What's on TV?

Published: December 8, 2007

•"The Note,” 8 p.m., Hallmark Channel. If you're in the news business, sometimes a good story literally falls into your lap. In the case of columnist Peyton MacGruder (Genie Francis, "General Hospital”), heroine of this new heartwarmer, it falls into the water near her office. A deadly plane crash yields a scrap of paper with a heartfelt note from one of the doomed passengers to a loved one. Peyton makes it her mission to find the recipient.

•"American Beauty,” 7 p.m., Cinemax. Some found this 1999 comedy-drama brilliant; others found it disgusting; and the Academy found it worthy of five Oscars, including best picture. Kevin Spacey won best actor for his portrayal of a man having the granddaddy of all midlife crises. An attack of the hots for his daughter's cheerleader friend (Mena Suvari) and a few drugs from a young neighbor (Wes Bentley) give him a new but short lease on life.

•"2007 Heisman Trophy Presentation,” 7 p.m., ESPN. Contenders for the 73rd Heisman include quarterbacks Tim Tebow of Florida, Chase Daniel of Missouri and Hawaii's Colt Brennan, as well as Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.

•"Dave Attell: Captain Miserable,” 9 p.m., HBO. This 60-minute stand-up special — Attell's first in more than 10 years — showcases the comic's takes on drinking, dating, celebrities and the news of the day.

•"Mitch Albom's For One More Day,” 8 p.m., KOCO-5. In this new adaptation of a Mitch Albom best-seller, a suicidal, alcoholic ex-ballplayer (Michael Imperioli, "The Sopranos”) is granted one day with his late mother (Ellen Burstyn), who helps him find a way out of his despair. Imperioli's son Vadim plays his character as a boy.

•"A Christmas Carol,” 7 p.m., TCM. Many consider this 1938 version their favorite screen adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. Count June Lockhart among them. Lockhart made her film debut at age 12 as one of the children of Bob and Emily Cratchit, played by her real-life parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart. Reginald Owen stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, the Christmas-hating curmudgeon who finally gets the spirit.

•"Holiday in Handcuffs,” 7 p.m., ABC Family. It's not the first "single person fakes a relationship to fool the family” TV movie, but this one is definitely different. Melissa Joan Hart ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch”) stars as Trudie, an artist and waitress, newly uncoupled, who kidnaps a handsome customer (Mario Lopez, "Saved by the Bell”) to pass off as her boyfriend to her wacky family.

•"1968 With Tom Brokaw,” 8 p.m., History Channel. If there's any year that can stand for the turbulence of the 1960s, it's 1968. Tom Brokaw revisits that year in this new special, which includes input from Arlo Guthrie, Pat Buchanan, feminist leader Robin Morgan and others who were there.

•"Spike TV's Video Game Awards 2007,” 8 p.m., SPIKE. If you have kids who are into the games, this will get you up to speed on what's hot in their world.

For additional program highlights, consult TV Week in Sunday's editions of The Oklahoman.

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