Merry Christmas, everybody! With things slowing down for the holidays, I'm reviewing what's coming up for Christmas week.

News

In his eulogy for Cory Monteith, Ryan Murphy explained his original plan for ending Glee, which EW has printed. Rachel will have become a Broadway star while Finn is happily teaching in Lima. "The very last line of dialogue was to be this: Rachel comes back to Ohio, fulfilled and yet not, and walks into Finn’s glee club. 'What are you doing here?' he would ask. 'I'm home,' she would reply. Fade out. The end."

Need a suggestion for holiday binge-watching? ABC Family has put all ten episodes of The Fosters online. You can watch at ABC Family.com or on Hulu. It's ridiculously compelling and worth the time.

The Fosters

Tina Fey has been busy selling comedy series, and Deadline reports she sold another pilot. Fox has won the bidding war for a comedy about a former women's college that begins accepting male applicants.

Nick Nolte has joined the cast of Fox's Broadchurch remake Gracepoint. He plays a man who runs the beach kayak rental and worked with the murder victim as part of the local wildlife program. Since I don't recall a character like that, I'm feeling a little hopeful I'll have reason to watch the remake.

Isn't it a bit late for Community to be making a "On the next episode of Mad Men" video?

The BBC has ordered a third season of Last Tango in Halifax, the drama about two seventysomethings (Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid) who restart the romance from their teenage years. PBS aired the first season earlier this year.

The Weather Channel is staffing up in case this year's Super Bowl becomes in danger of being cancelled for bad weather. The game, which will take place in an open-air stadium in New Jersey, faces greater-than-usual odds of facing difficult conditions. The channel plans to cover the lead-up to the game as "The Weather Bowl" with Sam Champion reporting from the stadium.

With DVR viewers counted, the audience that watched The Sound of Music Live! has grown from 18.5 million to 21.8 million viewers.

In a possibly-related event, ABC's annual broadcast of the Sound of Music movie had its most-watched year since 2007.

Tuesday's Listings

Doctor Who Marathon (BBC America) starting at 8:00 AM ET

We'd all like to spend Christmas with the Doctor but that's not possible so BBC America has the next best thing, a 22-hour marathon that covers the sixth season and the Matt Smith Christmas specials, "A Christmas Carol," "The Doctor The Widow and the Wardrobe" and "The Snowmen". It might be worth making the time investment just to see how The Silence's story has been coming together over the years.

Warehouse 13 Double Feature (Syfy) 8:00 AM, 11:30 PM, 2:30 AM

There may not be a new Warehouse 13 Christmas special this year (let's hope they make up for it by giving us a Helix Christmas special next year), but they are airing both of the previous specials.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC) 8:00 PM ET

Just as Christmas duties are wearing us out, here come the Whos singing "Welcome Christmas" — even though their roast beast was stolen — to get us back in the holiday spirit.

A Christmas Story Marathon (TBS) starting at 8:00 PM ET

Would it be Christmas without TBS' annual 24-hour marathon of the little Christmas movie that managed to go from cult fave to annual tradition? This year the marathon starts early to leave time for a few hours of The Big Bang Theory on Christmas night.

Wednesday's Listings

Days of Our Lives (NBC) Check local listings

If it's Christmas in Salem, it's time to trim the Horton family tree with everyone's personalized ornaments. It's not clear if Will be there for the festivity but what's the point of having a Christmas episode if there aren't plenty of Hortons there to trim the tree.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Yule Log (Hub) starting at 6:00 AM ET

Maybe you have a local station airing footage of a Yule Log burning but now viewers across the country have 4 hours to watch the Yule Log at Pinkie Pie's house where you can expect visits from various other HUB shows. Hopefully, that doesn't include those creepy CGI Care Bears from the uncanny valley.

White Collar Marathon (Cloo) starting at 6:00 AM ET

A whole 24 hrs watching Matt Bomer be roguish and charming. It is Christmas.

Oy! to the World: A Mel Brooks Christmas Marathon (Sundance) starting at 6:00 AM ET

Sundance is spending Christmas celebrating the movies of Mel Brooks, airing several of Brooks' movies mixed with commentary about the making of these masterpieces. It starts with The Producers (the 2005 movie based on the theatrical musical based on the 1968 movie), followed by the original version of The Producers at 9AM. At 11AM comes the amazing double feature of History of the World and Young Frankenstein (at 3:30 PM), which has an amazing collection of comedy goddesses. (That should also prompt me to cry foul at the universe for not giving Madeline Kahn more roles.) It wraps with Robin Hood: Men in Tights at 5:45 PM before revisiting previously-aired films.

Doctor Who Marathon Resumes (BBC America) starting at 8:00 AM ET

After taking a break to allow for the news, the Doctor's adventures continue with the seventh season and the 50th anniversary special, leading to the big event.

Pushing Daisies Marathon (Chiller) starting at 8:00 AM ET

Remember when visually-striking imagery on a Bryan Fuller show was sweet and whimsical? Relive those days with this marathon that runs for most the day, ending at 5AM the next day.

So many things to miss. Excuse me, I need to find a corner where I can curse at the universe

The Golden Girls Marathon (Logo) starting at 10:30 AM ET

Spend 7 hours with Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia starting with the seasonally-appropriate "'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas".

Doctor Who: Farewell to Matt Smith (BBC America) 8:00 PM ET

Count down to the big goodbye with this review of the adventures of Doctor Who's Matt Smith era. I'm sure dedicated Whovians will be watching with some fish fingers and custard. I'll probably just try to coat some cake in breading, which would look accurate but taste much better.

Doctor Who (BBC America) 9:00 PM ET

The Eleventh Doctor's final chapter begins as he follows a mysterious message that leads to a backwater planet where the Doctor's greatest enemies have assembled. Will saying goodbye to Eleven require as many tissues as saying goodbye to Amy and Rory did? Probably, so make sure you've stocked up.

Thursday's Listings

Inside the Actors Studio (Bravo) 7:00 PM ET

James Lipton's celebrating the holidays with his first family edition of Inside the Actors Studio, talking with Bruce Dern and daughter Laura Dern.

20/20 (ABC) 9:00 PM ET

With "Mysteries of the Castle: Beyond Downton Abbey" ABC News takes a look at the real-life castle where the hit ITV drama is filmed. The special includes a look at the castle's changes of ownership, the building's impressive architecture and what it takes to run such a building. There's also a look at the modern-day British aristocracy and how history has changes things since the day of Downton.

Friday's Listings

Days of Our Lives (NBC) Check local listings

It sounds like one of Will's Christmas presents was a clue since he starts to figure out that Sonny and Gabi are keeping some kind of secret. Then again, he might think they're withholding surprise party details. One thing that won't be a surprise will be our liveblog so be sure to join us starting at 1PM Eastern!

American Masters (PBS) Check local listings

American Masters wraps its season with the first film biography of composer Marvin Hamlisch. The rare winner of a PEGOT with a Pulitzer, four Emmys, four Grammys, three Oscars and a Tony award (as well as three Golden Globes, but does anyone aim for an EGGGOT?), Hamilsh's decades of hits have had a huge influence on culture.

Nikita (CW) 9:00 PM ET

As I said when this season began, as much as I've enjoyed The CW's unexpected gem of a spy drama, I'm glad its ending before the twists can pile up to the point of ridiculousness. I'll be sad to see the series end with this week's episode but it's definitely ending on a high note.

Saturday's Listings

The Wrong Woman (Lifetime) 8:00 PM ET

Now that the season for holiday movies is over, it's time for Lifetime to get back to the women-in-jeopardy tales. This one has Danica McKellar as a woman accused of murdering the girlfriend her husband had on the side. She insists she's innocent but after looking at all the evidence, she starts wondering if maybe she's guilty and forgot committing the deed. Like maybe she committed sleepmurder or is a blackout murderer. To add some snarkability this one claims inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man. Aim high, Lifetime movie!

Atlantis (BBC America) 9:00 PM ET

Hoping to get Medusa to love him, Hercules turns to a witch named Circe. They just managed to put Medusa and Circe in the same sentence. You know things are bound to go badly from there.

The Graham Norton Show (BBC America) 10:00 PM ET

Graham's guest this week include the very funny Miranda Hart, Julie Walters, Len Goodman, and Tinie Tempah.

Knight Life with Gladys (OWN) 10:00 PM ET

OWN follows soul legend Gladys Knight for this special that sees her keep up with a busy schedule that includes a new album, a tour and opening a new restaurant. Plus she has to catch a train that leaves promptly at midnight.

Sunday's Listings

TCM Remembers Joan Fontaine (TCM) starting at 6:30 AM

Turner Classic Movies pays tribute to the late Joan Fontaine with more than 12 hours of her movies. At 6:30 AM comes 1938's Blonde Cheat, at 7:45 AM is the 1939 camp classic The Women. 10:15 AM brings 1950's Born to Be Bad. At noon 1952's Ivanhoe is screened. 1943's The Constant Nymph airs at 2PM followed by 1941's Suspicion (which won Fontaine an Oscar) and 1940's Rebecca at 5:45 PM.

Call the Midwife (PBS) Check local listings

For the period British drama's second Christmas special, a bomb is discovered near Nonnatus House, prompting an evacuation of the area and turning the midwives into the caretakers of a rescue center (sorry... centre) housing the evacuees.

TCM Remembers Peter O'Toole (TCM) starting at 8:00 PM ET

We lost two great film actors and TCM remembers the second one with three of Peter O'Toole's movies. It starts with 1962'sLawrence of Arabia, followed by footage of O'Toole at the 2011 TCM Classic Film Festival at Midnight. (I forgot how long that movie was until I saw it get a four hour time slot.) 1969's Goodbye, Mr. Chips airs at 1AM followed by 1982's My Favorite Year at 3:45AM.

The 36th Annual Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) 9:00 PM ET

This year's honorees include Shirley MacLaine, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Martina Arroyo and Billy Joel.

I hope all of you have a safe and happy Christmas full of love, warmth and cheer.