1) “National Christmas Tree Lighting,” 8 p.m., CBS. We don’t think of President Calvin Coolidge as a festive guy, but in 1923 he presided over the first lighting of the national tree. A century later, that’s a TV-ready celebration. Mickey Guyton (shown here) hosts and sings, with Dionne Warwick, Joe Walsh, Ledisi, Darren Criss, St. Vincent, Renee Rapp and Samara Joy.
2) More Christmas. The Hollywood Christmas Parade is 8-10 p.m. on CW. Also, there are plenty of holiday movies being rerun, plus one new one: “The Secret Gift of Christmas” has Meghan Ohry (the “Chesapeake Shore” star) as a personal shopper. And in the holiday mood, NBC has “Coat of Many Colors” (2015), based on a song about Dolly Parton’s childhood, with Jennifer Nettles as her mom.
3) Daytime Emmys, 9-11 p.m., CBS. It’s the 50th time, for a show that has struggled. After being banished to small cable channels or online-only; it moved up to CBS – which has two of the only three soap operas on broadcast TV. (All three are up for best daytime drama, alongside Peacock’s “Days of Our Lives” and “The Bay.”) Susan Lucci will receive a lifetime award — presented by Shemar Moore, who shouted “the streak is over” when she finally won a best-actress Emmy, after 19 nominations. Up for best talk show are the Kelly Clarkson, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly-and-Ryan and Hoda-and-Jenna shows.
4) “Lookingglass Alice,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. As Northwestern University students, David Schwimmer and friends did a fresh take on “Alice in Wonderland.” It was a hit and their troupe has been a Chicago success for 35 years. Now David Catlin, another co-founder, has staged a new version with just five actors, a tiny stage and an impressive array of dance, dialog, gymnastics, music and magical stagecraft.
5) “Reacher” season-opener, Amazon Video. This second season has Reacher linking with his old military colleagues, after they’re targeted. That wraps a busy streaming week – a pivotal “Murder at the End of the World” Tuesday on Hulu … a superb “Buccaneers” finale Wednesday on Apple TV+ … a documentary series based on the excellent “Science Fair,” Wednesday on Disney+ … and the finale of the superb “The Crown,” Thursday on Netflix.
— Mike Hughes, TV America