Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Word of Honor," 6 and 8 p.m., TNT. This new movie opens with a fierce charge. A respected doctor (John Heard) says that long ago in Vietnam, his unit killed the patients, doctors and nurses in a field hospital, then burned it down. Those charges shatter the comfortable world of Ben Tyson (Don Johnson), then the unit's commander and now a corporate executive. The film's best moments are when the horrors of the past and the comforts of the present collide. Based on Nelson DeMille's novel, this is a sophisticated mystery, with many sides to the truth.

OF NOTE

Holiday marathon, 2 p.m. to midnight, ABC Family. This animation spree goes from "Jack Frost" at 2 p.m. to "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" at 11. Some of the holiday specials are quite forgettable. Does the world need "Little Drummer Boy II" (4:30 p.m.) or "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" (7 p.m.)?

"Ironman World Championship," noon and 7 p.m., NBC. This is the 25th year for this Big Island event, which requires participants to run 26.2 miles, bike 112 miles and swim 2.4 miles in the ocean. The first hour offers a history of the event. The second is a compressed version of this year's competition.

Football, 3 p.m., CBS. Georgia (10-2) battles Louisiana State (11-1) in Atlanta for the Southeastern Conference championship.

Football, 3 p.m., ABC. Oklahoma (12-0) faces Kansas State (10-3) in Kansas City, Mo., for the Big 12 championship.

"It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" (2002), 8 p.m., NBC. The evil Rachel Bittermore (Joan Cusack) will tear down the Muppets' theater unless Kermit gets some money. A rookie angel (David Arquette) tries to help, with Whoopi Goldberg as his boss. A fun movie.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Al Sharpton hosts, and Pink is the musical guest.