SUNDAY, DEC. 17

Best Christmas

Pageant Ever

Familyland TV, 8 p.m.

In this 1983 TV movie based on Barbara Robinson’s 1972 novel of the same title, the bullying Herdman children take over the major roles in the school Christmas play and the story of Christ’s birth leads them to mend their ways. Re-airs 11 a.m. on Dec. 23.

Dana’s Christmas

Special ’97

EWTN

On Sunday at 5 a.m. and Monday at 6 p.m., Irish singer Dana presents a family Christmas, singing carols and celebrating with Irish Christmas customs.

Lost Worlds:

Jesus’ Jerusalem

History Channel, 10 p.m.

Experts “construct” Jerusalem as they believe it would have appeared when the Messiah walked its streets. They re-create sites of Jesus’ miracles, portray Herod’s Temple and discuss the route of the Way of the Cross.

I Want a Dog for Christmas,

Charlie Brown!

ABC, 8 p.m.

Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip “Peanuts” comes to life in this hour-long animated special about little ReRun’s wish to have a doggie pal at Christmas time.

Renee Fleming:

Sacred Songs and Carols

PBS, 9 p.m.

In a performance recorded last year in Germany’s Mainz Cathedral, soprano Renee Fleming, backed by the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, minimizes her operatic style as she sings “Adeste Fidelis,” “O, Holy Night” and Christmas pieces by Handel, Bach, Mozart, Berlioz, Gounod and Bernstein. A “Great Performances” re-air from 2005.

One Symphony Place

:

A World Premiere from Music City

PBS, 10 p.m.

The Nashville Symphony, under Leonard Slatkin, inaugurates its new Schermerhorn Symphony Center with pieces by Shostakovich, Barber and Mahler. Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme perform.

Cousins in Christ

EWTN, 5:30 p.m.

“Silent Night,” “Away in a Manger” and “O, Holy Night” are among the carols in this enjoyable hour-long concert by a Catholic group of double cousins.

A Very Ermey Christmas

History Channel, 11 p.m.

R. Lee Ermey recounts American fighting men’s Christmases in wartime from Valley Forge to the present. A re-air.

The Sound of Music

ABC, 7 p.m.

This classic from 1965 stars Julie Andrews in a film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical about the early years of the real-life Catholic von Trapp family of singers and their daring escape from Nazi-held Austria.

Dan Engler writes from

Santa Barbara, California.