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When CBS announced the premise of this fall's edition of "Survivor" (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) — Millennials vs. Gen X — I thought it sounded incredibly contrived. And rather stupid.

I was wrong. This has turned out to be one of the best seasons ever of this reality/competition series — and there have been some very good ones among the 33 that have aired since 2000.

This show is all about the casting — and how the contestants handle themselves once the game begins. And this group has engineered surprise after surprise, blindside after blindside.

It's been great fun.

I can't even begin to guess which of the six remaining contestants is going to win the game and the million dollars that goes with it. And that's what's been so fun about watching this season.

The winner will be declared about 9 p.m. MT. (On a one-hour tape-delay in this time zone.) And then everybody gets together to talk about it in the "Survivor Reunion" (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2).

• Also tonight, it's the premiere of "Star" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13). It's not a spinoff of "Empire," but it comes to us from the creator of that show, Lee Daniels. And, in Lee Daniels style, this story of three young women striving for stardom as singers is more than a bit over-the-top and overwrought.

Star (Jude Demorest) is a talented-but-tough young woman who grew up in the foster-care system. As the series begins, she tracks down her sister, Simon (Brittany O'Grady) and gets her out of a bad situation in a really stupid way.

The two of them then team up with a rich girl Star met online, Alexandra (Ryan Destiny), and head for Atlanta to seek fame and fortune.

Queen Latifah and Benjamin Bratt also star.

It's a largely predictable tale, at least in the first hour, although there is a twist in the final moments. And there are some entertaining musical numbers.

I've seen Episode 2 and 3, and they're OK. But not much more than OK.

Elsewhere on TV ...

• "The Goldbergs" (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Beverly talks Erica into writing a Hannukah song.

• "A Pentatonix Christmas Special" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Pentatonix performs with guests Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson.

• "Empire" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Cookie tries to help Angelo get elected mayor by hosting a free concert in the park; the FBI freezes all of Empire's assets.

• "The Top 12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time" (7 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Dean Cain hosts.

• NBA (7 p.m., ROOT): Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz

• "Speechless" (7:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): The family's van, containing all of their Christmas presents, is stolen.

• "Modern Family" (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Manny and Luke make a mistake that complicates the school's winter dance.

• "Saturday Night Live" (8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Holiday-related sketches in the Christmas special.

• "Jay Leno's Garage" (8 p.m., CNBC): Jay and Neil DeGrasse Tyson drive the $2.5 billion Mars Rover; Jay challenges Tim Allen to a game of ``Stump a Car Nerd.'' (Season finale)

• "Black-ish" (8:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): With Zoey heading to college soon, Dre tries to plan the best Christmas ever.

• "Designated Survivor" (9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): President Kirkman finds disturbing information connected to the Capitol bombing; more information emerges about Congressman MacLeish.

• "Secrets of the Dead" (9 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): Details about the night in 1888, when Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear .

• "Duck Dynasty" (10 p.m., A&E): Jase and Si are challenged to track and capture Willie and Jep.

• "Vikings" (10 p.m., History): Ragnar and Ivar face some tough choices.

• "Salem" (10 p.m., WGN): Mary and Alden's love is put to the ultimate test; Anne plunges into dark magic.

• BBC Music Awards (11 p.m., BBC America): Scheduled performers include Robbie Williams, The 1975, Emeli Sandé, John Legend, Lukas Graham, Kaiser Chiefs, Zara Larsson and Craig David.

• "Real World Seattle: Bad Blood" (11 p.m., MTV): Tyara confronts her former bully; Anna and Katrina try to mend their relationship; Jenn gets wild.

• "Rectify" (11 p.m., Sundance): Daniel starts to appreciate the progress he's made; Janet forms an unexpected bond. (Series finale)

• "Younger" (11 and 11:30 p.m., TV Land): Liza draws closer to Charles; a famous life coach forces Liza to face hard truths.

• "Incorporated" (11 p.m., USA): A rival executive offers valuable secrets, so Ben, Elizabeth and Julian plan to defect.