Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal #4725. Another whole week has gone by and good old Gwen Ifill and National Journal are here to fill us in. For the record, I like to pretend the National Journal is a sidekick, like Robin to Batman, Starsky to Hutch, or chocolate sauce to chocolate ice cream.

8:30 - 9:00PM

NOW #351.  It’s the Emmy award-winning weekly newsmagazine. It looks at issues facing our democracy. The show is hosted by David Brancaccio. And, even better, they still send me e-mails (I think that makes me cool and them nice). Thanks, Now, you guys are awesome!

9:00 - 10:00PM

Bill Moyers Journal #1137. It’s Bill Moyers. It’s his 1,137th journal (not really, but I’m not going to explain to you the way in which TV shows are numbered at this point in time, maybe later if you’re nice). He’s a good journalist so I assume this will be good journalism (at least the odds are it will).

10:00PM - 11:00PM

Walking the Bible – "A Coat of Many Colors:  The Israelites in Egypt."  This is a three-part series (it originally aired in January of 2006), which follows Bruce Feiler on a 10,000 mile trip during which he searches for biblical heroes.  I don't imagine he's looking for living heroes, just the memories of them, maybe some of the historical elements too.  It's a long trek, but someone has to do it.

Saturday, December 22:

9:00 – 10:00PM

Austin City Limits – "Lucinda Williams/Old Crow Medicine Show."  I don't think I'd refer to Lucinda Williams as an "old crow."  But I wonder if the "medicine show" referred to herein means that she takes drugs during the episode.  Fingers crossed.

"Peace on Earth, good will towards man."  I think that's why I like this holiday.  I don't so much believe in the over-arching religious message, but I like the feeling that pervades the holiday.  There is a certain optimism and brightness to the holiday which make it spectacular.