Thursday 18
“CSI” (KRQE-13 8 p.m.) CBS' hit crime-solving series celebrates its 100th episode. Tonight, the forensics gang investigates what could be a case of murder and mistaken identity in the transgendered community. … How do they come up with such brilliant ideas after all these episodes?
“SpongeBob Squarepants” (Nickelodeon 7 p.m.) Gear up for SpongeBob Squarepants: The Movie, hitting theaters nationwide this Friday, with tonight's eight-episode marathon of classic “SpongeBob Squarepants” episodes. Can you ever have enough SpongeBob?
Friday 19
“Cops: Las Vegas Metro '04” (KASA-2 7 p.m.) “Cops” goes the “Law & Order” route with this spin-off special tracing a real-life investigation from crime scene to court trial.
Saturday 20
“Cheating Death: Amazing Survivals” (Discovery Health 9 p.m.) I'm guessing it's supposed to be inspirational, but any show featuring an episode dedicated to “Awful Impalements” just doesn't sound very life-affirming to me. Morbidly curious perhaps.
Sunday 21
The Wool Cap (TNT 6 p.m.) What on Earth would possess talented character actor William H. Macy to remake Jackie Gleason's super-sappy 1962 flick Gigot, about a mute man who befriends a cute li'l orphan?
Back When We Were Grownups (KRQE-13 8 p.m.) A widow ponders what life would be like had she married someone else. It's based on a yet another middle-aged romance by author Anne Tyler, but the cast is an interesting collection including Blythe Danner, Faye Dunaway, Peter Fonda and Jack Palance.
Touching the Void (KNME-5 8 p.m.) You think you had a bad day? Check out this harrowing documentary which interviews mountain climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates and dramatizes their jaw-droppingly disastrous 1985 ascent into the Andes. Holy cow, is this one scary story. An amazing, unsentimental testament to the pure, stubborn tenacity of the human spirit.
Monday 22
Smokey and the Bandit/Smokey and the Bandit II (AMC 6 p.m./8 p.m.) You don't have to tell me it sucks, but wouldn't it be nice once in a while to see a little love for Smokey and the Bandit, Part 3.
Tuesday 23
Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (KWBQ-19 7 p.m.) The “American Girl” line of historical books, dolls, clothes, etc. comes to life with a TV movie. The year is 1904 and our titular Samantha is a rich girl who breaks social tradition to befriend a trio of orphans. Mia Farrow is in there somewhere.
Wednesday 24
“Kelly, Ruben and Fantasia: Home for Christmas” (KASA-2 8 p.m.) The “American Idol” winners come home for the holidays. “Home” being a soundstage on the back lot of FOX studios.
