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All Times Eastern. PBS programming varies regionally.
Friday, Dec. 20
College Football
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 12pm Live
Two college football bowl games today from Florida are the StaffDNA Cure Bowl in Orlando featuring Ohio vs. Jacksonville State, and the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa featuring Tulane vs. Florida, both on ESPN. The first College Football Playoff first-round game (ABC and ESPN) takes place tonight between Indiana and Notre Dame. The three remaining first-round games are tomorrow on ABC, ESPN and TNT.
Ferry 2
Netflix
Original Film!
This film features the return of drug lord Ferry Bouman (Frank Lammers) and continues the events of the third season of the Belgian crime drama Undercover. After losing it all, Ferry vanished into the shadows. On the surface, he is doing well, but that all changes when his second cousin, Jezebel van Kamp (Aiko Beemsterboer), pleads for help. Redemption beckons, but Ferry knows one secret must remain buried: his part in the murder of Jezebel’s father.
The Six Triple Eight
Netflix
Feature Film Exclusive!
Written and directed by Tyler Perry, this drama is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas during World War II. Given an extraordinary mission and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers. Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson and Shanice Shantay lead the cast.
National Christmas Tree Lighting
CBS, 8pm
The National Park Service and National Park Foundation present the official tree lighting and an all-star lineup of musical performances on the Ellipse in President’s Park in Washington, D.C.
Shrek the Halls
NBC, 8pm
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas reprise their voice roles from the hit Shrek feature films in this 2007 half-hour holiday special, whose story takes place between Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After.
Classic Christmas Marathon Begins
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
Turner Classic Movies’ annual daylong leadup to Christmas begins this evening. Starting tonight, and running through Dec. 25, enjoy several classic movies that are either all about Christmas, or at least feature it in some way. Tonight’s lineup offers Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), In the Good Old Summertime (1949), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), Bachelor Mother (1939), Penny Serenade (1941) and Blossoms in the Dust (1941).
Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays
CBS, 9pm
Josh Groban and special guests perform from the Bram Goldsmith Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles to celebrate family and raise awareness of adoption from foster care.
Children Ruin Everything
The CW, 9pm
Two back-to-back episodes air tonight: In “Ego,” Felix (Logan Nicholson) gets in trouble for defacing school property, and in “Memories,” Astrid (Meaghan Rath) realizes how hard she was on Nisha (Veena Sood) during her teenage years and tries to make up for it.
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Saturday, Dec. 21
A Christmas Carol
TCM, 10:30am
Catch a Classic!
Among the countless film and television adaptations of Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novella A Christmas Carol that have been produced, this MGM release from 1938 has been among the most beloved and among the ones most frequently seen on television. Given how familiar the tale has become, and how most adaptations hit a good number of the basic story points known and loved by readers and viewers, when it comes to watching different interpretations of A Christmas Carol, what usually matters most is what the various actors bring to the legendary characters. The cast in this relatively brief (only 69 minutes long) version — which is one of the more family-friendly adaptations, generally excising most of the darker and bleaker aspects of Dickens’ story — is fun, led by Reginald Owen as the miser Ebenezer Scrooge; real-life spouses Gene and Kathleen Lockhart as Bob Cratchit and his wife (with their real-life 13-year-old daughter June Lockhart, making her screen debut, in an uncredited role as a Cratchit daughter); Terry Kilburn as Tiny Tim Cratchit; Leo G. Carroll as the ghost of Jacob Marley; Ann Rutherford as the Spirit of Christmas Past; Lionel Braham as the Spirit of Christmas Present; and D’Arcy Corrigan as the Spirit of Christmas Future.
College Football Playoff: First Round
ABC, ESPN & TNT, beginning at 12pm Live
The College Football Playoff first round concludes today with SMU at Penn State and Clemson at Texas on TNT and Tennessee at Ohio State on ABC/ESPN. Winners advance to the quarterfinal round Dec. 31-Jan. 1 on ESPN.
College Basketball
CBS, ESPN, FOX & FS1, beginning at 12pm Live
Marquee college hoops action today includes Marquette at Xavier (FOX), Syracuse at Maryland (ESPN), Florida Atlantic at Michigan State (FS1), Wake Forest at Clemson (ESPN), Villanova at Creighton (FS1) and Purdue at Auburn (ESPN). The CBS Sports Classic at New York City’s Madison Square Garden has UCLA vs. North Carolina and Ohio State vs. Kentucky, both on CBS.
NFL Football
NBC & FOX, beginning at 1pm Live
A special Saturday afternoon twin bill of Week 16 NFL games has the Houston Texans at the Kansas City Chiefs on NBC, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Baltimore Ravens on FOX.
A Country Music Christmas
UPtv, 7pm
Original Film!
Songwriter Brooke (Alexandra Harris) has the decision of a lifetime to make when a charming executive makes promises of fortune and glory that require leaving her best friend and writing partner behind.
The Waltons’ Homecoming
The CW, 8pm
John-Boy (Logan Shroyer) embarks on a life-altering journey to find his father on Christmas Eve in this 2021 TV movie.
Christmas in Scotland
Great American Family, 8pm
Original Film!
On a trip to Scotland, an installation designer finds herself helping a small community create a festive light display, despite the interventions of a wealthy heir. Forced to work together, they unite to bring seasonal magic to the town. Jill Winternitz and Dominic Watters star.
Happy Howlidays
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
Mia (Jessica Lowndes), an editor for the Seattle Tourism Board website, finds herself unexpectedly navigating the holidays alone when she encounters a stray dog. After meeting Max (played by the to-be-announced winner of Finding Mr. Christmas), a dog shelter owner, she agrees to let his ailing dog find solace with her newfound companion in exchange for him showing her some hidden gems in Seattle, forcing her to discover new perspectives while forming a meaningful connection.
Saturday Night Live: “Martin Short/Hozier”
NBC, 11:30pm Live; also livestreams on Peacock
Martin Short returns for his third individual SNL hosting appearance, his fifth time overall. He is joined by Hozier, making his second appearance as musical guest. SNL will return with new episodes starting Jan. 18.
Sunday, Dec. 22
What If …?
Disney+
Season Premiere!
The animated Marvel series returns for its third and final season, featuring one new episode daily beginning today and continuing through next Sunday, Dec. 29. Once again, The Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright) guides viewers through alternate versions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, traversing new genres, bigger spectacles and fan-favorite characters like Captain America/Sam Wilson, The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes, Hulk/Bruce Banner, Red Guardian, Captain Peggy Carter, Agatha Harkness, Shang-Chi, Storm the Goddess of Thunder and others. A host of stars will be reprising their roles from the live-action films with voice-overs.
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas
The CW, 7pm
Network Premiere!
In this 2013 comedy, Madea (Tyler Perry) dishes out her own brand of Christmas spirit when she accompanies her niece, Eileen (Anna Maria Horsford), to a small rural town to pay a surprise visit to Eileen’s daughter (Tika Sumpter), who has refused to come home for the holiday.
North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery
UPtv, 7pm
Original Film!
Santa is back to help a new couple solve a mystery and find romance. Zoey (Abby Ross) has one Christmas wish — to produce the perfect holiday festival for her hometown of Willow Creek. That wish becomes more difficult when Dalton (Joe Scarpellino), the sponsor’s handsome but aggravating son, becomes her partner and his modern ideas clash with Zoey’s more traditional vision. However, when suspicious things start happening, they realize someone is trying to stop the festival, and they must team up to save it.
The Simpsons: “The Man Who Flew Too Much”
FOX, 8pm
In the new episode “The Man Who Flew Too Much,” the new and improved Pin Pals travel to Capital City for their first ever state bowling championship.
Coupled Up for Christmas
Great American Family, 8pm
Original Film!
Two heartbroken strangers pretend to be dating to win back the affection of their exes. Sara Canning and Marcus Rosner star.
Lucy Worsley’s Holmes vs. Doyle
PBS, 8pm
Series Finale!
In the final episode, “Shadows and Sleuths,” historian Lucy Worsley investigates how World War I and the reality of author Arthur Conan Doyle’s life shaped the darkness of later Sherlock Holmes stories. Worsley also looks at how Holmes’ legacy would grow on stage and screen into the 21st century.
Christmas in Connecticut
TCM, 8pm
Catch a Classic!
This beloved 1945 holiday farce stars Barbara Stanwyck as single New Yorker Elizabeth Lane, who in her job as a food writer has been pretending to live the life of a perfect farmer’s wife and mother, earning the admiration of real housewives nationwide under false pretenses. But when Elizabeth’s editor (Sydney Greenstreet), who is unaware she is lying, insists that she host a Christmas dinner for returning war hero Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan), a big fan of Elizabeth’s recipes (which she has been getting from someone else), she needs to scramble and cobble together both a farm and a “family” to pull off the dinner. Things get even more complicated when she meets Jones and it’s love at first sight.
NFL Football: Tampa Bay at Dallas
NBC, 8:15pm Live
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is the site of this Week 16 Sunday Night Football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys. (Subject to flexible scheduling.)
The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
CBS, 8:30pm
This year’s national celebration of the arts in Washington, D.C., lauds acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; legendary American rock band the Grateful Dead; blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval; and the Apollo, which will receive a special Honors as an iconic American institution.
The Great North: “The Lies Aquatic Adventure”
FOX, 9pm
While Beef (voice of Nick Offerman) is away, the family’s fishing boat goes missing, leading the Tobin siblings to wildly speculate on what could have happened in the new episode “The Lies Aquatic Adventure.”
Dune: Prophecy
HBO, 9pm
Season Finale!
This Dune prequel series telling the story of two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind concludes its first season. Emily Watson, Olivia Williams and Travis Fimmel star.
Small Town Christmas
UPtv, beginning at 9pm
Season Premiere!
Hosted and executive produced by Inside Edition national correspondent and bestselling author Megan Alexander, each episode of this series takes viewers to a different small town around the country to see how they celebrate the holidays. Two back-to-back half-hour installments air tonight. First, the series visits Oxford, Mississippi. Then, it travels to Bryson City, North Carolina.
Monday, Dec. 23
College Football
ESPN, beginning at 11am Live
Today’s college football bowl games are Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in South Carolina and Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise.
NFL Football: New Orleans at Green Bay
ESPN, 8pm Live
Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints try for an upset win on the road at Lambeau Field when they take on Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. (Subject to flexible scheduling.)
Christmas at Graceland
NBC, 8pm
The legacy of Elvis Presley and the spirit of the holiday season come together in this one-hour live music special that first aired in 2023. It features music’s biggest stars celebrating the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, his music and his favorite time of year, and is 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.
Holiday Affair
TCM, 8pm
Catch a Classic!
Robert Mitchum may be better known for his tough-guy roles in films noir, Westerns and dramas, but he displays a nice comic touch with a change-of-pace role for him in this 1949 Yuletide-flavored romantic comedy. Mitchum plays department store clerk Steve Mason, who ends up getting fired after he lets war widow Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh), who is also a comparison shopper for a rival store, off the hook for returning a pricey train set. But Steve is determined to make a Christmas gift of the toy to give to Connie’s young son — and to go to war for her affections against her sort-of steady (Wendell Corey). Harry Morgan, Henry O’Neill and Esther Dale also star.
Get Millie Black
HBO, 9pm
Season Finale!
This noir crime thriller following ex-Scotland Yard detective Millie-Jean Black (Tamara Lawrance) as she tries to crack missing persons cases concludes Season 1.
A “Saturday Night Live” Christmas
NBC, 9pm
Enjoy two hours of the most memorable Christmas-themed sketches from SNL’s long history.
Tuesday, Dec. 24
ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chief’s Clothing
Prime Video
This true-crime documentary follows the harrowing story of Kansas City Chiefs superfan and serial bank robber Xaviar Babudar — famously known as “ChiefsAholic.” Recognized for his distinctive wolf costume and boisterous social media antics, Babudar rose to fame as one of Kansas City’s most fervent fans. However, a secret life came to light when he was arrested in Bixby, Oklahoma, unraveling a series of unsolved bank robberies committed across the Midwest. Through interviews granted by Babudar himself, ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chiefs Clothing explores critical moments in the events surrounding Babudar’s initial arrest, and offers a firsthand perspective on his subsequent journey. The film captures never-before-seen interview footage with Babudar after he is released on bail and before he unexpectedly removed his ankle monitor and became a fugitive from the FBI. Babudar’s stunning move set off a four-month, nationwide manhunt to recapture him, led by bail bondsman Michael Lloyd, who had $80,000 of his own money at stake. Babudar would eventually be charged with the armed robbery of 11 financial institutions, stealing $847,725.00 across seven states. After a plea negotiation, Babudar was sentenced to serve 17.5 years in federal prison with no possibility of parole and was ordered to make restitution.
A Very Merry MeTV
MeTV, beginning at 7pm
Curl up by the fire and enjoy several Christmas-themed installments of classic TV shows. Featured are two episodes of M*A*S*H, followed by The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Carol Burnett Show, Holiday Greetings From The Ed Sullivan Show, Highway Patrol and Dragnet.
The Price Is Right at Night: “Holiday Heroes”
CBS, 8pm
First responders, police officers, firefighters and members of the military “come on down!” to play the beloved game show for cash, cars and big prizes. Host Drew Carey pays tribute to the nation’s heroes in this uplifting and heartwarming holiday episode.
College Football: Hawai’i Bowl
ESPN, 8pm Live
Two lucky college football teams get to spend Christmas Eve in Honolulu as the South Florida Bulls face the San José State Spartans in the Hawai’i Bowl tonight on ESPN.
It’s a Wonderful Life
NBC, 8pm
NBC is once again the exclusive broadcast home for Frank Capra’s beloved, Oscar-winning 1946 holiday classic. It stars Best Actor Oscar nominee James Stewart 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” Marathon
TBS, beginning at 8pm; TNT, beginning at 9pm
“You’ll shoot your eye out!” All 9-year-old Ralphie Parker wanted for the holidays was a Red Ryder air rifle, but the days leading up to Christmas, where he is surrounded by his less than perfect family and all sorts of setbacks, make this one of the most memorable and funny holiday classics of all time.
Christmas Eve Mass
NBC, 11:30pm
Watch the Pope Francis-led Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Wednesday, Dec. 25
Blended Christmas
BET+
Original Film!
After a freak accident, a new bride cancels her tropical Christmas honeymoon to take care of her husband’s ex-wife and kids, with a little help from a holiday angel.
Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2024
BritBox
Can Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and the team solve a series of eerie cases in time for the annual Christingle? When a man is haunted by the ghost of his dead wife, the team investigates. Esther (Zahra Ahmadi) assumes there must be a rational explanation, but when Humphrey also spots the ghost, it’s clear there is more to the case than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn) deals with a missing-person case when the Virgin Mary disappears from the church.
The Original Yule Log
Antenna TV, beginning at 5am
Enjoy the crackling sounds of a cozy fireplace, accompanied by delightful tunes celebrating the season, in this five-hour broadcast of the original televised Yule Log, which originally aired on New York’s WPIX beginning in 1966.
Christmas Marathon Concludes
TCM, beginning at 6am
Catch Several Christmas Classics!
Have a merry classic Christmas with a day full of beloved holiday-related films on MOVIES! and Turner Classic Movies. Among the highlights on MOVIES! today are A Christmas Carol (1951), An American Christmas Carol (1979), The Night They Saved Christmas (1984), Mrs. Santa Claus (1996), Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (1991), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) and more. TCM’s weeklong Christmas movie marathon wraps up today with a lineup featuring Never Say Goodbye (1946), All Mine to Give (1957), Little Women (1933), In the Good Old Summertime (1949), Holiday Affair (1949), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) and more.
NBA Basketball
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 12pm Live
The NBA’s Christmas Day tradition continues on ABC and ESPN with the San Antonio Spurs at the N.Y. Knicks, the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Dallas Mavericks, the Philadelphia 76ers at the Boston Celtics, the L.A. Lakers at the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets at the Phoenix Suns.
NFL Football
Netflix, beginning at 1pm Live
Netflix is the exclusive global home for the NFL’s two Christmas Day marquee games. Up first, the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs are at the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens visiting the Houston Texans. Beyoncé will be performing at halftime of this second game. The service will also be streaming at least one holiday game in 2025 and 2026 as part of a three-season deal.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
NBC, 8pm
In this original 1966 animated TV special based on Dr. Seuss’ classic story, Boris Karloff narrates and voices the title Grinch, who schemes to steal every material vestige of Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. But the Grinch ultimately discovers he can’t remove the spirit of Christmas from the Whos’ hearts.
“Call the Midwife” Holiday Special
PBS, 8pm
It’s Christmas 1969, and the fun fair and carol concert add color to frosty Poplar. Yet the festive spirit at Nonnatus House is dampened by the spread of influenza alongside growing fears of an escaped prisoner after a spate of break-ins.
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.
Thursday, Dec. 26
Carols From King’s Christmas Special 2024
BritBox
This beloved British celebration of Christmas is filmed amid the beauty of historic King’s College Chapel in Cambridge.
Squid Game
Netflix
Season Premiere!
Season 2 of this South Korean thriller picks up three years after Player 456, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), won the Squid Game. He gave up going to the States and has returned with a new resolution in his mind. He once again dives into the mysterious survival competition, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the large cash prize. According to director Hwang Dong-hyuk, this season explores “Gi-hun’s endeavor to find out who these people [running Squid Game] are and why they do what they do.”
Star of the Month: Mickey Rooney
TCM, beginning at 6am
Catch a Classic!
Turner Classic Movies’ monthlong Thursday celebration of beloved star Mickey Rooney concludes with another daylong marathon today. You knew TCM couldn’t let a Rooney celebration go by without showing at least one of the movies featuring his most famous role as Andy Hardy, right? Well, today you get all 16 of the films in that franchise, in order, beginning with the first title, 1937’s A Family Affair, to the final installment, 1958’s Andy Hardy Comes Home. A few of the titles in between re-teamed Rooney with costar Judy Garland as Betsy Booth, before Garland took off as a major star in her own right: Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), which also features Lana Turner in an early role, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) and Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941).
College Football
ESPN, beginning at 2pm Live
ESPN presents a college football bowl game tripleheader with Pittsburgh vs. Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit, Rutgers vs. Kansas State in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix and Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
Scrabble
The CW, 8pm
Season Finale!
Wordsmiths compete to win the final prize of the season in this reality competition series hosted by Raven-Symoné.
E! News Presents NBC’s Hot 10 of 2024
NBC, 8pm
E! News’ Justin Sylvester and Keltie Knight highlight the biggest and most unforgettable moments of the year, from the Olympics to award show trendsetters and the buzziest celebrity couples, in addition to blockbuster films, television, music, sports and more, along with what to expect in 2025.
NFL Football: Seattle at Chicago
Prime Video, 8:15pm Live
Soldier Field in Chicago is the site of this Week 17 Thursday Night Football contest between the Seattle Seahawks and the Bears.
The Year: 2024
ABC, 9pm
Host Robin Roberts looks back at the most memorable and iconic moments of 2024, and the best of what’s to come in 2025. From major news events and pop-culture stories in the news to the breakout stars, heroes and changemakers — revisit it all.
Trivial Pursuit
The CW, 9pm
Season Finale!
Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton hosts the final episode of the competition game show’s season.
The Flipping El Moussas
HGTV, 9pm
Season Premiere!
In “A Flipping Mess,” Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa will kick off a new season in Hawthorne, California, where they tackle their most extreme flip project to date. With a Herculean effort, the couple will face years of muck and multiple construction setbacks to turn the trashy bungalow into a highly desirable home that hopefully delivers a strong return on their investment.
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas
NBC, 9pm
Dolly Parton leads this 2022 production, a modern-day movie musical that 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.
Friday, Dec. 27
College Football
ESPN & FOX, beginning at 12pm Live
College football’s postseason continues today with Oklahoma vs. Navy in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (ESPN), Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl (ESPN), Texas Tech vs. Arkansas in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl (ESPN), Syracuse vs. Washington State in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl (FOX) and Texas A&M vs. USC in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (ESPN).
NHL Hockey
ESPN2, beginning at 7pm Live
An NHL doubleheader on ESPN2 has the Chicago Blackhawks at the Buffalo Sabres and the Colorado Avalanche at the Utah Hockey Club.
The Greatest @Home Videos: “Holiday Edition”
CBS, 8pm
Cedric the Entertainer is back with his annual special featuring a delightful mix of cute, hilarious, over-the-top, creative and incredibly heartfelt videos that are perfect for the festive season.
In Memoriam
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
Turner Classic Movies offers an evening of films starring or produced by great talents we lost in 2024 (who have not already been honored with stand-alone tributes on the network). Remembered during this night will be French actor Alain Delon, in the 1967 crime thriller Le Samouraï; actress/producer Shelley Duvall, in writer/director Robert Altman’s psychological thriller 3 Women (1977), costarring Sissy Spacek and Janice Rule and making its TCM premiere; character actor M. Emmet Walsh, in Ethan and Joel Coen’s first film, the 1984 neo-noir crime thriller Blood Simple; French actress Anouk Aimée, in the romantic drama Lola (1961); actress/singer Janis Paige, in the musical romantic comedy Romance on the High Seas (1948), also featuring Doris Day in her film debut; and actor Darryl Hickman, in the biographical drama Fighting Father Dunne (1948).
Grammy Greats: The Stories Behind the Songs
CBS, 9pm
Gayle King and Mickey Guyton host this special featuring Grammy winners for Song of the Year discussing the stories behind their creations. Interviews include Billie Eilish, Finneas, Richard Marx, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Mark Ronson, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Brandi Carlile, Bonnie Raitt, Sting and Lady A.
Craft in America: “Science”
PBS, 9pm
From the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico to the computer science labs of MIT and NASA, this episode investigates the unexpected intersection between art and the sciences, spanning technology, engineering, biology, math and the current climate situation.
Saturday, Dec. 28
College Football
ABC, The CW & ESPN, beginning at 11am Live
A full day of college football bowl game action is in store with UConn vs. North Carolina in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl (ESPN), Boston College vs. Nebraska in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl (ABC), Louisiana vs. TCU in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl (ESPN), Iowa State vs. Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (ABC), Miami (Ohio) vs. Colorado State in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (The CW), East Carolina vs. NC State in the Go Bowling Military Bowl (ESPN), BYU vs. Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl (ABC) and Louisiana Tech vs. Army in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (ESPN).
College Basketball
ESPN2, FOX & FS1, beginning at 12pm Live
The Saturday college basketball national TV slate includes Coppin State at Georgetown (FS1), Ole Miss at Memphis (ESPN2), Loyola Maryland at DePaul (FS1), Delaware at St. John’s (FS1) and UCLA at Gonzaga (FOX).
NFL Football
NFL Network, beginning at 1pm Live
NFL Network airs three Saturday games in Week 17, choosing from a pool of five matchups: Denver at Cincinnati, Arizona at L.A. Rams, L.A. Chargers at New England, Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants and Atlanta at Washington.
Two for One: Nicole Holofcener
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
TCM primetime host Ben Mankiewicz is joined by director/screenwriter Nicole Holofcener (Walking and Talking), who introduces two films of her choosing. Holofcener will offer commentary on each title’s cultural significance and its influence on other films, behind-the-scenes stories, and her own personal reflections on them. The titles she has chosen are Coming Home (1978), the Best Picture Oscar-nominated drama from Best Director nominee Hal Ashby, led by Best Actor winner Jon Voight, Best Actress winner Jane Fonda and Best Supporting Actor nominee Bruce Dern, followed by The Last Detail (1973), a comedy/drama also directed by Ashby, and starring Best Actor nominee Jack Nicholson and Best Supporting Actor nominee Randy Quaid.