Gannett News Service

Must see

A Home for the Holidays, 8 p.m., Channels 12, 7.

Each year, this special leaps between pop music and true stories of lives changed by adoption.

This year's adoption tales are reasonably interesting and cheery. There are also brief comments from actors Jamie Foxx (who was adopted as a child), Lauren Holly (an adoptive mom) and Victoria Rowell (who spent her childhood in foster care).

The highlights, however, are the songs, crisply photographed and passionately performed.

Mary J. Blige does a searing "Special Part of Me." There are great moments from Pat Monahan of Train ("When I Look to the Sky"), Sheryl Crow ("The First Cut is the Deepest") and more. No Doubt does two songs; others are by Mya and Enrique Iglesias. Then Amy Grant and Vince Gill close the show with the rich emotion of "My Grown Up Christmas Wish."

Other programs worth watching

The Tracy Morgan Show, 8 p.m., Channels 5, 22. After his son causes trouble at the doctor's office, Tracy is supposed to take him there again.

Tarzan (1999), 8 p.m., Disney Channel. As kids get jumpy on the eve of Christmas Eve, this may be the cartoon to distract them. Some critics raved about the look and the sound; Tony Goldwyn and Minnie Driver provide the voices of Tarzan and Jane, with Phil Collins doing the songs.

American Idol Christmas, 9 p.m., Channel 45. Here's a second chance to catch this concert special. Both winners (Kelly Clarkson and Grammy-nominee Ruben Studdard, whose album premiered at No. 1 on Billboard charts last week) will be there, plus Clay Aiken and others.

Frasier, 9 p.m., Channels 5, 22. Tentatively scheduled is a rerun of the episode in which Frasier - who considers himself quite the party planner - must rush in to prevent a party disaster.

Line of Fire, 10 p.m., Channels 9, 2. On a night of reruns, this terrific show offers a new episode. Roy - the undercover cop who's now entrenched in the mob - discovers upsetting information about his late ex-partner.