Channel Surfing 12.09.08

Breaking down the new episodes of your favorite network shows, Channel Surfing will give you an hour by hour view of whats on television tonight. Channel Surfing helps you decide what shows to watch, what shows to record and what shows you have to pass on this week.

Setting the DVR for: House, Eli Stone, According To Jim, Olive The Other Reindeer, Dr Seuss on the Loose and the Garfield Christmas Special. Reruns: Catch up with reruns of Fringe, The Mentalist, NCIS and Without A Trace.

8:00 PM/ET

House (Fox)

A troubled teen collapses during her high-school Christmas program; Foreman and Thirteen learn more about each other as they work together on the Huntington’s disease drug trial; House gives and receives holiday gifts, leading to team speculation; and Cuddy receives a gift as well.

A Dennis The Menace Christmas (ABC Family)

The little rascal (Maxwell Perry Cotton) from the comics pages tries to inject his grinchy neighbor with the holiday spirit. Robert Wagner and Louise Fletcher play Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.

America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC)

Holiday-themed blunders include a clumsy Santa Claus, a dog that steals a cat’s treats, a little boy’s unusual take on “Jingle Bell Rock,” and a little girl who rejects her sister’s help with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Biggest Loser: Families (NBC)

The final four try on their old clothes and watch highlight videos of their journeys with their trainers. Later, they wear suits matching the amount of weight they’ve lost for the final challenge. After the weigh-in, the two players below the yellow line make their pleas to become the viewer-selected third finalist.

Olive The Other Reindeer (My Network TV)

The infectious charm of Drew Barrymore’s voice is but one highlight of this thoroughly delightful 1999 animated tale about a dog who thinks she can sub for an injured Blitzen and save Christmas. “I’ve always been different than other dogs,” says Olive (Barrymore), whose indomitable spirit conquers naysayers as she makes her way to the North Pole, accompanied by a crafty, con-artist penguin pal (Joe Pantoliano). Just accept that dogs talk, reindeer fly (and talk, too) and Santa (voiced by Edward Asner) is just like any other employer — only nicer.

9:00 PM/ET

According To Jim (ABC)

When Jim’s band wins a contest, they get to be the backing group for a young pop singer, but the girl’s off-putting, diva attitude brings out the father-knows-best side of Jim.

9:30 PM/ET

According To Jim (ABC)

Jim persuades Andy to pop the question to his girlfriend before it’s too late, but Jim has second thoughts when he sees her in public with another man.

10:00 PM/ET

Dr. Seuss on the Loose (ABC Family)

This show has animated adaptations of 3 Dr. Seuss stories (”Green Eggs and Ham”; “The Zax”; “The Sneetches”) with narration & introductions provided by the Cat in the Hat, voiced by humorist/folk singer Allan Sherman. His voice talents alone make this collection worthwhile viewing (although I must admit being biased as I am a longtime fan of Sherman’s song parodies such as “Camp Granada”, “Harvey & Sheila”, etc).

Eli Stone (ABC)

From the beginning, Dr. Chen has urged Eli to get in touch with his spiritual side, but can he help him get out of the lonely-hearts club, too? We’ll find out tonight when Bridget Moynahan guest stars as a new love interest for the would-be prophet. And speaking of love, Matt seems to have convinced Taylor that they belong together, and he continues to show how much he cares by scoring two tickets to see her favorite singer, Seal, who appears as himself.

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)

Benson and Stabler struggle to find evidence to incarcerate a rape suspect because his victims, who are in pornographic videos he made, suffer from memory loss regarding the attacks. To get testimony, they must remind the victims of the assaults.

10:30 PM/ET

Garfield Christmas Special (ABC Family)

Garfield, Jon and Odie go to Jon’s grandmother’s house for Christmas, where Garfield finds a present for Grandma.