Christmas comes early for fans of Casper Van Dien. The “Starship Troopers” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” star appears in “Christmas Twister” (4 p.m., ION).

In other holiday baubles, “Cheers” stars Shelley Long and George Wendt reunite in the 2012 comedy “The Merry In-Laws” (8 p.m., Lifetime), about the travails of a single mother marrying into the Claus family.

• Two of the most durable stalwarts of reality television offer fans big “events.” “Survivor: Philippines” (7 p.m., CBS) crowns a winner and then holds a “Reunion” (9 p.m.). “The Bachelorette: Ashley and J.P.’s Wedding” (8 p.m., ABC) has two veterans of the fake series taking real vows before host Chris Harrison.

• Another television staple of long standing, “VH1 Divas 2012” (8 p.m., VH1) benefits the Save the Music Foundation, dedicated to keeping music education in public schools. Scheduled talent includes Ciara, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland and Jordin Sparks. Adam Lambert hosts.

• Having crashed an airliner and bored us with the laborious details, the folks at “Curiosity” turn their cameras on a lighter-than-air vessel in “What Destroyed the Hindenburg?” (8 p.m., Discovery). While it’s been well documented and discussed (and the subject of the 1975 leaden zeppelin disaster movie starring George C. Scott), the 1937 Hindenburg catastrophe continues to fascinate. “Curiosity” has assembled three replicas of the German passenger aircraft in order to explore various theories about its date with destruction.

• More proof that many reality series are cheaply made sitcoms “starring” non-union labor arrives with “Golden Sisters” (9 p.m., OWN), a slightly racy “real-life” variation on a certain 1980s series that starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty.

Tonight’s highlights

• Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., CBS): the salvage of the stricken Italian ocean liner Costa Concordia; new technology for amputees; filmmaker Judd Apatow.

• The New England Patriots host the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football” (7 p.m., NBC).

• George C. Scott (“The Hindenburg”) stars as Scrooge in the 1984 made-for-TV movie “A Christmas Carol” (7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., AMC). An excellent version of the Dickens classic, but not the best one.

• With Saul on a new mission, Carrie mulls her future on “Homeland” (9 p.m., Showtime).