’Tis the time for really bad rhyme!

‘Twas the night before Christmas and it’s an NBC ritual to repeat “It’s a Wonderful Life” (7 p.m., NBC). In fact, it’s habitual.

It stars Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart, but I bet you didn’t know that Nick’s played by Sheldon Leonard, who would later produce “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Henry Travers plays Clarence, the angel who earns his wings, but in Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt,” he’s up to more ominous things. But he didn’t just play characters spectral and scary. He also appeared in “The Bells of St. Mary’s.”

Hard-fisted Mr. Potter may have been ahead of his time. His loans may not have come easily, but they were hardly subprime. George Bailey, in contrast, loaned more with his heart than his head — a practice, it seems, that may have run afoul of the Fed. And should an IRS auditor arrive some unhappy morn, then Bailey might really have wished he’d never been born.

Over on Fox, they’re walking on the family side of the tube, by airing “Are We Done Yet?” (7 p.m. Fox), the 2006 comedy starring Ice Cube.

ABC repeats “Disney Prep & Landing” (7 p.m., ABC). I reviewed it last year, and it was hardly outstanding.

“Some sequels are more sequel’ed than others.” So George Orwell may have written, had he been a TV critic like me. But at least “The Santa Clause 2” (8 p.m., ABC) is better than “The Santa Clause 3.”

CBS, with the solid ratings it’s achieving, treats Christmas Eve like any other evening. On “CSI” (7 p.m., CBS) there’s crime and cadavers without cease. And on “CSI: NY” (8 p.m., CBS) there’s horrible dialogue uttered by Gary Sinise. And while you’re dreaming of Christmas and holding your loved ones close, “Blue Bloods” (9 p.m., CBS) presents a tale of three teens, dead of an overdose.

The “Christmas Story” (7 p.m. through 7 p.m. Saturday, TBS) marathon brings tradition galore. Jean Shepherd, an esteemed raconteur, inspired it.

Written by Irving Berlin, “White Christmas” was a best-selling single, sung in both “White Christmas” (9:15 p.m., AMC) and “Holiday Inn,” by Bing Crosby, known as der Bingle.

On the eve of the day of much veneration, viewers can choose between “Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation” (7 p.m., ABC) and a marathon helping of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (7 a.m. through 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. through 4 a.m.).

If toward things royal your imagination is stearin’, then don’t miss “The Queen” (7 p.m. and 9 p.m., BBC America), starring Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.

As an impersonator of Tony Blair, actor Michael Sheen has no equal. But he’s better known for those tedious “Twilight” sequels.

Looking for romance while the cookie batter you’re churning? Check out “A Boyfriend for Christmas” (7 p.m., Lifetime). It stars Charles Durning.

So here’s to Christmas, with rhymes less than rewarding. If I haven’t quite tortured syntax, I’ve come close to waterboarding.

May the holidays bring you joy, good health and a slice of heaven. And may all of your reviews be good in 2011.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Catch a seven-hour “Dirty Jobs” (6 p.m., Discovery) marathon.

• Hawaii hosts Tulsa on the Hawaii Bowl (7 p.m., ESPN).