” (AMC, 7 and 9 p.m.) is on twice.
Minors gang up on older victims on “Northwest Law: Uncured” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.).
Debbie Gibson and the kid from “Jerry Maguire” get readings from the “Long Island Medium” (TLC, 8 p.m.).
On “The Good Doctor” (ABC, 10 p.m.), a patient wants an operation to keep him from pedophillic urges.
David Alan Grier visits “Busy Tonight” (E!, 10 p.m.).
The month-long Monday night salute to Glenda Farrell concludes with “The Personality Kid” (1 p.m.), “In Client” (3:15 p.m.), “Girl Missing” (3:45 p.m.), “Gold Diggers of 1935” (5 p.m.), “Dance, Charlie, Dance” (6:45 p.m.), “Lady for a Day” (8 p.m.), “Breakfast for Two” (9:45 p.m.), “Bureau of Missing Persons” (11 p.m.), “Little Big Shot” (12:30 a.m.), “The Merry Wives of Reno” (2 a.m.), “Grand Slam” (3:15 a.m.) and “Hollywood Hotel” (4:30 a.m.).
Monday Night Football has Tennessee at Houston (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Nebraska at Clemson (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and Minnesota at Boston College (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Willem Dafoe. The View: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sean Hayes. The Talk: Taye Diggs, Lindsay Miller, Vanessa Lachey. Ellen DeGeneres: Howie Mandel, Ashley Graham, Kym Douglas. Wendy Williams: Michael Yo, Ashlee Glazer. The Real: Ryan Guzman.
Late Talk
Jimmy Kimmel: Michelle Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Glenn Close, Phoebe Robinson, Blood Orange. James Corden: Rami Malek, Joel Egerton, Mike Shinoda (rerun). Carson Daly: Mary Lynn Rajskub, Amen Dunes, Lukas Nelson (rerun).