Miracle on 34th Street (4:45pm, AMC) - Maybe my favorite Christmas movie of all time. Maybe. Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar for his portrayal of the department store Santa on trial to prove he's real in this heartwarming 1947 Christmas fantasy.

White Christmas (7pm, AMC) - Irving Berlin's music plus the singing and dancing of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney? Yes, it's the 1954 classic "White Christmas." It airs again at 9:45.

Elf (8pm, CBS) - In this 2003 movie, a human (Will Ferrell) who has been raised by elves leaves the North Pole to search for his gruff birth father (James Caan) in New York City. Also stars Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner and Mary Steenburgen.

Baby's First Christmas (8pm, Hallmark) - A new movie in which feuding lawyers spend Christmas together for the birth of their married siblings' son. But when the pair discover their siblings are in major financial trouble, they set out to solve the problem and end up on an adventure around the city.

Merry In-Laws (8pm, Lifetime) - A new movie in which a woman learns that her future in-laws are Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

The Real St. Nick (10pm, Lifetime) - Another new Lifetime movie, this one about about a psychiatrist who reluctantly falls for a cute guy who is placed in a psychiatric ward after he claims he is Santa Claus.

Hitched for the Holidays (10pm, Hallmark) - A single New Yorker hires a woman to pose as his girlfriend to appease his family during the holidays. But as the two spend more time together attending parties and gatherings, their fake relationship starts to feel real.

Saturday Night Live (11:29, NBC) - Martin Short hosts and Paul McCartney is the  musical guest. 

Frosty the Snowman (8pm, CBS) - Another "Frosty" showing, followed at 8:30 by "Frosty Returns" and at 9 by "The Flight Before Christmas."

Heisman Trophy Presentation (8pm, ESPN) - The 78th ceremony in New York City honors college football's most outstanding player. The finalists include Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.

Come Dance with Me (8pm, Hallmark) - An investor (Andrew McCarthy) takes dance lessons in hopes of impressing his boss -- and potential father-in-law -- at a swanky party. But, this being a Hallmark movie, he falls for his dance instructor and has to make a tough decision.

The American Giving Awards (8pm, NBC) - Joel McHale, perhaps the snarkiest man alive, hosts this gala paying tribute to community champions and five U.S. charities. A total of $2 million will be granted to five charitable organizations.

Holly's Holiday (8pm, Lifetime) - A lifetime movie about a handsome mannequin in a Christmas window display that comes to life and becomes the man of an advertising executive's dreams. Unfortunately, even though he's gorgeous, his personality remains a bit lifeless.

30 for 30: You Don't Know Bo (9pm, ESPN) - A documentary about professional football and baseball player Bo Jackson, directed by Michael Bonfiglio.

The 12 Disasters of Christmas (9pm, Syfy) - In this movie, a teenagers enlists the help of her father in order to prevent the end of the world after a number of strange occurrences strike her hometown.

Gary Gulman: In This Economy (10pm, Comedy Central) - Comedian Gary Gulman performs stand-up in Boston. His topics include the financial crisis, renting movies, and a conversation between Donald Trump and Bill Gates.

It's a Wonderful Life (8pm, NBC) - This Frank Capra classic is a holiday tradition that you have to watch at least once before Christmas. James Stewart is a small-town banker who learns what life would have been like if he'd never been born. Co-stars Donna Reed and Henry Travers.

Made in Jersey (8pm, CBS) - Martina's football expertise helps her land a new client: a promising quarterback whose career ended in high school because his coaches neglected to get proper treatment for his injuries.

Dragonwasps (9pm, Syfy) - Dragons. Wasps. I admit, a combo I would not have thought of on my own. In this movie, an entomologist's mission to find her father in the jungles of Belize turns more dangerous than she could have ever imagined when she and a group of soldiers are attacked by giant fire-breathing wasps.
 
A Bride For Christmas (8pm, Hallmark) - A holiday bet prompts a man to pursue a woman who has sworn off serious relationships after three failed engagements. As the two spend time together, the woman starts to reconsider.

Wedding Band (10pm, TBS) - Rutherford plans an adult prom, but she must deal with her high school nemesis in the process. Elsewhere, Tommy woos everyone's fantasy woman, and Stevie dates a florist with some lusty talents.

Pit Bulls & Parolees (10pm, Animal Planet) - The Villalobos crew are devastated by Chong's cancer diagnosis, but Tia and the twins try to make the best of a sad situation.

It's hard to dog "Puppy Love" (9 p.m. tonight Hallmark Channel)because the goal of the film is to promote strong relationships between people and pets and help homeless pets get adopted. Indeed, the film's star Candace Cameron Bure is a spokesperson for Pet Project, Hallmark's initiative promoting those aims.

And yet, subtracting its good intent, "Puppy Love" is pretty bland; it relies too heavily on the fact that a main character, played by BugZ, is an adorable well-trained shaggy dog. That's not enough to give the film the charm it should have.

Sand Sharks (7pm, Syfy) - A movie about prehistoric sand tiger sharks that attack a wild beach party following an underwater earthquake. Please stay tuned for "2-Headed Shark Attack" (see below) at 9.

My Cat From Hell (8pm, Animal Planet) - In tonight's season finale, a couple can't figure out how to get their cats to stop fighting. We also get to see the People's Choice Award for Golden Kitty winner from last week's first ever Internet Cat Video Festival in Minneapolis.

Ed Sullivan's Top Performers 1966-1969 (8pm, UNC-TV) - A special highlighting classic "Ed Sullivan Show" performances by top music acts of the 1960s, including the Animals, Association, Beach Boys, Beatles, Byrds, 5th Dimension, Mamas & the Papas, Rolling Stones, Supremes and others.

2-Headed Shark Attack (9pm, Syfy) - Another Syfy instant classic: A group of terrified college students escape to an abandoned feef after their ship comes under attack from a mutated shark. They fight for their lives as the waters begin to rise and the two-headed beast comes back for seconds.

Puppy Love (9pm, Hallmark) - Now for something totally different: A sweet movie about neighbors who form an unusual arrangement to share custody of a dog, and who then find themselves falling in love with each other. See Adrienne's review.

The Incredible Dr. Pol (10pm, Nat Geo Wild) - A veterinary student shadows Dr. Pol for a day as he treats a downed cow at a nearby farm and visits a local breeder and trainer of racehorses.

Deadly Affairs (10pm, Investigation ID) - A new series featuring true stories of love affairs that turned deadly. In tonight's premiere, a clandestine affair spells danger for a funeral director and his wife. Here's what Adrienne thought.

Fatal Honeymoon (8pm, Lifetime) - A Lifetime movie about a father who searches for the truth about his daughter's allegedly accidental drowning during her Australian honeymoon. After an incriminating underwater photo surfaces, suspicion falls on the .... husband! No way!! Based on a true story, of course. Adrienne reviews.

Strawberry Summer (8pm, Hallmark Movie Channel) - A music teacher gets a struggling country singer to perform at her town's annual festival, but the musician's difficult behavior causes problems. Eventually, the pair find common ground in their music and inspire each other. Stars Shelley Long ("Cheers"), Cindy Williams ("Laverne and Shirley"), Trevor Donovan ("90210") and Julie Mond.

Haunted High (9pm, Syfy) - A new Syfy movie! In this one, a dead demonic headmaster haunts a New England private school. With a ginormous robot shark! (Not really.)

The Incredible Dr. Pol (10pm, Nat Geo Wild) - In the Season 2 premiere, country vet Dr. Jan Pol  diagnoses and treats a starving horse and aids a pit bull who eats a spiral-bound notebook and gets the wires caught in his gums. There's also a pretty heart-pounding calf delivery. Read more about this great animal series in my review.

Katt Williams: Kattpacalypse (10pm, Showtime) - Comedian Katt Williams returns with a performance filmed live on New Years Eve in Los Angeles, riffing on everything from Herman Cain to the       Michael Jackson murder trial.

Larry Wilmore's Race, Religion and Sex (11pm, Showtime) - Larry Wilmore, widely known for his correspondent work on "The Daily Show," goes to Utah to stage a "town hall" style comedy special. Wilmore uses what he calls a "passionate centrist" point of view to prompt discussions on why race, religion and sex are vital in choosing the nation's leader.

A movie that ties together cupcakes and fatherhood should be pretty sweet.

But while "Operation Cupcake" (8 tonight, Hallmark Channel) goes for all the sappy notes, the lingering taste isn't sugar but vanilla. Not the fancy fragrant vanilla bean, but the tasteless artificial stuff.

Dean Cain plays Griff Carson, a military man who has been a mostly absent father and husband to Janet (Kristy Swanson) and Kim (Galadriel Stineman) and Ollie (Alec Gray). In his absence, Janet has started a cupcake business, opening one shop and ready to open a second one with an oily partner. The kids have gotten used to relying on mom.

Blue Lagoon: The Awakening (8pm, Lifetime) - Two high school students fall in love while marooned on a deserted tropical island after the girl falls overboard from a ship during a class trip to Trinidad and the boy jumps in to save her. And yes, it's a "reimagining" (I guess) of the Brooke Shields movie from 1980.

Operation Cupcake (8pm, Hallmark) - An Army colonel (Dean Cain, "Lois & Clark") returns home during a military leave but finds it difficult to fit in with his wife (Kristy Swanson) and kids, who've gotten used to not having him around. In an attempt to reconnect, he begins working at his wife's bakery, but his military management style does more harm than good. Adrienne reviews.

Piranhaconda (9pm, Syfy) - Syfy follows up their "Jersey Shore Shark Attack" Summer Saturday movie series with this low-budget gem about a piranha-anaconda hybrid that terrorizes a movie crew after a scientist steals an egg from the creature's nest.  Produced by Roger Corman and starring Michael Madsen and Rachel Hunter.

StandUp in Stilettos (10pm, TV Guide Network) - The premiere of a new series showcasing female comedians. This episode features Mary Lynn Rajskub, Gina Yashere and Sarah Tiana. At 10:30, Arden Myrin, Helen Hong and Lisa Landry.

The Deep End (10pm, Sundance Channel) - Every Saturday night, Robert Redford introduces distinguished independent films of recent years, offering a personal critique of each. Tonight's movie is "The Deep End," in which Tilda Swinton plays a mother who suspects her son has committed a murder and is then blackmailed by a stranger (Goran Visnjic) who claims to know the truth. Winner of the cinematography award at the Sundance Film.

The Firm (10pm, NBC) - For a canceled show, it doesn't seem like this is ever going to end. Tonight, Abby has an epiphany as she tries to save her mother's charity from a crooked accountant.

Summer memories and teen summer love have all the right elements necessary for a sappy movie. Happily, while "Kiss at Pine Lake" (8 tonight, Hallmark) is sappy it isn't unbearably so. Think of it as a summer lark.

The film tells the story of Luke and Zoe. We meet them as teens on the last day of camp; they've been flirting all summer. Just before Zoe's parents come to pick her up, the pair sneaks away to say goodbye. But before they get to share their first kiss, Zoe's dad calls her away. There is no next summer; eventually they lose touch.

Fifteen years later, Luke (Barry Watson) is an entrepreneur with a philanthropic bent; his best friend from camp Tommy (Matty Finochio) acts as his business manager and public face. Zoe (Mia Kirshner) is a standout employee at a development firm; she confides in her best friend from camp Erica (Victoria Bidewell). Both Luke and Zoe still think about the kiss that wasn't.

Since my own beloved mutt Jazubee Yogi died (yes, that was really his name), I haven't owned another dog. The loss was too painful. This makes me a sucker for dog-centric movies.

"Duke" (8 tonight, Hallmark Channel) is a dog-centric movie and so, I liked it. But you unless you're dead inside you'd have to be moved by "Duke." The dog is good and the main human performance is really good.

It's the "inspired by true events" story of Terry Pulaski (Steven Weber), a  proud Marine who, when the story opens, has been badly injured but still helps to return to his military duties. Unfortunately, not only do his injuries prevent that, but Terry also has a bad case of post-tramautic stress disorder.