TUESDAY, Dec. 21, 8pm

Modern Marvels: Driver’s Seat

HISTORY This new show puts viewers behind the wheel of some of the world’s most powerful, biggest and fastest vehicles of all types.

THURSDAY, Dec. 23, midnight, 2am

Father Flanagan and Boys’ Town

TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES “There are no bad boys,” Boys’ Town founder Father Edward J. Flanagan (1886-1948) always said. “There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking.” Born in County Roscommon, Ireland, he served in the Diocese of Omaha, Neb., and in 1917 began his pioneering home for orphans and neglected and abandoned boys of all creeds and races. Back when Hollywood respected the Church, Spencer Tracy starred as Father Flanagan in tonight’s films, Boys’ Town (1938) and Men of Boys’ Town (1941).

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, Dec. 24-25, live

Christmas Eve and Christmas

EWTN At 4pm Friday, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s. Re-airs 8am Saturday. At 6am Saturday, the Holy Father will give his “urbi et orbi” (to the city of Rome and to the world) blessing. From Friday through Sunday, Dec. 24-26, CatholicTV will show Christmas specials and Pope Benedict’s midnight Mass and blessing.

THURSDAY, Dec. 30, 8pm

Peanuts Specials

ABC Tonight’s specials are Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1986) and She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980), which features the hymn “O Mio Babbino Caro” whistled.

FRIDAY, Dec. 31, 8:30pm

Live From Lincoln Center: New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve

PBS Alan Gilbert conducts the Philharmonic in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with piano soloist Lang Lang and in the second act of The Nutcracker.

SATURDAY, Jan. 1, 4am, live

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

EWTN Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s. Re-airs at noon. CatholicTV will show the Mass at 8pm.

SATURDAY, Jan. 1, 11am

Tournament of Roses Parade

NBC The 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade will once again feature spectacular floral floats, equestrian teams and marching bands. Also televising the parade are ABC, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, KTLA (Tribune), RFD-TV and Univision.

SATURDAY, Jan. 1, 8pm

Great Performances: New Year’s Celebration 2011

PBS Franz Welser-Most will conduct the Vienna Philharmonic in the beautiful Musikverein. That hall and other Vienna landmarks are backdrops for ballet performances and for classic compositions from the Strauss family and Franz Liszt.

Dan Engler writes from Santa Barbara, California.