TV Best Bets

Thursday, Dec. 1: I Never Thought It Was Such a Bad Little Tree

A Charlie Brown Christmas © Peanuts Worldwide

All Times Eastern.

Thursday, Dec. 1

A Charlie Brown Christmas
ABC, 8pm
This, Charlie Brown, is what Christmas TV is all about. Get out your shiny aluminum Christmas tree and practice your pageant dancing, because Charles M. Schulz’s 1965 charmer is back on ABC.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
The CW, 8pm
Crossover Event!
In the finale of the epic 4-night event, the Legends learn the aliens’ plan for the world and must work together with The Flash (The Flash’s Grant Gustin), Supergirl (Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist) and Green Arrow (Arrow’s Stephen Amell) to kill them once and for all.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live
TNT’s Thursday night NBA doubleheader has Chris Paul and the L.A. Clippers visiting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by James Harden and the Houston Rockets at Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors.

NFL Football: Dallas at Minnesota
NBC & NFL Network, 8:20pm Live
Two teams with NFC playoff hopes are in action on Thursday Night Football as the Minnesota Vikings host the Dallas Cowboys at the new U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Great Indoors: “Going Deep”
CBS, 8:30pm
When Jack (Joel McHale) is clueless about how to help Eddie (Chris Williams) through the pain of his divorce, Brooke (Susannah Fielding) steps up to be Eddie’s interim best friend in the new episode “Going Deep.”

Nightwatch
A&E, 9pm
Season Premiere!
As the third season premieres, the New Orleans EMS is opening a brand-new facility after losing its home base during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina more than a decade prior. As their beloved city sees a crippling spike in heroin overdoses, everyone — from the police to the EMS — is on high alert. And when a fellow police officer is struck down while on duty, the entire Nightwatch family must rally one another and the community for support.

Mom: “Xanax and a Baby Duck”
CBS, 9pm
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) directed the new episode “Xanax and a Baby Duck,” in which an overprotective Christy (Anna Faris) keeps a constant eye on her 12-year-old son, Roscoe (Blake Garrett Rosenthal), after discovering he has been using drugs and alcohol.

Life in Pieces: “Boxing Opinion Spider Beard”
CBS, 9:30pm
Guest Star Alert!
John’s (James Brolin) plan to encourage Samantha (Holly J. Barrett) to skip her ballet class and take up boxing has unexpected consequences. Professional boxer Victor Ortiz guest-stars as a boxing trainer in the new episode “Boxing Opinion Spider Beard.”

Top Chef
Bravo, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Eight former chef-testants return for redemption as they head to Charleston, S.C., to battle alongside eight Top Chef newbies. Returning favorites include Season 3 finalist and Season 8 all-star Casey Thompson, fan favorite Sheldon Simeon from Seattle’s Season 10, and multicultural culinary standout Katsuji Tanabe from Season 12 in Boston.

Pure Genius: “Bunker Hill, We Have a Problem”
CBS, 10pm
Walter (Dermot Mulroney) and the Bunker Hill surgeons must perfect a revolutionary remote surgery when someone on the International Space Station needs an emergency procedure in the new episode “Bunker Hill, We Have a Problem.”

Falling Water: “Three Half Blind Mice”
USA Network, 10pm
A blackout brings Taka (Will Yun Lee) and Tess (Lizzie Brocheré) together, while Burton (David Ajala) finds evidence that the Woman in Red exists outside his dreams.

Friday, Dec. 2

Pacific Heat
Netflix
New Series!
This animated comedy series follows the exploits of a dynamic unit of undercover police investigators working on the glitzy Gold Coast of Australia. This glamorous, sophisticated and sun-drenched paradise masks a hotbed of criminals — everyone from drug smugglers and biker gangs to eco-terrorists and the person who invented frozen yogurt.

“I Love Lucy” Christmas Special
CBS, 8pm
Two back-to-back classic episodes of the 1950s series I Love Lucy are featured in tonight’s “I Love Lucy” Christmas Special. “The Christmas Episode” (first presented in December 1956), now colorized in its entirety, is paired with the newly colorized “Lucy Gets in Pictures” (first broadcast in February 1955), in which Lucy gets a part as a showgirl in a motion picture musical. The two episodes are seamlessly combined into one set with no interruption between the episodes.

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 8pm Live
LeBron James leads the reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers into Chicago’s United Center to face Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls, and James Harden’s Houston Rockets head to Denver for a date with the Nuggets, in ESPN’s NBA doubleheader.

College Football: Pac-12 Championship Game
FOX, 9pm Live
The winners of the Pac-12 North and South Divisions play in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Z Nation: “The Siege of Murphytown”
Syfy, 9pm
Warren (Kellita Smith) leads an attack on Murphytown and finally faces off with Murphy (Keith Allan).

CMT Crossroads
CMT, 10pm
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys makes her CMT debut when she is paired with newcomer Maren Morris, a Nashville singer/songwriter who has taken the country world by storm.

Van Helsing: “He’s Coming”
Syfy, 10pm
While on the road to a vampire-controlled camp, Vanessa (Kelly Overton) and Mohamad (Trezzo Mahoro) find themselves in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse against Sam (Christopher Heyerdahl). Sheema (Naika Toussaint) discovers a secret that can bring down the ghetto-cell of the Resistance, while Julius (Aleks Paunovic) takes a clandestine meeting with Dmitri (Paul Johansson). Ultimately, Vanessa and Mohamad walk into a trap that places one of them in great peril.

Saturday, Dec. 3

College Basketball: UCLA at Kentucky
CBS, 12:30pm Live
CBS tips off its 2016-17 college basketball schedule with this matchup between two storied programs as the UCLA Bruins visit the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

College Football: Big Ten Championship Game
FOX, 8pm Live
The winners of the Big Ten’s East and West Divisions meet tonight in the Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

A Dream of Christmas
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
An ambitious but discontented young married woman (Nikki DeLoach) gets more than she bargained for when she is granted a wish to be single again. She awakens one morning to discover she has the home, car and job of her dreams, but soon realizes she’s missing an important part of her life — her husband (Andrew Walker). Also stars Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley).

Homicide for the Holidays
Oxygen, 8pm
New Series!
Deck the halls with true crime cases in the first two hours of a two-part, four hour series that reveals how tumultuous the holiday season can really be. In the first horrifying holiday case, “A Deadly Thanksgiving,” a deranged shooter attacks a family at Thanksgiving dinner, leaving four dead and setting off a massive manhunt to catch the killer. In the second freaky episode, “Christmas Carnage in Carnation,” when six members of the Anderson family are gunned down in their home, detectives work closely with family friends to track down the murderer. Next week, two more true stories will be highlighted.

Pearl Harbor: 75 Years Later
History, 9pm
This two-hour special looks back at Dec. 7, 1941 — the date that has indeed lived in infamy, as President Franklin Roosevelt promised — when imperial Japan attacked the U.S. naval forces in Hawaii, ushering America into World War II.

A Firehouse Christmas
ION, 9pm
Original Film!
Life is good for Tom, an ex-Olympic hockey star, and his firefighter girlfriend, Jenny. But when Tom’s soon-to-be ex-wife, herself a former Olympic figure skater, authors a book of relationship tips, she’s convinced that she’ll sell more books if she and Tom appear to be a happy couple. The ruse puts Tom’s love to the test. Stars Anna Hutchison, Marcus Rosner, Anita Brown and Bruce Dawson.

The Killing Season: “American Nightmare”
A&E, 10pm
Season Finale!
With the help of local advocates and former FBI agents, Rachel and Josh search for eight missing women on Albuquerque’s West Mesa and discover that they may be dealing with something even more sinister than a lone serial killer. In an attempt to uncover clues, the pair score a lead from an admitted serial killer that proves too tempting to ignore and leads them back to Long Island to meet with someone unusual. Meanwhile, a break in the Gilgo case exposes corruption, bringing the team back to the beginning and giving them new hope.

Pete Holmes: Faces and Sounds
HBO, 10pm
The star of HBO’s upcoming comedy series Crashing — for which Holmes collaborates with super-producer Judd Apatow — performs his standup act in this special taped at Chicago’s Vic Theatre in April.

Sunday, Dec. 4

College Football Playoff Selection Show
ESPN, 12pm Live
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee releases the final rankings of the season and announces the four teams that will be competing in the Dec. 31 Peach and Fiesta Bowl semifinal games.

Girlfriends of Christmas Past
UP TV, 7pm
Original Film!
Three strong-willed women join forces to seek the ultimate revenge on their cheating ex at his upcoming holiday retreat. But when one of the women has an opportunity for romance, she must decide if she can forgive and allow a new love into her heart. Stars Tammin Sursok, Lindsey McKeon, John Brotherton and Meagan Holder.

Looks Like Christmas
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
An overinvolved mom (Anne Heche), dubbed “Christmas Carol” by the parents at her child’s school, meets her match when an equally enthusiastic single dad (Dylan Neal) moves into town. Before long, he’s being called “Terry Christmas” and offers himself to put on the school’s Christmas play. The pair falls into a tug-of-war over who can create the most memorable Christmas spectacular in school history, but ultimately the two learn to work together and a holiday romance starts to bloom.

Secrets and Lies: “The Brother/The Truth”
ABC, 9pm
Season Finale!
In “The Brother,” the first of tonight’s back-to-back episodes, one long-held secret and years of deceit leads to an explosive revelation that will change the Warner family forever. As the situation reaches a fever pitch, Eric (Michael Ealy) makes a tragic admission about his past. And though he claims not to know who killed Kate (Jordana Brewster), it is becoming increasing clear to Detective Cornell (Juliette Lewis) who the murderer is. Then, in “The Truth,” Patrick (Charlie Barnett) grapples with his new reality, as the killer is exposed. Meanwhile, Danny (Kenny Johnson) continues his frantic search for his daughter, hoping for one more chance to be a real dad — but it’s Cornell who faces a devastating surprise.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: “Rome”
CNN, 9pm
Season Finale!
Bourdain’s Roman holiday takes a cinematic turn, influenced by his tour guides — actress Asia Argento, screenwriter/director Abel Ferrara and a host of larger-than-life Romans who take him inside Rome through the eyes of its locals. Bourdain shares drinks at the “Friends Corner” trattoria in Lido di Ostia, dines on a traditional Roman meal at Trattoria Morgana, eats pasta and watches an amateur boxing match in the suburbs, and takes a trip to the famed EUR zone built by Mussolini.

Mariah’s World
E!, 9pm
New Series!
E! cameras go beyond the flashbulbs, beyond the fame and into the private, jet‑set life of one of the most celebrated pop divas of all time: singer, songwriter and mega-producer Mariah Carey. The eight‑episode series features an intimate look at the world‑renowned icon — including her family, friends and amazing fans — and gives viewers VIP access to Carey as she tours the U.K., Europe and Africa, and vacations in Capri and Lake Como.

Hearts of Christmas
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9pm
Original Film!
When head nurse Alice Shelby (Sharon Lawrence), the heart and soul of Community Memorial Hospital’s NICU, is forced into early retirement as part of a cost-cutting plan, Jenny Miller (Emilie Ullerup) and her colleagues decide to give her a send-off to remember. But after witnessing the gratitude of parents whose children have been cared for by Alice, the hospital’s new CFO, Matt Crawford (Kristoffer Polaha), has a change of heart.

A Cinderella Christmas
ION, 9pm
Original Film!
At a holiday masquerade ball, fledgling event planner Angie Wells (Emma Rigby) and wealthy playboy Nicholas Karmichael (Peter Porte), who needs to marry to retain his inheritance, meet and fall for each other anonymously. While Nicholas tries to locate the girl of his dreams, Angie must choose between pursuing her lifelong dream of running a business or following her heart.

The Lost Tapes: “Pearl Harbor”
Smithsonian Channel, 9pm
New Series!
Smithsonian Channel’s new series The Lost Tapes relies entirely on radio reports, television footage, rarely seen photos and other media — no narration or interviews — to look back at major historical events. The series kicks off with a look back at the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which led America into World War II, as we approach the 75th anniversary of that event.

The Last Man on Earth: “Whitney Houston, We Have a Problem”
FOX, 9:30pm
After finding a mysterious note left by Melissa (January Jones) that says “Goodbye,” the gang sets off to go look for her.

The Royals
E!, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Season 2 ended with enough dramatic jewels to fill a crown, and the pièce de résistance was the shocking revelation that Prince Robert (new series regular Max Brown) is alive! Season 3 picks up with the Lazarus-like prince on a deserted island, King Cyrus (Jake Maskall) fighting cancer, and Prince Liam (William Moseley) and Princess Eleanor (Alexandra Park) floundering after orchestrating the public assassination of their father’s murderer. And Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley) is still conniving and comely in couture, and has a plan to return her children to the British throne.

Pearl Harbor: The Truth
History, 10pm
This program looks at new revelations from previously undisclosed documents that expose appalling intelligence and military blunders that allowed the early warning signs of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to be missed.

Ocean Warriors
Animal Planet, 9pm
New Series!

From executive producers Robert Redford and Paul Allen, Animal Planet premieres this gripping new series that propels viewers to the edge of a vast frontier and a battle critical to Earth’s survival. Impossible to control or police, the oceans that cover three-fifths of the globe and border 146 countries are home to a new breed of outlaw mercenaries who threaten not just marine life but the entire planet. A six-part series, Ocean Warriors features unlikely heroes with a passion for justice as they track down these criminals in high-adrenaline missions. The series premieres Sunday with back-to-back episodes and continues on Dec. 11 and 18.

Monday, Dec. 5

The Great Christmas Light Fight
ABC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
ABC’s popular, family-friendly series returns with celebrity judges Carter Oosterhouse (Trading Spaces) and Taniya Nayak (Restaurant: Impossible). Weekly back-to-back episodes feature families and neighborhoods turning their homes into dazzling holiday displays for thousands of dollars in prizes.

Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Programming Week
American Heroes Channel, 8pm
Four nights of programming will commemorate the anniversary of the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii in December 1941, which brought America into World War II. The week kicks off tonight with an airing of the 1953 classic film From Here to Eternity. The week will also include the original special Pearl Harbor: The Heroes Who Fought Back.

Showtime at the Apollo
FOX, 8pm
Steve Harvey hosts a two-hour special that pays homage to Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater and reimagines the television series Showtime at the Apollo, which aired from 1987-2008. The night promises star-studded comedy and musical performances, but there’s no word yet if longtime sexy siren Kiki Shepard will make an appearance, or if the special will include a tribute to vaudeville performer and “hook”-master Howard “Sandman” Sims.

The Trans List
HBO, 8pm
Photographer/filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders — award-winning creator of The Black List, The Latino List and The Out List — continues the series with this intimate dialogue with prominent transgender figures, including Orange Is the New Black’s Laverne Cox and former sports superstar Caitlyn Jenner.

The Voice: “Live Semifinal Performances”
NBC, 8pm Live
The top eight artists perform live in front of coaches Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.

NFL Football: Indianapolis at N.Y. Jets
ESPN, 8:15pm Live
Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts head to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for a Week 13 meeting with Ryan Fitzpatrick and the N.Y. Jets on Monday Night Football.

Man With a Plan: “Holey War”
CBS, 8:30pm
When the kids won’t admit who put a hole in the wall, Adam (Matt LeBlanc) and Andi (Liza Snyder) team up to get the culprit to confess in the new episode “Holey War.”

2 Broke Girls: “And the About FaceTime”
CBS, 9pm
In the new episode “And the About FaceTime,” when Randy (guest star Ed Quinn) and Max (Kat Dennings) get tired of Caroline (Beth Behrs) interfering on their FaceTime dates, Randy sets her up with one of his coworkers.

Conviction: “A Different Kind of Death”
ABC, 10pm
Guest Star Alert!
Wallace (Eddie Cahill) asks the CIU to take the case of a death-row inmate, Earl Slavitt (The Waltons’ Richard Thomas, who guest-stars), who was convicted of murdering federal prosecutor Tom Simon, one of Wallace’s best friends. Because the victim did not believe in the death penalty, Wallace — along with Simon’s widow — want be certain of Slavitt’s guilt. With only days left before the execution, the CIU team shifts into high gear, discovering unsettling things about Simon’s reputation that will challenge both Hayes (Hayley Atwell) and Wallace as the case draws to a stunning conclusion.

Timber Creek Lodge
Bravo, 10pm
New Series!
Follow the upstairs downstairs antics of the hardworking and sexy staff whose job is to serve a slew of elite clientele at an ultra-luxurious North America ski lodge. These hot hoteliers live in tight quarters and burn the candle at both ends as they manage their relationships with each other and cater to every whim of their high-class vacationers.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
CBS, 10pm
The Victoria’s Secret Angels return to the runway for this annual spectacle of fashion and music, held for the first time in Paris. The lineup of all-star models include returning favorites Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Aldridge, Elsa Hosk and Jasmine Tookes, who will be wearing the $3 million Fantasy Bra. The show features musical performances by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd.

Timeless: “Last Ride of Bonnie & Clyde”
NBC, 10pm
On the run with the bank-robbing Barrow gang, the team needs to gain the trust of ill-fated lovers Bonnie (guest star Jacqueline Byers) and Clyde (guest star Sam Strike) in order to find out Flynn’s (Goran Visnjic) target in the Depression-era South.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

Reggie Watts: Spatial
Netflix
Comedian/musician Reggie Watts brings viewers along on a one-of-a-kind surrealist experimental comedy adventure. The completely improvised show, filmed live on a soundstage in Los Angeles, weaves together sketches, short stories and dream sequences for a unique experience.

The Middle: “Trip and Fall”
ABC, 8pm
Guest Star Alert!
The Hecks’ trashy neighbor Rita Glossner (guest star Brooke Shields) talks an apprehensive Frankie (Patricia Heaton) into a road trip. Meanwhile Mike (Neil Flynn) takes an embarrassing fall at the quarry and is even more humiliated when OSHA is called in to investigate. Sue (Eden Sher) tries to mend fences between Axl (Charlie McDermott) and the family, after her brother learns their true feelings about April (Greer Grammer).

NCIS: “Pay to Play”
CBS, 8pm
Guest Star Alert!
The NCIS team investigates a series of escalating threats against a congresswoman (guest star Mary Stuart Masterson), while Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) oversees temporary protection detail, in the new episode “Pay to Play.”

The Voice: “Live Semifinal Results”
NBC, 8pm Live
America votes to keep the top three artists in the competition following last night’s performances. After these finalists are revealed, the bottom two artists will be sent home immediately, while the middle three compete in the Instant Save for the last spot in the finale.

New Girl: “Es Good”
FOX, 8:30pm
Guest Star Alert!
Former Mike & Molly star Billy Gardell plays a difficult house contractor whose respect is one thing Schmidt (Max Greenfield) can’t nail down, so Schmidt enlists his buddy Nick (Jake Johnson) for help.

Fresh Off the Boat: “The Taming of the Dads”
ABC, 9pm
To celebrate their one-year anniversary, Eddie (Hudson Yang) reluctantly agrees to take Alison (Isabella Alexander) to the see a modern remake of Romeo and Juliet. But when the young couple’s dads bond over their love of Shakespeare and crash their kids’ date, Alison wonders if Eddie’s and her romance has lost its spark. Meanwhile, Jessica (Constance Wu) gets called for jury duty and campaigns to be the “Jury Boss.”

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Bravo, 9pm
Season Premiere!
The lovely L.A. ladies are back! Erika Girardi, Lisa Vanderpump, Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna and Eileen Davidson return for Season 7 and are joined by new housewife Dorit Kemsley — whose husband is a powerful celebrity manager — and friend Eden Sassoon, daughter of the hair-care king Vidal Sassoon. Expect tons of drama and the franchise’s trademark trips: This year the show heads to Mexico, Hong Kong, Georgia and Mykonos.

Bull: “Too Perfect”
CBS, 9pm
In the new episode “Too Perfect,” Bull’s (Michael Weatherly) efforts to assist with his ex-wife Isabella’s (guest star Yara Martinez) defense in a wrongful death lawsuit are hindered by unresolved issues from their marriage and her longstanding rift with her brother, Benny (Freddy Rodriguez).

No Tomorrow: “No Truer Words”
The CW, 9pm
Evie (Tori Anderson) must enlist Timothy’s (Jesse Rath) help after a hurtful secret shatters Xavier’s (Joshua Sasse) world.

Scream Queens: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel”
FOX, 9pm
Scream Queens’ own Jamie Lee Curtis directs this episode. A man from Dean Munsch’s (Curtis) past checks in to the C.U.R.E. Institute with plans to win her back.

This Is Us: “Last Christmas”
NBC, 9pm
The Pearson family finds themselves at the hospital on Christmas Eve after little Kate comes down with appendicitis. When they run into Dr. K. (Gerald McRaney), who is alone at the hospital, they realize they need to be there for him as much as he was once there for them. Presently, Kevin (Justin Hartley) celebrates Hanukkah with Olivia (Janet Montgomery) and her family, Kate (Chrissy Metz) continues to pursue her big surgery and someone from William’s (Ron Cephas Jones) past reappears in his life.

Gangsters: America’s Most Evil
Reelz, 9pm
Season Premiere!
A new season of hourlong episodes looks at the sinister side of celebrity, with profiles on the lethal beauties, outlaws and kingpins who inspire nightmarish Hollywood crime dramas.

NCIS: New Orleans: “Music to My Ears”
CBS, 10pm
After a member of the prestigious United States Navy Band is murdered in her home, Pride (Scott Bakula) takes temporary custody of the victim’s nephew — the sole witness to the crime — in the new episode “Music to My Ears.”

Knocked Up
Lifetime, 10pm
New Series!
This new docuseries, created in partnership with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, follows three smart, ambitious — and decidedly not teenage — women who, after one unguarded moment, find themselves on the road to motherhood.

Chicago Fire: “One Hundred”
NBC, 10pm
Lt. Casey (Jesse Spencer) and Dawson (Monica Raymund) apply for permanent adoption of Louie, but quickly discover a hurdle. Firefighter-turned-medical-student Jeff Clarke (guest star Jeff Hephner) approaches Lt. Severide (Taylor Kinney) with an interesting proposition. With hopes of reinvigorating business at the bar, Otis convinces a skeptical Herrmann to throw a bash in celebration of the milestone 100th anniversary of Molly’s, but not without complications.

Aftermath: “Where the Dead Men Lost Their Bones”
Syfy, 10pm
With a family member on the verge of death, the Copelands resort to desperate measures.

Shooter: “Overwatch”
USA Network, 10pm
In a flashback to their time serving in Afghanistan, Bob Lee (Ryan Phillippe) and Isaac (Omar Epps) clash with opposing ideologies. Nadine (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) investigates the Ukrainian connection, putting herself on the conspirators’ radar.

Drunk History
Comedy Central, 10:30pm
Season Finale!
In the Season 4 finale “S**t Shows,” DJ Steve Dahl sparks an anti-disco riot, the Cherry Sisters emerge as the worst vaudeville act of all time, and a rivalry between two actors turns violent. Colin Hanks, Jack McBrayer, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Ben Folds and Patton Oswalt guest-star.

The Battle of the Ex-Besties
Oxygen, 11pm
New Series!
E! News’ Sibley Scoles hosts this reality competition where former BFFs compete together for a life-changing cash prize. Each pair of frenemies must decide whether to give their relationship a fighting chance, or let the pressure of competition push them apart forever.

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Shut Eye
Hulu
New Series!
Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice) stars as Charlie Haverford, a scammer with a small chain of fortune-telling storefronts in Los Angeles. A blow to the head from a client’s angry boyfriend intersects with a hypnosis session while auditioning a new “clairvoyant,” and suddenly, Charlie actually begins to see and feel some very real and fundamental truths. KaDee Strickland, Angus Sampson, Isabella Rossellini and Emmanuelle Chriqui also star in this 10-episode series that streams weekly.

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 8pm Live
LeBron James and the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers head to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for a matchup against Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks. ESPN’s second game features Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors going south to face Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers.

Lethal Weapon: “Jingle Bell Glock”
FOX, 8pm
Murtaugh’s (Damon Wayans) family Christmas takes an unexpected turn when a hit is put out on Riggs (Clayne Crawford). When Murtaugh’s family starts receiving threats, he puts Trish (Keesha Sharp) and the kids in protective custody so that he and Riggs can get to the bottom of the warnings.

Hairspray Live!
NBC, 8pm Live
Harvey Fierstein, Ephraim Sykes, Jennifer Hudson, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Derek Hough, Ariana Grande and delightful newcomer Maddie Baillio headline NBC’s newest live-theater spectacle. Broadway icon Fierstein adapted the stage production of avant-garde auteur John Waters’ quirky 1988 film — a playground for Waters’ equally avant-garde troupe of favored actors — into a lively, family-friendly evening that celebrates self-esteem, racial equality and the power of a good set of dance moves.

Speechless: “S-L-E—SLED HOCKEY”
ABC, 8:30pm
JJ (Micah Flowler) desperately wants to join a sled hockey team for people with disabilities, but Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) thinks it’s too dangerous. Meanwhile, Maya (Minnie Driver) takes a CPR class with Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) and, seeing how popular he is, realizes that she needs to be nicer if she’s going to keep him as JJ’s aide.

Criminal Minds: “Scarecrow”
CBS, 9pm
Every episode of Criminal Minds has fresh blood. Tonight it just happens to be of the walking, talking variety. Actor Damon Gupton (Prime Suspect) joins the show as the Behavior Analysis Unit’s latest recruit, agent Stephen Walker, a former G-man trained in using criminal profiling (the BAU’s stock-in-trade) to catch spooks. Walker is also an ex-colleague of BAU boss Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster). Just don’t expect the pair to do much reminiscing while there is a serial killer (nicknamed Mr. Scratch) on the loose.

Frequency: “Gray Line”
The CW, 9pm
In the winter finale of the time-traveling drama, Raimy (Peyton List) and Frank (Riley Smith) make a startling discovery about the Nightingale killer.

Vikings: “The Vision”
History, 9pm
The Kattegat locals chide Ragnar that the gods have deserted him as he struggles to crew his voyage to Wessex. Bjorn prepares to fulfill his dream of exploring the Mediterranean.

black-ish: “Nothing But Nepotism”
ABC, 9:30pm

Bow (Tracee Ellis-Ross) urges Dre (Anthony Anderson) to use his connections to secure Zoey (Yara Sahidi) a fellowship, but Dre wants his girl to earn the position on her own. Meanwhile, Junior (Marcus Scribner) gets fired from the twins’ favorite pizza and arcade joint after he reports the eatery’s unclean practices to corporate and they shut the place down.

Designated Survivor: “The Blueprint”
ABC, 10pm
When classified government documents are leaked online, President Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) searches for the party responsible, only to find that they have taken refuge inside a foreign embassy. Meanwhile, Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) races to gather evidence of MacLeish’s (Ashley Zuckerman) involvement in the conspiracy before he is confirmed as the next Vice President.

Code Black: “Ave Maria”
CBS, 10pm
Guest Star Alert!
The doctors at Angels Memorial are shocked to learn the connection that a 13-year-old patient has to one of their one. Also, Marlee Matlin guest-stars as a workaholic deaf patient in the new episode “Ave Maria.”

South Park
Comedy Central, 10pm
Season Finale!
Season 20 of South Park comes to an end tonight after a politically scathing season that gave us “member berries” and SkankHunt42.

Incorporated: “Downsizing”
Syfy, 10pm
Ben (Sean Teale) scrambles to deflect suspicion after the Spiga data breach, Laura (Allison Miller) offers to help when her mother’s policies evict an innocent family, and Theo (Eddie Ramos) is forced into an important cage fight.

Thursday, Dec. 8

SuperMansion: War on Christmas
Crackle
Crackle’s stop-motion animated series presents a half-hour holiday special. The series’ dysfunctional group of superheroes must band together to save Christmas when an interstellar imp unleashes a real-life Santa Claus who experiences an existential crisis. Returning to the seasonal special are voice-over stars Bryan Cranston, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Green, Jillian Bell and Anton Yelchin. Joining the cast for the special are Jim Parsons and Gary Anthony Williams.

Holiday Joy
Freeform, 3pm
Joy Hockstatter (Bailee Madison) tries to help her widower dad hold the family together, and at age 15, she’s become a surrogate mom to her brothers. But after a freak accident, Joy wakes up as a member of the Wellmans — her neighborhood’s “picture-perfect” family. Her new life seems to have changed for the better, but life for her dad and brothers has taken a turn for the worse and the only one who recognizes Joy from her previous life is her old dog, Levi.

Toy Story That Time Forgot
ABC, 8pm
The Toy Story gang finds out that a set of super-cool action figures are as scary as they look. Now it’s up to Trixie the triceratops to get everyone safely back to Bonnie’s room.

Taraji’s White Hot Holidays
FOX, 8pm
Empire star Taraji P. Henson hosts her second annual holiday special featuring musical performances and holiday cheer. Celebs including Jussie Smollett, Taye Diggs, Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C., Snoop Dogg and TLC will perform renditions of classic holiday songs. Tyler Perry (as his character Madea) and Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine star and host of the CW’s Terry Crews Saves Christmas) will also make cameos.

NFL Football: Oakland at Kansas City
NBC & NFL Network, 8:20pm Live
This Week 14 Thursday Night Football game could have big implications for the AFC playoffs as Derek Carr leads the Oakland Raiders into Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium for a meeting with the division rival Chiefs.

Shrek the Halls
ABC, 8:30pm
Everyone’s favorite ogre just wants a cozy Christmas at home, but he’s having trouble getting into the holiday spirit. Can Shrek’s beloved family and friends help him feel the magic of the holiday?

The Great Indoors: “@Emma”
CBS, 8:30pm
In the new episode “@Emma,” Emma (Christine Ko) quits after being turned down for a raise. Things don’t go so well when Jack (Joel McHale) and Roland (Stephen Fry) step in as the magazine’s new social media managers.

Pitch
FOX, 9pm
In the fall finale, as Ginny (Kylie Bunbury) nears her season’s end, Ross (guest star Josh Peck) warns the Padres that she is close to her pitching limit, but management is reluctant to bench their first female star. Let’s hope FOX feels the same way about their ratings-deprived drama.

Mom: “Cornbread and a Cashmere Onesie”
CBS, 9pm
In the new episode “Cornbread and a Cashmere Onesie,” Christy (Anna Faris) and Bonnie (Allison Janney) worry about Jill (Jaime Pressly) after her cry for help on the anniversary of her mother’s suicide.

Alone
History, 9pm
Season Premiere!
The hit survival series returns for Season 3, putting its 10 contestants — male and female hardcore survivalists — in a new location: Patagonia, South America. Equipped with limited gear and cameras to self-document their journeys, each person must find a way to survive. And that’s no easy task; the network says this is the most dangerous season yet, with the harsh Patagonian conditions forcing the urgent medical evacuation of many individuals over the course of the season.

Life in Pieces: “Swim Survivor Zen Talk”
CBS, 9:30pm
Guest Star Alert!
When John (James Brolin) decides to try out for Survivor, Tim (Dan Bakkedahl) gets jealous and attempts to undermine his audition tape. Jeff Probst guest-stars in the new episode “Swim Survivor Zen Talk.”

Pure Genius: “A Bunker Hill Christmas”
CBS, 10pm
When a young leukemia patient comes to Bunker Hill in need of a miracle, James (Augustus Prew) hopes a new cancer treatment will save her life in the new episode “A Bunker Hill Christmas.”

The Selection: Special Operations Experiment
History, 10pm
New Series!
From executive producer Peter Berg (Lone Survivor) comes this series that puts 30 men and women with no military background through an immersive, authentic experience led by veterans of the Navy SEALs, Green Berets and Army Rangers, while offering insight into the origins of these physical and mental challenges.

Friday, Dec. 9

Mozart in the Jungle
Amazon
Season Premiere!
In Season 3, Rodrigo (Gael García Bernal) takes on a brand-new artistic challenge: conducting the great opera diva Alessandra (Monica Bellucci) in her long-awaited return concert in Venice. He’s swept up in the city, communing with its rich musical history, as Alessandra pulls him into a passionate collaboration that quickly becomes operatic in its own right.

Captive
Netflix
New Series!
Doug Liman (the Bourne films) is an executive producer on this docuseries that looks at the most challenging hostage negotiations of our time, revealing how hostage-taking, and the efforts to resolve it, has evolved to address an escalating international trend.

Fuller House
Netflix
Season Premiere!
D.J. Tanner-Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin), Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) and the rest of the gang are back for Season 2 of this follow-up to the hit ’80s sitcom.

White Rabbit Project
Netflix
New Series!
Former MythBusters Kari Byron, Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara head down the rabbit hole to investigate weird and wonderful events from pop culture, science and history. Under their microscope are topics as diverse as jailbreaks, superpower technology, heists and crazy World War II weapons. In each episode, the hosts immerse themselves in experiments, builds and tests as they sleuth the truth behind these and other well-Googled themes.

Albert
Nickelodeon, 7pm
Original Film!
This all-new animated adventure tells the tale of a tiny Douglas fir who goes on a journey to become Empire City’s most famous Christmas tree ever. This 60-minute family flick stars the voices of Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) in the title role, plus Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live), Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) and Rob Riggle (21 Jump Street).

MacGyver: “Pliers”
CBS, 8pm
On a visit to his hometown, Mac (Lucas Till) has no time to reminisce as his skills are needed in the search for a kidnapped prodigy who attends his old middle school in the new episode “Pliers.”

Hawaii Five-0: “Ka Luhi (The Burden)”
CBS, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!
Five-0 investigates the 10-year-old cold case of a missing teen when a boy suffering from PTSD undergoes hypnosis and realizes he may have witnessed her murder. Missy Peregrym (Rookie Blue) guest-stars in the new episode “Ka Luhi (The Burden).”

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: “Who’s the Cool Girl Josh Is Dating?”
The CW, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!
Brittany Snow guest stars as Josh’s (Vincent Rodriguez III) new love interest. And when Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) and Valencia (Gabrielle Ruiz) decide to investigate her, they discover way more than they bargained for.

Madonna: Rebel Heart Tour
Showtime, 9pm
Madonna remains a pop diva best seen live in an amphitheater, but if you weren’t able to score a ticket to her most recent world tour, don’t worry. You’ll get a second chance with the Queen of Pop’s latest concert documentary. “This film has everything,” says director Nathan Rissman. “It’s full of humor, drama and a unique take on how she puts on such an amazing show.” The tour, in support of Madonna’s 2015 album, Rebel Heart, features classics like “Who’s That Girl?” and “Music” alongside new songs. Longtime collaborators Rissman and codirector Danny B. Tull captured footage from gigs performed all over the globe. “There’s a mixture that really gives the audience a multilayered perspective,” Rissman says. “We have cameras from every angle you could imagine.”

Z Nation: “Duel”
Syfy, 9pm
Addy (Anastasia Baranova) is being pummeled by whatever The Man (Joseph Gatt) can throw at her, while Lucy (Madelyn Grace) does the same to The Man.

Blue Bloods: “Unbearable Loss”
CBS, 10pm
After his son is killed, Rev. Darnell Potter (Ato Essandoh) must put aside his differences with Frank (Tom Selleck) and the Reagan family in order to get justice in the new episode “Unbearable Loss.”

Van Helsing: “It Begins”
Syfy, 10pm
Season Finale!
Now in the clutches of Dmitri (Paul Johansson) and Rebecca (Laura Mennell), Vanessa (Kelly Overton) learns secrets from her past and finds herself at a crossroads — is she a vampire or a human? Flesh (Vincent Gale) and the Resistance accelerate their timeline to rescue Vanessa, while Mohamad (Trezzo Mahoro) and Sheema (Naika Toussaint) finally come to blows over their allegiances.

Saturday, Dec. 10

College Basketball: Never Forget Tribute Classic
CBS & CBS Sports Network, beginning at 12pm Live
The Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., is a college basketball doubleheader to benefit the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, which helps support education for children of Sept. 11 terrorist attack victims. The 2016 NCAA champion Villanova Wildcats play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on CBS, followed by the Pittsburgh Panthers vs. the Penn State Nittany Lions on CBS Sports Network.

Mary Poppins
ABC, 8pm
The 1964 Oscar winner, set in Edwardian London, tells the tale of transportationally gifted nanny Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), who, with the help of a chimney sweep named Bert (Dick Van Dyke), teaches the wealthy but miserable Banks family lessons about life, love and how to pronounce “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

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.

2016 Heisman Trophy Presentation
ESPN, 8pm Live
The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the year’s most outstanding college football player in this ceremony on ESPN, with Louisville QB Lamar Jackson, Washington QB Jake Browning, Clemson QB Deshaun Watson, San Diego State RB Donnel Pumphrey and Michigan LB Jabrill Peppers hoping for invites to New York City.

A Nutcracker Christmas
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
Lilly James (Amy Acker) lives and breathes ballet, and her devotion pays off when she lands the lead role of Clara in the New York City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. But when her beloved sister dies, she is removed from the production and vows to never dance again. Years later, Lilly’s niece earns the same prestigious role in the Philadelphia Nutcracker Ballet and Lilly discovers that the ballet director is her long-ago love (Sascha Radetsky). Lilly must learn to let go of the past and give love and dance a second chance.

Merry Ex-Mas
TV One, 8pm
Original Film!
A scorned single parent seeks revenge on her child’s father when he decides to marry another woman. Stars London Brown, Angell Conwell, Sean Patrick Thomas, Faune Watkins and Clifton Powell.

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.

30 for 30: “Catholics vs. Convicts”
ESPN, 9pm
This new episode of the 30 for 30 documentary series looks at the 1988 football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Miami Hurricanes, and how their contrasting reputations led to the clash being dubbed “Catholics vs. Convicts.”

Christmas With the Andersons
ION, 9pm
Original Film!
Drowning in tinsel and lights every Christmas, Michael and Caroline Anderson throw the year’s biggest party at their house. But this year, with Michael jobless and Caroline’s store struggling, that tradition may end. The Andersons decide to host a very different kind of party, and rediscover what’s most important about the holiday.