Morning invades prime time. “2008: ‘Today’ Looks Back, a Holiday Special” (7 p.m., NBC) offers a quick glance back at the year’s top-five stories.

This “Today” special may not bring us any earth-shattering revelations, but it reminds viewers of just how few prime-time shows NBC has left in its reserves.

It’s also interesting to note that NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker is a veteran of the “Today” show. When he was named president of NBC Entertainment back in 2000, many thought that this morning-television person would shake up the definition of prime time. Instead, he has overseen the demise of NBC.

The Peacock network has plummeted from No. 1 to No. 3 during his tenure. Television is a cyclical business, and every network has seen the cellar. But other networks have used their fallow seasons for experimentation and growth. In contrast, Zucker brought us gimmicks like “supersizing” and quick-fix programs like “The Apprentice” and “Deal or No Deal” that were quickly overexposed.

With the exception of “Law & Order” spinoffs, the charity case “Friday Night Lights” and the smart but modest successes of “The Office” and “30 Rock,” it’s hard to name a new NBC show from the past eight years that anyone cares about.

While ABC, Fox and CBS broadcast hits like “Lost,” “24,” “CSI,” “House,” “Survivor” and “American Idol” and interesting failures like “Arrested Development” and failures-turned-hits like “Family Guy,” NBC has become “The Biggest Loser” network.

And Zucker’s latest gimmick? He wants to amputate a full hour from every night of prime time, beginning next year, to broadcast Jay Leno at 10 p.m., Monday through Friday.

I humbly predict that viewers will take to Leno overexposure in the same way they took to Donald Trump saturation and Howie Mandel overload.

We’re told this prime-time Leno will capture the appetite for political humor that was so hot during the 2008 election.

I’m sorry, did Leno say anything memorable during the last election? If he did, I didn’t notice. He was overshadowed by other comics named Fey, Stewart and Colbert, and that old guy, David Letterman.

Times are tough all over, and network television is no exception. But Zucker’s legacy is all too apparent. If he likes “Today” so much, he should return to morning television and stop wrecking prime time.

• A spiritual vagabond sets out to prove that Jesus spent his “lost” years from age 12 to 30 studying among the yogis of the east in the provocative documentary “Jesus in India” (8 p.m., Sundance).

Tonight’s other highlights

• An organ donor sparks a series of crises on “House” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Ten years of surprising appraisals on “Special Edition: Roadshow Remembers” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings).

• Christmas comes to Ogre Town in the 2007 holiday special “Shrek the Halls” (7 p.m., ABC).

• Johnny Depp stars in director Tim Burton’s 2005 take on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (7:30 p.m., ABC).

• Producer Ryan Seacrest has really found the ick factor with “Momma’s Boys” (8 p.m., NBC).

• Lincoln and his entourage have an appointment in Miami on “Prison Break” (8 p.m., Fox). The drama resumes in the spring.

• A college choir sings carols of the season on “Christmas at Luther” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings).