ALSO SEE: Complete 2023 NFL TV Schedule
All Times Eastern. PBS programming varies regionally.
Friday, Dec. 15
National Christmas Tree Lighting
CBS, 8pm
Light up the holidays with this beloved American tradition presented by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation. Tune in to celebrate the official tree lighting on the Ellipse in President’s Park in Washington, D.C., and experience an all-star lineup of musical performances.
The Family Plan
Apple TV+
Original Film!
Mark Wahlberg stars as a quiet suburban car salesman who was once an elite government assassin in this new comedy costarring Michelle Monaghan. After enemies from his past track him down, the father of three takes his family on the run under the guise of a spontaneous vacation, a road trip to Las Vegas during which he must use his dormant skills without revealing his true identity.
Carol & the End of the World
Netflix
New Series!
In this limited adult animated series, a mysterious planet hurtles toward Earth and spells extinction for humanity. While most feel liberated to pursue their wildest dreams, one quiet and always uncomfortable woman named Carol (voice of Martha Kelly) stands alone, lost among the hedonistic masses.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Netflix
Feature Film Exclusive!
This film is a sequel to 2000’s Chicken Run, the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger (voice of Thandiwe Newton) has finally found her dream — a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk — this time, they’re breaking in.
Face to Face With ETA: Conversations With a Terrorist
Netflix
This documentary presents an exclusive interview with one of the key figures in ETA, a former Basque separatist group in Spain: Josu Urrutikoetxea, also known as Josu Ternera. Hosted by Jordi Évole, the film looks at the terrorist group and some of its more significant moments prior its dissolution in 2018.
Finestkind
Paramount+
Feature Film Exclusive!
This crime thriller from writer/director Brian Helgeland, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, is set in New Bedford, Massachusetts, America’s biggest commercial fishing port. It tells the story of two brothers (Ben Foster and Toby Wallace) from opposite sides of the tracks who are reunited as adults over one fateful summer. When desperate circumstances force them to strike a deal with a dangerous Boston crime syndicate, a young woman (Jenna Ortega) finds herself caught in the middle. Along the way, sacrifices must be made, and bonds between brothers, friends, and a father (Tommy Lee Jones) and his son are put to the test.
Reacher
Prime Video
Season Premiere!
Alan Ritchson returns as veteran military police investigator Jack Reacher in this action series’ eight-episode second season, which is based on Lee Child’s 11th Reacher novel, Bad Luck and Trouble. The story finds Reacher being pulled from his drifter lifestyle when he receives a coded message that the members of his former U.S. Army unit, the 110th MP Special Investigations, are being mysteriously and brutally murdered one by one. To investigate, he reunites with three of his former teammates turned chosen family: Frances Neagley (Maria Sten); Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan), a forensic accountant for whom Reacher has long had a soft spot; and fast-talking, switchblade-wielding family man David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos). Together, they begin to connect the dots in a mystery where the stakes get higher at every turn, and that brings about questions of who has betrayed them — and who will die next. The first three episodes are available today; new episodes drop Fridays.
Star of the Month: Cary Grant
TCM, beginning at 3:30pm
Catch a Classic!
Today’s lineup in Turner Classic Movies’ monthlong Friday salute to Hollywood legend Cary Grant includes seven films: The Pride and the Passion (1957), a drama set during the Napoleonic Wars, costarring Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren; the action classic Gunga Din (1939), also featuring Victor McLaglen and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.; screwball comedy favorites The Awful Truth (1937), with Irene Dunne, and His Girl Friday (1940), costarring Rosalind Russell and Ralph Bellamy; the ghostly comedy Topper (1937), also led by Constance Bennett; and a couple of Grant’s notable collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock: Suspicion (1941), costarring Best Actress Oscar winner Joan Fontaine, and North by Northwest (1959), which also features Eva Marie Saint and James Mason.
NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 7:30pm Live
LeBron James leads the L.A. Lakers against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in San Antonio. ESPN’s second game has the N.Y. Knicks in Phoenix to face the Suns.
The 91st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
The CW, 8pm
The annual Christmas parade will feature bands, character balloons, floats and performers.
The Secret Gift of Christmas
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
A personal shopper (Meghan Ory) helps a widowed client (Christopher Russell) reconnect with his young daughter while Christmas shopping.
Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors
NBC, 8pm
This 2015 film based on Dolly Parton’s tender tune of a family’s love and resilience is introduced and narrated by the music legend, and stars Ricky Schroder and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles as Parton’s parents Robert Lee and Avie Lee, with sparkling 8-year-old Alyvia Alyn Lind as the young Dolly.
50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
CBS, 9pm Live
Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner host the Daytime Emmy Awards at the Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles. Susan Lucci will receive her Lifetime Achievement Honors at the gala awards ceremony.
Filthiest Flips
HGTV, 9pm
From gross hoarder houses and vandalized nightmares to homes infested with roaches, rats and every insect known to man, David Bromstad reveals the most disgustingly dirty digs in HGTV’s history that turned into total stunners!
Lookingglass Alice
PBS, 9pm
Created and performed by Chicago’s Tony-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company, this exhilarating and acrobatic theatrical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland takes audiences down the rabbit hole to a circus-infused playground for a thrilling adventure.
Joe Bob’s Creepy Christmas
Shudder & AMC+, 9pm Live
Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy deck the bloody halls with a double-helping of Yuletide horror while raising money for the less fortunate. This year, they even get a little help from Old Saint Nick himself.
Saturday, Dec. 16
“Friends” Holiday-Themed Episodes Marathon
TBS, beginning at 8:30am
From “The One With Phoebe’s Dad” (Season 2) and “The One With the Inappropriate Sister” (Season 5) to “The One With All the Candy” (Season 7), “The One With the Holiday Armadillo” (Season 7) and more, it’s a nonstop Friends holiday marathon that is bittersweet with the recent passing of Matthew Perry.
College Football
ESPN & ABC, beginning at 11am Live
College football’s postseason bowl games kick off today with Georgia Southern vs. Ohio in the Myrtle Beach Bowl (ESPN), Jackson State vs. Louisiana in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (ESPN), Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State in the Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl (ABC), New Mexico State vs. Fresno State in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl (ESPN), UCLA vs. Boise State in the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk (ABC) and California vs. Texas Tech in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (ESPN).
Musical Matinee: “Meet Me in St. Louis”
TCM, 12pm
Catch a Classic!
Early 1900s St. Louis and its World’s Fair is the setting for director Vincente Minnelli’s beloved 1944 musical adaptation of Sally Benson’s short stories. Judy Garland stars as Esther Smith, a young woman whose romance with the boy next door (Tom Drake) is endangered when her father announces the family is moving to New York. Margaret O’Brien and Mary Astor also star in this film that was nominated for four Oscars, including one for “The Trolley Song” — one of the enduring Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane musical standards introduced by Garland in the film, along with “The Boy Next Door” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” She also memorably performs the film’s title tune.
College Basketball: CBS Sports Classic
CBS, beginning at 3pm Live
Legendary hoops programs are in Atlanta for this showcase pitting Ohio State vs. UCLA and preseason No. 19 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Kentucky.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
CBS, 8pm
The longest-running holiday special in television history returns as Rudolph and his friends — Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and others — save Christmas in this classic Rankin/Bass special featuring the voice of legendary performer Burl Ives.
Designing Christmas With You
Great American Family, 8pm
Original Film!
With her career on the line, a decorator (Susie Abromeit) must work with an unexpected partner (Liam McIntyre) to showcase a house for an upcoming Christmas gala.
Sealed With a List
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
During the holiday season, Carley (Katie Findlay) sets out to conquer her list of abandoned resolutions, aided by a dreamy coworker (Evan Roderick).
The Holiday Proposal Plan
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!
Travel columnist Sonny Kravitz (Tatyana Ali) and her ex-boyfriend Kip (Jesse Kove) are forced to team up to help their best friends Bree (Whitney Able) and Jarod (Geovanni Gopradi) get engaged. To set the backdrop, the four return to Sonny’s parents’ snowy chalet and set up 12 holiday traditions that are celebrated around the world to nudge a proposal.
Frosty the Snowman
CBS, 9pm
The classic animated musical special returns, narrated by Jimmy Durante. Jackie Vernon provides the voice of the “jolly, happy soul” whose old silk hat full of magic brings him to life. The special is followed by the 1992 sequel, Frosty Returns.
A Christmas Intern
Lifetime, 10pm
Original Film!
With the holidays approaching, Cecilia (Jackée Harry) discovers that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so she decides to make a surprise visit to her daughter Alexis (Ciarra Carter), who created and runs “Cyber Santa,” an online gift-giving business, where she takes on an internship. Also stars Vivica A. Fox.
Saturday Night Live: “Kate McKinnon/Billie Eilish”
NBC, 11:30pm Live; also livestreams on Peacock
Former SNL cast member Kate McKinnon returns to make her hosting debut tonight, joined by Billie Eilish in her third appearance as musical guest.
Sunday, Dec. 17
A Very Merry MeTV
MeTV, beginning at 1pm
This afternoon/early evening, enjoy holiday-themed episodes of Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mama’s Family and The Love Boat. Primetime will feature four Christmas episodes of All in the Family.
The Music Man
MOVIES!, 4:40pm
In this delightful Academy Award-winning 1962 film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name a charismatic con man (Robert Preston) masquerades as a band instructor to swindle the locals into paying him to create a boys’ marching band. Shirley Jones costars as the town librarian and piano instructor who wins his heart and eventually convinces the townspeople to forgive him, after he is outed by a disgruntled salesman from an earlier con. Additional costars include Buddy Hackett, Hermione Gingold, Paul Ford and Ron Howard.
The Sound of Music
ABC, 7pm
Catch a Classic!
Based on the great 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical of the same name, this 1965 big-screen adaptation of The Sound of Music is a stand-alone classic in its own right. One of the finest movie musical dramas ever produced, the hugely entertaining and practically flawless film won five of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Picture and Best Director (Robert Wise). It’s filled with a nonstop string of iconic and hummable tunes like “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “The Lonely Goatherd” and “The Sound of Music,” and these songs are all big parts of why audiences made the movie a blockbuster that was, for a few years, the highest-grossing film of all time. The other big reasons The Sound of Music succeeds so effectively are the engaging performances from its terrific cast members, led by Best Actress Oscar nominee Julie Andrews, who plays Maria von Trapp in a story based on von Trapp’s memoir. In the late 1930s, Maria, a young novitiate, is sent by her convent to Austria to become a governess to the seven children of widowed naval officer Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer in the role that made him a film star). Maria brings love and music into the lives of the von Trapp family, even as the rise of Nazism in neighboring Germany begins to cast an ominous shadow.
Dial S for Santa
UPtv, 7pm
Original Film!
When insurance investigator Lana (Sarah Dugdale) returns home for Christmas, she discovers that a string of robberies along Main Street has the shop owners scratching their heads over who could have done it. Seeing her chance to earn a big promotion by doing some real P.I. work, Lana tries to solve the case by any means necessary. Now, with Christmas Eve approaching and her suspect list narrowing, Lana must convince Nick (Julian Haig), the police chief, to let her help with the investigation. As the pair start spending more and more time together on the case, they begin to see each other as more than co-investigators.
The Chosen: “Ears to Hear”
The CW, 8pm
Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) and the disciples take a dangerous journey to the Decapolis.
Krapopolis: “Tyrdra”
FOX, 8pm
Tyrannis (voice of Richard Ayoade) invites a suicidal Hydra to come live with him and his family, but he comes to regret his decision when she accidentally embroils Krapopolis in chaos in the new episode “Tyrdra.”
12 Games of Christmas
Great American Family, 8pm
Original Film!
A group of old friends and neighbors are transported into a Christmas-themed board game during a holiday party.
Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen
PBS, 8pm
Miniseries Finale!
This three-part miniseries concludes with “Unfinished Portrait,” in which Lucy Worsley investigates Agatha Christie’s later life and discovers how, amid the turbulent social and political change of the 1930s and ’40s, newfound personal happiness ushered in a golden age for her writing. On a 1930 archaeological dig in Iraq, she met Max Mallowan, and, despite a 14-year age difference, they fell in love and married. Soon, Christie entered the most prolific and successful chapter of her career and achieved global celebrity.
NFL Football: Baltimore at Jacksonville
NBC, 8:15pm Live
A Sunday Night Football matchup of AFC playoff contenders takes place tonight in Jacksonville as Lamar Jackson leads the Baltimore Ravens against Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.
Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Celebration
CBS, 8:30pm
Country music icon Willie Nelson turned 90 years old in April, and some of the world’s biggest stars came together for a two-night, sold-out concert celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. This two-hour concert special features Nelson sharing the stage with guest artists Beck, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Norah Jones, Miranda Lambert, Dave Matthews, Keith Richards, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, and Nelson’s sons Lukas and Micah.
The Simpsons: “Murder, She Boat”
FOX, 8:30pm
Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) must solve a mystery when Comic Book Guy’s (Hank Azaria) million-dollar action figure is “murdered” on a pop culture cruise in the new episode “Murder, She Boat.”
Bob’s Burgers: “The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas”
FOX, 9pm
When the power goes out two days before Christmas, the Belchers must spend the holiday at Mr. Fischoeder’s (voice of Kevin Kline) family’s old hunting lodge in the new episode “The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas.”
The Gilded Age
HBO, 9pm
Season Finale!
In the Season 2 finale “In Terms of Winning and Losing,” the staff questions its future at the van Rhijns’ house, just as Peggy (Denée Benton) questions her future at The Globe.
The Toys That Built America
History, 9pm
Season Finale!
Two half-hour episodes close out Season 3. First, in “The Prank Toy Race,” see how the heated rivalry between entrepreneurs S.S. Adams and H. Fishlove produced hundreds of tricks and gags that entertained and annoyed generations of Americans, many of which are still being sold today. Then, “Most Valuable Toys” shows how over the past three decades, people have paid some truly outrageous prices to get their hands on that elusive toy they always wanted. But which ones are the most valuable of all time?
Beacon 23
MGM+, 9pm
Season Finale!
This sci-fi thriller finishes its first season with a two-episode finale. As Beacon 23 comes under attack, Aster (Lena Headey) must make a decision that could mean life or death for everyone onboard.
Family Guy: “The Return of The King (Of Queens)”
FOX, 9:30pm
When Lois (voice of Alex Borstein) decides to sell the family’s television to help pay for Christmas presents, Kevin James gets upset over losing Peter (Seth MacFarlane) as a viewer in the new episode “The Return of The King (Of Queens).”
Archer: Into the Cold
FX & FXX, 10pm
Series Finale!
Spy Sterling Archer (voice of H. Jon Benjamin) has one more mission to accomplish in this 90-minute finale event. Last seen, Archer and company evaded waves of assassin drones and saved the secretary-general of the United Nations. Still, the U.N. declared that all independent spy organizations are illegal and have 30 days to disband. In Into the Cold, Christian Slater reprises his Slater character, and Ona Grauer voices cyborg Katya Kazanova, who last appeared in Season 6. The voice cast also features Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash, Adam Reed, Lucky Yates and Natalie Dew.
A Duck Family Christmas
FOX News Channel, 10pm
It’s Christmastime in Tennessee and the Robertsons gather for treasure hunting and family traditions. Food is a big deal for the Robertson family — especially the Robertson men. Missy and Jessica take on the challenge and attempt to make Miss Kay’s famous crawfish pie for Christmas dinner.
Good Cop, Bad Cop
Investigation Discovery, 10pm
Season Finale!
Season 1 of the true-crime docuseries concludes with “Hunting the Hunter.” Calls flood into Silverton PD dispatch about a man shooting Rashawn Berry in broad daylight and fleeing the scene. A key piece of surveillance footage on the killer’s escape route shows that a broken heart could be at the center of this violent act.
Monday, Dec. 18
The Price Is Right at Night: “Holidays With the Family”
CBS, 8pm
Drew Carey hosts this one-hour primetime holiday edition of the beloved game show.
LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular
FOX, 8pm
In this two-night special event concluding Tuesday, guests NeNe Leakes, Marshawn Lynch, Kelly Osbourne and Rob Riggle pair up with fan-favorite former LEGO Masters contestants David Guedes, Caleb Schilling, Krystle Starr and Randall Wilson to compete in ingenious holiday-themed challenges for charities of their choice. Will Arnett hosts.
The Voice: “Live Finale, Part 1”
NBC, 8pm Live
The top five artists perform a ballad and an up-tempo song in front of the coaches to compete for the title. Viewers will have the chance to vote for their favorite artist overnight; results and the winner will be announced on tomorrow evening’s show.
25 Years With Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee
PBS, 8pm
Beloved Daytime Emmy Award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich, a restaurateur, bestselling cookbook author and host of one of the longest-running cooking shows, is celebrating 25 years on public television with a biographical documentary special showcasing her life story and all her various food-related endeavors. Beginning with her childhood in Istria, an Italian peninsula given to Yugoslavia in 1947 and now a part of Croatia, to growing up in Queens, where she briefly worked at a bakery owned by Christopher Walken’s parents, Bastianich shares how she turned the challenges of immigration into a recipe for success.
Miracle on Main Street
TCM, 8pm
Catch a Classic!
Turner Classic Movies’ weeklong Christmas marathon began yesterday and continues today with more titles airing all day. Among these titles is the network premiere of Miracle on Main Street, starring Mexican-born actress/dancer María Marguerita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O’Donnell, who wisely went under the much more manageable professional name of Margo when she began her stage and screen career in the United States. In this 1939 drama, Margo plays a sad striptease dancer who comes upon an abandoned baby in Los Angeles’ Spanish quarter on Christmas Eve. She initially uses the infant as a cover to escape arrest by the police who are after her, but as she becomes increasingly fond of the baby, could she dare try to change her ways and keep the child? Walter Abel, William Collier Sr., Jane Darwell and Lyle Talbot also star.
90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way
TLC, 8pm
Season Finale!
In “Tell-All Part 3,” host Shaun Robinson sits down with the cast of The Other Way Season 5 for a deep dive into the most talked about moments from the season and updates on where all the relationships stand now.
Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas
PBS, 9pm
In her latest holiday special, Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother’s homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter adventure. Inspired by her own family holidays, the beloved home cook whips up an array of sumptuous dishes, joined by three special friends: tennis star Andy Murray, comedian Iain Stirling and singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. Together they share stories, memories and indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime during the holidays.
“Password” Holiday Special
NBC, 10pm
The latest version of the classic celebrity word game Password, hosted by Keke Palmer and starring Jimmy Fallon, returns with a special holiday-themed edition ahead of its upcoming second season.
Tuesday, Dec. 19
The Great Christmas Light Fight
ABC, 9pm
Season Finale!
The Rowe, Spacy, Hanson and Tran families compete for their shot at taking home the $50,000 prize.
College Football: Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
ESPN, 9pm Live
Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, is the site of the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl between UTSA and Marshall on ESPN.
The Voice
NBC, 9pm Live
Season Finale!
Season 24 of the singing competition series crowns its winner at a special time tonight, following an hourlong recap of last night’s finale performances. The episode will include special performances by chart-topping artists and finalist/coach duets. The Voice will return in the spring for Season 25, which will see Dan + Shay as the first ever coaching duo, joining John Legend, Reba McEntire and Chance the Rapper, a Season 23 fan-favorite coach who will be making his return.
America at a Crossroads With Judy Woodruff
PBS, 9pm
At a time of heightened partisanship, declining trust in institutions, increased political violence and rapid social change, PBS NewsHour correspondent Judy Woodruff explores the forces driving Americans apart and asks people from all walks of life and all political persuasions what might be done to reverse these worrying trends.
Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel
HBO, 10pm
Series Finale!
After 29 seasons and 37 Sports Emmy Awards, Bryant Gumbel’s sports newsmagazine series signs off on HBO.
Frontline: “Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza”
PBS, 10pm
Explore the inside story of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s turbulent relationships with multiple U.S. presidents and the Palestinians, and the ongoing struggle over Middle East peace.
The Bells of St. Mary’s
TCM, 10:15pm
Catch a Classic!
In this Best Picture Oscar-nominated musical comedy/drama starring Best Actor nominee Bing Crosby and Best Actress nominee Ingrid Bergman, a priest and a nun who don’t quite see eye to eye try to work together to save a run-down inner-city school from being closed.
Wednesday, Dec. 20
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Disney+
New Series!
This series based on Rick Riordan’s bestselling young adult novels tells the fantastical story of 12-year-old modern demigod Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), who is just coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god, Zeus (Lance Reddick, who passed away earlier this year), accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. With help from his friends Grover (Aryan Simhadri) and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), Percy must embark on an adventure of a lifetime to find the bolt and restore order to Olympus. Notable guest stars include Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hermes, Megan Mullally as Alecto (aka Mrs. Dodds), Toby Stephens as Poseidon and Glynn Turman as Chiron (aka Mr. Brunner). The first two episodes are available today; new episodes drop Wednesdays.
Love Is Blind Brazil: After the Altar
Netflix
This special brings back the main contestants from the first three seasons of Love Is Blind: Brazil to reflect on their lives after the experiment and reveal to the public what has changed after saying “yes” (or “no”). Love Is Blind: Brazil will be back for Season 4 in 2024.
Maestro
Netflix
Feature Film Exclusive!
Bradley Cooper cowrote, produced, directed and stars as legendary conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein in this biographical drama. Described as “a love letter to life and art” and “an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love,” Maestro, which includes Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese as producers, chronicles the lifelong relationship between Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (portrayed by Carey Mulligan). The cast also includes Matt Bomer, Sarah Silverman, Maya Hawke and Michael Urie.
Survivor
CBS, 8pm
Season Finale!
Find out which castaway outwits, outplays and outlasts to claim the title of Sole Survivor in “Living the Survivor Dream,” the three-hour Season 45 finale.
Silent Night: A Song for the World
The CW, 8pm
This documentary, which has become a holiday tradition at The CW, tells the story of the creation and cultural impact of the world’s most famous Christmas carol, “Silent Night.” Composed in 1818 in Salzburg, Austria, the song is translated into 300 different languages and dialects. Hugh Bonneville provides the narration, and the special includes recordings by Kelly Clarkson, Joss Stone, John Rhys-Davies, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Randy Jackson, Gavin Rossdale, Josh Groban and many others.
The Masked Singer
FOX, 8pm
Season Finale!
See which performer wins the milestone 10th season of The Masked Singer in this two-hour finale event.
Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas
NBC, 8pm
Barry Manilow is one of the biggest artists of all time, selling more than 85 million albums over his seven-decade career. In this hourlong special that first aired Dec. 11, the singer, composer and songwriter performs his classic hits as well as several holiday favorites including “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Feliz Navidad” and “White Christmas” in this holiday special. “I think what we’ve got is the best of some of my hits and the best of these Christmas songs,” Manilow shares. “It’s very entertaining. It’s a real feel-good music show, something that I think we all need right now.”
Remember the Night
TCM, 8pm
Catch a Classic!
This Christmas romantic comedy from 1940 boasts a screenplay by the great Preston Sturges (the last film he wrote that he did not also direct). Barbara Stanwyck costars with Fred MacMurray, four years before their second and more iconic, and much darker, teaming in the classic 1944 film noir Double Indemnity. Here, Stanwyck plays Lee Leander, who is on trial for shoplifting. Assistant D.A. John Sargent (MacMurray), realizing that a conviction against a woman during the holiday season is nearly impossible, manages to get the judge to adjourn the case until the new year. Feeling guilty about Lee having to spend Christmas in jail, John posts her bail, and, eventually, over the course of a road trip from New York City to Indiana, where John takes Lee to spend Christmas with his family, a romance begins to develop. But how will that impact Lee’s impending trial?
Christmas at the Opry
NBC, 9pm
Wynonna Judd hosts this two-hour holiday event that was taped in October at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry House. The special features an array of Christmas favorites and today’s biggest hits, with performers including Brenda Lee, Kelly Clarkson, Mickey Guyton, Trace Adkins and more.
Thursday, Dec. 21
Whatever It Takes
BET+
Original Film!
On Thanksgiving weekend, five women navigating careers, life and the nuances of friendship bond over the imperfections in their love lives. The holidays bring some of them their greatest wishes and others their most profound losses. Tami Roman, Kandi Burruss, Brely Evans, AJ Johnson and Rayan Lawrence lead the cast.
Dr. Death
Peacock
Season Premiere!
This season of the true-crime anthology series follows “Miracle Man” Paolo Macchiarini (Edgar Ramírez), a charming Swiss-Italian surgeon renowned for his innovative operations. When investigative journalist Benita Alexander (Mandy Moore) approaches him for a story, the line between personal and professional begins to blur, changing her life forever. As she learns how far Paolo will go to protect his secrets, a group of doctors halfway across the world makes shocking discoveries of their own that call everything about him into question. All episodes are available today.
Dr. Death: Cutthroat Conman
Peacock
This documentary ties in with the story dramatized in the new season of the true-crime anthology series Dr. Death. It reveals the shocking rise and fall of Paolo Macchiarini, the superstar celebrity surgeon who ascended to global fame after performing the world’s first synthetic organ transplant, only to be exposed as an international con man whose web of lies extended decades, ensnared many — including those in his personal life — and left a trail of devastated patients grappling with a nightmare.
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023
ABC, 8pm
iHeartMedia will celebrate the holiday season with performances by the year’s biggest artists, including Olivia Rodrigo, Usher, Nicki Minaj, OneRepublic, Jelly Roll and more.
Son of a Critch: “European Vacation”
The CW, 8pm
Mark (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) tries to win back Fox (Sophia Powers) during a school trip; Pop (Malcolm McDowell) revisits his past life as a bootlegger.
The Christmas Break
FOX, 8pm
Original Film!
When couple Jack (Justin Long) and Caroline (India Mullen) travel to Caroline’s native Ireland for Christmas, they find themselves at a crossroads in their marriage.
Miracle in Bethlehem, PA
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 8pm
Original Film!
Due to some bad weather, Mary Ann Brubeck (Laura Vandervoort) and her recently adopted baby girl get stuck in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for the holidays. The only room available in town is with the innkeeper’s brother Joe (Benjamin Ayres), a local bachelor. As the two begin to spend time together during the community’s Christmas celebrations, they soon form a bond.
Christmas at Graceland
NBC, 8pm
The legacy of Elvis Presley and the spirit of the holiday season come together in this one-hour music special that first aired in November. Christmas at Graceland features music’s biggest stars celebrating the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, his music and his favorite time of year in an unprecedented holiday special. The special was filmed from all corners of the estate, which is guaranteed to excite the millions of people who have visited Graceland, as well as those who have not.
NFL Football: New Orleans at L.A. Rams
Prime Video, 8:15pm Live
Thursday Night Football comes to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as the New Orleans Saints take on the L.A. Rams.
Children Ruin Everything: “Expectations”
The CW, 8:30pm
Astrid (Meaghan Rath), set to give birth to her child, and James (Aaron Abrams) look back on when they first moved in.
Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic
CBS, 9pm
This two-hour entertainment special honors and celebrates the legendary career of iconic actor and performer Dick Van Dyke on his 98th birthday.
Lost Cities Revealed With Albert Lin
Nat Geo, 9pm
Season Finale!
“Miracle in the Desert,” the Season 1 finale, finds explorer Albert Lin and his team tackling the brutal heat of the desert and exploring remote mountain caves to reveal the secrets of the legendary Land of Magan.
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas
NBC, 9pm
Dolly Parton leads this 2022 production, a modern-day movie musical about the making of a network TV special. It showcases the frenetic backstage story and delightful onstage results of her desire to share the unique mountain magic she has always found in and around Dollywood at Christmastime. Throughout the production numbers and rehearsal chaos, Dolly finds herself taking a private journey into her past, guided by her personal Three Wise Mountain Men. The film includes Dolly’s hits “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” as well as a holiday medley and more. Among the musical guests are Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus.
The Man Who Came to Dinner
TCM, 10pm
Catch a Classic!
Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan and Monty Woolley lead this famous 1942 screwball comedy based on Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s play. Woolley plays the titular character, pretentious and acerbic New York radio personality Sheridan Whiteside, who falls and breaks his hip on the icy steps outside the home of the prominent small-town Ohio family with whom he was supposed to dine as a publicity stunt. Whiteside insists on recuperating in the family’s home during the Christmas holiday, and his overbearing nature, unreasonable demands and meddling in the day-to-day happenings of his hosts bring hilarious chaos to their once-peaceful lives. Jimmy Durante and Billie Burke also star.
The Haunted Museum
Travel Channel, 10pm
Season Finale!
Season 2 of the paranormal series concludes with “The Secret Society Skeleton,” with its scary story inspired by two skeletons that belonged to an Odd Fellows fraternal society, which were likely part of initiation rituals that brought recruits face-to-face with their own mortality.
Friday, Dec. 22
What If…?
Disney+
Season Premiere!
The Watcher is back for Season 2 of this Marvel animated series that takes viewers through the multiverse and introduces new and familiar faces as it questions, revisits and twists classic Marvel Cinematic Universe moments. Beginning today, one new episode will be available each day through Dec. 30.
Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire
Netflix
Original Film!
Zack Snyder (Man of Steel) cowrote and directed this epic science-fantasy event. When a peaceful settlement on a moon in the furthest reaches of the universe finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrant, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Motherworld, Kora assembles a small band of warriors from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge.
Saltburn
Prime Video
Feature Film Exclusive!
In this wicked tale of privilege and desire, Barry Keoghan plays Oliver Quick, an Oxford University student struggling to find his place. He ends up drawn into the world of charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten. Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan also star.
The 25th Annual A Home for the Holidays
CBS, 8pm
The 25th anniversary of this entertainment special features uplifting stories of adoption from foster care and raises awareness of this important social issue. The inspirational stories of these American families are enhanced with music from some of today’s top artists playing at the Bram Goldsmith Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love
NBC, 8pm
This 2016 film is the second production based on the life and works of Dolly Parton. It finds Dolly’s beloved daddy (Ricky Schroder) scheming to surprise Mama (Jennifer Nettles) with a Christmas gift that he could never afford. Young Dolly (Alyvia Alyn Lind) and her siblings excitedly join in the scrimping and saving in a selfless act of love.
Star of the Month: Cary Grant
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
This evening’s Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month salute to Cary Grant airs as part of the network’s weeklong Christmas marathon and features six films, beginning with the holiday-themed fantasy/romantic comedy The Bishop’s Wife (1947), which also stars Loretta Young and David Niven. Following that is the famous romantic drama An Affair to Remember (1957), which pairs Grant with Deborah Kerr. Next is Room for One More (1952), a comedy/drama costarring Betsy Drake, who was Grant’s third wife at the time. Following that is the 1941 melodrama Penny Serenade, in which Grant earned the first of his two Best Actor nominations, starring alongside Irene Dunne. Then, Grant stars with Carole Lombard, who had been most known for her work in screwball comedies, in the romantic drama In Name Only (1939). The lineup concludes early tomorrow with Grant, John Garfield and Alan Hale Sr. leading the cast of one of the first and best submarine movies: the World War II drama Destination Tokyo (1943).
Fit for Christmas
CBS, 9pm
Original Film!
In this 2022 holiday film, Audrey (Amanda Kloots) is a fitness instructor at a beloved but financially struggling community center in Mistletoe, Montana. Things get complicated when she strikes up a holiday romance with a charming businessman (Paul Greene) who wants to turn the center into a profitable resort property.
Homes That Make You Go WOW
HGTV, 9pm
From everyday houses stripped down to the studs and turned into showstoppers to stunning mansions and grand one-of-a-kind spaces, host David Bromstad puts on his diamonds and tours the biggest, most eye-popping and jaw-dropping homes in HGTV history.
Bering Sea Gold
Discovery Channel, 9:05pm
Season Finale!
The reality docuseries concludes Season 17 tonight.
Saturday, Dec. 23
Miracle on 34th Street
AMC, 10:15am
Catch a Classic!
This beloved Best Picture Oscar-nominated production has charmed audiences, critics and the Academy since its premiere in 1947. Its story (which earned an Original Story Oscar for Valentine Davies and a Screenplay Oscar for George Seaton) about a department store Santa Claus (Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Edmund Gwenn) who claims to be the real thing instantly propelled it into the “perennial holiday favorite” ranks alongside the likes of other classics like A Christmas Carol. A fun and touching mix of comedy, drama and Yuletide magic, the film also stars Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Gene Lockhart and Natalie Wood in her most famous performance as a child star.
College Football
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 12pm Live
A full day of college football bowl games has Troy vs. Duke in the 76 Birmingham Bowl (ABC), Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois in the Camellia Bowl (ESPN), James Madison vs. Air Force in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (ABC), Georgia State vs. Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (ESPN), South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan in the 68 Ventures Bowl (ESPN), Utah vs. Northwestern in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (ABC) and Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State in the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl (ESPN).
NFL Football
NBC & Peacock, beginning at 4:30pm Live
A Saturday NFL Week 16 doubleheader has the Cincinnati Bengals at the Pittsburgh Steelers on NBC, followed by the Buffalo Bills at the L.A. Chargers streaming on Peacock.
Planet Earth III
BBC America, 8pm
Series Finale!
In “Heroes,” the Planet Earth III finale, viewers are introduced to some incredible conservation champions fighting to preserve the future of our beautiful planet. The episode is followed by a behind-the-scenes special following camera crews as they worked over five years and traveled to every corner of the globe to capture astounding wildlife dramas.
Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night
The CW, 8pm
A young mother and a shepherd boy experience Jesus’ birth; Andrea Bocelli performs.
A Royal Christmas Holiday
Great American Family, 8pm
Original Film!
In search of her big break, a reporter (Brittany Underwood) arranges a Christmas interview with a European prince (Jonathan Stoddard) who is visiting the States. Will her big story become her love story?
Extended Family
NBC, 8pm
Sneak Preview!
This new comedy stars Jon Cryer and Abigail Spencer as Jim and Julia, a couple who, after an amicable divorce, decide to continue raising their two kids (Sofia Capanna and Finn Sweeney) at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated for Jim, however, when Trey (Donald Faison), the owner of his favorite sports team, enters the picture and wins Julia’s heart. Extended Family will begin airing regularly on Tuesday nights beginning Jan. 2.
Night Court: “A Night Court Before Christmas”
NBC, 8:30pm
In this special new episode of the reboot of the classic sitcom, airing just ahead of the series’ Season 2 return on Jan. 2, it is Christmastime at Night Court. Abby (Melissa Rauch) enlists Dan (John Larroquette) to track down a little girl’s letter to Santa; Gurgs’ (Lacretta) gift for Dan isn’t what she expected; and Olivia (India de Beaufort) is haunted by a witness who believes herself to be the Ghost of Christmas Present.
A “Saturday Night Live” Christmas Special
NBC, 9pm
Enjoy two hours of the most memorable Christmas-themed sketches from SNL’s long history.