There’s a lot going on these days in the South, from the impending Alabama election to today’s opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Neither will be likely touched upon in the the new holiday romance “Christmas in Mississippi” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) with Jana Kramer returning to help her mother with decorations and reuniting with a high school sweetheart. With Wes Brown, Faith Ford and Barry Bostwick.
Amid the family wedding on the new TV romance “The Christmas Cottage” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) there is the myth that whoever stays in the holiday-themed cottage will have everlasting love. (Or rather, anyone who stars in a holiday-themed cable movie will find romance with an old flame). With Merritt Patterson and Steve Lund.
College football is practically over but for the bowl games, so prime time is turned over to “Mary Poppins” (AB, 8 p.m.), holiday specials like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (CBS, 8 p.m.), “Frosty the Snowman” (CBS, 9 p.m.) and “Frosty Returns” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.), as well as network reruns of “The Gifted” (Fox, 8 p.m.), “Will & Grace” (NBC, 8 p.m.), “Superstore” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) and “Lethal Weapon” (Fox, 9 p.m.) and the newsmagazines “Dateline” (NBC, 9 p.m.) and “48 Hours” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
But the Heisman Trophy (ESPN, 8 p.m.) is given in New York.
Hugh Jackman puts on his Wolverine claws again in “Logan” (HBO, 8 p.m.), making its premium cable debut. Also on tonight: Olivier Assayas’ spooky “Personal Shopper” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) with Kristen Stewart.
Wendi moor falls into chaos on “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
“We the Dreamers” (Fuse, 10 p.m.) is a full length documentary about musicians from different walks of life in the U.S., including a Mardi Gras Indian funk band. LeRoy Downs narrates.
Babysitters are encouraged not to watch “Your Worst Nightmare” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.), about a home invasion on a night a teen is babysitting.
The comedy “The Fisher King” is badly misinterpreted by a Texas killer on “CopyCat Killers” (Reelz, 10 p.m.).
“Ghost Adventures” (Travel, 9 p.m.) goes to Eureka, Nev., to look into a supposedly haunted hotel.
Cats are stuck in the pantry on “Cat vs. Dog” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.). I suspect the dog put them in there.
The fan club president who killed Selena is profiled in “Murder Made Me Famous” (Reelz, 9 p.m.).
Monique takes Tim up on his Houston offer on “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” (OWN, 9 p.m.).
A pirate ship sunk in an earthquake is sought on “Secrets of the Underground” (Science, 10 p.m.).
A couple that recently lost 500 pounds have a private weekend on “Checked Inn” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
Elton John, Stephen Fry, Carey Mulligan, Robbie Williams and Pink are on a new episode of “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
Fay Bainter is featured on Turner Classic Movies, in “Woman of the Year” (8 p.m.), “Jezebel” (10 p.m.) and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (midnight). Then it’s two comedies from Paul Bartel, “Private Parts” (2 a.m.) and “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills” (3:45 a.m.).
It’s Wolford vs. North Dakota State (ESPN2, noon) in the a men’s college football championship semifinal. The only other gridiron action is Army vs. Navy (CBS, 3 p.m.).
There is a lot of men’s college basketball, however, starting at noon with Duke at Boston College (ESPN), Kentucky vs. Monmouth (ESPNU), UCLA at Michigan (CBS) and Marquette at Wisconsin (Fox Sports 1).
Then comes Indiana at Louisville (EPN, 2 p.m.), Coppin State at Connecticut (ESPNews, 2 p.m.), Yale at St. Bonaventure (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Nebraska at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 2:30 p.m.), Saint Joseph’s at Temple (CBS Sports, 2:30 p.m.), North Carolina A&T at Georgetown (Fox Sports 2, 2:30 p.m.), Pennsylvania at Dayton (NBC Sports, 3 p.m.), Wichita State at Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 4 p.m.), Colorado at Xavier (Fox Sports 1, 5 p.m.), California at San Diego State (CBS Sports, 5 p.m.),
Florida vs. Cincinnati (ESPN2, 6 p.m.), Notre Dame at Delaware (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), West Virginia at Pittsburgh (ESPN2, 8 p.m.), Alabama at Arizona (ESPN2, 10 p.m.) and Illinois at UNLV (ESPN2, midnight).
Pro games include Miami at Brooklyn (NBA, 6 p.m.) and Utah at Milwaukee (NBA, 8:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Oshawa at Barrie (NHL, 3:30 p.m.) in the Ontario League and Toronto at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.) in the bigs.
Soccer has the MLS Cup Final of Seattle at Toronto (ESPN, 4:30 p.m.).
And in the women’s college volleyball quarterfinals, it’s Kentucky vs. Nebraska (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), Florida vs. Southern Cal (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Penn State vs. Michigan State (ESPNU, 8 p.m.) and Texas vs. Stanford (ESPNU, 10 p.m.).
Margo Price and Hayes Carll play “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
James Franco hosts a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with SZA as musical guest. Earlier, a 2005 show with Jack Black and Neil Young is replayed at 10 p.m.