CBS, 8:00 p.m. ET
The last new Theory of 2012 has Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and the others diving into rehearsals for Christmas carols – but even with bells on, the holiday festivities become a little less than festive. There are, however, moments of good cheer, as witnessed in the accompanying photo.
HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET
Here’s another chance to see, in prime time, Mel Brooks tell stories, and jokes, and react to clips from various points in his career – including a wonderful dance duet with Anne Bancroft, his late wife. Don’t miss it. And don’t miss my two-part TVWW interview with Brooks, about this special and his new DVD/CD boxed set, in
Bianculli’s Blog.
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
With the new big-screen musical version of Les Miserables about to premiere nationwide, TCM is leading off prime time with the classic 1935 non-singing version. This is the one starring Fredric March as Jean Valjean, and the incomparable Charles Laughton as the indefatigable Inspector Javert, who chases Valjean across sewers, and across decades. Also starring: Rochelle Hudson as Cosette and Florence Eldridge as Fantine.
Fox, 9:00 p.m. ET
This week’s holiday episode presents a series of mini-musicals – sort of extended videos, or dramatic sketches, that amount to a Glee Christmas equivalent of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Halloween shows. Among them: A cleverly conceived It’s a Wonderful Life spoof, in which Kurt (Chris Colfer) has a black-and-white dream, a glimpse of what life at his high school would have been like had Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) not volunteered to teach the New Directions glee club.
TCM, 10:00 p.m. ET
No, you’re not seeing double. But if you stay tuned to TCM, you’re seeing double feature. After a showing of the 1935 film version of Les Miserables, TCM turns right around at 10 p.m. ET and shows the 1952 version, which stars Michael Rennie as Jean Valjean, Robert Newton as Inspector Javert, Debra Paget as Cosette and Sylvia Sidney as Fantine. And it’s followed, at midnight ET, by yet another version: the 1934 one, starring Harry Baur as Valjean and Charles Vanel as Javert.