The new documentary series “Twentyfourseven” (9:30 p.m., MTV) follows seven young friends as they try to succeed in Hollywood. But don’t go looking for a rags-to-riches story here. By any measure, these guys already seem well set. They have their run of clubs, throw hideously expensive parties and front their own rock-and-roll bands. One guy has already produced and directed his own film. And, this being MTV, they are all pretty photogenic.

The whole point of this exercise is to sell a young audience on these guys as “the players” of the future. This is pure product placement with human beings as the product. It’s all rather sad – a soulless variation on “Entourage” without any real laughs.

¢ “The King of Queens” (7 p.m., CBS) returns for a new, if truncated, season. Two episodes air tonight. Then look for installments of the Emmy-winning comedy on Dec. 20 and Dec. 27. CBS has seven more episodes and will air them in 2007.

In the first “King,” Carrie (Leah Remini) asks Doug (Kevin James) to find a lucrative place for their tax refund. And true to his cartoon character, he invests in an ice-cream truck.

¢ We’re entering a new era of reality shows. I can’t wait until it’s over. Call it the Chick Flick Audition genre. Next month, NBC will turn a casting call for “Grease” into an “American Idol”-type talent contest. Cable gets a jump on the competition with “Dirty Dancing” (9 p.m., WE). Choreographer Chris Judd hosts the proceedings. “Dirty” pits 18 women against each other, competing for a dance contract and the right to play Baby, Jennifer Grey’s character in the 1988 romance. A screening of the original “Dirty Dancing” (7 p.m., WE) serves as prelude.

The bevy of beauties wastes no time launching into full humiliation/groveling mode. They all but quiver and drool at the sight of Judd, and their reactions to the six dance instructors are no less desperate. Although the women share the single desire to dance dirtily on their way to Babydom, they vary widely in talent and sensibility. The “best” of the bunch are merely shameless. But that seems to be the point.

¢ “White House Christmas 2006” (7 p.m., HGTV) showcases the talents behind the lights, decorations and the tree expected to attract more than 45,000 visitors to the president’s residence during the holiday season.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Tyra Banks hosts the season finale of “America’s Next Top Model” (7 p.m., CW).

¢ Hopper takes a hostage on “Day Break” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ Scheduled on “Primetime” (9 p.m., ABC): A hidden-camera expose reveals the difference between Good Samaritans and indifferent strangers.