Prime choices

SUNDAY

Inspired by a book by historian Howard Zinn, the new special “The People Speak” enlists such well-known names as Matt Damon (above) and Marisa Tomei to celebrate the words and deeds of some of our nation’s lesser-known citizens. (History, 8 p.m.)

MONDAY

Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir take their anti-commercialism message to the malls, campuses and business parks of America in the seriocomic doc “What Would Jesus Buy?” Can we get an “amen”? (Sundance, 9 p.m.)

TUESDAY

Kevin Nealon (below) returns to host “Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2009,” featuring unusual and often risqué TV spots from around the world. If it’s all commercials, how will we know when to go for a snack? (TBS, 10 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY

Perez Hilton, Miss Prejean / Jon and Kate and Octomom / Kanye West and Taylor Swift (above) / and Megan Fox’s bod. . . . We didn’t start the fire, but the celebs who added the fuel are featured in the new special “Maxim’s Hottest Moments of 2009.” (E!, 10 p.m.)

THURSDAY

A baseball to the noggin sends our hero (Simon Baker) flashing back to his childhood with his less-than-happy pappy (guest star Nick Chinlund) on a new episode of “The Mentalist.” This is why it’s important to wear a helmet. (CBS,

10 p.m.)

FRIDAY

Not even a heart attack can stop big, bad music mogul Ben Cendars (Dennis Hopper). Soon enough, he’s out of the hospital and back on street with a score to settle on the second-season finale of the multi-character cable drama “Crash.” (Starz, 10 p.m.)

SATURDAY

Pro wrestling’s finest return to Iraq to put on a holiday show for America’s fighting men and women in the new special “WWE Tribute to the Troops.” CM Punk, Rey Mysterio and John Cena are among the performers slated for in-ring action. (NBC, 9 p.m.)