The exquisite agony of “The Office” (7 p.m., NBC) reaches a Christmas crescendo in tonight’s hour-long holiday episode, directed by Harold Ramis (“Groundhog Day”).

Mortification-wise, it would have been hard to top Michael’s impromptu proposal to his real-estate agent, Carol, at Kelly’s party a few weeks back. As tonight’s episode begins, the obtuse manager is looking forward to whisking Carol off on a surprise Jamaican holiday. Little does he know.

Apparently, Michael’s Christmas card was a little forward. Photoshopping his head onto that of Carol’s ex-husband could have been a little too much. Not even the card’s theme, “Skis-on’s Greetings,” can win her over. The fact that the turned-off Carol is played by Steve Carell’s real-life wife, Nancy Walls, makes it even better.

To comfort his suddenly single boss, Andy, the new guy from Stamford, invites the forlorn Michael out to a liquid lunch at a Japanese-themed restaurant. Meanwhile, Pam and newcomer Karen revolt against Angela’s sober Nutcracker Suite party theme with a boozy celebration of their own.

Emotions run high all over Scranton as workers and colleagues choose sides in ways that will surprise viewers. Kudos to “The Office” for presenting a special that rises way above the obligatory holiday episode and that moves the story forward and provides a deeper understanding of some characters at the same time.

¢ DNA technology has presented a double-edged sword. It can be used to clear the names of the wrongfully accused. But, as we learn in “Deceiving Innocence: The Real Roger Coleman” (10 p.m., A&E), it can also confirm guilt. In the years leading up to his 1992 execution for the rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman, Coleman convinced thousands of people that he had been railroaded. He became a poster boy for capital punishment critics and even appeared on the cover of Time.

Last January, DNA evidence was used to link Coleman to his crimes and remove all doubt as to his guilt. In the months after, his most passionate defenders have asked how they could have been so deceived. This documentary looks at Coleman’s history and the behavior that preceded his horrible actions and the personality traits that could explain his success as a death-row con artist.

Holiday specials

¢ Tom Hanks stars in the 2004 computer-animated adaptation of “The Polar Express” (7 p.m., Family).

¢ A brash former supermodel celebrates with family on “Christmas with the Dickinsons” (7 p.m., Oxygen).

¢ A chauffeur helps a tycoon find his lost daughter in the 2005 holiday movie “Crazy for Christmas” (8 p.m., Lifetime).

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Betty saves and then loses a crucial item on “Ugly Betty” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ Ryan and Taylor take a fall and awaken in an alternative universe on “The O.C.” (8 p.m., Fox).

¢ Sebastian tries to link a surgeon to his wife’s murder on “Shark” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Marin discovers that she has poisoned the raccoon she thought she was nurturing on “Men in Trees” (9 p.m., ABC).