New ‘Christmas Carol,’ ‘Morrie,’ ‘Santa and Pete’ on Movie Menu

Set your VCRs for this Sunday’s movies, which include a new version of a Dickens classic, an adaptation of a best-selling book and a new holiday tale.

Patrick Stewart plays the ultimate miser Ebenezer Scrooge in TNT’s new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Sunday at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight. Joel Grey also stars.

Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria star in the “Oprah Winfrey Presents” production of “Tuesdays With Morrie,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on ABC. Based on the best-selling book by Mitch Albom, the drama chronicles the relationship between a sportswriter and his old college professor and mentor who is dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Hume Cronyn and James Earl Jones star in the CBS holiday presentation of “Santa and Pete,” Sunday at 9 p.m. Based on a Dutch legend, the film tells the story of how St. Nicholas became Santa Claus and how his little-known partner Pete helped save the holiday.

Specials

CBS encores the 1974 animated holiday special “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” tonight at 8.

Twelve skaters, including Katarina Witt and Philippe Candeloro, perform new routines to music they receive just two hours before show time on USA’s “Improv-Ice,” tonight at 8.

Bryant Gumbel hosts CBS’ “Sports Illustrated’s 20th Century Sports Awards,” tonight at 9. The magazine will reveal its choices for the best athletes in seven categories, as well as greatest sports moment, sportsman of the century and the “Athletes Who Changed the Game.”

CBS repeats the animated holiday classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Friday at 8 p.m.

On CBS’ stop-motion animated special “Snowden’s Christmas,” Friday at 8:30 p.m., the snowman and his friends try to get to New York in order to be with the boy who loves them.

CBS’ “The Nuttiest Nutcracker,” Friday at 9 p.m., is an animated updated version of the Tchaikovsky classic featuring original songs by Peabo Bryson.

Hume Cronyn hosts “Omnibus: Television’s Golden Age,” Friday at 9 p.m. on KCET-TV. The documentary looks at the acclaimed cultural series of the 1950s that was hosted by Alistair Cooke.

A&E;’s “Winter Solstice on Ice,” Saturday at 6 p.m., features Brian Boitano and others skating to music by Windham Hill recording artists in Finland above the Arctic Circle.

The Cartoon Network features Nick Park’s Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit animated shorts, “The Wrong Trousers” and “A Close Shave,” as well as the Oscar-nominated “A Grand Day Out,” Saturday at 7 p.m.

PBS’ “Great Performances,” Saturday at 8 p.m. on KCET, presents Andrea Bocelli singing sacred arias in concert at Rome.

CBS’ “Amy Grant: A Christmas to Remember,” Saturday at 8 p.m., features the popular singer celebrating the holidays with Tony Bennett, 98 Degrees and Cece Winans.

Comic Dennis Miller hosts his fifth solo gig, “The Millennium Special,” Saturday at 10 p.m. on HBO.

Series

Fox’s low-rated Hollywood satire, “Action,” returns tonight at 9 from its November sweeps hiatus.

Ted Koppel moderates a Republican presidential candidate debate in Manchester, N.H., on “Nightline,” tonight at 11:35 on ABC.

“The E! True Hollywood Story” offers “Rocked to Death,” a look at the how and why behind the strange death of INXS singer Michael Hutchence, Sunday at 9 p.m. on E! Entertainment Television.