TODAY’S TELEVISION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24

MOVIE: Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas SEVEN, 7pm, G (2000)

Jim Carrey’s portrayal of the fondly remembered title character from Dr Seuss’s classic book saves director Ron Howard’s chaotic Christmas fable from collapsing under its own weight. Carrey’s performance as the nasty furry green creature, a Yuletidehating grouch who sets out to ruin the holiday for the sweet-natured citizens of Whoville, is remarkable. The source material is stretched beyond any point of interest, the cinematography garish and sets very phony, but Carrey’s ad-lib-heavy turn ranks among his best work.

MOVIE: Home Alone 2: Lost In New York WIN, 6.30pm, PG (1992)

Inadvertently left to his own devices once again, young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) finds himself in a posh New York City hotel. All the original cast is back, but Mac no longer takes centre stage: it’s the bumbling bandits – Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci – who steal the show. There’s some back-story with the message about accepting other people as a pigeon lady scares Kevin, but in the end it’s some new laughs, but the same old jokes. Look out for the younger Culkin, Kieran, and a cameo from Donald Trump.

Comedy Next Gen ABC2, 10.30pm

Tune in for some laughs as this series features the next generation of standup comedians. Tonight’s comedian is Dilruk Jayasinha, a regular headliner on the Melbourne comedy circuit who has performed to packed rooms across the country and overseas. Arriving in Australia from Sri Lanka at 19, with the aim to finish and make good use of his finance and accounting degree, Dil was soon unceremoniously fired by a big accounting firm. They established that he had absolutely no interest in being an accountant – and he couldn’t agree more. Guaranteed to make you laugh.

Carols By Candlelight NINE, 8pm

It’s not Christmas without this heart-warming evening of TV celebrities singing well-known carols while kids and families with candles watch on – and the rest of us sing along from our lounge rooms. This year’s Carols By Candlelight from Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl – raising money for Vision Australia – is hosted by David Campbell and Lisa Wilkinson (both right), who are joined by entertainers including Marina Prior, Silvie Paladino and David Hobson to celebrate the spirit of Christmas. Cosy up on the couch, warm up your singing voices and pour out the egg nog, as this is essential Christmas Eve viewing.