The Simpsons

TV’s longest-running animated hit has been associated with Christmas since its inception – when the first full-length episode debuted on December 17, 1989 (after previously appearing on… The Tracey Ullman Show) offered the Christmas fable “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.” After 36 seasons and nearly 780 episodes, the satirical classics come full circle to mark its anniversary with a double-length episode, “C’mon All Ye Faithful,” in which a grumpy Springfield chokes to death on “the powerful breath of tire fire and…” Donut Oil” gets an injection of Christmas cheer courtesy of British illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown (as himself). His experiment involves hypnotizing a suggestible Homer, who begins to believe he is Santa Claus, with the consequences plunging neighbor Ned Flanders into a crisis of faith. Christmas miracles abound, not least of which is the staying power of this series.

Aaron Rodgers: Puzzle

“I’m trying to push back on Father Time and expectations,” famed quarterback Aaron Rodgers says in a three-part documentary profile of one of the NFL’s most polarizing figures. Puzzle Explores the spiritual journey of a famous public figure whose conspiracy theories made him a lightning rod for controversy. The series also chronicles his comeback after suffering a potentially career-ending injury when he tore his Achilles tendon in his first game after leaving the Green Bay Packers, his hometown for 18 seasons, to join the underdog New York Jets.

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir

They are joined by the world-famous Tabernacle Choir and Temple Square Orchestra Downton Abbeyis Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) and former Broadway Aladdin Star Michael Maliakel for a stirring concert full of music and storytelling. Nicol tells a story about Les Miserables Author Victor Hugo’s commitment to caring for the poor children of his community, while Maliakel performs with the choir and orchestra as well as the Bells at Temple Square and the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble for a musical program including “God Helps the Outcasts” (from the The Hunchback of Notre Dame Musical) and standards like “Joy to the World” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”. Followed by Too Hot for Handel: Gospel Messiah (9:30/8:30c) featuring a reimagined take on Handel’s classics with gospel, jazz and R&B influences. Conductor Marin Alsop and colleagues Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson present the work in the majestic Royal Albert Hall in London with the BBC Concert Orchestra and Symphony Chorus and the London Adventist Chorale.

FBI

While many series deck the halls with festive trimmings this time of year, Dick Wolfs FBI The trilogy continues with serious business in its fall finale. On the mothership, OA (Zeeko Zaki) turns to his army buddy Clay (Guy Lockard) to find out if the deaths of three customs officers were an inside job. To FBI: International (9/8c) things get personal for the new team leader Wes (Jesse Lee Soffer) after a key witness in the trial against the man who killed his former partner is fatally beaten in a Budapest prison. Then continue FBI: Most Wanted (10/9c) The Fugitive Task Force runs afoul of local laws while tracking down a serial killer in Virginia.

St Denis Medical

Veteran character actor David Paymer – you’ll know him when you see him – steals the first (and hopefully not last) Christmas episode from the first-year medical comedy as a patient who initially charms head nurse Alex (Allison Tolman) and everyone else in the hospital. until he shows his true face. Elsewhere, a man in a Santa Claus costume comes into the emergency room in an embarrassingly desperate situation, and status-seeking hospital director Joyce (Wendi McLendon-Covey) needs tech-savvy nurse Serena (Kahyun Kim) to stop them all from having her Retro embarrasses ideas on how to boost St. Denis’s social media profile.

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