1) “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball,” 8-9:30 p.m., CW. It’s a double-Lizzo (shown here) night. She’s on a new “Saturday Night Live” (see) next item, shortly after this special, which is packed with pop stars. Also performing are Jack Harlow, Dua Lipa, Pitbull, Demi Lovado, Sam Smith, Khalid, Black Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys, The Kid Laroi, Tate McRae, Lewis Capaldi and more.
2) Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Austin Butler, who was impressive as the “Elvis” star, has his first turn as “SNL” host. Lizzo is the music guest, a job she’s familiar with: She did the same when Eddie Murphy hosted in 2019 and doubled as host and music guest last April.
3) Bowl games. After a small start Friday, the bowl-barrage begins this morning, with Cincinnati (9-3) and Louisville (7-5). That’s 11 a.m. on ESPN, which has Florida and 14th-ranked Oregon State at 2:30, Rice and Southern Mississippi at 5:45 and North Texas State and Boise State at 9:15. ABC counters with Jackson State and North Carolina Central at noon, Washington State and Fresno State at 330 and Southern Methodist and Brigham Young at 7:30.
4) “King of Kings” (1961) and “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965), 5 and 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. What’s usually missing from TV’s Christmas overload is … well, any mention of Christ. Here are two exceptions, richly filmed epics by top directors – Nicholas Ray (“Rebel Without a Cause”) and George Stevens (“Giant” and “Shane”). Stevens stuffed “Greatest Story” with an impressive (but distracting) collection of stars in brief roles.
5) More movies. At 8 p.m., HBO has “Banshees of Inisherin,” which has drawn praise, film-festival awards and Oscar talk; Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell play Irishmen whose friendship arbitrarily ends. At 8 and 11:05, Bravo has “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), a week ahead of its annual NBC night.