December 22, 1995|By Chris Kaltenbach | Chris Kaltenbach,SUN STAFF
"The hills are alive with " Come on, you know the rest.
* "The Sound of Music" (8 p.m.-11 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- I must be getting softhearted in my advancing years. This movie doesn't seem nearly as insufferable as it used to. True, some of the musical numbers are outrageously sappy, but others are truly beautiful, the scenery gorgeous, Julie Andrews is a wonderful screen presence (no one else could have carried this role off), and Christopher Plummer, who never seems comfortable as Captain Von Trapp, stands in for all of us who wish the movie were a little less frothy (he once commented about working with Ms. Andrews, "It was like getting hit over the head with a greeting card every day"). It's better on the big screen, though. NBC.
* "James Stewart: A Wonderful Life" (11 p.m.-12:30 a.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67) -- Here's a look at one of America's living treasures. If there's a negative about "It's a Wonderful Life," it's that some people may not realize Stewart had a career beyond that Frank Capra classic. He did -- from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" to "Call Northside 777" to "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Few actors have produced a more stellar body of work.
* "Late Show with David Letterman" (11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- A Christmas tradition continues, as Darlene Love (Danny Glover's wife in "Lethal Weapon") performs "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". If you think the song is a winner, go out and buy the entire Phil Spector Christmas album on which it first appeared; it'll knock your socks off. CBS.
Cable
* "Grace Kelly" (10:30 a.m.-12:05 p.m., Cinemax) -- Cheryl Ladd, a former Charlie's Angel, plays Grace Kelly, a Hollywood legend and princess. Both are blonds, both are beautiful. The difference: Grace Kelly could act.
* "Airplane" (8:05 p.m.-10:10 p.m., TBS) -- Entertainment Weekly once called this the funniest movie ever made. It's certainly got more jokes per square inch than any movie before or since. "Airplane II: The Sequel" follows on TBS, but don't bother.
* "Beavis and Butt-head Christmas" (8:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., MTV) -- Christmas with these guys? Heh-heh, cool.
