The search for a murderer leads to an underground cabaret on “Frankie Drake Mysteries” (Ovation, 7 p.m.).
“Christmas Time is Here” (GAC Family, 8 p.m.) another new holiday film lies. This one concerns a small town realtor looking to buy her dad’s resort.
There are a few other premature Yuletide romances on tonight: Tatyana Ali plays a photographer who is double booked with a wildlife photographer (Henderson Wade) in “A Picture Perfect Holiday” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.).
“A Snowy Christmas” (UPtv, 7 p.m.) involves a big city lawyer (Elysia Rotaru) who meets a contractor (Damon Runyon) in her small hometown.
For those who always wanted to see Bruce Campbell and Peter Gallagher playing guitars in a Hallmark Christmas movie, here’s “One December Night” (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 10 p.m.), which also stars Eloise Mumford and Brett Dalton.
And researching a family trees uncovers a previously undetected family in the film “My Christmas Family Tree” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), with Aimee Teegarden, Andrew Walker and James Tupper.
A camel has a toothache on “The Zoo: Bronx Tales” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.). Asian elephants try to get along on “The Zoo” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
A mommy blogger is trolled in the made-for-TV thriller “A Mother’s Fury” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.).
On “Family or Fiance” (OWN, 10 p.m.), a groom tries to impress his bride’s rich parents.
Turner Classic Movies celebrates the 50th anniversary of William Friedkin’s “The French Connection” (8 p.m.), pairing it with his “To Live and Die in L.A.” (10 p.m.). The noir at midnight is “The Lineup” (12:15 a.m.), followed by two from Carl Franklin, “Devil in a Blue Dress” (2 a.m.) and “One False Move” (4 a.m.).
NBA action includes Miami at Utah (NBA, 5 p.m.) and Boston at Cleveland (NBA, 8 p.m.).
Hockey has Boston at New Jersey (NHL, 1 p.m.) and Los Angeles at Winnipeg (NHL, 7 p.m.).
College football begins at noon with games that include Michigan at Penn State (ABC), Oklahoma at Baylor (Fox), Mississippi State at Auburn (ESPN), Northwestern at Wisconsin (ESPN2), West Virginia at Kansas State (Fox Sports 1), Central Florida at SMU (ESPNU) and Bucknell at Army (CBS Sports).
Games at 3:30 p.m. include Georgia at Tennessee (CBS), Purdue at Ohio State (ABC), Miami at Florida State (ESPN), Iowa State at Texas Tech (ESPN2) and Alabama Birmingham at Marshall (CBS Sports).
Then comes Maryland at Michigan State (Fox, 4 p.m.), Tulsa at Tulane (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), Texas A&M at Mississippi (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Kentucky at Vanderbilt (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Arizona State at Washington (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Air Force at Colorado State (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Kansas at Texas (ESPNU 7:30 p.m.), Washington State at Oregon (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.), Utah State at San Jose State (Fox Sports 1, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Coppin State at Connecticut (Fox Sports 2, noon), Dartmouth at Georgetown (Fox Sports 2, 2 p.m.), Saint Peter’s at St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.), Central Michigan at DePaul (Fox Sports 2, 6 p.m.), Troy at Butler (Fox sports 2, 8 p.m.) and Texas at Gonzaga (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.).
Motor sports has the Motul Petit Le Mans (NBC Sports, 3 p.m.).
Jackson Browne plays the entirety of a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
It’s the odd “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) where the musical guest, Taylor Swift, is more famous than the host, actor Jonathan Majors of “The Harder They Fall.” At 10 is a replay of a 2004 episode with Liam Neeson and Modest Mouse.