Mike Hughes

1) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 7 and 8 p.m., TBS. Over the next five weeks, we’ll get lots of lookalike Christmas shows, each aspiring to adequacy. So it’s good to stop first and savor some holiday greatness; this 1966 cartoon offers TV at its best. It starts with Dr. Seuss’ brilliant book, then adds superb animation by Chuck Jones, the man behind Road Runner cartoons. Boris Karloff offers the droll narration, with Thurl Ravenscroft singing about a mean one (shown here), Mr. Grinch. Read more…

1) “Dynasty,” 9 p.m., CW. Comedies love Thanksgiving, but some dramas also get a crack at it. Now Blake Carrington (Grant Show, shown here) – facing criminal charges – realizes this could be his last chance for a family Thanksgiving. First, he wants Cristal and Adam to quit bickering. Also, Dominique is being pushed to disclose important information … and she’s pushing Monica to work with her new singer. Read more…

1) “The Unicorn,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. For half an episode, this is standard-sitcom stuff. Trying to reboot his life, a year-plus after his wife’s death, Wade (Walton Goggins) hosts the Thanksgiving dinner. There’s a turkey problem, a mumbly teen-ager and a football zealot, plus disputes over coffee and place-settings. It’s moderately funny and sort of adequate. Then, in the final minutes, we’re reminded that Goggins (shown here in a previous episode) was a terrific drama actor, long before doing comedy. It becomes a terrific episode. Read more…

1) “Stumptown,” 10 p.m., ABC. As she invites friends over for Thanksgiving, Dex has little to be thankful for. Her latest job involves dirtying the reputation of a decent politician; also, she’s distrustful of her friend’s new girlfriend (played by Monica Barbato, shown here). Despite good intentions and sharp dialog, it’s a dark and dreary hour. Read more…

1) “Frontline: For Sama,” 10-11:30 p.m., PBS. As Russian bombers destroyed the Syrian city of Aleppo, a young journalist sent reports over the internet. She married the doctor who led a makeshift hospital; years later, they pondered taking their baby to safety. Eventually, Waad Al-Khateeb (shown here) took her films and linked with a British director, weaving a five-year story that has it all – love, death, youthful idealism, war-weary pain, lifesaving and lives lost. The result is simultaneously painful and bracing. Read more…

1) “Dancing With the Stars,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. We’re just a week from the finale now. Last week, Sean Spicer, the former presidential press secretary, was ousted. He finished sixth … which puts him well ahead of how civilians (politicians, businessfolk, etc.) usually do. Remaining are actors James Van Der Beek and Kel Mitchell, singers Lauren Alaina and Ally Brook and “bachelorette” Hannah Brown (shown here with pro partner Alan Bersten). Read more…