1) “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” 8-10 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 4), NBC. Here’s a familiar Christmas combination — spectacle (including the Rockettes and the lighting of a mega-tree) plus music. That includes Kelly Clarkson (shown here at last year’s show), the host, plus Jennifer Hudson, Dan + Shay, Megan Hilty, Raye, Coco Jones, Thalia, The Backstreet Boys, and Little Big Town.
2) “CMA Country Christmas,” 8-9 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. Many specials stick to Santa and snowmen and such, with barely a nod to religion. Here’s an exception, with contemporary Christian performers — Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, King + Country – plus lighter tunes from Trisha Yearwood, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi and Brittney Spencer.
3) “Elsbeth,” 10 p.m. Thursday, CBS. Amid TV’s unrelenting Christmas cheer, here’s some counterpoint: A merry marriage wobbles, Santas fight and even the bright-eyed Elsbeth is feeling down. Fortunately, she has a murder to solve. It’s a clever hour, as CBS’ Thursday shows – “Georgie & Mandy,: “Ghosts,” “Matlock,” “Elsbeth” – return from a two-week break.
4) College football championships. Ten of them are jammed into two days. That starts at 8 p.m. ET Friday, with games on ABC, Fox and the CBS Sports Network. The next day, ABC has the Big 12 at noon, the SEC at 4 and the Atlantic Coast Conference at 8 – which is when CBS has the Big Ten. Others are at noon and 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and 2 p.m. on ESPN2
5) “Brilliant Minds,” 10 p.m. today (Dec. 2), NBC. The subject is pain – an unbearable excess or an unexplained absence. A heroic EMT seems shattered by it; an autistic boy is unaware of it. There are flaws in the story, but Dr. Wolf is a deeply caring guy worth following. His colleagues continue side stories, from romance to an abusive patient.
6) “What We Do in the Shadows,” 10 p.m. today, FX. Two weeks from its finale, this weirdly clever show has discarded any budget concerns. Packed into a busy half-hour is a huge story, swarming with vampires – even dancing ones – of all types. There’s lots of action and, alas, gore, plus spurts of the humor that has made this an Emmy-nominated surprise.
7) “Abbott Elementary,” 8-9 p.m. Wednesday, ABC. Before its winter break, the show starts early and has two seasonal episodes. At 8, the school puts on its first holiday show; at 8:30, Melissa obsesses on making the family dinner perfect. Both episodes also involve visitors: At 8, Jacob’s brother arrives early; at 8:30, Janine and Gregory have a surprise guest.
8) Cartoon classics. On Thursday, NBC has the brilliant “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at 8 p.m. and the pleasant “Frosty the Snowman” at 8:30. The next night, it has “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at 8. Then it’s Freeform: On Saturday, “Frosty and “Rudolph” at 8:35 and 9:10 p.m.; on Sunday, they’re at 5:30 and 6:10, with a 4:30 “Year Without a Santa Claus.”
9) “Blue Bloods,” 10 p.m Friday, CBS. Next week, the show wraps its 14-season, 294-episode run. First, family complications: Eddie tries to help a guy whose apartment has been taken over; the squatter is an informant of her husband, Jamie. Also, Jamie’s brother probes a student’s death, their sister tries matchmaking and their dad is wary of the governor.
10) MORE: Fox’s “Accused” ends it season at 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesday. The first hour is downbeat, but the second has a clever (and adult) futuristic turn. At 10 p.m. Wednesday, NBC has comedy and music with “Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular.” And from 8-10 p.m. Thursday, ABC starts “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” showcasing front-yard spectacle.