‘Popeye’ looks for Pappy on Fox
Popeye’s got a brand new bag. The spinach-swilling seaman is turned into a computer-generated cartoon hero in “Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy” (8:30 p.m., Fox), featuring the voices of Billy West and Kathy Bates.
The families of three returning Iraq war veterans receive a surprise makeover on “At Home with the Brave” (9 p.m., A&E).
Shot entirely on location in small towns across the country, “Home” spotlights the benevolence of neighbors helping neighbors.
Paul DiMeo (“Extreme Makeover”) hosts.
Jennie Garth stars in the 2003 Christmas movie “Secret Santa” (8 p.m., NBC). She’s Rebecca, a spunky reporter sent to a picture-postcard Indiana town to expose a stranger who bestows life-altering holiday gifts.
She’s dreadfully miscast as an investigative journalist. Her “feisty” acting range runs the gamut from Trista Rehn (“The Bachelorette”) to Leeza Gibbons.
Television’s everyman, Steven Eckholdt, plays the town’s young widowed millionaire, the man Rebecca suspects of being the undercover philanthropist.
Hosted by Bruce Willis, “True Dads” (9 p.m., Spike) examines a generation of fathers trying to be more than the taciturn, pipe-smoking guy behind the newspaper. Profiles include professor Jack L. Daniel and his son Omari, authors of the book “We Fish: The Journey to Fatherhood” (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003).
Another dad, football coach Mickey Matthews, discusses how his focus changed after his son, a star quarterback, was left paralyzed by a car accident.
Dr. Jonathan Clark became a single father when his wife, Laurel, was killed in the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster; he discusses the challenges of raising his 9-year old son alone.
“NOW with Bill Moyers” (9 p.m., KSPS) examines the effects of media consolidation on news and democracy. This marks Moyers’ final broadcast of “NOW.”
David Brancaccio succeeds Moyers beginning Jan. 7. Moyers is retiring and will devote his time to a biography of his former boss, President Lyndon Johnson.
Other highlights
Cicely Tyson plays a cheapskate with a lesson to learn in the 1997 TV film “Ms. Scrooge” (7 p.m., Lifetime).
Misfit toys, outcast sled-pullers and dentally inclined elves find happiness in the holiday special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (8 p.m., CBS).
“Find & Design” (8 p.m., A&E) turns a house into a holiday fantasy.
Jo Jo, Avril Lavigne, Christina Milian, Maroon 5, Ashlee Simpson and others perform on “Jingle Ball Rock 2004” (9 p.m., Fox).
Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (10 p.m., CBS): after a carpool tragedy kills two children, a mother may be charged with homicide.
A master bank robber rigs an explosive device to blow up his accomplice on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (10 p.m., NBC).
Scheduled on “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC): ways to detect fake jewelry; exotic freebie trips for cops; using cell phones to snoop on kids and relatives.
Cult choice
The brainy head of research (Katharine Hepburn) falls for the automation expert (Spencer Tracy) who may eliminate her job in the 1957 comedy “Desk Set” (5 p.m., FMC), featuring a memorable office Christmas party.
Series notes
A tale of a first kiss on “The Simpsons” (8 p.m., Fox) … Re-creating a memory on “8 Simple Rules” (8 p.m., ABC) … Rogue mutants on “Star Trek: Enterprise” (8 p.m., UPN) … Crossed party lines on “What I Like About You” (8 p.m., WB).
Intimate unmentionables on “Complete Savages” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … Sean feels abandoned on “Grounded for Life” (8:30 p.m., WB).
Mac suffers a blow to the head on Christmas Eve on “JAG” (9 p.m., CBS) … Stuck on Santa on “Hope & Faith” (9 p.m., ABC) … A winner crowned on “America’s Next Top Model” (9 p.m.) … Celebrating Van on “Reba” (9 p.m., WB) …. A very special Christmas message on “Less Than Perfect” (9:30 p.m., ABC) … Hearse humor on “Blue Collar TV” (9:30 p.m., WB).