Tonight's Picks
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!8:00 PM, ABC
Nothing can replace the classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas," but this 2003 animated special reunites the updated Peanuts gang and the yuletide season. Linus and Lucy's little brother, ReRun, needs stress relief. He goes to Snoopy for attention and fun, but the canine has plans that don't include the boy. Voice talents include Jimmy Bennett, Adam Taylor Gordon and Bill Melendez.
 
NFL Football8:30 PM, ESPN
A clash of age-old rivals always calls to mind lots of history, but unfortunately tonight's game in Landover, Md., between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins will likely do little more than that. Eli Manning and the G-Men have squandered a 5-0 start to find themselves on the outside looking in at the postseason picture. As for Jason Campbell and the 'Skins, their status is secure -- they were history weeks ago.
 
The Closer9:00 PM, TNT
When he isn't canoodling with Sally Field on "Brothers & Sisters," Jon Tenney stars as Fritz, the FBI agent married to Kyra Sedgwick's title character, Brenda Leigh Johnson, in this hit series. In the fifth-season finale, Brenda ponders the case of a female police officer who denied being a victim of spousal abuse before her husband was shot by a cop answering a domestic disturbance call. Mary McDonnell guest stars in the new episode "Dead Man's Hand."
 
Held Up6:30 PM, HBOE
Hey, there's nothing wrong with a goofy movie. Done well, they're tons of fun; "Dumb & Dumber" comes to mind. This 2000 "comedy" isn't. Thank goodness Jamie Foxx proved later with "Collateral" and "Ray" that he can actually act, because this lame script drags him down. He plays a yuppie who's dumped by his fiancee (Nia Long) at a convenience store. He's desperate to catch up with her and make up, but a would-be robber shows up and takes him hostage. We feel his pain.
 
One Tree Hill8:00 PM, CW
Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) may be forced to take matters into her own hands as Nathan's (James Lafferty) scandal threatens his endorsement deals. Julian (Austin Nichols) gives Alex (guest star Jana Kramer) another chance, while Brooke (Sophia Bush) reconnects with Chase (guest star Stephen Coletti). Millicent (Lisa Goldstein) questions whether she has the right stuff to be a model in "Deep Ocean Vast Sea."
 
The Sing-Off8:00 PM, NBC
Obviously, there's no telling at this point who will prevail, but the fat lady definitely will be singing, metaphorically at least, in the season finale, as the three remaining groups find out who will claim the $100,000 grand prize and a recording contract with Epic Records/Sony Entertainment. Boyz II Men and Bobby McFerrin perform. Nick Lachey is host, while Shawn Stockman and Ben Folds serve as judges.
 
State of the Union8:00 PM, TCM
A newspaper heiress (Angela Lansbury) wants self-made aircraft tycoon Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy) to run for the Republican presidential nomination, although his campaign manager (Van Johnson) insists that Matthews enlist the help of his estranged wife, Mary (Katharine Hepburn). Frank Capra directed this witty 1948 adaptation of the hit Broadway comedy by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. Adolphe Menjou and Margaret Hamilton co-star.
 
Intervention9:00 PM, A&E
For Rob, a singer-songwriter who once was part of a successful band, addiction started with insidious ease once he began dabbling in drugs and alcohol to fuel his creative spark. After his band fell apart under the weight of his drug use, however, Rob lost the respect of his siblings and even custody of his daughter. Rob's family members hope to persuade his sweet but enabling mother to allow them to save him from a shadowy life of crystal meth and booze.
 
Two and a Half Men9:00 PM, CBS
Well, the apple didn't fall far from the tree -- or uncle, in this case. Charlie (Charlie Sheen) is left to cover when Jake (Angus T. Jones) disappears with the pretty daughter (guest star Tinashe Kachingwe) of a new neighbor (guest star Michael Clarke Duncan), a former NFL player who is built like a human mountain. Meanwhile, Alan (Jon Cryer) scores a hot date, thanks in part to Charlie's fancy car, in "The Mooch at the Boo."
 
Gossip Girl9:00 PM, CW
Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) is determined to make Blair (Leighton Meester), her new roommate, a social outcast. Serena (Blake Lively) enlists the help of Carter (guest star Sebastian Stan) to get even with Chuck (Ed Westwick) after she has a major falling-out with him. Bree and Nate (JoAnna Garcia, Chace Crawford) decide to continue exploring their relationship in "The Freshman."
 
The Big Bang Theory9:31 PM, CBS
The holidays aren't very merry for Leonard (Johnny Galecki) when a handsome colleague (guest star Michael Trucco, "Battlestar Galactica") begins dating Penny (Kaley Cuoco), while Sheldon (Jim Parsons) drives everyone nuts trying to master the nuances of gift-giving etiquette. Simon Helberg co-stars in "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis."
 
Make My Day10:00 PM, TVLAND
Ever have one of those days when everything just seems to be going your way? Each episode of this laugh-filled hidden camera series follows a clueless participant who is enjoying a day filled with lucky coincidences and even chance encounters with favorite celebrities, never guessing for a second the whole thing is set up by the show's production team.
 
Castle10:00 PM, ABC
As Halloween looms, Castle and Beckett (Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic) go to a graveyard after the body of a young man sporting vampire fangs is discovered with a wooden stake through his heart. The subsequent investigation leads them deep into the New York vampire fetish community, where they uncover information suggesting that the murder could be tied to a graphic novel the victim had been working on in "Vampire Weekend."
 
-- Zap2it.com

(Times are ET/PT unless otherwise noted)

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Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 2009 (in millions)
1.
NCIS (CBS)
15.09
2.
13.45
3.
12.04
4.
Disney's Prep and Landing (ABC)
12.04
6.
9.1
7.
8.33
9.
Scrubs (ABC)
5.44
10.
4.26
© 2009 Variety, Inc. All Right Reserved
Dec. 21, 2009, 4:10 PM EST
Abby Elliott as Brittany Murphy on 'SNL' (©NBC)
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Tribe has spoken: Natalie White outplays conniving Russell Hantz, wins $1M 'Survivor' prize
Dec. 18, 2009, 5:54 AM EST
His last day at work: 'World News' anchor Charles Gibson retiring from ABC News after 34 years