TV This Week: Dec. 18 - 24
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Click here to download TV listings for the week of Dec. 18 - 24 in PDF format
Weekly TV Listings and more can be found at: www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv
SUNDAY
‘Tis the season for the sixth-season finale of the serial-killer drama “Dexter,” followed by the freshman-season finale of “Homeland.” Claire Danes and Damian Lewis star in the latter series, a conspiracy thriller for our post-Sept. 11 world. (Showtime, 9 and 10 p.m.)
Romance of the nerds: The two-part special “Geek Love” spotlights Sci-Fi Speed Dating, a matchmaking service designed especially for the costume-clad Comic-Con crowd. So what time should my mom and I pick you up? (TLC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.)
MONDAY
Where my divas at? At “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul.” Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Florence + the Machine, Jennifer Hudson and Chaka Khan are among the singers taking part in this special benefiting music education in public schools. (VH1, 9 p.m.)
TUESDAY
Feast and be festive with the debut of “Lidia Celebrates America,” a series of culinary specials with celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich, starting with four holiday tables: Italian Christmas Eve; Mexican-American Christmas; Chinese New Year and Jewish-American Passover. (KOCE, 8 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY
There’s no place like “A Home for the Holidays With Martina McBride.” The country music superstar (above) is joined by the ubiquitous Justin Bieber and the aforementioned Ms. Blige for her annual event promoting the cause of adoption. (CBS, 8 p.m.)
THURSDAY
After Wednesdays night’s last sing-off, it’s Part 2 of the season finale of “The X Factor,” the talent competition noteworthy if for nothing else than reuniting Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, the Bickersons of “American Idol” fame. (Fox, 8 p.m.)
FRIDAY
A study in Scarlett: The glamorous Ms. Johansson (right) — star of stage and screen, tabloid fixture, red carpet sensation, sometime recording artist and onetime Mrs. Ryan Reynolds — is profiled on a new “Biography.” (Biography, 7, 8 and 11 p.m.)
SATURDAY
‘Tis the night before you-know-what, and that means holiday favorites like the 1946 classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart and the annual 24-hour marathon of the nostalgic 1983 tale “A Christmas Story.” (NBC, 8 p.m.; TBS, 8 p.m.)
‘A Home for the Holidays With Martina McBride’; credit: Randi St. Nicholas / CBS. ‘Biography’; credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press