Pair vie for chance as ‘Apprentice’
Jen M. and Kelly duke it out on the three-hour finale of “The Apprentice” (8 p.m., NBC).
OK, class, here’s your quiz: Three hours plus two contestants equal how many product placements?
The biggest winner of the evening should be the recently created financial corporation (whose name I’ve already forgotten) that sponsors the charity polo match and basketball tournament managed by Kelly and Jen, respectively.
When we last saw our intrepid contestants, Jen was ticking-off her client, and Kelly was worrying about a rainstorm washing out his event. That’s a fitting setup, because it’s going to take a force of nature to keep Kelly from winning the job.
Arguably the biggest question of the night is the number of fruit-colored slacks Raj will sport during the course of the show.
Of course, nothing is certain in these proceedings. Chris won the last “Survivor” round by staying low-key.
Is this the year of the “under the radar” reality winner? Or is it merely the year that people got sick of the phrase “under the radar”?
And while a “Survivor” winner merely takes home a sack of cash, the final “Apprentice” is hired to run a company, something Kelly appears vastly more suited to than the fetching lawyer and master delegator Jen.
NBC will pad out the 180-minute job interview with plenty of glances at the past season and visits with discarded players. The O’Jays will also be on hand to perform their song “For the Love of Money.”
Speaking of Donald Trump and the tight-fisted, grasping pursuit of money, the Cartoon Network presents the holiday classic “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” (8 p.m., Cartoon Network). This hourlong special from 1962 “stars” the voice of Jim Backus and features some memorable songs by composer Jule Styne and lyricist Bob Merrill (“Funny Girl”).
“Magoo” isn’t the only classic animated Christmas special tonight. Linus teaches the “Peanuts” gang the true meaning of the holiday in the 1965 “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (8 p.m., ABC).
Viewers in search of more savory entertainment should consider “An Italian Christmas with Mario and Giada” (9 p.m., Food Network). Acclaimed chefs Mario Batali and Giada De Laurentiis look for the best Italian holiday recipes and traditions, including the Christmas Eve “feast of the seven fishes.”
Jane Austen may be celebrating her 229th birthday, but her novels never go out of style. Since the mid-1990s, we’ve seen adaptations of “Sense and Sensibility,” “Mansfield Park,” “Emma” and “Clueless” (a Hollywood high school take on “Emma”). The two “Bridget Jones” novels and movies have also given a contemporary twist to Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
The Biography Channel offers a new “Biography” (6 p.m.) of Austen, who was born on Dec. 16, 1775. One of eight children, she finished her first work of literature at 14. She would complete “Pride and Prejudice” and Sense and Sensibility” before turning 21.
Other highlights
Barry Pepper stars in the 2004 Dale Earnhardt biography “3” (4 p.m., ESPN).
On back-to-back episodes of “CSI” (CBS), a fatal fire (8 p.m.) and flash-flood fatalities (9 p.m.).
Suddenly revealed secrets scuttle the Christmas-Hanukkah celebration at the Cohens’ on “The O.C.” (8 p.m., Fox).
Jon Voight, Ellen Burstyn, Jeff Daniels and Michael Imperioli star in the 2004 weepy “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” (8 p.m., Family,), based on a book by Mitch Albom.
Britney Spears makes her movie debut in the 2002 coming-of-age drama “Crossroads” (8 p.m., WB).
A missing nurse turns out to be a fugitive on “Without a Trace” (10 p.m., CBS).
Cult choice
Forrest Tucker and Peter Cushing star in the 1957 yeti shocker “The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas” (7:30 p.m., FMC).
Series notes
Wrestling on “WWE SmackDown!” (8 p.m., UPN) … The fashion set invades on “North Shore” (9 p.m., Fox) … Sam’s visit gives Ben pause on “Life as We Know It” (9 p.m., ABC).