James Minchin/NetflixALSO SEE: NFL 2019 TV Schedule
All Times Eastern.
Friday, Dec. 20
The Witcher
Netflix
New Series!
Henry Cavill stars as Geralt of Rivia in this adaptation of the bestselling fantasy book series. Geralt is a solitary monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
The Two Popes
Netflix
Original Film!
Oscar-nominated director Fernando Meirelles (City of God) helmed this intimate story inspired by true events. Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) requests permission from Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) to retire in 2012. This leads to Benedict revealing a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Freeform, 6:15pm
You know Buddy the Elf and Frosty the Snowman. But first came Rudolph, the most famous reindeer of all. The red-nosed furry misfit originally appeared in a 1939 picture book written by Robert L. May for retailer Montgomery Ward. That inspired May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks to write the 1949 Christmas carol, which later became the basis for the 1964 stop-motion special.
Celebrating Marvel’s Stan Lee
ABC, 8pm
Filmed in part in front of a live audience, this special takes viewers on an action-packed journey throughout the life of Stan Lee and across the Marvel Universe, sharing never-before-seen interviews and archive footage with Lee himself from deep within the archives. Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Mark Hamill, Jimmy Kimmel, Kevin Smith, Bob Iger, Kevin Feige and more share their memories of Lee.
“I Love Lucy” Christmas Special
CBS, 8pm
Two colorized episodes of I Love Lucy are featured in this holiday special. In “The Christmas Episode” (1956), Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) decorate the Christmas tree and reminisce about how their lives have changed since the birth of their son, Little Ricky. Then, in “Paris at Last” (1956), the Ricardos and Mertzes encounter everything from escargot to con men and counterfeiters on their Parisian getaway.
The Christmas Temp
Lifetime, 8pm
A struggling artist picks up festive odd jobs — and maybe her temp agency’s HR manager in the process?
Global Citizen Prize
NBC, 8pm
John Legend hosts this inaugural ceremony that celebrates individuals taking action to end extreme poverty. A star-studded cast of global talent will be on hand at London’s Royal Albert Hall for an event featuring special musical collaborations along with powerful video packages telling revealing stories of action and impact.
Live PD
A&E, 9pm
The popular ride-along show begins a two-part countdown of its Top 40 moments from 2019. Sure to be on the list (continuing Saturday): a shootout with bank robbers, a deputy hanging out of a speeding car and that time a mom forgot her son drew an adult image on her snow-covered rear window. Happy holidays, officer!
Van Helsing
Syfy, 10pm
Season Finale!
Season 4 of the dark fantasy drama starring Kelly Overton as the titular vampire hunter comes to an end tonight.
Trending Fear
Travel Channel, 11pm
New Series!
Two years ago, Adam Ellis documented the alleged haunting of his New York apartment under the hashtag #DearDavid. In this six-part series, he joins forces with documentarian Jen Lewis and ghost hunter Paul Bradford to help others investigate their unexplained paranormal encounters — while using #TrendingFear on social media to crowdsource information and theories live. Their first stop: the haunted New Jersey township Franklinville.
Saturday, Dec. 21
College Football
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 12pm Live
ABC and ESPN combine to televise six college football postseason games today: Celebration Bowl (ABC), New Mexico Bowl (ESPN), Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl (ABC), Camellia Bowl (ESPN), Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl (ABC) and R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (ESPN).
College Basketball
CBS & FOX, beginning at 12pm Live
A big Saturday of college hoops includes Kansas at Villanova and Texas at Providence on FOX. CBS airs UCLA vs. North Carolina and Ohio State vs. Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic from Las Vegas.
Wizarding World Holiday Marathon
Syfy, beginning at 3:30pm
Celebrate the holidays with all of the Harry Potter films, plus Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The marathon runs until the evening of Monday, Dec. 23.
Christmas Love Letter
Lifetime, 6pm
Original Film!
When relationship advice columnist Amalie Hess (Ashley Newbrough) receives an unsigned love letter in a Christmas card, she returns to her hometown to solve the mystery of who sent it and maybe find true love.
12 Pups of Christmas
ION Television, 7pm
Can a “canine therapist” find homes for a dozen doggies by the 25th?
Homicide for the Holidays: “Christmas Heartbreak”
Oxygen, 7pm
Because sometimes you need counterprogramming. Tonight’s case: a couple found murdered inside their home on Christmas morning.
Double Holiday
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
Career-minded Rebecca’s (Carly Pope) plans for Hanukkah go askew when a promotion opportunity comes up at work. When the company CEO asks Rebecca and her insufferable office mate, Chris (Kristoffer Polaha) — also her main competitor for the promotion — to plan the company’s Christmas party, she realizes they must overcome their opposing styles in order to succeed.
Christmas Hotel
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!
Erin (Tatyana Ali) works at the high-end Windsor Hotel in New York City hoping to soon be promoted to manager of the luxury chain’s upcoming hotel in Rome. But things take an unexpected turn when her boss puts her in charge of opening a brand-new Windsor Hotel in her hometown of Garland Grove, a small mountain town that that loves all things Christmas.
Christmas on My Mind
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9pm
Original Film!
When Lucy (Ashley Greene) wakes up with a wedding dress in hand, she believes that she is late to her wedding with her ex-boyfriend Zac (Andrew Walker). However, she has no recollection of the past two years, including the fact that she is engaged to another man. With Zac’s help, Lucy sets off on an adventure in Bedford Harbor to fill the gaps in her memory, and finds old romantic feelings reigniting during the Christmas season.
Ultimate Hanukkah Challenge
Food Network, 10pm
Molly Yeh hosts this first ever special Hanukkah competition. Inspired by the Festival of Lights, four seasoned chefs must pull out all the stops as they craft deliciously innovative dishes for judges Duff Goldman and Sharone Hakman. Over the course of three rounds, the chefs must put their spin on holiday classics like crispy potato pancakes, succulent brisket and fried jelly donuts. The last cook standing will win a vacation to Paris — the City of Light — and the title of Ultimate Hanukkah Champion.
Saturday Night Live: “Eddie Murphy/Lizzo”
NBC, 11:30pm Live
Former SNL cast member Eddie Murphy returns to the show for his first time as host since 1984. Recent Grammy nominee Lizzo makes her first appearance as musical guest.
Sunday, Dec. 22
Figure Skating: ISU Grand Prix Final
NBC, 4pm
NBC airs a two-hour recap and highlights special featuring the best moments from figure skating’s ISU Grand Prix Final in Torino, Italy.
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
ABC, 7pm
Lucy and Linus’ little brother, ReRun, is canine-obsessed in this 2003 Peanuts gem. If you can’t play with Snoopy, the beagle’s desert-dwelling sibling Spike is the next best thing.
Christmas Crush
Ion Television, 7pm
One woman’s wish: Let my neighbor fall in love with me. The reality: wrong neighbor!
Christmas Wedding Runaway
UPtv, 7pm
Original Film!
A runaway bride does some soul-searching when she’s trapped in a snowed-in cabin with her grandmother and an old flame at Christmas.
Kids Say the Darndest Things
ABC, 8pm
You never know what children will come out with when Tiffany Haddish gets them talking about their favorite holiday traditions. Plus, the hilarious host plays Santa to find out which of her pint-size pals is on this year’s “nice list.”
Watson
Animal Planet, 8pm
Stand by to ram! The daring battles waged by charismatic Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Capt. Paul Watson and his crew were chronicled in the Animal Planet series Whale Wars (2008-15). Now, award-winning documentarian Lesley Chilcott combines archival clips of Watson’s fleet challenging whaling vessels, seal hunters and shark skinners with new interviews and gorgeous undersea footage.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta: “Head Over ‘Hills’”
Bravo, 8pm
In this supersized episode, Cynthia invites Marlo to lunch to get to the bottom of “Snakegate,” and with the opening of the Bailey Wine Cellar, Nene extends an olive branch to Cynthia that surprises everyone. Post-engagement, Kenya, Cynthia, Kandi and their men come together for a triple date — but the tension between the Dalys leaves everyone with a bad taste in their mouths.
The Price Is Right at Night
CBS, 8pm
The game show stages two “holiday extravaganzas,” primetime specials in which stars play for charity. Tonight, it’s the cast of the CBS drama SEAL Team. Tomorrow, Seth Rogen.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
When a big company decides to hold a contest to find the small American town that best represents Christmas — and offers some large rewards to the winner — the extremely competitive mayors of East and West Riverton decide to go all out to get their respective towns to the top of the holiday heap.
A Date by Christmas Eve
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!
When Chelsea (Vanessa Lengies), the good-hearted brand strategist for the popular dating app The Nice List, discovers the app has granted her magical powers, she uses her newfound ability to make all of the “naughty” people in her life learn how to be good again. But when her plans go awry and Fisher (Evan Williams), her kindly neighbor, is magically added to the naughty list by mistake, Chelsea must race against time to set things right before Christmas Eve.
Christmas Double Feature
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Just ahead of Christmas, tonight’s holiday film double feature includes the Bing Crosby classics Going My Way (1944) and its sequel, The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945).
The Year: 2019
ABC, 9pm
This ABC News special takes a look at the past year and the moments that made an impact.
A Home for the Holidays With Idina Menzel
CBS, 9pm
Idina Menzel performs songs from her new album Christmas: A Season of Love and introduces uplifting stories about adoption from foster care. Adam Lambert, Ne-Yo and Kelly Rowland also perform.
Holiday Wars
Food Network, 9pm
Season Finale!
Which team will jingle all the way home after winning the grand prize for creating an astonishing holiday display that is as festive as it is delicious?
A Family Christmas Gift
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9pm
Original Film!
When Amber (Holly Robinson Peete) spends the holidays with her Aunt Dora (Patti LaBelle) and helps plan a fundraising Christmas concert, she is brought closer to her aunt, and a new love (Dion Johnstone) comes into her life.
Mr. Robot
USA Network, 9pm
Series Finale!
The trippy drama that gave Rami Malek his big break as Elliot, a hacker with multiple personality disorder (see: Christian Slater’s Mr. Robot), blows our minds one last time with a two-part series ender.
Married to Medicine: “Arabian Nights”
Bravo, 9:15pm
Season Finale!
As Jackie and Curtis begin renovations on their new home, Toya plans the ultimate housewarming. Her Arabian Nights-themed party hits a snag when Buffie breaks down, Jackie steps away from the ladies, and Contessa and Mariah break the peace of Toya’s two-story closet in an epic showdown.
Holiday Gingerbread Showdown
Food Network, 10pm
Season Finale!
It all comes down to this as the Best Gingerbread Artist is named and awarded the $25,000 prize along with a Food Network Magazine feature.
Unpolished
TLC, 10pm
Season Finale!
After a huge blowout with her family, Bria and fiancé Matt take a surprise trip. When the Martones find out about it, however, the drama unfolds.
Monday, Dec. 23
NFL Football: Green Bay at Minnesota
ESPN, 8pm Live
An NFC North title could be on the line as Aaron Rodgers leads the Green Bay Packers into Minneapolis to duel with Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings on the season finale of Monday Night Football.
Holidays With the Houghs
NBC, 8pm
Brother and sister — and Emmy-winning choreographers — Derek and Julianne Hough put their friendly sibling rivalry on display in this festive hourlong holiday special. The pair perform individually and together in musical and dance performances as they put their own spin on holiday classics, share family holiday traditions and create new ones. Top recording stars and celebrity friends will also appear in the special.
Holiday Baking Championship
Food Network, 9pm
Season Finale!
The final bakers are ready to prove their baking skills and show off their family traditions in front of judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale.
A “Saturday Night Live” Christmas Special
NBC, 9pm
Santa brings a bagful of some of the best Christmas-themed sketches in SNL history with this two-hour special.
Christmas at Belmont
PBS, 9pm
Christmas at Belmont 2019 features Belmont University students along with Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans and the Nashville Children’s Choir singing classic holiday songs and festive tunes.
Challenge
Food Network, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Ian Ziering hosts the return of Challenge, where the country’s top cake makers and bakers compete against each other in two rounds of themed battles to create mind-blowing edible works of art for a $10,000 grand prize.
Christmas Cookie Challenge
Food Network, 11pm
Season Finale!
Five of the country’s best cookie bakers have put their decorating and display skills to the test. Now, one of them will go home with a $10,000 grand prize.
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Lost in Space
Netflix
Season Premiere!
New dangers and adventures are ahead for the Robinson family in Season 2 of this reboot. With the Jupiter 2 stranded on a mysterious ocean planet without the beloved Robot, the family must work together alongside the manipulative Dr. Smith (Parker Posey) and the charming Don West (Ignacio Serricchio) to make it back to Resolute and reunite with the other colonists.
“Doctor Who” Christmas Marathon
BBC America, beginning at 6am
Get ready for the Thirteenth Doctor’s (Jodie Whittaker) return with a massive Doctor Who marathon beginning on Christmas Eve and running up to the season premiere on New Year’s Day.
Merry Katniss
IFC, beginning at 7pm
IFC rings in Christmas with airings of all four Hunger Games movies, tonight and tomorrow (Christmas Day).
Baby in a Manger
UPtv, 7pm
Original Film!
With the help of a handsome, young police officer, a social worker searches for the mother of a baby she has found abandoned in a Nativity scene at her church.
It’s a Wonderful Life
NBC, 8pm
Spend Christmas Eve watching Frank Capra’s beloved 1946 holiday classic. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, a discouraged and despairing building-and-loan manager who contemplates suicide before a guardian angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) intervenes and allows him to see what George’s small town of Bedford Falls would be without him — and all that is right in his world. Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore also star.
24 Hours of “A Christmas Story”
TBS beginning at 8pm; TNT beginning at 9pm
Ralphie’s quest for that Red Ryder BB gun in this 1983 classic just never gets old.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Before Christmas Marathon
Syfy, beginning at 10pm
If you’re tired of sugar plums and reindeer, how about spending Christmas Eve with Freddy Krueger during a marathon of the Nightmare on Elm Street films? The 12-hour event begins with the original A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) followed by the rest of the original series of movies.
Christmas Eve Mass
NBC, 11:30pm
Viewers will be able to watch the Pope Francis-led Christmas Eve Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Wednesday, Dec. 25
NBA Basketball
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 12pm Live
The NBA’s Christmas Day tradition continues with Boston at Toronto (ESPN), Milwaukee at Philadelphia (ABC), Houston at Golden State (ABC), L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers (ABC & ESPN) and New Orleans at Denver (ESPN).
When Calls the Heart: “Home for Christmas”
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
As residents of Hope Valley celebrate the Christmas spirit, intertwined stories explore the emotions and magic that connect them during the holiday season.
Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas
PBS, 8pm
Join historian Lucy Worsley on a 12-day extravaganza as she discovers that much of what we enjoy during the modern Christmas season — from carols to turkey, gift-giving to mistletoe and mulled wine — has surprising Tudor origins rooted in devotion and charity.
Pets on Sets: “Hounds for the Holidays, Part 2”
TCM, beginning at 8pm
The doggos are back for another night of themed programming featuring classic canines in the movies. The evening kicks off with 1934’s The Thin Man, featuring the scene-stealing wire fox terrier Asta. Other films include Topper Takes a Trip (1939), Best in Show (2000), Sounder (1972) and more.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
NBC, 8:30pm
Jim Carrey plays Dr. Seuss’ titular meanie in this 2000 live-action adaptation directed by Ron Howard.
“Call the Midwife” Holiday Special
PBS, 9pm
Mother Mildred and the Nonnatus House team travel to the Outer Hebrides to help during a nursing shortage.
Thursday, Dec. 26
“America in Color” Marathon
Smithsonian Channel, beginning at 6am
Take a fascinating look back at 20th-century America as Smithsonian Channel presents a marathon of America in Color, beginning this morning with “The 1920s” and concluding tonight with “Small Town Life.”
College Football
ESPN, beginning at 4pm Live
ESPN has coverage of the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., and the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit.
Despicable Me 3
FX, 8pm
Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker star in the voice cast of the third installment in the animated comedy franchise. This time, Gru (Carell) is joined by his twin brother Dru (also Carell) and a whole cavalcade of Minions.
NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live
TNT’s Thursday night NBA doubleheader has the N.Y. Knicks heading crosstown to face the Brooklyn Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers heading to Salt Lake City to run the floor with the Utah Jazz.
Friday, Dec. 27
College Football
ESPN & FS1, beginning at 12pm Live
Bowl games airing on ESPN today are the Military Bowl, the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl and the Cheez-It Bowl. FS1 airs the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl.
New Order: Decades
Showtime, 7:30pm
Part concert, part documentary, this film follows the band New Order as they prepare to restage their 2017 acclaimed collaboration, So It Goes, with the artist Liam Gillick and a 12-piece synthesizer orchestra.
America Salutes You Presents “Guitar Legends 3”
The CW, 8pm
A roster of epic talent performs in this annual concert benefitting brain and mental wellness charities for veterans and first responders. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) hosts the benefit concert joined by guitar legends George Thorogood, Grammy Award winner Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers), Nancy Wilson (Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and member of Heart), Steve Lukather (member of Toto) and more.
American Made
FX, 8pm
Tom Cruise stars as an airplane pilot who begins working for the CIA — and maybe even a drug cartel — in this 2017 action comedy based on real events.
The Wrong Tutor: After School Special
LMN, 8pm
Original Film!
When star high school athlete Eric (Nate Wyatt) needs help with his schoolwork, Emily (Ivy Matheson) convinces Eric’s mother Carol (Vivica A. Fox) that she is the perfect tutor for her son, but she has other reasons that go beyond helping him with his homework.
NHL Hockey: Minnesota at Colorado
NBCSN, 8pm Live
Eric Staal and the Minnesota Wild venture into Denver to skate against Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche.
Popstar’s Best of 2019
The CW, 9pm
Host Elizabeth Stanton counts down the greatest and most memorable moments and trends of 2019.
Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know
Showtime, 9pm
In this documentary, the hit ’80s English new wave band opens up about their extraordinary career and talks candidly about the highs and lows they have endured together over four long decades.
Ghost Loop
Travel Channel, 10pm
New Series!
In each episode of this series, a team of paranormal experts steps in to help both the living and the dead in cases involving “ghost loops” — endless and repetitive supernatural cycles. In the series premiere, the team heads to Houston, where homeowner Becky is terrified by sounds of someone breaking into her home night after night, only to encounter an aggressive male entity that routinely attacks her.
Saturday, Dec. 28
College Football
ESPN & ABC, beginning at 12pm Live
The top four teams in the final College Football Playoff rankings square off in the CFP Semifinals with the goal of getting to the National Championship January 13 in New Orleans. Jalen Hurts and the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners duel with Joe Burrow and the No. 1 LSU Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Then in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., quarterback Justin Fields and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes clash with Trevor Lawrence and the No. 3 Clemson Tigers. Other college football bowl games today are Notre Dame vs. Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl (ABC) and Memphis vs. Penn State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (ESPN).
College Basketball: Louisville at Kentucky
CBS, 3:45pm Live
Bitter in-state rivals and two of college basketball’s elite squads collide today at Lexington’s Rupp Arena as the Louisville Cardinals visit the Kentucky Wildcats on CBS.
Austin City Limits 6th Annual Hall of Fame Honors
PBS, 11pm
Celebrate the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees Shawn Colvin, Buddy Guy and Lyle Lovett with host Robert Earl Keen. Guest performers include Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby, Shemekia Copeland, Jimmie Vaughan, Sarah Jarosz and more.