Once a national cultural highpoint of holiday week, designed to honor the pinnacle of artistic achievement, the Kennedy Center Honors ICBS, 8 p.m.) in one fell swoop becomes another tawdry tool of self-promotion of the ego driven current president.
Even before he illegally desecrated the memorial by putting his own name on it, he got personally involved in the low-rent choices — the rock band Kiss, a cowboy hat country singer, the star of “Rambo,” a disco singer with one song, and someone who appeared in his favorite musical. (Sure, it’s not Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood or the Village People, but he apparently wanted to save some for next year.). Still: No jazz, classical or dance representatives.
Plus: he hosts. Is there a way to get this guy off the TV for one night?
All of this from a network whose right wing new leaders yanked a critical “60 Minutes” report it had been promoting at the last minute Sunday. There’s nothing to celebrate here.
It’s a little like “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” (Freeform, 7:45 p.m.) without the conversion.
College football bowl games today include Toledo vs. Louisville (ESPN, 2 p.m.) in the Boca Raton Bowl, Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.) in the New Orleans Bowl and UNLV vs. Ohio (ESPN, 9 p.m.) in the Frisco Bowl.
A third season starts for the auction house reality series “King of Collectibles: The Golden Touch” (Netflix, streaming
“Yukon Rescue” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) is a new series focusing on the special challenges of first responders in one of Canada’s coldest territories.
Constance drops a bomb on “Tyler Perry’s The Oval” (BET, 9 p.m.).
On “Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East” (HBO, 9 p.m.), the four teams reach the final stretch of the season.
Chip and Jo try to get their renovation completed since it’s the finale of “Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House” (HGTV, 9 p.m.).
“Baylen Out Loud” (TLC, 9 p.m.) arrives in London.
Turner Classic Movies’ Christmas marathon rages on with “Kind Lady” (7:15 a.m.), “And So They Were Married” (8:45 a.m.), “The Man I Love” (10:15 a.m.), “Larceny, Inc.” (noon), “Backfire” (2 p.m.), “Mr. Soft Touch” (4 p.m.), “My Reputation” (6 p.m.), “Meet Me in St. Louis” (8 p.m.), “In the Good Old Summertime” (10 p.m.), “Meet John Doe” (midnight), “Little Women” (2:15 a.m.) and “Auntie Mame” (4:30 a.m.).
NBA action has Denver at Dallas (NBC, 8 p.m.) and Houston at Clippers (Peacock, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Pittsburgh at Toronto (TNT, truTV, 4 p.m.), Dallas at Detroit (TNT, HBO Max, 6:30 p.m.), Nashville at Minnesota (Hulu, 8 p.m.) and Philadelphia at Chicago (TNT, truTV, 9 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Harvard at St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, 6 p.m.) and Villanova at Seton Hall (Peacock, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: Jerry O’Connell, Chris Young. The View: Stephen A. Smith (rerun). Kelly Clarkson: Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jon M. Chu, Lily Rose (ereruin). Tamron Hall: Priscilla Presley, Tembi Locke, Faith Evans (rerun).
Late Talk
All reruns: Stephen Colbert: Sigourney Weaver, Mandy Patinin, cast of “The Nutcracker.” Jimmy Kimmel: Michelle Obama, Mia Goth. Jimmy Fallon: Timothée Chalamet, the Duffer Brothers, Bleachers. Seth Meyers: Channing Tatum, Megan Moroney, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.