Silent Night is also known as the year’s worst night for late night TV with all but one of the usual late night shows pre-empted and the one that appears is a rerun.
In their place is “Christmas Eve Mass” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) led by Pope Francis from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The other, “A Bold New Love: A Christmas Eve with Middle Collegiate Church” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.) from the New York City congregation pictured above, featuring among its gospel choirs and dance companies Tituss Burgess of “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” conducting a chorus singing two gospel songs he composed.
Also rerun: “Christmas with the Momon Tabernacle Choir” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
Big classic movies battle it out on prime time Christmas Eve, with the annual showing of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (NBC, 8 p.m.) opposite the 1991 animated “Beauty and the Beast” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
The 24 hour cycle of “A Christmas Story” (TBS, 8 p.m.) begins – starting on even hours on TBS and odd hours on TNT, beginning at 9.
And there are tons of Christmas movies: “The Santa Clause 2” (AMC, 6 p.m.), “Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (Freeform, 6:15 p.m.), “A Christmas Carol” (FXM, 6:50 and 8:40 p.m.), “Christmas Belle” (ION, 8 p.m.), “Reunited at Christmas” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), “Surviving Christmas” (HBO, 8 p.m.), “A Christmas in Tennessee” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), “A Bad Moms Christmas” (Showtime 2, 8 p.m.), “The 12 Disasters of Christmas” (Syfy, 8 p.m.), “White Christmas” (Sundance, 7 and 9:45 p.m.), “Elf” (AMC, 8:30 p.m.), “The Santa Clause” (Freeform, 8:55 p.m.), “A Cinderella Christmas” (ION, 9 p.m.), “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” (Disney XD, 9 p.m.), “Mingle All the Way” (Hallmark, 9:30 p.m.), “Office Christmas Party” (Showtime 2, 9:45 p.m.), “The Christmas Contract” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.), “Christmas Icetastrophe” (Syfy, 10 p.m.), “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (AMC, 10:30 p.m.), “A Wedding for Christmas” (ION, 11 p.m.), “A Shoe Addict’s Christmas” (Hallmark, 11 p.m.), “Christmas with the Kranks” (FX, 11 p.m.) and “Bad Santa” (WGN, 11 p.m.).
A profile of Misty Copeland is rerun on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
“Legends of the Lost with Megan Fox” (Travel, 11 p.m.) looks into the Trojan War.
Previous champs compete on the “Holiday Baking Championship” (Food, 9 p.m.).
“Unanchored” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) goes on a treasure hunt.
Getting the last available perfect gift is the aim of the film “Click & Collect” (BritBox, 7 p.m.) starring Stephen Merchant.
Greatest gifts revealed on the show are collected on a special episode of “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).
“Teen Mom OG” (MTV, 9 p.m.) starts its reunion episodes.
Christmas Eve fare on Turner Classic Movies has “Beyond Tomorrow” (6 a.m.), “Little Women” (7:30 am.), “The Great Rupert” (9:30 a.m.), “Babes in Toyland” (11 a.m.), “The Shop Around the Corner” (12:30 p.m.), “Holiday Affair” (2:15 p.m.), “Christmas in Connecticut” (4 p.m.), “Meet Me in St. Louis” (6 p.m.), “The Bishop’s Wife” (8 p.m.), “A Christmas Carol” (10 p.m.), “In the Good Old Summertime” (11:30 p.m.), “Meet John Doe” (1:30 a.m.) and “Desk Set” (3:45 a.m.).
Monday Night Football has Denver at Oakland (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Seth MacFarlane, Martina McBride, Young People’s Chorus of New York City. The View: Leslie Mann, Darlene Love (rerun). The Talk: Kaley Cuoco, Tyler Florence (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Julia Roberts, Alessia Cara. Wendy Williams: Martha Stewart (rerun). The Real: Nazanin Mandi (rerun).
Late Talk
Jimmy Kimmel: John Cena, Eliza Gonzalez, Skylar Grey (rerun).