Gannett News Service

Must-see

Dickens, 8-11 p.m., Channels 16, 48.

Life's extremes swirled inside Charles Dickens.

His idyllic childhood collapsed when he was 8 and his family moved to London. Briefly, his dad was in debtors' prison and Charles worked in a factory.

He became a man who could bubble with humor or seethe with rage. Constantly in motion - walking 10, 20 and 30 miles at a time - Dickens wanted to do it all.

Few men have written so passionately about the warmth of home and the tragedy of a breakup. Still, he began an obsession with a teen actress, banishing the wife who had given him 10 children.

All of that shaped a brilliant writer who found steep popularity. This documentary, based on Peter Ackroyd's biography, also includes modern actors in brief portrayals.

Anton Lesser portrays Dickens, giving fiery readings on tour. Helen McCrory - the star of PBS' Anna Karenina and The Jury - is terrific as Dickens' daughter, Kate.

Other programs worth watching

Ed, 8 p.m., Channels 5, 22. Ed is getting ready to meet Carol in New York; then he meets a former classmate, played by Madchen Amick of Twin Peaks. Meanwhile, Mike and Nancy hope their home will be rebuilt by Christmas.

A Minute with Stan Hooper, 8:30 p.m., Channels 19, 45. Stan's first Christmas in small-town Wisconsin revolves around such issues as carols and apple pie.

Barbara Walters Special, 9 p.m., Channels 9, 2. Here's Walters' annual special, picking the year's 10 most fascinating people. The list includes some of the people profiled by cable's Biography specials, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hillary Clinton and Nicole Kidman. Walters adds some special choices of her own, including singer Beyonce Knowles, lion-tamer Roy Horn and the five stars of Queer Eye For the Straight Guy.

Law & Order, 9 and 10 p.m., Channels 5, 22. In the first rerun, a body in the trunk of an expensive car leads to a gambling probe. In the second, a bounty hunter has been killed while seeking someone also sought by a journalist.

King of Queens, 9 p.m., Channels 12, 7. Carrie (Leah Remini) gets a temporary job with her husband, Doug's (Kevin James) company - much to his displeasure.

PrimeTime, 10 p.m., Channels 9, 2. Diane Sawyer interviews talk-show host Oprah Winfrey.