Weekly Best Bets

Thursday

7 p.m. on ABC

Ugly Betty: See, this is why you should never overimbibe with people from work. Another magazine copies Mode’s holiday ideas, and Betty, Amanda and Marc (America Ferrera, Becki Newton, Michael Urie) fear they’re responsible, having spent an evening networking with someone from the competition. As Daniel and Wilhelmina (Eric Mabius, Vanessa Williams) work on a new photo, Justin (Mark Indelicato) visits the magazine for a school project in “Fey’s Sleigh Ride.”

8 p.m. on NBC

The Office: It’s the Christmas episode so nice they’re airing it twice. “Party politics” takes on a new meaning as Angela, Pam and Karen (Angela Kinsey, Jenna Fischer, Rashida Jones) try to plan the Dunder Mifflin holiday party. They can’t seem to get along, so the committee splits up, and now two separate parties are being planned.

Friday

7 p.m. on CBS

8th Annual A Home for the Holidays With Rod Stewart: The timing of this annual special promoting adoption is understandable; it’s the time of year when everyone is thinking about family, or at least is supposed to be. But given the time an adoption requires, it’s unlikely any of the featured kids awaiting homes will be in them by Christmas. Nonetheless, the special gets a thumbs-up for the good tunes and the success stories.

8 p.m. on CBS

Close to Home: Jack’s alive! No, you didn’t miss a Christmas miracle; this is a rerun from season one. Annabeth (Jennifer Finnigan) prosecutes a gangster who’s not above using some serious intimidation tactics to keep himself out of trouble. He’s already gotten violent with one of the witnesses who was to testify against him. Now he’s going after Annabeth where she lives — threatening to hurt her little girl if she tries his case.

Saturday

6 p.m. on ABC

The Sound of Music: How did this flick become a Christmas movie when it’s not about Christmas?

And how did “My Favorite Things” become a Christmas

song with only passing references to snowflakes and packages? Who cares? It’s a great family-time op. Julie Andrews stars as the nun-turned-nanny who wins over a chilly baron (Christopher Plummer) and his brood, turns them into a singing family and helps them escape the Nazis.

Sunday

7 p.m. on NBC

It’s a Wonderful Life: Yes, it was just on. But now that this 1946 holiday classic isn’t on what seemed like 24/7 anymore, it doesn’t hurt to give folks a couple of chances to watch it — especially on Christmas Eve. James Stewart is unforgettable as the financially ruined family man who wants to end it all ... until an apprentice angel (Henry Travers) shows him how much worse off the world would be without him. Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore also star.

8 p.m. on ABC

Desperate Housewives: Road trip! Susan and Ian (Teri Hatcher, Dougray Scott) are off to a cabin in the woods for the weekend, causing her to miss Mike’s (James Denton) awakening. Lynette and Gabrielle (Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria) plan a spa weekend, but a family crisis sends Lynette home early, while Gabrielle has a close encounter with a former lover. Bree (Marcia Cross) cancels her honeymoon travel plans when she learns where Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) is.

Monday

7 p.m. on FOX

Radio: Yes, it’s a sweet story about a mentally challenged man with a heart of gold. But this 2003 drama is also a true story, which lowers its sappiness quotient. And it’s got Cuba Gooding Jr. giving one of his best performances in the title role. Ed Harris plays the South Carolina high-school football coach who takes Radio — so nicknamed because he likes electronics — under his wing after catching his players tormenting him. It’s OK if you cry, guys.

7:30 p.m. on CBS

How I Met Your Mother: This episode is steak sauce! A-1, get it? That’s one of the goofy catchphrases that Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and his co-workers use. They’re into that frat-boy thing, and when Marshall (Jason Segel) goes to work there and tries to fit in, he has trouble shedding the silly persona at home, to Lily’s (Alyson Hannigan) dismay. Here’s a real bonus: a karaoke scene that shows off Harris’ excellent singing voice. Like buttah ... or steak sauce.

Tuesday

8 p.m. on NBC

Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Gotta watch out for the quiet ones. Logan and Barek (Christopher Noth, Annabella Sciorra) connect a businessman’s murder to a woman (guest star Elizabeth Berkley) who apparently makes a nice living faking paternity claims to blackmail straying husbands. And the deeper they dig, the more it looks as if the woman’s sweet-as-pie sister (guest star Heather Burns) is a key player in the operation. Jamey Sheridan also stars in “Dollhouse.”

Wednesday

8 p.m. on CBS

Criminal Minds: With this episode, the series joined “NCIS” and the original “CSI” in the “I Can’t Believe They Did That!” Season Finale Club. While solving the riddles given to them as clues by their murderer du jour, the profilers are drawn into his psycho fantasy world and ultimately, into a real one with the real possibility one of them could end up really dead. Charles Haid — who does psycho right — guest stars.