TV Best Bets

NBA

A historic rivalry gets another chapter tonight at Staples Center, where Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers will defend home hardwood from Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. With LeBron James kept on the shelf by an abdominal strain, the Lakers have hung around the .500 mark but hope for better times upon his return. Similarly, the Celts have broken even in the early going but their team defense has remained solid. 7 p.m. on TNT.

‘Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes’

Two more vintage sitcoms get a one-night-only revival in this 90-minute special, with an all-star lineup of contemporary actors portraying the familiar characters. The cast for this do-over of a “Diff’rent Strokes” episode is headed by John Lithgow as Mr. Drummond, and Kevin Hart as Arnold, the role that made a star of Gary Coleman. Damon Wayans plays Willis, Arnold’s brother, while Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) is cast as Mrs. Garrett. Dowd is joined in “The Facts of Life” by Jennifer Aniston, Kathryn Hahn, Gabrielle Union and Allison Tolman. 8 p.m. on KXLY.

‘The Dead Files’

The new episode “Unsettled Dead” follows medium Amy Allan and former detective Steve DiSchiavi as they investigate bizarre paranormal sightings at a historic homestead in Cedar Park, Texas. Later in the same episode, they hit the road again to visit an old Nevada mining town that is widely reputed to be haunted by disturbed entities from its tragic and bloody past. (TV-PG) 8 p.m. on TRAV.

‘Christmas Movie Magic’Entertainment writer Alli Blakeman (Holly Deveaux) isn’t keen on doing a story about the upcoming anniversary of a classic Christmas movie until her boss dangles a promotion in front of her. She travels to the film’s small-town location, where she meets local theater owner Brad (Drew Seeley), who helps her unravel a mystery behind the movie’s signature song. As they work together, Alli starts to realize sometimes movie magic can spill right off the screen. Robin Dunne, Jill Frappier and Jennifer Gibson co-star in this holiday romance. 8 p.m. on LIFE.

‘The Slow Hustle’

Sonja Sohn is probably best known for her performance on the HBO drama series “The Wire” as Baltimore Police detective Kima Greggs, but she had her second success as a director with this compelling 2021 documentary exploring allegations of corruption in the Baltimore Police Department. Like many law enforcement agencies in the United States, the BPD had come under fire before, but things exploded in 2017, when veteran detective Sean Suiter died in the line of duty. Was it murder, suicide or perhaps a hit ordered by someone close to him? 8 p.m. on HBO.

‘Riverdale’

As Bailey’s Comet streaks over Riverdale, Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and Nana Rose (guest star Barbara Wallace) reminisce about past tragedies that have befallen Blossom women over the years in the new episode “Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s).” The celestial event prompts Cheryl to summon a familiar face – Sabrina Spellman (guest star Kiernan Shipka) – to Riverdale. Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse and Casey Cott also star. (TV-14) 9 p.m. on KSKN.

‘People’s Choice Awards’The ceremony that bills itself as “the only awards show powered by the people” celebrates the most popular achievements in movies, television, music and pop culture, as selected by fans voting online. “Saturday Night Live” veteran Kenan Thompson hosts this year’s event from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, which includes a new category, Pop Special of 2021. Buzzworthy nominees this year include the Netflix blockbuster “Squid Game,” Hulu’s Steve Martin-Martin Short mystery-comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The White Lotus” and “Mare of Easttown” from HBO. (TV-14) 9 p.m. on KHQ.

Jennifer Aniston, who will star in a live episode of “The Facts of Life,” attends the premiere of “The Morning Show” in 2019 in New York.