A week before Christmas, the airwaves fill with music both heavenly and profane; HBO profiles a young preacher with an edge; and the steamy “State of Grace” ends its first season trailing clouds of angel feathers.

A British import produced by the BBC just in time for the holidays, “Clash of the Choirs” (7 p.m., NBC) will unfold live over the next four nights. Popular musical talent – including Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Nick Lachey, Kelly Rowland and Blake Shelton – have been asked to return to their hometowns and choose 20 local talents to form a choir.

The musical ensembles will be eliminated night after night until the best choir emerges on Thursday evening. Clearly inspired by “American Idol” and similar talent contests, “Clash” dispenses with that popular show’s endless and often cruel audition phase. There’s no time for freaky performances, exhibitionists or even a Sanjaya. Or is there?

In another BBC production, Dennis Hopper narrates “Seven Ages of Rock” (8 p.m., VH1 Classic), airing over the next seven nights. Each installment brings a new era and genre of music. “Rock” as it is defined here begins in 1965, when British bands such as The Yardbirds, The Who, The Animals and The Rolling Stones adapted Chicago-style blues for a burgeoning youth market.

“Ages” includes great performance footage and both original and archival interviews with Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Roger Daltrey. And that’s just tonight.

The series goes on to explore “art rock” (Tuesday), punk (Wednesday), heavy metal (Thursday), stadium rock (Friday), American alternative (Saturday) and British indie (Sunday). The series will also be streamed on VH1Classic.com.

¢ The documentary “Hard as Nails” (7 p.m., HBO) profiles Justin Fatica, an unordained Catholic minister who uses a high-energy preaching style laced with references to hip-hop, wrestling and Scripture to reach out to abandoned and abused teenagers.

¢ A defense team digs up dirt on Grace’s private life as “State of Grace” (9 p.m., TNT) wraps up its first season.

¢ The town of Watersmeet’s basketball team enters the finals in the last two episodes of the documentary series “Nimrod Nation” (8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Sundance).

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ A pregnant woman needs help on “House” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ Contestants vie for a $1.5 million prize on “Duel” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ Professional chefs hit the road on “Feasty Boys Eat America” (7 p.m., Travel).

¢ A visiting journalist needs an escort on the season finale of “K-Ville” (8 p.m., Fox).

¢ “The Missing Years of Jesus” (8 p.m., National Geographic) tries to fill in the blanks.

¢ “Great Performances” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) presents the Los Angeles Opera’s performance of “The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht. Audra McDonald performs.

¢ An FBI agent’s secret life on “CSI: Miami” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Dan pops in a real cliffhanger on “Journeyman” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Ray’s wife proves daunting on “October Road” (9 p.m., ABC).

¢ “The Soup Awards” (9 p.m., E!) takes a snarky look at the year’s pop culture.

¢ “History Rocks” (9 p.m., History) looks back at the music and events of the 1980s.

Cult choice

Parents worry that their swinging son (Frank Sinatra) is a bad influence on his younger brother in the 1963 adaptation of the Neil Simon play “Come Blow Your Horn” (7 p.m.,TCM).