George Clooney naturally brings a lot of his own personality and history to portray a charismatic movie star looking back on his life in the broadly entertaining new film from Noah Baumbach, “Jay Kelly” (Netflix, streaming). It’s a high gloss look at Hollywood star-making and maintenance, with Adam Sandler putting in strong work as his thankless manager. The entourage also includes Laura Dern and Emily Mortimer, who co-wrote the film with Baumbach (whose wife Greta Gerwig is also in it). The romp that travels from California to Paris to Italy, finally makes the monthly streaming fee worthwhile.
The documentary “The New Yorker at 100” (Netflix, streaming) plucks at the history of the esteemed magazine but largely pulls back the curtain on how it currently operates, focusing on figures from cartoonist Roz Chast to writer Ronan Farrow, but most of all editor David Remnick. It’s all pretty self-congratulatory, with nary a mention of any of the publication’s lapses, if it had any.
A new holiday special from the Jim Henson Company, “The First Snow of Fraggle Rock” (Apple TV, streaming) with the characters from the 1980s musical series come to Earth for the first time.
College football begins its conference championships with Troy at James Madison (ESPN, 7 p.m.) in the Sun Belt, Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.) in Conference USA, North Texas at Tulane (ABC, 8 p.m.) in American Athletic and UNLV at Boise State (Fox, 8 p.m.) in the Mountain West.
A second season starts for the glossy New York real estate real estate series “Owning Manhattan” (Netflix, streaming).
“Pluribus” (Apple TV, streaming) takes a dark turn.
A first season finale comes for the Jason Clarke drama “The Last Frontier” (Apple TV, streaming).
After producing hundreds of Christmas movies over the years, Hallmark gets around to a holiday series as well. Mae Whitman stars in “Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) as a designer roped into a holiday matchmaking exercise. Based on the book by Jenny Bayliss, it also stars Jane Seymour and Mary McDonnell.
It’s not like there aren’t other new Christmas movies around, though. “Jingle All the Way to Love” (Lifetime 8 p.m.) stars Erin Agostino as a woman who is given a lucky bell by a stranger at a New Year’s Party who gets help from a radio host to track down the giver years later.
It’s followed by “A Christmas Cookbook” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.) with Ashley Newbrough and Franco Lo Presti.
“Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (CW, 8 p.m.) has its 11th season finale.
A school’s history of abuse of power is uncovered on “Sheriff Country” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
“Spartacus: House of Ashur” (Starz, 9 p.m.) is a rewrite on the gladiator legend concerning a man who kills Spartacus and Riss in stature and Roman politics. The t0-episode series stars Nick E. Tarabay, Jacson Gallagher, Graham McTavish and Claudia Black.
Lena and Danny experience role reversal on “Boston Blue” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
“Fire Country” (CBS, 9 p.m.) features Christine Lahti as Diane Farr’s visiting mother.
A team performance is tied to a deal with a Button Factory on “Stumble” (NBC, 9:45 p.m.).
“Happy’s Place” (NBC, 9:15 p.m.) gets Isabella signed up for an online course.
The 1964 Rankin/Bass production “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (NBC, 8 p.m.) gets a primetime replay.
“Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman” (USA, 10 p.m.) samples Tampa.
The cutting horse and cow horse challenges come on “The Last Cowboy” (CMT, 8 p.m.).
“Vantara: Sanctuary Stories” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) includes one about newborn cubs.
A woman has to decide whether to commit murder to get her kidnapped daughter back on the made-for-TV thriller “Do Exactly As I Say” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.).
“Gold Rush” (Discovery, 8 p.m.) seeks to find the weakest link in the crew.
A 140-ton machine needs to be moved up the mountain on “The Last Woodsmen” (Discovery, 9:07 p.m.).
“Ready to Love” (OWN, 8 p.m.) visits Aretha Franklin’s home.
The excesses of nature are featured on “The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd” (History, 9 p.m.).
“The Proof is Out There” (History, 10 p.m.) wonders if a UFO was spied during a solar eclipse.
Tommy ties up a loose end on “Power Book IV: Force” (Starz, 8 p.m.).
Director Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman”) is guest programmer tonight on Turner Classic Movies. His choices: “Cover Girl” (8 p.m.), “New York, New York” (10 p.m.), “Silk Stockings” (1 a.m.) and “The Pirate” (3:15 a.m.).
During the day are films of Agnes Moorehead, born 125 years ago Saturday, with “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes” (6:45 a.m.), “The Swan” (8:45 a.m.), “The Woman in White” (10:45 a.m.), “Johnny Belinda” (12:45 p.m.), “The Magnificent Ambersons” (2:30 p.m.), “Citizen Kane” (4 p.m.) and “The Bat” (6:15 p.m.).
NBA action includes Lakers at Boston (Prime Video, 7 p.m.) and Dallas at Oklahoma City (Prime Video, 9:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Vegas at New Jersey (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball has Gonzaga at Kentucky (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), East Texas A&M at UConn (Peacock, 7:30 p.m.) and Cincinnati at Xavier (TNT, 7:30 p.m.).
Women’s college soccer has Duke vs. Stanford (ESPNU, 8:45 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: George Clooney. Kelly Clarkson: Kristen Bell, Justine Lupe, Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike, Maya Rudolph, Cameron Crowe, Liam Hemsworth. Drew Barrymore: Lucy Liu, Alexis deBoschnek. Jennifer Hudson: Magic Johnson, Caleb McLaughlin.
Late Talk
All reruns: Stephen Colbert: Julia Roberts, John Fogerty. Jimmy Kimmel: Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Sen. Mark Kelly, De La Soul. Jimmy Fallon: The Jonas Brothers, Matthew Rhys, A’ja Wilson, Fiona Cauley. Seth Meyers: Cynthia Erivo, Brooks, Wheelan.