Critic's corner

9 p.m., Animal Planet
Of course Ellen DeGeneres stole the spotlight this year. Iggygate was right up there with all those huge headline stories about Nicole Richie. But there was a pet-food recall, too, and the removal of the bald eagle from the endangered list. And then there were farewells to two meerkats, Flower and Mozart, who will live forever in our hearts.

8 p.m., National Geographic
Cobras and tigers and eels, oh my.

7:15 p.m., IFC
Culkin in the wry.

11 p.m., Channel 25
Perez Hilton hosts this compilation show. Lindseed Lohan wasn't available.

Tomorrow at 7 p.m., Channel 5
You're not going to complain about cuteness at Christmastime, are you? That wouldn't be very seasonal of you. Come down off your high horse and watch Elmo and Abby Cadabby try to save the holidays with some help from Brad Paisley, Ty Pennington, Jamie Foxx, Ben Stiller, and Sheryl Crow. Or, you know, don't.

8 p.m., History Channel
Free promotion, History Channel style.

Tomorrow at 8 p.m., National Geographic
Border Collies are the Doggie Howsers.

Comcast
A predictable bang-bang Saturday afternoon Western set in the sweeping Australian outback. Tom Selleck (above) plays an American rifleman who saves Aborigines while wreaking vengeance on his ex-boss. The panoramic backdrop steals the show. (PG-13; runs on Encore through Dec. 27)