ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET
Norm Macdonald returns as Mike’s brother Rusty in this holiday episode, which has the shifty sibling moving some furniture into the Heck garage – furniture that isn’t technically his. Meanwhile, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) gets hired at a department store for the holidays, just to take advantage of the employee discount. Sounds like a good plan – but there’s a catch. Bah, humbug.
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
Here’s a rare telecast of an early, ahead-of-its-time talkie. Frank Capra directed this film in 1930, only three years after The Jazz Singer – and used Ladies of Leisure to showcase a stage actress who had a confident way with dialogue. The movie made her a star – and that star, in her first major movie appearance, is Barbara Stanwyck, playing a “party girl” who poses as a model for a young artist, then develops genuine feelings for him. Ralph Graves co-stars.
BBC America, 9:00 p.m. ET
Last week, in the Season 2 premiere, Hector (Dominic West) was seen partying with showgirl Kiki (Hannah Tointon). In tonight’s episode, he’s seen with her again – but under less pleasant circumstances. She’s been beaten up, and he’s been accused.
FX, 10:00 p.m. ET
It’s a Christmas episode for American Horror Story – but if you think that means warm and cuddly, you’ve never seen this series. But there’s an extra special reason to watch tonight: This hour, about a killer Santa running around in the asylum, features guest star Ian McShane, whom I still admire for his unparalleled work as Al Swearengen on Deadwood.
CBS, 10:00 p.m. ET
Taylor Swift and LL Cool J, the original hosts of this special five years ago, return as hosts of this live hour, in which the year’s Grammy nominations are announced – and which, this year, emanates from Nashville for the first time. Even so, the program is a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll. Country stars Dierks Bentley and The Band Perry are among the scheduled performers – but so are Maroon 5, fun., and, by satellite from New York, The Who.