8 rules and 8 reasons

There are at least eight simple reasons you can safely skip tonight’s, um, very special Christmas episode of “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” (8 p.m., ABC):

1. The series has been on for only half a season and the producers are already trotting out a Christmas episode. You do the math.

2. The show’s generic brand of sitcom humor -- the popular daughter, Bridget (Kaley Cuoco), yaps incessantly on the cell phone with her simple-minded hunky boyfriend, for example -- is quickly growing old.

3. Tonight’s highlight comes when the mom, Cate (Katey Sagal), gets to sing a solo of “Silent Night” at her church’s midnight service on Christmas Eve, which is understandably a thrill for her TV family. But you’re not Katey Sagal’s TV family.

4. It’s a sweet and heartfelt rendition, but true music aficionados may be tempted to check out the Dixie Chicks on NBC or Yanni on PBS.

5. The episode’s other main plot line is equally unexciting: The dad, Paul (John Ritter), scrambles to find the perfect presents to make up for last year’s yuletide fiasco, when he bought everyone in the family “I (Heart) Chicago” trinkets at the airport gift shop.

6. That “I (Heart) Chicago” gag is the only funny line on tonight’s show.

7. KLCS is broadcasting a Los Angeles school board meeting at the same time.

8. Over on the Food Network, Emeril Lagasse is making squab with orange rice.