Beware of being born to famous parents. That’s the lesson of no fewer than three specials airing this weekend.

At first glance, the sports profile “Lombardi” (7 p.m., HBO) seems like an act of nostalgia, a glance back to the birth of America’s near-religious devotion to televised professional football, right down to its “NFL Highlights”-inspired score. The film develops some personality only when Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi’s children discuss their less-than-lovely upbringing, their mother’s loneliness and alcoholism, and the difficulty of eking out some Daddy-time with a man for whom winning was everything.

Football aside, “Lombardi” is a fascinating glance at male attitudes and behavior from the “Mad Men” era and its turbulent aftermath. Lombardi’s way — the relentless pursuit of professional perfection coupled with a near complete absence from home life — was passing from the scene even as he was heading toward an early grave in 1970. The children of Lombardi, and more importantly, the children of men who worshipped and behaved like Lombardi, would develop new attitudes toward masculinity.

• Robert Osborne interviews one of Hollywood’s most celebrated offspring on “Private Screenings: Liza Minnelli” (9 p.m., TCM). A star of Broadway and screen, and Oscar winner for “Cabaret,” Minnelli discusses the work and influence of her parents, director Vincent Minnelli and actress and singer Judy Garland.

While Osborne plays the ever-gracious host, his guest often seems physically uncomfortable while discussing her upbringing. Minnelli is often more revealing for what she does not say. Her affection and devotion to her father are obvious, but when asked why she never followed up her laudatory profile “Minnelli on Minnelli” (6:30 a.m.) with a tribute to Garland, she proves to be a master of diplomatic evasion.

Tonight’s other highlights

• “William and Kate: Modern Monarchy” (6:30 p.m., BBC America) anticipates the next royal wedding.

•  Jimmy Durante narrates the 1969 special “Frosty the Snowman” (7 p.m., CBS), followed by “Frosty Returns” (7:30 p.m.) and “The Flight Before Christmas” (8 p.m.).

•  Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed star in the 1946 holiday favorite “It’s A Wonderful Life” (7 p.m., NBC).

• Special effects animate “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (7 p.m., ABC), the 2006 adaptation of the C.S. Lewis fantasy.

• Jacqueline Bisset stars in the 2010 holiday movie “An Old Fashioned Christmas” (8 p.m., Hallmark).

• The earth moves in the 2010 shocker “Ice Quake” (8 p.m., Syfy).

• The “30 for 30” (8 p.m., ESPN) documentary “Pony Excess” recalls the heyday of SMU’s football program.

• Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (9 p.m., CBS): A survivor recalls a serial killer’s spree.

• Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 2010 Video Game Awards (9 p.m., Spike).

• Justin Bieber, Jack Black, John Waters and Miranda Hart appear on “The Graham Norton Show” (9 p.m., BBC America).

• Paul Rudd hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Paul McCartney. ;