Christmas Specials Compete With Wrestling and ‘Moses’

This weekend is filled to the brim with Christmas specials, an ice skating extravaganza and even a documentary on wrestling.

Tiffani-Amber Thiessen hosts Fox’s “The Greatest Christmas Moments of All Time,” featuring clips from TV and movie favorites, tonight at 8.

Kirk Franklin and the Nu National Project headline “Gospel From the House of Blues,” tonight at 8 on VH1.

The Discovery Channel’s “Who Was Moses?,” tonight at 9, ponders whether the leader of the Israelites really existed.

The History Channel travels to the French town where Bernadette saw the vision of the Virgin Mary on “Lourdes: Shrine of Miracles,” Friday at 5 and 9 p.m.

CBS reprises “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” the Disney animated version of Charles Dickens’ tale, Friday at 8 p.m.

Olympic gold medalists Tara Lipinski, Scott Hamilton, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Kristi Yamaguchi strut their stuff on “Stars on Ice,” Friday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Mark Russell returns with another funny political special, Friday at 9 p.m. on KCET-TV.

Brooke Shields hosts NBC’s annual “Christmas in Washington” musical special, Friday at 10 p.m. The United States Army Glee Club and the U.S. Army Band are on hand for the festivities.

The Discovery Channel explores “The Wrath of El Nin~o,” Friday at 10 p.m.

The A&E; documentary “Hitman Hart, Wrestling With Shadows,” Sunday at 6 and 10 p.m., offers a behind-the-scenes look at the guarded walls of professional wrestling.

Huell Howser pays a visit to the ranch said to produce 90% of all flowering poinsettia plants in the world on the “California’s Gold Christmas Special,” Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on KCET.

Elton John and Phil Collins are among the artists performing on “Fox Family Presents the Nobel Peace Concert,” Sunday at 8 p.m.

Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton and Sheryl Crow sing their holiday favorites on “A Very Special Christmas From Washington, D.C.,” Sunday at 8 p.m. on TNT. Whoopi Goldberg hosts this event that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Special Olympics.

Movies

NBC unwraps its annual prime-time viewing of the ultimate Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Saturday at 8 p.m. James Stewart and Donna Reed star in director Frank Capra’s 1946 heart-tugger.

Series

TNN presents on Friday nine holiday episodes of “The Waltons,” with one episode at 10 a.m. and eight back-to-back installments starting at 4 p.m.

Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) investigates a murder committed during a theatrical performance of “Amadeus,” on the latest “Midsomer Murders,” Friday at 7 and 11 p.m. on A&E.; The mystery concludes Dec. 25.

Sports

HBO presents a super-featherweight boxing bout between champion Floyd Mayweather and Angel Manfredy, Saturday at 6:45 p.m.

“Nagano ’98 Olympics: Bud Greenspan’s Stories of Honor and Glory,” Sunday at 8 p.m. on Showtime, highlights the stories of athletes who made the Winter Olympics memorable.