Original episodes of network offerings are dwindling down to a precious few. Two feature “ripped-from-the-headlines” stories, at least two meditate on the notion of Santas gone very bad, and another demonstrates how even the best-written shows can get addicted to guest-star cameos. But don’t worry, there’s a brand new episode of “Big Shots,” as if anybody really cares about “Big Shots.”

“CSI” (8 p.m., CBS) offers a nod to the Michael Vick controversy in a story where a rich socialite bites the dust while dabbling in a dog-fighting racket. Later, on “Without a Trace” (9 p.m., CBS), a college student working over the Christmas holidays as a department store Santa goes missing. Jack and his team can’t tell if the freelance Claus has been kidnapped or faked his abduction to cover his tracks while he works a crime spree from the inside. Along with last week’s “Monk,” this marks another criminally bad Santa.

Do I detect a trend? Yes, and it continues on “Supernatural” (8 p.m., CW) where the boys discover an evil parallel Santa from a pagan universe who is up to a lot more naughty than nice.

The network-turned-cable drama “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (9 p.m., USA) wraps up its strike-shortened fall season with an episode that guest stars Ben Vereen as a minister in a poor neighborhood who loses his son, a promising athlete and scholar, to senseless street violence. Logan (Chris Noth) and Falacci (Alicia Witt) take the case personally after interviewing the one surviving gunshot victim, only to discover that sometimes madness is the only credible motive for the most heinous crimes.

Families converge for Christmas on “30 Rock” (7:30 p.m., NBC). Liz Lemon’s doting parents (Buck Henry and Anita Gillette) arrive in town to see their “beautiful genius” daughter. Andy Richter guest stars as her 40-year-old brother, suffering from a recent skiing accident that has left him thinking he’s a 17-year-old. This should be a great turn for Richter, who looks and acts like he was born a 40-year-old man. Meanwhile, Jack’s embittered mother (stage veteran Elaine Stritch) arrives. The two families share a holiday dinner, where Jack’s mom does her best to deflate the eternal sunshine of the Lemons’ spotless minds.

Fans of “The Office” (NBC) had better get used to making the most of repeats. And perhaps the most interesting thing about the repeats is how NBC has been re-airing them without any regard to the show’s chronological plot development. Last week, we saw the beginning of Michael’s painful relationship with Jan, but tonight, we can watch Michael get dumped and partake in an epic Japanese Restaurant Christmas lunch (7 p.m.), the events that set up Michael’s impetuous tropical vacation that had set up last week’s episode.

¢ “Ace of Cakes” (9 p.m., Food) travels to New York to prepare a special desert for the opening night gala for the 75th anniversary of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The Baltimore-based confectionary crew also plan their own, more modest bash, pick secret Santas and share personal stories about Christmas and Hanukkah.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Democratic presidential candidates debate in Iowa (1 p.m., Fox News).

¢ Betty is distracted by a tempting offer from Wilhelmina on “Ugly Betty” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ A betrayed wife (Diane Lane) loses herself in a brief fling and in decorating a ramshackle Italian villa in the 2003 romantic comedy “Under the Tuscan Sun” (7 p.m., WE), a film that sets the standard for “chick flick” wish fulfillment fantasies. Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”) costars.