She was an outspoken activist who was going places. Until a Texas officer stopped her for not signaling. She was pulled over, put in jail and thee days later found dead in her cell. The police say it was suicide; her family thinks otherwise. A documentary on the case “Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland” (HBO, 10 p.m.) puts a face on the Black Lives Matter struggles and is enhanced by her many encouraging (and not necessarily anti-cop) messages on her video blog.
A completely different documentary, “Always at the Carlyle” (Starz, 9 p.m.) looks at the life of the fabled New York hotel by stars who who have spent time there.
On the new reality show “Unanchored” (Bravo, 9 p.m.), eight friends set sail through the Bahamas. Because it’s Bravo, I’m sure they’ll bicker.
I’m glad cable TV isn’t just marking the holiday season with cheap romantic movies. There are also some old fashioned specials such as “Amy Grant’s Tennessee” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) with Vince Gill and Kellie Pickler and Michael W. Smith, premiering alongside “Meet the Peetes Christmas Special” (Hallmark, 7 p.m.). Elsewhere, there’s a “Pop Up Santa Holiday Special” (Freeform, 9:30 p.m.).
Amy Guberman stars in the six-part Irish comedy “Finding Joy” (Acorn, streaming) a woman who isn’t finding much. It debuts alongside the new drama from Spain and Portugal “Vidago Place” (Acorn, streaming), a period piece set in 1936, and the fifth season of the “The Brokenwood Mysteries” (Acorn, streaming).
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central, 11 p.m.) does something a little different tonight, “Self-Deportation Edition: A Special Presentation from South Africa.”
A Canadian comic drops south of his border to investigate America on “Big Questions, Huge Answers with Jon Dore” (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.).
“The Good Doctor” (ABC, 10 p.m.) dons a hazmat suit to battle an airplane-transmitted virus.
The Top 10 sing on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Marty has a new girlfriend on “The Neighborhood” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
“Bull” (CBS, 10 p.m.) represents a German national being sued by a museum over possession of a valuable painting.
A painting is also the centerpiece of a new episode of “Arrow” (CW, 8 p.m.).
Having not mastered it in two seasons, here’s the third season start for “Maine Cabin Masters” (DIY, 9 p.m.).
“Vanderpump Rules” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) is also back for its seventh season.
Holidays isn’t the time for fighting. Still, there’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (ABC, 8 p.m.), proving that illumination is all about competition. On the other hand, so is “Holiday Baking Championship” (Food, 9 p.m.).
Some of the many films starring the bon vivant and society sleuth Philo Vance – the character from S.S. Van Dine’s fictional series — are on Turner Classic Movies tonight, with a variety of stars in the title role, from William Powell in “The Kennel Murder Case” (8 p.m.) to Basil Rathbone in “The Bishop Murder Case” (12:15 a.m.). Also in the lineup: “The Dragon Murder Case” (9:30 p.m.), “The Casino Murder Case” (10:45 p.m.), “The Garden Murder Case” (2 a.m.) and “Calling Philo Vance” (3:15 a.m.).
All day on TCM, the focus is on Africa with “West of Zanzibar” (6 a.m.), “Another Dawn” (7:15 a.m.), “Watusi” (8:30 a.m.), “Congo Maisie” (10 a.m.), “Savage Splendor” (11 a.m.), “Trader Horn” (12:30 p.m.), “Drums of Africa” (2:45 p.m.), “Song of Freedom” (4:30 p.m.) and “King Solomon’s Mines” (6 p.m.).
Monday Night Football has Washington at Philadelphia (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Basketball includes Oklahoma at Detroit (NBA, 7 p.m.).
Hockey has Tampa Bay at New Jersey (NHL, 7 p.m.).
In men’s college basketball, it’s Iowa at Michigan State (Fox Sports 1, 6:30 pm.), Liberty at Georgetown (Fox Sports 2, 6:30 p.m.) and Florida A&M at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Jason Momoa, Joe Alwyn, Emily Mortimer. The Talk: Matthew Broderick, Ellen K, Carrie Ann Inaba. Ellen DeGeneres: John Cena, Martha Stewart, Julia Garner. Wendy Williams: Rob Shuter, Melissa Garcia. The Real: Nazanin Mandi.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lucas Hedges, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Jimmy Kimmel: Julie Bowen, RuPaul, Phosphorescent. Jimmy Fallon: Margot Robbie, Elsie Fisher, Hootie & the Blowfish. Seth Meyers: Michael Douglas, Rufus Wainwright, Nikki Glaspie. James Corden: Sara Gilbert, Jeff Goldblum. Carson Daly: Tom Felton, Jain, LadyGang.