The made-for-TV movie In the Nick of Time (8 p.m., Ch. 2) has high aspirations. It wants nothing less than to become a Christmas classic.
Unfortunately, it doesn't even come close.And that's sort of hard to understand. All the ingredients would seem to be there.
Produced by Disney, it's the fanciful tale of the current Santa Claus (Lloyd Bridges) who discovers his 300-year term is about to expire. And if he doesn't find a replacement - and quick - there won't be a Santa anymore.
That replacement eventually turns out to be none other than a sour, has-been journalist played by Michael Tucker ("L.A. Law"), who spends most of the movie's two hours sulking and acting generally disagreeable.
There are the requisite heart-warming moments, the pseudo-suspense and the inevitable happy ending, but "Nick" falls flat and lifeless.
I wanted to like this movie. I really did. I even looked forward to seeing it.
But mostly I was bored and sad - sad that "Nick" was so mediocre.
But wait. There's more holiday uncheer on the way.
In an episode that will just thrill the Utah Travel Council, the Fresh Prince of Bel Air (7 p.m., Ch. 2) visits Utah for Christmas - and all the gang's luggage is promptly stolen.
Elsewhere, Wood has the flu on Evening Shade (7 p.m., Ch. 5); Monday Night Football (7 p.m., Ch. 4) features the Raiders vs. the Saints; the weak sequel Cocoon: The Return (7 p.m., Ch. 13) makes its broadcast TV debut; Blossom's dad loses his job just before Christmas (7:30 p.m., Ch. 2); Gunny goes blond on Major Dad (7:30 p.m., Ch. 5); a lonely Corky considers an affair on Murphy Brown (8 p.m., Ch. 5); Great Performances (8 p.m., Ch. 7) features the opera "Antony and Cleopatra"; and Cicely celebrates Christmas with the annual raven pageant on Northern Exposure (9 p.m., Ch. 5).
- LOOKING TOWARD TUESDAY: There are lots of Christmas episodes - Tim tries to out-decorate the neighbors on Home Improvement (7:30 p.m., Ch. 4);
Roseanne (8 p.m., Ch. 4) takes a job as a mall Santa; and Gina goes into labor on Christmas Eve on Homefront (9 p.m., Ch. 4). - SDP