TV This Week: Dec. 9 - 15: ‘Help for the Holidays’ on Hallmark

Click here to download TV listings for the week Dec. 9 - 15 in PDF format

This week’s TV Movies

SUNDAY

“Portlandia’s” Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein help keep Springfield weird when they guest star on “The Simpsons.” As an added treat, they’re back Friday with a holiday episode of their own satirical series. (Fox, 8 p.m.; IFC, 10:30 p.m. Fri.)

Had your fill of holiday cheer? Too bad! Tori Spelling and Tia Mowry get tuneful in “The Mistle-Tones,” an elfin Summer Glau, pictured, offers “Help for the Holidays,” and for Haylie Duff, it’s “All About Christmas Eve.” (ABC Family, 8 and 10 p.m; Hallmark, 8 p.m.; Lifetime, 9 p.m.)

MONDAY

Two decades’ worth of cheesy creature-features, so-so series and one truly great one (“Battlestar Galactica”), and one re-branding later, the cable channel formerly known as Sci-Fi celebrates itself with the “Syfy 20th Anniversary Special.” (Syfy, 9 p.m.)

TUESDAY

It boasts the talents of Mickey Rooney and Fred Astaire, but the unsung hero — or rather, villain — of the 1970 stop-motion animated classic “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” is the late, great voice actor Paul Frees as Burgermeister Meisterburger. (ABC, 8 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY

The Who, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen are among the music legends who will rock Madison Square Garden for a worthy cause on the benefit/telethon “12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief.” (ION, AMC, HBO, IFC, Sundance, WE, 7:30 p.m.)

What do Ben Affleck, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, gymnast Gabby Douglas, “50 Shades of Grey” author E.L. James, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and “Family Guy’s” Seth MacFarlane have in common? They’re among the famous faces featured on “Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012.” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.)

THURSDAY

“Les Misérables” loves company: The big-screen version of the musical hits theaters Christmas Day, but before then, you can peruse three earlier adaptations — from 1935, 1952 and 1934, respectively — of Victor Hugo’s classic novel. (TCM, 5, 7 and 9 p.m.)

FRIDAY

The Beatles were the greatest rock band ever. Period. But they weren’t infallible. “Great Performances” revisits the making of the Fab Four’s nonsensical “Magical Mystery Tour” TV movie, followed by the offending article itself. (KOCE, 9 and 10 p.m.)

SATURDAY

If you need a date for “New Year’s Eve,” you could ask Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele or one of the legions of other stars in Garry Marshall’s overpopulated 2011 rom-com. (HBO, 7:30 p.m.)