TV Best Bets

Sunday, Dec. 10: ‘The Walking Dead’ Midseason Finale ‘How It’s Gotta Be’

Gene Page/AMC

ALSO SEE: Christmas Calendar: Holiday Movies, Specials, Classics, and Marathons

All Times Eastern.

Sunday, Dec. 10

The Walking Dead: “How It’s Gotta Be
AMC, 9pm
Midseason Finale!
Every story and battle from the first half of Season 8 comes crashing together in this action-packed, emotional midseason finale.

Figure Skating: ISU Grand Prix Final
NBC, 4pm
NBC airs a recap show with featured performances from the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, Japan.

You Can’t Fight Christmas
TV One, 7pm
Original Film!
Christmas at the Chesterton Hotel has been a time-honored community tradition for decades, and event designer Leslie Major (Brely Evans) takes great pride in turning the hotel into a holiday wonderland. But when the owner’s grandson (Andra Fuller) and his partner (Persia White) decide the hotel needs a makeover, Leslie fears that the hotel’s Christmas magic will be lost forever. Marla Gibbs, Travis Winfrey, Porscha Coleman and Erica Ash also appear.

Christmas Princess
UP TV, 7pm
Original Film!
Nicole Muñoz, Rosa Blasi and Zak Santiago star in the inspiring true story of Donaly Marquez, who, after a childhood of neglect and abuse, achieved her dream of becoming a princess in Pasadena’s Rose Parade.

Frozen
ABC, 8pm
Disney’s Oscar-winning animated winter tale — the highest-grossing animated film of all time — returns to ABC. Fearless optimist Anna (Kristen Bell) teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer, Sven, in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a comical snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) in a race to find Anna’s sister, Elsa (Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Can Anna save her sister and bring sunshine back to their home? Or will Arendelle be frozen forever?

The Simpsons: “Gone Boy”
FOX, 8pm
Guest Star Alert!
Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal voices himself when Bart goes missing and the town puts together a search party to find him.

Sharing Christmas
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!

Michael, a busy developer, faces opposition from Stephanie, the pretty owner of an old-fashioned Christmas shop and the lone holdout in an old building slated for redevelopment. When she challenges him to spend a week working in her shop, he begrudgingly agrees. As the pair work together, he learns the value of small businesses and falls for the charming shopkeeper. She, in turn, finds the merit of modernization and the importance of Michael’s work. Stars Ellen Hollman and Bobby Campo.

Final Vision
Investigation Discovery, 8pm
Original Film!
This true-crime drama is based on the longest-running criminal case in U.S. history. It’s the story of Jeffrey MacDonald (Scott Foley), a handsome, Ivy League-educated U.S. Army Green Beret doctor who was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and two young daughters. The story is told through the eyes of bestselling author Joe McGinniss (Dave Annable), who was approached by MacDonald to write a book about his personal nightmare as he was about to go to trial.

Outlander: “Eye of the Storm”
Starz, 8pm
Season Finale!
As Season 3 comes to an end, Claire is forced to play a game of cat and mouse with an old adversary as she searches for Young Ian. The Frasers race through the jungles of Jamaica to prevent the unthinkable. Season 4 will be based on Diana Gabaldon’s fourth book, Drums of Autumn, which follows Claire, Jamie and his nephew Ian as they look to find a home in the colony of North Carolina, balancing the dangerous line between Gov. Tryon’s patronage and Claire’s knowledge of the brewing American Revolution.

NCIS: Los Angeles: “Forasteira”
CBS, 9pm
The NCIS team tracks a highly skilled assailant determined to avenge her father’s death by killing a Brazilian diplomat in the new episode “Forasteira.”

Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9pm
Original Film!
Karen Kingsbury’s bestseller comes to the screen in this holiday film. The hope-filled tale is about Maggie, who struggles to balance her work life, her troubled son and the memory of an unforgettable Christmas from her past. Maggie and her son form a connection with a kind widower, but Maggie’s fear of being hurt again keeps her from falling for his gentle soul. But when she unearths an unexpected connection to her past and discovers the special letter to God her son is writing, she begins to understand the spirit of the holiday season and the miracles it can bear. Stars Jill Wagner and Luke Macfarlane.

A Royal Christmas Ball
ION, 9pm
Original Film!

Dateless for a Christmas ball, a handsome bachelor, King Charles of Baltania, tracks down his American college sweetheart, only to discover she is raising a 17-year-old daughter who mathematically might be Charles’ biological daughter. Stars Tara Reid, Ingo Rademacher, Haley Pullos, Faune Chambers Watkins, Mykel Shannon Jenkins and Mira Furlan.

Jaguar vs. Croc
Nat Geo Wild, 9pm
This special reveals the rarely seen, remarkable lives of jaguars in the Pantanal of Brazil. Follow a mother jaguar as she teaches her cub survival while a determined male jaguar, appropriately named Scarface, dives headfirst into the river to tackle the deadliest of opponents: a 6-foot-long caiman.

Madam Secretary: “Minefield”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Minefield,” Elizabeth (Téa Leoni) reluctantly agrees to host a holiday party in the hopes of persuading senators in attendance to pass a treaty that requires countries to destroy landmines.

Monday, Dec. 11

Lucifer: “The Sin Bin”
FOX, 8pm
Midseason Finale!
With the Sinnerman in custody, Lucifer (Tom Ellis) is prepared to go to any length to get his devil face back. But, with another victim’s life on the line, Lucifer’s conscience may either help or hinder him.

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic
Freeform, 8pm
Explore how Disney turns holiday engagements and weddings at Disney destinations around the world into unforgettable, magical memories. Follow lucky brides and grooms as their big days turn from “once upon a dream” into “happily ever after.”

The Voice: “Live Top 8 Performances”
NBC, 8pm Live
The Top 8 artists perform live in front of the coaches for a chance to vie for America’s vote. For the first time ever, the artists will team up for competitive mashup duets.

NFL Football: New England at Miami
ESPN, 8:15pm Live
Tom Brady leads the New England Patriots to South Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium for an AFC East Monday Night Football matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Superior Donuts: “Homeless for the Holidays”
CBS, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!
In the new episode “Homeless for the Holidays,” Franco (Jermaine Fowler) convinces Arthur (Judd Hirsch) and the rest of the gang to help John (guest star Keith David), a homeless man who falls ill at the donut shop, get back on his feet.

The Gifted: “eXploited”
FOX, 9pm
Midseason Finale!
Teen mutants Andy (Percy Hynes White) and Lauren (Natalie Alyn Lind) recently learned that their great-grandpa was a terrorist and their grandpa managed to genetically suppress their father’s powers. In tonight’s fall finale, they will end up in grave ­danger — and it’s up to their parents, Caitlin and Reed Strucker (Amy Acker and ­Stephen Moyer), to save them. Mysterious telepath and refugee mutant Esme (Skyler ­Samuels) may be important to their rescue, but let’s just say her methods and her motivation for helping out could end up being more than the Struckers ­bargained for. Much more.

Man Among Cheetahs
Nat Geo Wild, 9pm
Nat Geo Wild’s Big Cat Week continues as acclaimed wildlife cinematographer Bob Poole tracks an elusive family of cheetahs in Kenya’s sprawling Maasai Mara, taking viewers along on an unforgettable journey into the realities of life in the African wilderness and the challenges the planet’s big cats face.

A Gray State
A&E, 10pm
German cinema icon Werner Herzog ­(Grizzly Man) executive produced this true-crime doc about Minnesota-based antigovernment activist David Crowley, who shot his wife and 4-year-old daughter before killing himself in 2015. The faint of heart should probably stick to SVU.

Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics: “Image Comics: Declaration of Independents”
AMC, 10pm
Season Finale!
The season finale explores a band of unhappy artists who in 1992 founded Image Comics, where creators like Robert Kirkman could keep creative control of their characters.

Scorpion: “Who Let the Dog Out (’Cause Now It’s Stuck in a Cistern)”
CBS, 10pm
The title of the new episode “Who Let the Dog Out (’Cause Now It’s Stuck in a Cistern)” ranks among the series’ best. As Team Scorpion anxiously awaits the verdict of Cabe’s (Robert Patrick) trial, they focus their nervous energy on trying to save a dog stuck in — you guessed it — a cistern.

Better Late Than Never: “Munich”
NBC, 10pm
Sneak Peek!
The reality series returns for Season 2 in January, but viewers can get a special preview with tonight’s hourlong “Munich” installment. The show’s five globetrotting stars — Henry Winkler, William Shatner, George Foreman, Terry Bradshaw and Jeff Dye — set out on a wild journey through various European locales. They kick the trip off in Munich, where they immerse themselves in the city’s culture and customs — including partaking in its famed Oktoberfest celebration and visiting a nude park.

The Healer: “It’s Been So Long”
TLC, 10pm

As his journey winds down, Charlie meets a media personality named Shay, whose life and career are put on hold due to pain that travels throughout her body. Comedian Gary Owen calls on Charlie to help him with his chronic knee pain resulting from a botched surgery, and Dr. Weitzman has Charlie return to his office so that he can work on a father of two whose shoulder pain has brought day-to-day activities to a grinding halt.

Tuesday, Dec. 12

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 7pm Live
ESPN’s Tuesday night NBA doubleheader has the L.A. Lakers at the N.Y. Knicks, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers at the Minnesota Timberwolves.

College Basketball
ESPN2, beginning at 7pm Live
ESPN2 airs a college basketball doubleheader with the Mississippi State Bulldogs at the Cincinnati Bearcats, followed by the Michigan Wolverines at the Texas Longhorns.

NCIS: “Double Down”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Double Down,” Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Sloane (Maria Bello) run protection detail for a U.S. senator (guest star James Morrison) in Afghanistan for the holidays, but they must urgently return to the States after hearing the senator’s son is in the ICU.

Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2017
The CW, 8pm
Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight host a countdown of the 12 best holiday commercials ever — one for each of the 12 days of Christmas.

Lethal Weapon: “Wreck the Halls”
FOX, 8pm
Midseason Finale!
It’s Christmastime and the Murtaugh family is headed to Hawaii. However, Murtaugh’s (Damon Wayans) vacation is put on hold when he and Riggs (Clayne Crawford) are called to a homicide and the victim is an old friend. Meanwhile, Riggs gets a surprise phone call from a relative just in time for Christmas.

The Voice: “Live Semifinal Results”
NBC, 8pm Live
Find out which three artists have been revealed as “safe” by America’s votes. After these finalists are revealed, the bottom two artists will be sent home immediately, while the middle three will compete in the Instant Save for the last spot in the finale.

NHL Hockey: Tampa Bay at St. Louis
NBCSN, 8pm Live
The puck drops at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis tonight as Steven Stamkos leads the Tampa Bay Lightning against Jaden Schwartz and the Blues.

black-ish: “Sugar Daddy”
ABC, 9pm

Yes, this week’s installment of black-ish could be accurately described as a very special Christmas episode — but certainly not in the traditional sense. For Johnson family patriarch Dre (Anthony Anderson), it kicks off in decidedly un-merry fashion when he’s diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. “He decides to self-treat,” series creator Kenya Barris says. “And at the office holiday party, we get to see how ­effective his plan ends up being. Per usual, the show will use a light approach to tackle a weighty matter.

Bull: “Home for the Holidays”
CBS, 9pm
Bull’s (Michael Weatherly) Christmas gets turned upside down when a judge appoints him temporary guardian for a 9-year-old (guest star Annabelle Wachtel) who wants to divorce her parents in the new episode “Home for the Holidays.”

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2017
The CW, 9pm
If you missed the Nov. 28 broadcast on CBS, here is your chance to catch an encore of the annual lingerie fashion show. This year’s event was filmed in Shanghai, China, with an all-star lineup of Victoria’s Secret Angels, along with some new faces. Musical guests Miguel and Harry Styles performed for the scantily-clad spectacular.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: “Game Night/The Favor”
FOX, 9pm
Midseason Finale!
In the one-hour midseason finale, Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) begs Jake (Andy Samberg) to help her break some big news to her parents, but her plan is thrown off when they wrongly assume the two are dating. Then, when Seamus Murphy (guest star Paul Adelstein) returns to redeem the favor Holt owes him, the precinct searches for a loophole that will allow Holt (Andre Braugher) to uphold his end of the bargain without breaking the law.

The World’s Most Famous Tiger
Nat Geo Wild, 9pm
Known as “Queen Machli,” “Lady of the Lake” and ruler of her territory in Western India’s Ranthambore National Park, Machli was a legendary tigress that went down in history as one of the most well-known wild tigers in the world. Machli played a key role in the regeneration of the tiger population in Ranthambore and Sariska National Parks. This special hour reveals the incredible stories behind Machli’s rise to power and lasting legacy.

Gwen Stefani’s You Make It Feel Like Christmas
NBC, 9pm
The pop star and semi-regular judge on NBC’s The Voice presents a holiday special featuring songs from her holiday album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, a mix of original tracks — including the title track, a duet with Blake Shelton — and holiday classics. The hourlong special also promises special guests to join Ms. Stefani as she’s rockin’ ’round the Christmas tree.

The Mayor: “Grey Christmas”
ABC, 9:30pm
It just wouldn’t be the holiday season without a riff (or 20) on It’s a ­Wonderful Life. In this case it’s millennial mayor Courtney Rose (Brandon Micheal Hall) who needs to regain his Christmas spirit. No word on who will be getting their wings when the bell rings, though.

Kevin (Probably) Saves the World: “Probably”
ABC, 10pm
Convinced that the universe is leading the way, a very confident Kevin (Jason Ritter) heads to Laos with Tyler (Dustin Ybarra) in search of the first righteous soul. Meanwhile, Yvette (Kimberly Hébert Gregory) has her doubts about their mission and has a chance encounter with Tyler that changes both of their outlooks. Back in Texas, Amy (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) goes all-out decorating for Christmas and decides whether or not she’s truly ready to date again.

NCIS: New Orleans: “Mirror, Mirror”
CBS, 10pm
Guest Star Alert!
After Pride (Scott Bakula) learns Hamilton (recurring guest star Steven Weber) is making a deal to get out of prison, he searches for his mystery partner to spoil his bargaining chip. Stacy Keach and Chelsea Field also guest-star in the new episode “Mirror, Mirror.”

The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer: “The Code Is Cracked”
History, 10pm
Miniseries Finale!
Law-enforcement officials and ­government agents continue to sort through data about one of history’s most ­notorious cold cases, including — as the five-part series wraps up — new ­developments about the cryptogram code used in the Zodiac’s letters.

Chicago Med: “Naughty or Nice”
NBC, 10pm
Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) learns a troubling fact about the man who shot him. Dr. Rhodes (Colin Donnell) and Dr. Bekker (Norma Kuhling) come to an agreement during a complicated surgery. Will (Nick Gehlfuss) and Natalie (Torrey DeVitto) are trapped by legal ethics when an unfaithful husband refuses to tell his wife about his inconclusive Zika test.

Wednesday, Dec. 13

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 7pm Live
Paul George leads the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road against his former team, the Indiana Pacers, in the first game of ESPN’s Wednesday night NBA doubleheader. The second game has the Charlotte Hornets at the Houston Rockets.

The Goldbergs: “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
ABC, 8pm
Pass the Manischewitz! While mom Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) vies to take the title of Hanukkah hostess with the mostest, Pops (George Segal) helps Barry (Troy Gentile) up his cool factor by convincing him to enter the school talent show. ’Cause what could go wrong?

NHL Hockey: Boston at Detroit
NBCSN, 8pm Live
Zdeno Chara and the Boston Bruins head to Detroit’s new Little Caesars Arena for a Wednesday night matchup against Dylan Larkin and the Red Wings.

The Wolverine
FXX, 8pm
Hugh Jackman takes his mutton-chopped, metal-clawed superhero to Japan in this 2013 action film, in which Logan goes to say goodbye to a deathly ill friend, only to find a much more existential quandary — and tons of ninjas — awaiting him.

The Librarians: “And the Dark Secret”
TNT, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Noah Wyle returns for seven of the 12 new episodes this season. The heroes embark on new, action-packed adventures, but their greatest challenge will come from within the Library itself. With Charlene no longer tethered to the Library, which keeps it grounded to humanity, one Librarian and one Guardian must step up and take the mantle. Confronted with a dark mystery, every Librarian must ask themselves some tough questions: Is the Library itself good or evil? Can a Librarian ever live a “normal” life filled with love, friends and family?

Speechless: ““S-I—SILENT N-I—NIGHT”
ABC, 8:30pm
After leveraging JJ (Micah Fowler) in an attempt to get a dog, Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) takes a vow of silence to better understand what it is to be her brother. Ray (Mason Cook) brokers a meeting between his girlfriend’s mother, Melanie (guest star Sarah Chalke), and Maya (Minnie Driver), only to realize they have a history. Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) drives Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) crazy by gaming a supermarket giveaway to score free Christmas turkeys.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey: “Meltdown in Milan”
Bravo, 9pm
We’re only halfway through Season 8, and already RHONJ has given us so much — from the hilariously protracted Cakegate to the return of nutty Danielle Staub to the feud between Siggy Flicker and newbie Margaret Josephs. And they’re just gettin’ warmed up: Tonight, the girls head to Italy’s fashion capital. Chicken Milanese with a side of beef, anyone?

Vikings: “The Plan”
History, 9pm
Guided by Bishop Heahmund’s visions, the Saxons devise a battle plan. Ivar the Boneless strategizes on his own as the Vikings face increasing pressure. Bjorn Ironside finds himself in a new territory and must convince the local commander he is a trader and not a raider.

Lion Kingdom
Nat Geo Wild, 9pm
Follow the dramatic story of three lion prides battling each other for territory, food and power along the Mwagusi River in Tanzania. When destiny conspires to bring the prides together, it is all-out war. Why are these lions intent on destruction? This is the story of life, death and revenge.

Golden Globes 75th Anniversary Special
NBC, 9pm
Eric McCormack and Debra Messing host a look back at the awards show’s best ­moments. This had better include that time Christine Lahti was in the bathroom when her name was called. Legendary.

American Housewife: “Blue Christmas”
ABC, 9:30pm
Doris (Ali Wong) goes into labor on Christmas Day — forcing Katie (Katy Mixon) to find a compromise between being there for the birth of her best friend’s baby and spending the holiday with her family. Who does that kid think he/she is, Jesus?

Designated Survivor: “Line of Fire”
ABC, 10pm
It’s Christmas Day and President Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is alerted to a group of religious extremists who refuse to evacuate when a forest fire threatens to engulf their cabin. Deploying Emily (Italia Ricci) and Aaron (Adan Canto) to help diffuse the situation, Kirkman must act quickly to save multiple lives at stake. Meanwhile, the first lady (Natascha McElhone) finally gives her testimony to the FBI director, while what happens next changes the lives of the Kirkman family forever.

Knightfall: “Find Us the Grail”
History, 10pm
Landry and Parsifal search for a killer. The unexpected arrival of Pope Boniface in Paris threatens De Nogaret’s carefully laid plans.

The A Word: “Same Deep Water”
SundanceTV, 10pm
Season Finale!
The whole family comes together to put on an end-of-year show at Joe’s (Max Vento) former school. But tensions at home between Paul (Lee Ingleby) and Alison (Morven Christie) threaten to tear them apart.

Happy!: “What Smiles Are For”
Syfy, 10pm
Sax (Christopher Meloni) crashes a high-stakes poker game to win guns and cash for an escape from New York as Happy (voice of Patton Oswalt) tries to convince him he’s a father, and ex-wife Amanda (Medina Senghore) and ex-lover Merry (Lili Mirojnick) team up to rescue Hailey (Bryce Lorenzo).

Thursday, Dec. 14

The Big Bang Theory: “The Celebration Reverberation”
CBS, 8pm

Sheldon (Jim Parsons) plans an authentic Little House on the Prairie dinner to celebrate Amy’s (Mayim Bialik) birthday in the new episode “The Celebration Reverberation.”

iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017
The CW, 8pm
Catch this year’s biggest artists including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, the Chainsmokers, Fifth Harmony, Liam Payne, Camila Cabello and Niall Horan as they perform at Los Angeles’ KIIS-FM Jingle Ball.

Showtime at the Apollo: Christmas
FOX, 8pm
Steve Harvey hosts as Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, Fifth Harmony, DMX and the Apollo Theater’s roster of up-and-coming singers put on some ­seasonally themed performances. We imagine the institution’s always boisterous audience will join in as necessary.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live
The L.A. Lakers travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers, followed by the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Bay Area to face the Golden State Warriors.

WWE Tribute to the Troops
USA Network, 8pm
In this annual event, WWE brings together the best of sports, entertainment and pop culture, with celebrity appearances and performances from music’s most popular acts, to pay tribute to our armed forces.

NFL Football: Denver at Indianapolis
NBC & NFL Network, 8:20pm Live
The Denver Broncos could be fighting for their playoff lives in this Week 15 Thursday Night Football matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Indy’s Lucas Oil Stadium.

Mom: “Too Many Hippies and Huevos Rancheros”
CBS, 9pm
In the new episode “Too Many Hippies and Huevos Rancheros,” Bonnie (Allison Janney) and Christy (Anna Faris) rally around Marjorie (Mimi Kennedy) after her husband has a stroke.

Taraji’s White Hot Holidays
FOX, 9pm
It’s a Christmas ­Cookie! Empire queen Taraji P. ­Henson is back for her third annual Yuletide special, ­Taraji’s White Hot Holidays, and this time she’s going retro. The 2017 edition features an A-list comedy ensemble that includes Jay Pharoah, Niecy Nash and Tituss Burgess. There’s a reindeer riff on Hamilton Prancerton — with Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. And the diva count — Chaka Khan, Ciara, Faith Evans, Salt-N-Pepa — is through the roof. Henson’s Empire kid Jussie Smollett is also in the house, duetting with Fergie on a Gene Kelly-inspired medley of Baby, It’s Cold Outside and What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

“A Chef’s Life” Holiday Special
PBS, 9pm
Join Vivian Howard as she serves up the best of her Southern cooking heritage and the Hanukkah traditions of her husband Ben. From humble Hoppin’ John to elegant red velvet cake, sample a charming and delicious holiday celebration.

S.W.A.T.: “Homecoming”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Homecoming,” when Hondo’s (Shemar Moore) imprisoned childhood friend asks him to protect his son from gang violence, the favor brings SWAT into contact with a new local crime outfit.

Safari Live
Nat Geo Wild, 10pm
Nat Geo Wild heads back to South Africa and Kenya to revisit the excitement of Safari Live for a special two-hour broadcast during Big Cat Week. Get up close and personal with Africa’s most incredible animals — herds of elephants, thousands of wildebeests, prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and others — and chat with guides in real time using #safarilive.

Friday, Dec. 15

Jean-Claude Van Johnson
Amazon
New Series!
Action-movie star and martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as a fictional version of himself who operates under the alias of “Johnson” — a dangerous undercover operative. Unhappily retired, he now whiles away his days in superficial Hollywood until he is forced back into the game to fight a Bulgarian drug cartel.

Trollhunters
Netflix
Season Premiere!
Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Doctor Who) will be part of the voice cast of Guillermo del Toro’s animated Trollhunters series for its second season. They join the already established cast that includes Kelsey Grammer, Ron Perlman, Steven Yeun and Anjelica Huston. The late Anton Yelchin is still featured in the lead role of the series, having completed his voice recording through Season 2 before his passing in 2016.

Wormwood
Netflix
New Miniseries!
Filmmaker Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War) directed this miniseries that combines Morris’ famed interview style of his documentaries with a virtuoso performance by Peter Sarsgaard to tell the story of one man’s 60-year quest to identify the circumstances of his father’s mysterious death.

Rusty Rivets: “Rusty Learns to Skate/Rusty’s Rustic Adventure”
Nickelodeon, 10:30am
In the first of two new wintry episodes, instead of learning how to skate, Rusty decides to build rocket skates. His plan backfires when the skates cut up the ice and strand all of his friends. Then Rusty and Ruby help Liam search the woods for Liam’s missing toy. But when they get lost, they have to find a way home without Rusty’s usual tools to help them.

Christmas With the Kranks
FX, 6pm
FX airs a pair of holiday films starring Tim Allen, beginning with 2004’s Christmas With the Kranks, followed by 2002’s The Santa Clause 2.

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 7pm Live
Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder are at the Philadelphia 76ers in the first game of an ESPN twin bill. The second game features in-state rivals as the San Antonio Spurs visit the Houston Rockets.

MacGyver: “Bullet + Pen”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Bullet + Pen,” the LAPD interrupts the team’s Christmas celebration to arrest Mac (Lucas Till) for terrorism after they find a body in a building destroyed by a bomb Mac built.

The 86th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
The CW, 8pm
Dr. Oz will serve as the grand marshal of the largest Christmas celebration in America. This Hollywood tradition features larger-than-life inflatable character balloons and celebrity-filled cars coasting down the parade route while musical performances shine from two stages. Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams host the parade down Hollywood Boulevard with help from special cohosts Elizabeth Stanton and Garrett Clayton.

Stalked by My Ex
Lifetime Movies, 8pm
Original Film!
After learning that her abusive ex-husband Sam (Yves Bright, Animal Kingdom) is about to be released from prison, Chloe (Tamara Braun, Days of Our Lives) flees with her teenage daughter Olivia (Brytnee Ratledge, Only the Brave) to her hometown. Once there, Chloe finds herself faced with the same obstacles that led her to leave in the first place. Meanwhile, Sam is determined to find them in order to execute his ultimate plan for a life that does not include Chloe.

The Exorcist: “Unworthy”
FOX, 9pm
Season Finale!
In tonight’s finale, Alfonso Herrera’s Father Tomas comes up with a plan to offer Andy (John Cho) some supernatural backup in the battle against a demon disguised as his late wife (Alicia Witt). Marcus (Ben Daniels) is forced to OK Tomas’s potentially fatal Plan B once the classic Roman ritual fails to do the trick. And that’s even with the recent arrival of Marcus’s former love, Mouse (Zuleikha Robinson), the gun-toting exorcist with her own style of salvation.

Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Rolando Villazón

PBS, 9pm
Celebrate the holidays with the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This season’s cross-cultural spectacular features the world’s leading tenor, Rolando Villazón, and seasonal favorites.

Z Nation: “Mt. Weather/The Black Rainbow”
Syfy, 9pm
Season Finale!
Warren (Kellita Smith) and team must stop Zona from launching operation Black Rainbow to cleanse the landscape of zombies — and humans.

Lidia Celebrates America
PBS, 10pm
Chef Lidia Bastianich ­salutes “Homegrown ­Heroes” with this special that looks at military ­veterans who have traded fighting for farming, including a former Marine running an 80-acre property complete with its own distillery.

Saturday, Dec. 16

NFL Football
NFL Network, beginning at 4:20pm Live
NFL Network airs a pair of Saturday games in Week 15, beginning with the Chicago Bears at the Detroit Lions in an NFC North rivalry game. The second game could have AFC playoff implications as the L.A. Chargers visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Christmas Next Door
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
Eric Redford is single and a successful author of books on bachelorhood. His life is turned upside down when he must take care of his young niece and nephew for the week before Christmas — his least-favorite time of year — and must “make Christmas” for the kids with help from his lovely Christmas-loving neighbor. Stars Jesse Metcalfe and Fiona Gubelmann.

Miracle on 34th Street
AMC, 8pm
AMC celebrates the 70th anniversary of the beloved holiday classic that features a Macy’s department store Santa trying to prove he really is Kris Kringle.

Snowed-Inn Christmas
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!
Jenna (Bethany Joy Lenz) and Kevin (Andrew Walker) work for the same online publication in New York City, and since they have no Christmas plans, these polar opposites accept a special writing assignment. After a snowstorm forces their plane to land in none other than Santa Claus, Ind., the focus of their story shifts to saving the historic town inn run by Carol and Christopher Winters. As the two overcome their differences, they also rediscover the magic of Christmas.

Rocky Mountain Christmas
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9pm
Original Film!
In the wake of her aunt’s passing, big-city interior designer Sarah returns home to her family’s ranch for the holidays. Looking forward to a traditional Christmas to lift her spirits, Sarah finds herself at odds with her uncle, who’d rather just avoid the holiday altogether. Complicating matters, a handsome Hollywood star arrives at the ranch to research his next big role. Balancing the tension with her family and a budding romance, Sarah finds herself having a Christmas to remember. Stars Lindy Booth, Kristoffer Polaha and Treat Williams.

A Christmas Cruise
ION, 9pm
Original Film!

When her best friend invites her along for a holiday-themed sail, an aspiring novelist unexpectedly finds the love of her life onboard. But what will happen when the ship returns to port for Christmas? Stars Vivica A. Fox, Kristoff St. John, Jessica Morris, Rib Hillis, Corin Nemec and Nick Viall.

My Christmas Grandpa
Lifetime, 10pm
Original Film!
In this charming 10-minute mini-movie, the cashier at a small market is a grouchy man who never has a smile for anyone. But when a little girl asks for a grandpa for Christmas and chooses him, he is completely transformed by the child’s love and compassion.

CopyCat Killers: “Kill Bill”
REELZ Channel, 10pm
When Michelina Lewandowska met Marcin Kasprzak, it was love at first sight, but what she didn’t know was that he was hiding a dark secret. Marcin and Michelina had different ways of dealing with each other after realizing their love had dimmed. Like Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill, Michelina is buried alive by an angry lover.

Saturday Night Live: “Kevin Hart/Foo Fighters”
NBC, 11:30pm Live
Actor Kevin Hart, whose latest film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle opens in theaters Dec. 20, returns for his third time as guest host. He is joined by Foo Fighters, making their seventh appearance as musical guest.