“Independent Lens” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) repeats an eye-opening film, “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World.”
The film opens with “Rumble,” by Link Wray. Its powerful, angry, explosive guitar riff is described here as the Big Bang of rock music, the creation of the power chord, without which there would be no Who, Led Zeppelin, heavy metal or punk. The song remains the only popular instrumental to be banned for inciting riots and is portrayed as a primal wail arising from Wray’s Shawnee roots.
During the course of “Rumble,” we’re introduced to other artists who channeled Native American culture and traditional music into their performance styles .
from blues pioneer Charley Patton (Choctaw and African-American) to big band singer Mildred Bailey (the Pacific Northwest’s Coeur d’Alene people) and Jimi Hendrix, whose part-Cherokee vaudevillian grandmother influenced his sound and style.
We also hear about The Band’s Robbie Robertson (Mohawk), who was central in Bob Dylan’s move from folk to an electric sound. Guitarist Jesse Ed Davis (Kiowa/Comanche) was so in demand that when George Harrison couldn’t get Eric Clapton for his Concert for Bangladesh, he enlisted Davis.
The list of talking-head talent featured in “Rumble” is impressive. Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett, Iggy Pop, Jackson Browne, Steven Tyler, George Clinton, Slash and Buddy Guy to name a few. As always, Stevie Van Zandt is amusing as much for what he wears as what he says.
— Not to sound like Charlie Brown, but you know the big Christmas buildup is over when shows turn to year-end roundups. CBS repeats “Kid of the Year” (9 p.m., TV-G), an award ceremony produced by Time magazine and previously seen on Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.
For those not in the know, the Kid of the Year is 15-year-old Gitanjali Rao. If you haven’t heard of her, perhaps it’s because she’s too busy trying to create a global network of innovators to solve the world’s big problems. She’s already been interviewed by Angelina Jolie and told her about her plans to use technology to address issues from contaminated drinking water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying.
Host Trevor Noah will toast Rao as well as the runner-up achievers. Look for appearances by Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Dixie D’Amelio, Billie Eilish, Rob Gronkowski, Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Hemsworth, Ken Jeong, Angelina Jolie, Chloe Kim, Brie Larson, Zachary Levi, Russell Westbrook and Malala Yousafzai, among others.
— At least some networks aren’t looking beyond the big day. “Dr. Pimple Popper: Season’s Squeezings” (9 p.m., TLC, TV-14) reminds us of how busy the holidays can be for hands-on dermatologists like her.
— TNT jumps the gun with two chances to watch Ralphie go medieval on Scut Farkas. Rest assured, “A Christmas Story” (8 p.m. and 10 p.m., TNT, TV-PG) will return for its annual 24-hour marathon on Christmas Eve.
— The season finale of “Cosmos” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-PG) demonstrates how the world’s fairs of the past inspired a young Carl Sagan and Neil DeGrasse Tyson to look to the stars and anticipates the impact a world’s fair of 2039 might have on tomorrow’s scientists.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— A hacked GPS results in chaos on “Next” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Recorded at the Troubadour Theatre in London’s West End, “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical!” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) includes original songs as well as favorites from the 1966 holiday special.
— The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals NFL football action (8 p.m., ESPN).
— Advice from JoJo on “The Bachelorette” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
— A recently jilted actress returns to her family and small hometown in the 2020 romance “Spotlight on Christmas” (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG).
— Leaving it all on the playing field on “Bull” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
— Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins host “CMA Country Christmas” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).
CULT CHOICE
Frank Sinatra plays a priest in the 1948 drama “The Miracle of the Bells” (9:45 p.m., TCM, TV-G), about a press agent (Fred MacMurray) returning the body of a movie star (Alida Valli) to her coal mining town for burial.
SERIES NOTES
Stolen presents on “The Neighborhood” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-G) … Doting on Dottie on “Bob Hearts Abishola” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … “Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2020” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) … Jane Lynch hosts “Weakest Link” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) is preempted … Andy Daly appears on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS).
