Your 5 best bets for TV in the week ahead
‘Doctor Who’
When a spaceship crashes on Christmas, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) joins a chase across the galaxy while trying to avoid an out-of-control robot in the “Doctor Who” Christmas special, “The Husbands of River Song” (9 p.m. Friday, BBC America).
‘Andy Griffith’
The 1960 Christmas episode is paired with the episode about Aunt Bee’s pickles to create “The Andy Griffith Show Christmas Special” (8 p.m. Friday, CBS).
‘Elf’
That cotton-headed Ninny Muggins, Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell), tries to connect with his father (James Caan) in “Elf” (5 p.m. Friday, ABC Family).
Kennedy Center Honors
George Lucas, Carole King, Rita Moreno, Seiji Ozawa and Cicely Tyson will be honored as Stephen Colbert hosts the 38th annual Kennedy Center Honors (9 p.m. Tuesday, CBS).
‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
Carrie Underwood, Demi Lovato and Jimmy Buffett will perform live as part of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2016” (8 p.m. Thursday, ABC).
— Christopher Lawrence