1) “Kennedy Center Honors,” 8:30-11 p.m., CBS. Each year, this honors arts greats with a splendid mixture of films, performances and verbal tributes. This time, it honors Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, Francis Coppola, the Grateful Dead and (in a first) the Apollo Theater. Performers include Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris (shown here in a previous performance), Sheryl Crow and Savion Glover.
2) “North by North Pole,” 7 p.m. ET, UpTV. On the year’s final day of new Christmas movies, Santa helps someone who’s struggling with a festival. Other new ones are “A Royal Christmas Ballet,” 8 p.m. ET, Great American Family,” and “Engaged by Christmas,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
3) “The Santa Clause” (1994), 8-10 p.m., ABC. After approximately two trillion runs on Freeform, this clever Tim Allen comedy gets a broadcast-network spot. It’s surrounded by other reruns – “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” at 7 p.m. and “CMA Country Christmas” – with great moments from Trisha Yearwood, Cody Johnson, CeCe Winans and more – at 10.
4) “A Madea Christmas” (2013), 7-9:30 p.m., CW. Madea expects to visit a sleep town, but finds it filled with secrets and feuds. Other holiday films: “Three Wiser Men and a Baby” (2024), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Elf” (2003), 5 and 11:30 p.m., AMC; “Christmas Vacation” (1989), 7 and 9:15,AMC.
5) Animation. Fox has new episodes of “The Simpsons” at 8 (a state bowling championship) and “The Great North” at 9 (the Tobins’ boat is missing). And “Enchanted” (2007), 8 p.m. on the Disney Channel, moves from cartoon characters to a clever non-cartoon starring Amy Adams.