Fans of Donald Trump’s show who have been bored by this season’s relentless product placements, corporate promotions and lack of character-driven fireworks should sample the wares on “Project Runway” (9 p.m., Bravo). An “Apprentice” clone set in the high-strung world of “America’s Next Top Model,” this engaging, task-oriented reality contest gives a dozen aspiring designers a chance to break into the fashion world.

To its credit, “Runway” wastes little time with “Real World” drama and gets right down to business. After the designers chooses their own personal model to show off their inventions, they are marched to a secret location to gather materials for the first competition.

In a shocking twist, the gang is taken to a large supermarket and given an hour to find everything they need for their outfits. The resulting “fashions” are unorthodox, to say the least.

• The holiday series begins in earnest as CBS celebrates the 40th-anniversary broadcast of the 1964 special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (7 p.m., CBS). It’s required viewing for misfit toys of all ages. If you haven’t seen “Rudolph” in some time, it more than holds up. This “Animagic” feature was digitally re-mastered in 1998, when two musical numbers (“We’re a Couple of Misfits” and “We Are Santa’s Elves”) were restored to their original length after being cut down over the decades.
• Ashlee Simpson performs on her sister and brother-in-law’s holiday special, “Nick & Jessica’s Family Christmas” (8 p.m., ABC). Members of Nick Lachey’s band 98 Degrees will perform, as well as Brian McKnight. The “Newlyweds” stars will sing holiday classics and engage in sketch “comedy” that seems dim and dated even by “Hee Haw” standards.

Tonight’s other highlights

• The Donald glances back on previously aired clips of “The Apprentice” (7 p.m., NBC).
• Clare has terrible premonitions about her soon-to-be-born child on “Lost” (7 p.m., ABC).
• Linda Ellerbee hosts “Living with AIDS: A Story of Three Kids” (7:30 p.m., Nickelodeon), a documentary about three children born with the disease and their efforts to live normal lives.
• Faced with a mortifying faux pas, Doug fakes a heart attack on “King of Queens” (8 p.m., CBS).
• A diplomatic gesture angers China on “The West Wing” (8 p.m., NBC).
• An equestrian cop takes a bullet on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).
• The Afghan drug wars hit close to home on “Law & Order” (9 p.m., NBC).