[IMG:L]Christmas in Rockefeller Center — 8/7c on NBC
Judging by all the Christmas-themed shows on TV tonight, you may think the holiday itself has arrived; it has not, obviously, but the holiday season most certainly has.
As such, NBC presents its annual Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony/celeb-athon.
Hosting duties this year fall to the odd trio of Nick Lachey, Al Roker and High School Musical’s Ashley Tisdale.
And that’s less than 25 percent of the celebs lined up to make appearances, including: Tony Bennett, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Mariska Hargitay, Hayden Panetierre and Donald Trump (would he ever miss a publicity gig?).
ALSO…
[IMG:R]Shrek the Halls — 8/7c on ABC
ABC, meanwhile, gets creative with an extra-special special courtesy of Shrek and co. That’s right, the big three–Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy), and Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz)–are here, along with visits from Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas), Gingerbread Man and others. This brand-spankin’-new X-mas show finds Shrek, Fiona and the kids trying to celebrate the holidays as a family, only to have Donkey and others turn it into a chaotic mess.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas — 8:30/7:30c on ABC
Out with the new, in with the old. Immediately following its aforementioned Shrek-tacular, ABC rolls in the original, Jim Carrey-less How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr. Seuss’ classic, first aired in 1966, brings out the kid in everyone, even more so than the Charlie Browns, and is thus so worth a watch.
[IMG:L]CNN/YouTube Republican Primary Presidential Debate — 8/7c on CNN
For those grinches too old and mature for any of the above, CNN has you covered with its modernized prez debate. Anderson Cooper moderates the debate, in which–as if you don’t already know–Republican hopefuls field questions sent via YouTube. And the whole gang’ll be there: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancred and (former actor) Fred Thompson.
