For years, she was the co-director who toiled on a number of Ken Burns’ biggest projects. Now Lynn Novick steps out on her own with a four-hour documentary series about a program that proves the power of higher education in prison. “College Behind Bars” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) looks at the Bard Prison Initiative in the New York prison system. It will air on consecutive nights this week.
Lin-Miranda Manuel makes his debut as aeronaut Lee Scoresby on “His Dark Materials” (HBO, 9 p.m.) and brings his polar bear.
Six short female-directed films comprise “Telling Our Stories” (Starz, 9 p.m.), the result of a recent competition by WrapWomen.
A 28th winner is named on the finale of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.), where the finalists are scarcely stars at all: country singer Lauren Alaina, Fifth Harmony singer Ally Brooke, “Bachelorette” Hannah Brown and Nickelodeon actor Kel Mitchell. James Van Der Beek missed the cut to the finale. All of the participants will return for the event, which means the dreaded Sean Spicer as well.
Holiday activities are increasingly becoming the basis of TV contests, not only in the kitchen, with shows like “Holiday Baking Championship” (Food, 8 and 9 p.m.) and “Christmas Cookie Challenge” (Food, 10 p.m.), but now also with gift wrapping, on the new “Wrap Battle” (Freeform, 9 and 10 p.m.).
In the imported French series “Balthazar” (Acorn TV, streaming), Tomer Sisley plays a forensic pathologist with unconventional methods.
The Top 11 perform on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
On “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.), she is visited by an ex suitor returns.
A new homicide is linked to an underground sex club on “Prodigal Son” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
“The Good Doctor” (ABC, 10 p.m.) is ready for his next step with Carly.
Political asylum is sought for a journalist whose life is at risk on “Bluff City Law” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
“Cartel Crew” (VH1, 9 p.m.) takes a look at the refugee crisis.
A meteor shower causes problems on “9-1-1” (Fix, 8 p.m.).
On “All American” (CW, 8 p.m.), Corey goes home.
Malcolm is set up on a blind date on “The Neighborhood” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
On “All Rise” (CBS, 9 p.m.), a former murder case of Lola’s is overturned.
A new deckhand arrives on “Below Deck” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
“Black Lightning” (CW, 9 p.m.) is enlisted to help escorting meta refugees out of the perimeter.
Yoyo’s party is a bust on “Love & Hip Hop Hollywood” (VH1, 8 p.m.).
A Turner Classic Movie fan gets to choose the films tonight. The selections of Carrie Specht, a professor of film and television from Riverside, Calif., are: “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (8 p.m.), “The Thing from Another World” (10:15 p.m.), “Sherlock, Jr.” (midnight) and “Lillies of the Field” (1 a.m.).
During the day are a series of medical mysteries with “Experiment Alcatraz” (6:30 a.m.), “Doctor X” (7:30 a.m.), “The Murder of Dr. Harrigan” (9 a.m.), “The Patient in Room 18” (10:15 a.m.), “Green for Danger” (11:30 a.m.), “While the Patient Slept” (1:15 p.m.), “Night Nurse” (2:30 p.m.), “The Nurse’s Secret” (3:45 p.m.), “Where Danger Lives” (5 p.m.) and “Hysteria” (6:30 p.m.).
Monday Night Football has Baltimore at Rams (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Hockey has Vancouver at Philadelphia (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.).
In basketball, it’s Utah at Milwaukee (NBA, 8 p.m.) and Oklahoma City at Golden State (NBA, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball has Western Michigan vs. Yale (ESPNU, noon), Seattle vs. Bucknell (ESPNU, 2:30 p.m.), Georgia vs. Dayton (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.), Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State (ESPN2, 5 p.m.), Pittsburgh vs. Kansas State (Fox Sports 1, 6 p.m.), Richmond vs. Wisconsin (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Butler vs. Missouri (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Bradley vs. Northwestern (Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m.), Kansas vs. Chaminade (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Oklahoma vs. Stanford (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.), Auburn vs. New Mexico (ESPNews, 9:30 p.m.) and UCLA vs. BYU (ESPN2, 11:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Garth Brooks, Drew Carey, Buddy Valastro. The View: Tim Allen. The Talk: Jamie Lee Curtis, Carson Kressley, Wanda Wen. Ellen DeGeneres: Victoria Beckham. Kelly Clarkson: Garth Brooks. Tamron Hall: Patti LaBelle, Deborah Cox. Wendy Williams: Ashlee Glazer. The Real: Max Greenfield, Sheaun Mckinney, Marcel Spears, Tisha Campbell.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Robert De Niro, J.J. Abrams. Jimmy Kimmel: Tom Hanks, Jameela Jamil, Brittany Howard. Jimmy Fallon: Daisy Ridley, Tom Hiddleston, Michael Eric Dyson, Noah Cyrus with Leon Bridges. Seth Meyers: Sterling K. Brown, Gilbert Gottfried, Derren Brown. James Corden: Jamie Lee Curtis, Thomas Middleditch, Pardison Fontaine with Offset. Lilly Singh: Thomas Middleditch, Martin Starr, Zack Woods, Amanda Crew. Trevor Noah: Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton (rerun). David Spade: Ray Romano, Ron Funches, Nikki Glaser (rerun).