What to watch, and more! Dec. 12 – 18
The new ‘Knives Out,’ celebrating Dick Van Dyke and Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
FRIDAY, Dec. 12
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Adventure
Det. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) “goes to church” for his most baffling case yet in the third Knives Out murder mystery, with a cast that also includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washinton, Cailee Spaeny and Thomas Haden Church (Netflix).
Starring Dick Van Dyke
Celebrate the life and career of legendary actor—known for films like Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, TV ‘s Diagnosis Murder and his classic CBS sitcom—on his 100th birthday (9 p.m., PBS).
One More Shot
A woman (Emily Browning) finds a bottle of tequila that lets her time-travel to try to win back her old flame (Sean Keenan) in this time-loop comedy (check streaming listings).
SATURDAY, Dec. 13
The Family Film and TV Awards
Who says they’re nothing worthwhile about movies or TV? Tonight’s 28th annual ceremony, hosted by Julie Chen Moonves, will honor excellence in family-oriented programming. Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, and magicians Penn & Teller will receive special honors (8 p.m., CBS and Paramount+).
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Lucy recruits Charlie Brown to direct the gang’s holiday play. Can he find the perfect tree, and discover the true meaning of Christmas? (Apple TV+).
The Heisman Trophy Ceremony
Who’ll be the 2025 honoree as college football’s top player? Tune in tonight to find out in the live ceremony hosted by Sunday Night Football play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler (7 p.m., ABC).
SUNDAY, Dec. 14
Best Elf Marathon
Back-to-back showings of Elf, Fred Claus and The Polar Express (begins 4:30 p.m., AMC).
Avatar: The Way of Water
The 2022 sci-fi action epic, about human-like creatures who are quite at home on a moon called Pandora. Until, that is, they’re threatened again by humans (7 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, Dec. 15
Hope of the Season: Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The world-renowned choir’s new holiday spectacular is packed with classic carols and holiday favorites for a 90-minute concert featuring songs and stories of hope for audiences of all ages (8 p.m., PBS).
The FBI
As the holidays approach, the team finds three slain sex workers inside a brownstone and uncover the murderer has a larger plan in place that they must rush to stop (8 p.m., CBS).
TUESDAY, Dec. 16
Great Performances: Nutcracker from English National Ballet
For many, it wouldn’t be Christmastime with this classic stage portrayal of Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday musical featuring some 100 dancers and musicians (8 p.m., PBS).
The Secrets We Bury
A Long Island family unearths a decades-old mystery around their father’s disappearance (9 p.m., ID).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17
IHeart Jingle Ball 2025
The season’s iconic holiday music event features the year’s top artist performances and star-studded appearances to ring in holiday cheer (8 p.m., ABC).
THURSDAY, Dec. 18
The Wolf Wars
Docuseries details Europe’s most expensive wildlife battle—the killing of wolves—and uncovers a tale of threats, harassment and secret networks where money, power and high-stake politics reign (Viaplay).
Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular
The late-night host searches for the holiday spirit in New York, corralling Meghan Trainor, Cara Delevingne, Dolly Parton, the Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, The Roots, LL Cool J and “Weird Al” Yankovic into the holiday spirit (9 p.m., NBC).
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Comic books ain’t what they used to be. Case in point: Fantastic Adventures in the Comics (McFarland), in which author William Schoell looks back (fondly) at the genre from the 1940s into the ’80s, when pulpy pioneers were venturing boldly into the unknown, particularly outer space, where all sorts of strange creatures thrived, “space babes” were welcome aboard any mission, and imaginations were free to run wild.
BRING IT HOME
Laugh again to ‘toondom’s classic cat and mouse with Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958), a roundup of more than 100 theatrical shorts starring the acclaimed, Oscar-winning Hanna-Barbera duo that became global icons for gags, chases and slapstick violence. This special edition also includes a booklet and commentary.
The Media Tourist 