Who shot Santa? It’s hard to write about tonight’s exceptional “Monk” (8 p.m., USA) episode without revealing too much. Let’s just say it opens with Adrian (Tony Shalhoub) caught red-handed standing over a Santa with a smoking gun. And it only gets stranger as it progresses.

As you can imagine, the obsessive-compulsive detective reacts rather badly when the news media labels him as the “man who ruined Christmas,” and entrepreneurs market T-shirts bearing his likeness and the word “Santacide!”

Even his therapist is affected when traumatized children fill his appointment schedule in the wake of Monk’s holiday mishap. If you like this show (and how can you resist?) don’t miss a very special Christmas “Monk.”

¢ “Movies Rock” (8 p.m., CBS) celebrates the connection between film and music. A bevy of stars and performers from Billy Bob Thornton and John C. Reilly to Rita Moreno and Shirley McLaine extol the virtues of movies featuring songs and scores.

Given the fact that the very first “talking” picture “The Jazz Singer” (1927) was also a singing picture, this is not a terribly novel observation.

But who said the entertainment industry ever needed an excuse (or an idea) to put on a “Hooray for Hollywood” extravaganza? Performers include Beyonce, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Sir Elton John, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, John Williams, Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige, Tony Bennett, Queen Latifah, Usher and will.i.am.

¢ Viewers looking for a musical evening with a little more focus should enjoy “Crossroads: Joss Stone and Leann Rimes” (9 p.m., CMT). The British neo-soul chanteuse Stone may not seem to have much in common with the country protege Rimes, but the two women share a great deal of chemistry on and off the stage. They also owe their reputations and popularity to a great talent for sounding like performers from past decades. Between performances of each other’s hits, Stone and Rimes share conversations about the ups and down of being a teenage sensation and the pressures of facing professional responsibilities at a very tender age.

¢ Combine animals, “celebrities” and countdowns and you’ve got “The A-List” (8 p.m., Animal Planet) a punch line driven take on behavior in the wild. Just who are the biggest gluttons in the animal world? The best parents? The top 10 loud mouths? Panelists include Danny Bonaduce and Gilbert Gottfried, so we’re talking the cream of the crop here.

¢ The Military Channel commemorates the 66th anniversary of the “date which will live in infamy” with “Secrets of Pearl Harbor” (7 p.m., Military) and “Myths of Pearl Harbor” (8 p.m. and 9 p.m.).

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Jimmy Durante narrates the 1969 animated special “Frosty the Snowman” (7 p.m., CBS).

¢ Jack’s ship sinks as Marin fends off pursuers on several fronts on “Men in Trees” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ Dolly Parton and Vicki Lawrence appear (again) on “Hannah Montana” (7 p.m., Disney).

¢ Jonathan Winters and John Goodman lend their voices to the 1995 cartoon sequel “Frosty Returns” (7:30 p.m., CBS).

¢ Landry’s woes continue on “Friday Night Lights” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ Oklahoma residents relate tales of a big hairy neighbor in the 2002 special “Bigfootville” (8 p.m., Travel).

¢ Mike feels less than needed on “Las Vegas” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Gus’ dad becomes a prime murder suspect on “Psych” (9 p.m., USA).