TV highlights: Dec. 11-17

SUNDAY

Happy holidays! Amy Smart goes on the “12 Dates of Christmas,” Melissa Gilbert directs “The Christmas Pageant” and Laura Breckenridge steals “A Christmas Kiss” in these made-for-cable fables. (ABC Family, 8 and 10 p.m.; Hallmark, 8 and 10 p.m.; Ion, 9 p.m.)

Happy horror days! There’s something rotten in the state of Maine — ain’t there always? — in “Stephen King’s Bag of Bones.” Pierce Brosnan, below, stars in this new two-part terror tale based on King’s bestselling novel. (A&E, 9 p.m.; concludes Mon., 9 p.m.)

MONDAY

Speaking of terror, be afraid… be very afraid: “Fear Factor,” the reality competition that put the “gross” in, um, “gross,” is back with more ill-advised stunts and ick-inducing challenges — and original host Joe Rogan. All together now: Ewww! (NBC, 8 and 9 p.m.)

TUESDAY

Who — or what — created our universe? From the book of Genesis to the big-bang theory, religion and science have long seemed at odds over that question. Recent attempts to reconcile opposing views are examined in the special “Proving God.” (History, 9 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY

Those hip-hop hamsters? That corn-chip-craving pug? The Darth Vader-helmeted tyke using “the Force” to start his daddy’s car? They’re all here in the special “Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2011” hosted by Isaiah “Old Spice” Mustafa. (TBS, 10 p.m.)

THURSDAY

Frosty’s still cool, the Grinch is evergreen and Rudolph went down in history. But this season’s animated MVPs will always be the Peanuts gang, getting to the heart of the holiday in the beloved classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” (ABC, 8 p.m.)

FRIDAY

If you like your stocking stuffed with music, music, music, there’s “Christmas in Washington 2011.” Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson and the Band Perry perform in an event hosted by human-elf hybrid Conan O’Brien. (TNT, 8 and 11:30 p.m.)

SATURDAY

What big eyes she has! The never-less-than-luminous Amanda Seyfried, below, is “Red Riding Hood,” facing down her lupine foe in a 2011 fantasy-drama inspired by that dark and durable fairy tale. “Twilight’s” Catherine Hardwicke directs. (HBO, 8 p.m.)