It's a wonderful choice

Many families will take full advantage of the network airing of "It's a Wonderful Life" (7 p.m., KARE, Ch. 11), but there are plenty of other options that fit the Christmas Eve theme, most notably "A Christmas Story" (8 p.m., TNT, with continuous repeats) and the original "Miracle on 34th Street" (11:45 p.m., AMC), a film released just a year after the Jimmy Stewart classic.

Various channels

No more Mrs. Nice Gal

It would be easy to ignore "Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable," which dropped nearly a week ago. After all, we see the Queen of Daytime TV nearly every day. But this stand-up special, her first in over a decade, shows off a naughty and even bitter side that includes at least one F-bomb. Don't worry; Ellen still makes time to dance.

Now streaming on Netflix

Not so elementary

If you're looking for a whodunit that's more challenging than figuring out what's underneath the Christmas tree, try two new episodes of "Murdoch Mysteries," Canada's long-running detective series set in the early 1900s. Guest stars in this 12th season include figure skater Elvis Stojko and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" panelist Colin Mochrie.

Now streaming on Acorn TV

Neal Justin