The notion of a guardian angel helping someone who could use it at Christmas is probably best known in “It’s A Wonderful Life” (NBC, 8 p.m.), the oldest movie still shown regularly on network TV (albeit with enough commercials, stretching it to three hours, you’d think it were programmed by Potter himself).
The same idea, though, is used in the new TV movie “Debbie Macomber’s Mr. Miracle” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) in which Rob Morrow puts on one of the most eccentric performances of his career as an extremely addled angel who so interferes with the life of a strangely old-seeming college girl (Britt Irvin) that he should by all rights be arrested. It’s interesting because of how weird it is.
It’s not the only cable Christmas movie with the author’s name shoehorned in the title. “Wally Lamb’s Wishin’ and Hopin'” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) takes its name from a pop song, as all Lamb’s books do, in recalling his Catholic school upbringing in Connecticut. Accordingly, it was shot there, has a lot of people in it I know from there in it, and everyone there is very excited about it. The people you know associated with it are Molly Ringwald, who plays the substitute teacher (hope she doesn’t grant detention) and Chevy Chase, who narrates (who we can assume is otherwise engaged by stringing up holiday lights in “Christmas Vacation”).
Didn’t like the dancing in NBC’s “Peter Pan Live!” this week? Look at how it’s handled in “Peter Pan from the Milwaukee Ballet” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) with Marc Petrocci as Pan and Valerie Harmon as Wendy. It’s choreographed by Milwaukee Ballet artistic director Michael Pink, to a score by Philip Feeney.
College football championship weekend means games on three broadcast networks tonight: Georgia Tech vs. Florida State (ABC, 8 p.m.) for the ACC championship; Wisconsin vs. Ohio State (Fox, 8 p.m.) for the Big 10 championship, and Fresno State at Boise State (CBS, 10 p.m.) for the Mountain West championship.
Earlier championship games include Louisiana Tech at Marshall (ESPN2, noon) for Conference USA, Alabama vs. Missouri (CBS, 4 p.m.) in the SEC and Alcorn State vs. Southern (ESPNU, 4 p.m.O in the SWAC.
Some of the best films of the great director Mike Nichols, who died Nov. 16, are featured tonight on Turner Classic Movies with “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (8 p.m.), “The Graduate” (10:30 p.m.) and “Carnal Knowledge” (12:30 a.m.). Nichols had nothing to do, however, with “Roller Boogie” (TCM, 2:15 a.m.) and “Heavenly Bodies” (4 a.m.).
“Grudge Match” (HBO, 8 p.m.) the boxing movie starring Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone, makes its premium cable debut.
“The Pioneer Woman” (Food Network, 8 p.m.) throws a cowboy Christmas (which means she has to first lasso the Christmas kabobs).
These late scores just in: “Toy Story 3” (ABC Family, 6:30 p.m.), “The Santa Claus 2” (AMC, 7 and 9:30 p.m.).
Plans progress for the royal wedding on “Atlantis” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
A day that will live in infamy (tomorrow), “Pearl Harbor” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
To whet your appetite for the next Seth Rogen/James Franco jaunt, here they are in “Pineapple Express” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.).
The conclusion of “One Child” (Sundance, 9 p.m.) takes more turns than you would have expected; part one reruns at 7 p.m., make a night of it.
Nicole Kidman, Julie Walters, Hugh Bonneville and Take That are on a new episode of “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
“Almost Royal” (BBC America, 11 and 111:30 p.m.) just got picked up for a second season. Might as well get a taste of the faux royal visits to L.A. and Boston from season one.
Other college football games today include Houston at Cincinnati (ESPN, noon), Iowa State at TCU (ABC, noon), SMU at Connecticut (CBS Sports, noon), Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (Fox Sports 1, 3:30 p.m.),Temple at Tulane (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.) and Kansas State at Baylor (ESPN, 7:45 p.m.).
College hoops today includes Oklahoma State at South Carolina (ESPNU, noon), La Salle vs. Temple (ESPNews, noon), Wisconsin at Marquette (CBS, 12:30 p.m.), Saint Joseph’s at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m.), Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Kansas State at Tennessee (ESPN2, 3:15 p.m.), Northwestern at Butler (Fox, 4:30 p.m.), St. John’s at Syracuse (ESPN2, 5:15 p.m.), Gonzaga at Arizona (ESPN, 5:15 p.m.), Penn State at Marshall (CBS Sports, 6 p.m.), Wake Forest at North Carolina State (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), Alabama at Xavier (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), Bradley at Memphis (ESPNU, 9:30 p.m.) and Boise State at Saint Mary’s (ESPNU, 11:30 p.m.).
In women’s games, it’s Connecticut at Notre Dame (ESPN, 3:15 p.m.).
Hockey tonight has Rangers at Red Wings (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Jason Isbell and Neko Case play a recommended “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
James Franco returns to host a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) for the third time; Nicki Minaj also returns as musical guest. (There is no vintage episode at 10 p.m.).