WATCH THIS: SUNDAY
“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (7 p.m., ABC): A lanky mailman with the voice of Fred Astaire explains Santa’s origins in this animated 1970 special, which sidesteps the St. Nicholas part. In this version, the future jolly old elf is a foundling adopted by the Kringles, a family of toymakers. He grows up with toys in his blood, so to speak, and feels called to give them away to the local youngsters — but mean old Burgermeister Meisterburger will have none of that.
“The Simpsons” (7 p.m., FOX): Hi-Diddly-Ho! This long-running comedy serves up a Flanders-centric half-hour in the new episode “Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?” As that title suggests, young Todd Flanders (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is wrestling with a crisis of faith after blaming God for the death of his mother.
“Christmas Town” (7 p.m., Hallmark): As the holidays loom, elementary school teacher Lauren Gabriel (Candace Cameron Bure) decides it’s time to make some major life changes, leaving her familiar job in Boston and her relationship with career-obsessed boyfriend Eric (Jason Cermak) in favor of a fresh start in a quaint but distant town. Her move is complicated by travel problems that briefly strand her in a charming hamlet nicknamed “Christmastown,” where she meets a handsome handyman (Tim Rozon, “Wynonna Earp”).
“You Light Up My Christmas” (7 p.m., 11:01 p.m., Lifetime): Kim Fields (“The Facts of Life”) stars in this fact-based 2019 romance as Emma Simmons, a young woman who returns home to the town where her family’s Christmas light factory has been a big part of the community’s economy. This year, however, Emma can’t help noticing the local holidays feel somewhat dimmer, so she reconnects with Ben (Adrian Holmes), an old flame, to brighten spirits.
“Holiday Wars” (8 p.m., 11 p.m., Food): “Halloween Wars” host Jonathan Bennett diversifies into Santa season with this new spinoff competition in which each episode finds teams of master cake and sugar artists vying in two challenges to create holiday displays that are both festive and delicious. In the series premiere, “Stealing the Naughty List,” Bennett welcomes five teams and assigns them to depict a heist in which young scalawags steal Santa’s “naughty list.”
“NCIS: Los Angeles” (8:30 p.m., CBS): Series regular Eric Christian Olsen, who plays LAPD detective Marty Deeks, co-wrote the new “Mother,” the 250th episode of this long-running action drama. In the story, Callen, Sam (Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J) and their team become the targets of Ahkos Laos, a former black ops agent who originally was recruited and trained under Hetty (Linda Hunt). Now he’s come back, intent on using his lethal skills to get revenge on Hetty for the unhappy life into which she brought him.
“The Rookie” (9 p.m., ABC): Officer Nolan (Nathan Fillion) finds his trust sorely tested when he tries to help the former owner of his home reconnect with his estranged family in the new episode “Breaking Point.” Meanwhile, Officer Harper’s (Mekia Cox) long-awaited overnight visit with her daughter is thrust into jeopardy when her past undercover life becomes an issue yet again. Shawn Ashmore, Harold Perrineau and Ali Larter guest star.
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