Sports fans tired of watching worn videos of “Rocky,” “Rudy” and “The Replacements” might enjoy “Second String” (7 p.m., TNT). While this 2002 sports fantasy leaves few cliches unturned, it does feature some fine performances from Jon Voight and Gil Bellows.

Voight stars as Buffalo Bills coach Dichter. With one week to go before the playoffs, his manager hires washed-up NFL quarterback Dan Heller (Bellows) for practice sessions. But just when Heller’s last stint with the NFL looks like it is coming to a miserable end, the entire Bills offensive line, including quarterback Doug Flutie (as himself) comes down with food poisoning. So Heller the outcast gets to lead a ragtag band of misfits, bench-warmers and old-timers into the playoffs.

True to the sports fantasy formula, Heller gets plenty of chances to motivate his underrated squad. But first, repeat after me: He Has To Learn To Believe In Himself. Sniff. Wife Connie (Teri Polo) and teammate Gerry (Richard T. Jones) offer Heller some predictable pep talks.

Will the Bills make it to the Super Bowl? I’ll never tell. But sparks do fly between Heller and Dichter. Voight is superb as the button-down coach who simply can’t stand Heller’s razzle-dazzle style. Bellows does a pretty credible job as a charming QB who makes us believe in miracles.

• You know the year is dwindling down to a few precious days when networks trot out specials like “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2002” (8 p.m., ABC). “Fascinating” rounds up the usual celebrity suspects, including Halle Berry, Ozzy Osbourne, Tobey Maguire and Dr. Phil. Walters also talks to Dr. Robert C. Atkins, the diet guru who seems to have half of America starving. Only three of Walter’s choices are people you probably never heard of before 2002: skater Sarah Hughes, Maryland police chief Charles Moose and Enron whistle-blower Sherron Watkins. And, for reasons I can’t fathom, Walters adds England’s Queen Elizabeth to the lot.
• Narrated by Andre Braugher, the two-hour documentary “Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet” (8 p.m., PBS) offers an introductory biography of the founder of Islam. It also explores the lives of several American Muslims, who explain how the teachings of the seventh-century prophet influence their daily thoughts, actions and prayers.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Scheduled on “60 Minutes II” (7 p.m., CBS): Adult video games under the Christmas tree.
• The Independent Film Channel kicks off “Ten New Titans: The Future of Film,” a festival of movies from innovative directors. “Ten” begins with Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1996 gambling drama “Hard Eight” (7 p.m.).
• “Amazing Race 3” (8 p.m., CBS) wraps up the game with a two-hour episode.
• Bartlet’s likely challenger commits a crucial gaffe on “The West Wing” (8 p.m., NBC).
• Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro and David Proval star in “Mean Streets” (8 p.m., TNN) director Martin Scorsese’s gritty 1973 depiction of his Little Italy neighborhood.
• Murder by pit bull on “Law & Order” (9 p.m., NBC).
• Joyner bonds with an abandoned baby on “MDs” (9 p.m., ABC).

Series notes

• All are repeats … Ed declares war on frivolous lawsuits on “Ed” (7 p.m., NBC) … Bernie loses his cool at a celebrity golf outing on “The Bernie Mac Show” (7 p.m., Fox) … A glance back at “E.T.” on “My Wife and Kids” (7 p.m., ABC) … The crew finds haven from a radioactive storm on “Enterprise” (7 p.m., UPN) … Jack Osbourne guest stars on “Dawson’s Creek” (7 p.m., WB).

Benny keeps too many secrets on “George Lopez” (7:30 p.m., ABC).

Russian gunrunners on “Fastlane” (8 p.m., Fox) … A racist gets a new perspective on “The Twilight Zone” (8 p.m., UPN) … Helena discovers Reese’s dark background on “Birds of Prey” (8 p.m., WB).