Is the world ready for a woman Doctor Who?
BBC America has been airing repeat episodes of “Doctor Who” all week. As fans of the long-running series surely know, the new Christmas special, “Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time” (9 p.m., BBC America, TV-PG), will showcase the end of Peter Capaldi’s role as the 12th Doctor and the arrival of the 13th Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker. In addition to portraying the first female Doctor, Whittaker had a remarkable role in all three seasons of the recently completed “Broadchurch.” That series starred David Tennant, who portrayed the 10th Doctor between 2005 and 2010. Series co-star Olivia Colman appeared in an episode (“The Eleventh Hour”) of “Doctor Who” as well. Colman will play Queen Elizabeth in the third season of Netflix’s acclaimed drama “The Queen.”
SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
Good things happen after the appearance of a Christmas Wishing Tree on a movie-length episode of “When Calls the Heart” (8 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G). This sentimental series returns for a fifth season in February.
LAST CHANCE
Viewers who want one last dose of Christmas movies have a choice of favorites before the scheduling elves pack them away until next December.
› Kermit and the gang are haunted by three spirits in the 1992 comedy “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (7:55 p.m., HBO Family).
› Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 animated special “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-G), created by Chuck Jones.
› Jim Carrey stars in the 2000 live-action adaptation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG), narrated by Anthony Hopkins.
› Will Ferrell plays the adopted son of Santa’s elf (Bob Newhart), who travels to New York to find his gruff birth father (James Caan) in the enchanting 2003 comedy “Elf” (6:45 p.m., Freeform, TV-PG).
› Chevy Chase stars as a high-wattage celebrator in the 1989 comedy “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (8:50 p.m., Freeform, TV-14).
› Billy Bob Thornton (“Fargo”) and Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) star in the 2003 black comedy “Bad Santa” (7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Comedy Central, TV-14). The film featured the last screen appearance by John Ritter before his sudden death in 2003. It also features Bernie Mac, who died far too soon at age 50 in 2008.
› For viewers in search of a more recent holiday comedy, there’s the 2016 effort “Office Christmas Party” (8 p.m., ShoExtreme), starring Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, Jennifer Aniston and Kate McKinnon. Given the film’s mixed reviews, it’s more likely that this will get stored away in pop culture’s attic than become an evergreen holiday classic.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› In streaming news, Acorn begins offering season 11 of “Murdoch Mysteries.”
› The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets in NBA action (8 p.m., ABC).
› Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, Fifth Harmony and DMX perform songs of the season on “Showtime at the Apollo” (8 p.m., Fox, repeat, TV-14).
› Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, The Chainsmokers, Fifth Harmony, Liam Payne, Camila Cabello and Niall Horan perform at the “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017” (8 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-PG).
› The Philadelphia Eagles host the Oakland Raiders in “Monday Night Football” (8:15 p.m., ESPN).
› A trip across the street takes on perilous dimensions after careless elves shrink two children and Santa delivers them to the neighbor’s house in the 2017 special “Tiny Christmas” (8:30 Teen Nick).
› Reading emotional cues on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-PG).
› Kevin spies on his daughter on “Kevin Can Wait” (8:30 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-PG).
› A precocious child grows up in East Texas on “Young Sheldon” (9 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-PG).
› An assault on the Mutant Underground on “The Gifted” (9 p.m., Fox, repeat, TV-14).
› Marisol Nichols participates on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (9:30 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-PG).
› Gunrunners ruin Christmas Eve on “Scorpion” (10 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› Dre obsesses on “blackish” (10:30 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.