Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
"A Home For the Holidays," 7 p.m., CBS. Each year this special mixes strong music with emotional little documentaries about adoption. This year, Rod Stewart leads the music lineup. Others include John Legend, Mary Mary, John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting and "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee.
"Ocean's Eleven" (2001), 7 p.m., TNT; repeats at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday. George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh have made plenty of films that are tense and tough and artful. Last year alone, Soderbergh produced and Clooney starred in "Syriana" and "Good Night, and Good Luck." But smart guys are also allowed to have fun. So Soderbergh directed Clooney in this heist romp. The film started with a clever script — something "Ocean's Twelve" lacked — and then added star power. That includes Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Bernie Mac, Andy Garcia and more. Strong actors knew how to underplay and let the story shine through.
OF NOTE
"Doctor Who," 6 and 7 p.m., Sci Fi Channel. The latest round of "Who" films concludes with these hours, which again put the world at peril. This also reportedly marks the departure of Billie Piper, who has been wonderful in two seasons, as the store clerk who became the aide for two different Doctors.
"Justice," 7 p.m., Fox. This is supposed to be a festive Christmas party, but someone has left a baby at the law office. Meanwhile, Luther (Eamonn Walker) helps Tom (Kerr Smith) defend a college student accused of murder.
"Mary Poppins" (1964), 8 p.m., ABC Family. Think of this as the start of a two-night family festival of Julie Andrews films. First is this film with Andrews as the ultimate nanny; it includes song, dance, animation and Dick Van Dyke. That's followed Saturday by "Sound of Music" on ABC. Andrews won an Oscar for "Poppins." The film won for "Music."
"20/20: Heaven: Where Is It? How Do We Get There?" 8 p.m., ABC. This repeats Barbara Walters' special in which she talked to people from many religions about the afterlife.
"Las Vegas," 8 p.m., NBC. Barring a late change, NBC will simply rerun last week's episode. That has Danny and Delinda looking forward to their first Christmas together — except that his car has been stolen, and her dad wants everyone to be part of the "secret Santa" exchange.
"Close to Home," 8 p.m., CBS. This rerun has Annabeth working a difficult case involving car-jacking and kidnapping. Without additional evidence, she must depend on witnesses. Now a key one has been intimidated.
"Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. Sabotage causes a series of blackouts in Los Angeles.