TV picks for Dec. 19: '15: A Quinceañera Story,' 'Finding Your Roots,' Sam Kinison

December 18, 2017 at 6:55PM
Zoey (debuting Dec. 19), a young Mexican-American living south of Los Angeles, who was assigned male at birth and celebrates with her trans-madrinas (godmothers), who never had quinceaÒeras of their own. "15: A Quinceanera Story."
credit: HBO
Zoey, center, a young Mexican-American trans woman living south of Los Angeles, is featured in “15: A Quinceañera Story.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

You'll be a woman soon

"15: A Quinceañera Story" uses the traditional marking of adulthood for Latinas as a vehicle to explore social issues facing all races. Thalia and Tommy Mottola produced this heartwarming docuseries that takes a look at plucky teens — including a young trans woman and an immigrant panicked that some loved ones might be deported — who aren't going to let personal struggles get in the way of a rockin' party. The docuseries continues through Friday.

6 p.m., HBO and HBO Latino

Cutting down a family tree

Garrison Keillor has been dropped from the season finale of "Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates Jr." PBS says running the pretaped segment with the former "A Prairie Home Companion" host would be a distraction, due to allegations that he exhibited inappropriate behavior toward a co-worker. A repeat segment with Maya Rudolph will be featured alongside new interviews with Amy Schumer and Aziz Ansari.

7 p.m., TPT, Ch. 2

Rebel yell

"I Am Sam Kinison" features the late comedian at full throttle, screaming and cursing his way to the top of the comedy world, despite an insane appetite for drugs. Bill Burr, Corey Feldman and Jay Leno are among the fans who look back at the influential stand-up. An unedited version will air at 11 p.m.

9 p.m., Spike

Neal Justin

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