Tonight on the Tube: It’s A Wonderful Life & Saturday Night Live

News & Notes

On cable tonight, Animal Planet has the second season finale of Dogs 101/Cats 101, Biography has the fifth season finale of Ghost Encounters and the first season finale of Celebrity Ghost Stories, CMT has a Posse… Young Guns of the PBR special, Hallmark Channel has the TV movie premiere of Christmas in Canaan, HGTV has a Sandra Lee Celebrates: Season of Surprise special, Spike has Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2009, Syfy has the TV movie premiere of Annihilation Earth, and TLC has the series premiere of Ghost Intervention.

On Episode 53, “The Modern Sons of Gossip Think You Can FlashForward,” of the TV times Three podcast, Amrie, Rae and I talk about some TV related news items and then talk about some of the best TV episodes from the previous week in primetime including The Amazing Race, Sons of Anarchy, FlashForward, Modern Family, House, Glee and more.

Prime Pick

It’s A Wonderful Life (NBC): Released 19??. The story of a small town guy that is facing financial ruin on Christmas Eve who decides to commit suicide, but is given a second chance by his guardian angel to see what life would have been like without him. Runs three hours.

Solid Selections

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (CBS): Repeat. The classic animated tale of the bright nose that guides Santa’s sleigh one foggy Christmas Eve.

The Flight Before Christmas (CBS): Repeat. A squirrel attempts to teach a reindeer how to fly.

Castle (ABC): Repeat. When it turns out that an Artic explorer was killed in his apartment and not on an expedition, Beckett and Castle take on the case in “Fool Me Once” from earlier this season.

Other Option

• Dexter (Showtime): Repeat. Last Sunday’s episode, “Wish You Were Here,” replays, where Dexter is trying to stay ahead of his sister and the squad, so they don’t find Trinity before he has a chance to dispatch him first.

Late Night

• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX): Repeat. Last Thursday’s fifth season finale episode, “The Gang Reignites the Rivalry,” replays. Runs 31 minutes.
• Saturday Night Live (NBC): New. Taylor Lautner (New Moon) hosts with musical guest Bon Jovi.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has doubleheader college basketball action early.
• ESPN2 has tripleheader college basketball action.
• NBA TV has the Boston Celtics at the Chicago Bulls.

TV Marathons

A&E has five episodes of Criminal Minds tonight.
ABC Family has animated Christmas/Holiday specials all day.
Animal Planet has six episodes of Pitt Bulls and Parolees.
Bravo has 12 episodes of America’s Next Top Model.
Hallmark Channel has seven Christmas/Holiday themed TV movies.
History has five episodes of MonsterQuest early.
MTV has 10 episodes of Teen Cribs.
Speed has 24 episodes of Pinks.
Spike has six episodes of UFC Unleashed.
TLC has five episodes of Dateline: Real Life Mysteries.
TNT has six episodes of Law & Order early.
USA has 12 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.