It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas On TV

A look at some noteworthy programs this week:

The Investigators: Riker’s Island (CourtTV , Monday, 8 p.m.) CourtTV’s law enforcement documentary series takes a look at Rikers

The Year Without a Santa Claus (WNBC 4, Monday, 9 p.m.) A new version of some Christmas cheese from NBC. If anyone cares Santa decides to take a year off and the elves have to cope. Sounds like hard hitting drama.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (WABC 7, Tuesday, 8 p.m.) The classic animated version of the Dr. Seuss book, this time in a special edition to celebrate its 40th anniversary. You’re a mean one Mister Grinch!

Frontline: Is Wal-Mart Good for America? (WNET 13, Tuesday, 9 p.m.) We know Wal-Mart is good for Red China, but this Frontline report asks if it is good for America.

Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 (WABC 7, Tuesday, 10 p.m.) Barbara Walters takes her annual look at who she considers her top ten people of this year.

A Christmas Story (Turner Classic Movies, Friday, 8 p.m.) – The classic 1983 film is shown in its entirety so you can get Cingular’s bastardization of it out of your mind. If you don’t want to invest the time, watch it in 30 seconds and re-enacted by animated bunnies. If you want to invest even more time you can always go to the house it was filmed in Cleveland.

New York Voices: Lincoln Center (WNET 13, Friday, 10:30 p.m.) Channel thirteen’s public affairs show takes a look at Lincoln Center, including renovation plans.

It's a Wonderful Life (WNBC 4, Saturday, 8 p.m.) It used to be that It's a Wonderful Life had many showings on many stations, but now just NBC has the rights to the 1946 Jimmy Stewart classic.