Weekly TV Picks

All times Eastern

SUNDAY, DEC. 21

Music for Christmas

EWTN, 10 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

You'll find many Christmas carols and concerts on EWTN all this week. A top show today is Music for Advent and Christmas at 10 a.m., with the choir of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Dunmore, Pa. Another is The Catholic University of America Christmas Concert 2003 at 1:30 p.m. (with a re-air Dec. 27 at 3 a.m.).

SUNDAY, DEC. 21

Ancient Discoveries

History Channel, 5 p.m.

This three-hour show explores sophisticated discoveries made by ancient Greek and Roman inventors, mathematicians and physicians.

MONDAY, DEC. 22

Great Performances: Sacred Arias

PBS, 9 p.m., 10 p.m.

The Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome is the setting for this concert by Andrea Bocelli. His selections include “Panis Angelicus,” the Gounod and Schubert versions of the “Ave Maria” and, with a children's chorus, “Silent Night.” Myung-whun Chung conducts the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecelia. First shown in 1999.

TUESDAY, DEC. 23

2003 Scrabble All-Star Challenge

ESPN2, 5 p.m.

Want to win those holiday Scrabble games with your family and friends? Get great words, tips and strategies from the experts in this contest. Re-airs Dec. 24 at 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24

Midnight Mass

Various networks, check local listings

Pope John Paul II celebrates midnight Mass at St. Peter's live on EWTN at 6 p.m. (with a re-air Christmas Day at 8 a.m.) and tape-delayed on NBC at 11:30 p.m. Then, right at midnight, tune in to Familyland TV for midnight Mass at beautiful St. Anne's Basilica in Scranton, Pa. (with a re-air at 5:30 a.m.).

THURSDAY, DEC. 25

Papal Christmas Message Urbi et Orbi

EWTN, 6 a.m. live

Pope John Paul II delivers his annual Christmas Day message Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) before a throng in St. Peter's Square. Re-airs tonight at 10 p.m. and on Dec. 26 at 3 a.m. and 10 a.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 26

Christmas at Belmont

PBS, 10 p.m.

Christmas carols and classical and “modern” holiday tunes are on the program as singer Brenda Lee hosts a concert at the historic Belmont Mansion in Nashville.

SATURDAY, DEC. 27

All-American Festivals

Food Network, 7:30 p.m.

Its main link to the holidays is as an indispensable munchie for parties. But the peanut has countless more uses besides, as we learn at the National Peanut Festival, held Oct. 31-Nov. 8 in Dothan, Ala., the heart of American peanut-growing country.

Dan Engler writes from Santa Barbara, California.