What to watch
SATURDAY December 23, 2023
All times Central. Start times can vary based on cable/satellite provider. Confirm times on your on-screen guide.
College Football
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 11 a.m. Live
A full day of college football bowl games has the Birmingham Bowl (ABC), the Camellia Bowl (ESPN), the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (ABC), the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (ESPN), the 68 Ventures Bowl (ESPN), the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (ABC) and the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl (ESPN).
NFL Football
NBC & Peacock, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Live
A Saturday NFL Week 16 doubleheader has the Cincinnati Bengals at the Pittsburgh Steelers on NBC, followed by the Buffalo Bills at the L.A. Chargers streaming on Peacock.
Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night
The CW, 7 p.m.
A young mother and a shepherd boy experience Jesus’ birth; Andrea Bocelli performs.
A Royal Christmas Holiday
Great American Family, 7 p.m. ■ Original Film
In search of her big break, a reporter (Brittany Underwood) arranges a Christmas interview with a European prince (Jonathan Stoddard) who is visiting the States. Will her big story become her love story?
Extended Family
NBC, 7 p.m. ■ Sneak Preview
This new comedy stars Jon Cryer and Abigail Spencer as Jim and Julia, a couple who, after an amicable divorce, decide to continue raising their two kids (Sofia Capanna and Finn Sweeney) at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated for Jim, however, when Trey (Donald Faison), the owner of his favorite sports team, enters the picture and wins Julia’s heart. Extended Family will begin airing regularly on Tuesday nights beginning Jan. 2.
Planet Earth III
BBC America, 7 p.m. ■ Series Finale
In “Heroes,” the Planet Earth III finale, viewers are introduced to some incredible conservation champions fighting to preserve the future of our beautiful planet. The episode is followed by a behind-the-scenes special following camera crews as they worked over five years and traveled to every corner of the globe to capture astounding wildlife dramas.
Night Court NBC,
7:30 p.m.
In this special new episode of the reboot of the classic sitcom, airing just ahead of the series’ Season 2 return on Jan. 2, it is Christmastime at Night Court. Abby (Melissa Rauch) enlists Dan (John Larroquette) to track down a little girl’s letter to Santa; Gurgs’ (Lacretta) gift for Dan isn’t what she expected; and Olivia (India de Beaufort) is haunted by a witness who believes herself to be the Ghost of Christmas Present.
A ‘Saturday Night Live’ Christmas Special
NBC, 8 p.m.
Enjoy two hours of the most memorable Christmas-themed sketches from SNL‘s long history.