I guess post-holiday traditions are meant to be broken. For some years now — make that decades — "The Kennedy Center Honors" (8 p.m., Sunday, CBS, TV-PG) has aired right after Christmas, making it a highlight during the programming doldrums leading up to New Year’s, and a nice night for praising artists during a season of reflection.
Not anymore. Now it’s tucked into the pre-Christmas onslaught. A similar tradition was shattered some years back when ABC decided to do the same with its annual airing of "The Sound of Music" (7 p.m. Sunday, TV-G). These two ranked among many viewers’ favorite things during an otherwise slow broadcast week.
Taped earlier this month, "The Kennedy Center Honors" is hosted by LL Cool J ("NCIS: Los Angeles"), himself a 2017 recipient. This year’s winners include singer Linda Ronstadt, who will receive spoken and musical tributes from colleagues including Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Kevin Kline, Flor De Toloache, Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood and Aaron Neville.
Better known as a singer than a television performer, Ronstadt did appear briefly on "The Simpsons," singing (in English and Spanish) in a commercial for Barney’s Plow King business during his rivalry with Homer (Mr. Plow).
No stranger to television, recipient Sally Field appeared on "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun" before winning Oscars for "Norma Rae" and "Places in the Heart." She was also nominated for supporting actress in "Lincoln." Those offering tributes and praise for Field include Steven Spielberg, Maura Tierney, Pierce Brosnan and Tom Hanks.
Having just turned 50, the series "Sesame Street" is honored with accolades from Lucy Liu, Cedric the Entertainer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Thomas Rhett, who sings "This Is My Street"/"Sing a Song." Carroll Spinney, the actor who originated the roles of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, is honored as well. He died on Dec. 8.
Known for his work as a conductor, pianist, composer and musical director, Michael Tilson Thomas has also collaborated as an orchestra conductor with Metallica and (back in the day), the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He’ll be praised in words and music by Lars Ulrich, Teddy Abrams, the New World Symphony Alumni Orchestra, Debra Winger, Yuja Wang and Audra McDonald.
The night concludes with praise for the pop, soul, funk and jazz ensemble Earth, Wind & Fire. Look for tributes from David Foster, John Legend, David Copperfield, Cynthia Erivo and Ne-Yo.
— Along with Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain (the CW’s go-to host) presides over the two-part holiday competition "The Christmas Caroler Challenge" (8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday, TV-PG), featuring 12 choral groups and a panel of celebrity judges.
SATURDAY’S CHRISTMAS SPECIALS AND MOVIES
— A jilted woman decides to rebound in Vienna in the 2019 romance "Best Christmas Ball Ever!" (7 p.m., Ion, TV-G).
— The voice of Burl Ives animates a rotund snowman in the 1964 special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (8 p.m., CBS, TV-G).
— A store owner overcomes grief with music in the 2019 romance "A Christmas Winter Song" (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG).
— Sparks fly when a woman’s friend poses as her ex in the 2019 romance "Holiday Date" (8 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G).
— The new boyfriend of a jewelry store owner’s daughter goes all out to protect the goods in the 2019 romance "Holiday Heist" (8 p.m., BET, TV-PG).
— Jimmy Durante narrates "Frosty the Snowman" (9 p.m., CBS, TV-G).
— Jonathan Winters and John Goodman lend their voices to the 1992 special "Frosty Returns" (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-G).
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
— The voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson can be heard in the 2019 special "How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
— During an airing of the 1989 musical favorite, musical numbers burst off the screen and onto the stage in "The Little Mermaid Live" (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).
— The 2019 Heisman Trophy Ceremony (8 p.m., ESPN) anoints the college football player of the year.
— Creatures learn the importance of celebrations on "DreamWorks Trolls Holiday" (8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
— Scarlett Johansson hosts "Saturday Night Live" (11:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14), featuring musical guest Niall Horan.
SUNDAY’S CHRISTMAS EPISODES, MOVIES AND SPECIALS
— A powerful social media influencer is not above faking a romance for the holidays in the 2019 romance "A Beauty & the Beast Christmas" (7 p.m., ION, TV-G).
— A widow receives comfort in the 2013 romance "A Christmas Blessing" (7 p.m., TV One).
— Pilfered gifts on "The Simpsons" (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).
— Good friends with great jobs will settle for nothing less than "A Cheerful Christmas" (8 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G).
— A department store window decorator clashes with the client in the 2019 romance "Rediscovering Christmas" (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG).
— A holiday miracle on "Bless the Harts" (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Linda goes the extra mile on "Bob’s Burgers" (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Stewie meets Santa on "Family Guy" (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
— Scheduled on "60 Minutes" (7 p.m., CBS): El Salvador’s young president; uncovering and performing music composed in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
— The Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers meet in NFL football action (8:15 p.m., NBC).
— A trip to Coney Island on "Ray Donovan" (8 p.m., Showtime, TV-MA).
— Experts assess the coming college football scramble on "Bowl Mania" (8:30 p.m., ESPN).
— A sense of closure on the season finale of "Watchmen" (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA). A meditation on racism and American history, this series points up the power and limitations of comic book adaptations.
— Mingling with a younger, hipper crowd puts Abby on the spot on "Work in Progress" (11 p.m., Showtime, TV-MA).
CULT CHOICE
— A fundamentalist preacher wrestles with his offspring and their varying takes on faith in the 1955 Danish film "Ordet" (2 a.m., Sunday/early Monday, TCM, TV-14), directed by Carl Dreyer. Praised for its gorgeous cinematography.
SATURDAY SERIES
"Dateline" (9 p.m., NBC) … "48 Hours" (10 p.m., CBS) … The stars of "Hustlers" and the real-life story that inspired the film on "20/20" (10 p.m., ABC, r) … A vintage helping of "Saturday Night Live" (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).
SUNDAY SERIES
"Football Night in America" (7 p.m., NBC, TV-14) recaps the day’s action … A wedding celebration on "NCIS: Los Angeles" (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
