A&E, “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” 9 p.m. Dog tries to get his youngest son to believe in Santa in an episode called “The Hunt for Santa.” (Because nothing says Christmas like bounty hunting the big guy.)
THURSDAY, DEC. 24
NBC, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” 8 p.m. The 1946 masterpiece in which Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey gets a glimpse of what life would be like if he were never born.
FRIDAY, DEC. 25
TBS, “A Christmas Story,” 12 p.m. One of 12 straight airings of the 1983 holiday classic.
SATURDAY, DEC. 26
ESPN, “College Football,” 8 p.m. How the mighty have fallen. Former perennial national title contender USC plays in something called the Emerald Bowl versus Boston College.
SUNDAY, DEC. 27
NBC, “Sunday Night Football,” 8:15 p.m. Much to the dismay of Redskins fans after that Monday night stinker, the team makes another primetime appearance, this against the rival Cowboys.
MONDAY, DEC. 28
ESPN, “Monday Night Football,” 8:30 p.m. How will old man Favre and the Vikings play in the cold and wind in Chicago versus the Bears?
TUESDAY, DEC. 29
ABC, “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year,” 8 p.m. Rudolph takes on a mission for Santa in this oft-overlooked 1976 sequel.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30
ABC, “Nightline,” 11:35 p.m. Brian Ross looks back at the year’s biggest scandals, including the likes of Rod Blagojevich, John Edwards and Bernie Madoff.
THURSDAY, DEC. 31
NBC, “New Year's Eve with Carson Daly,” 11:35 p.m. Daly celebrates the New Year in Times Square with performers Green Day (what, are we ringing in 1994?) and Rihanna (much more current).
FRIDAY, JAN. 1
Fox, “College Football,” 8:30 p.m. Undefeated Cincinnati takes on Tim Tebow and Florida in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
SATURDAY, JAN. 2
BBC America, “Demons,” 10 p.m. Series premiere. A teen finds out his great-great-grandfather was the vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing
SUNDAY, JAN. 3
ABC, “Desperate Housewives,” 9 p.m. Following the plane crash, the women reflect on how the choices they’ve made have affected their lives.
MONDAY, JAN. 4
Fox, “College Football,” 8:15 p.m. A battled of undefeated teams as Boise State takes on TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. Not for the national championship, though. Just for pride and to give sportswriters something to bitch about after the BCS title game.
Louisa Ada Seltzer is a staff writer for Media Life.
