‘Dear Santa’ is warm but gimmicky

Pleasing a TV audience is an inexact science that nevertheless has come to include some time-honored bits that never seem to wear out their welcome.

For wildlife specials, it’s the great white shark footage. For home video shows, it’s the shot of Dad getting hit in the crotch by a baseball. And for Christmas specials, it’s capturing the look on children’s faces as their yuletide wishes come true.

Try as it might to clutter up that last category with contrivances and awkward gimmicks, “Dear Santa” still manages to deliver the goods tonight at 9 on ABC.

Hosted by Jim Belushi and featuring singer Usher and comedian Joe Piscopo, the special takes real Christmas wish lists from a handful of kids across the country and lets the bearded one work his magic.

One boy, 7, worries that Santa won’t be able to find him because the youngster is away from home while being treated for leukemia in Memphis. He yearns to visit Elvis’ Graceland and to be reunited with his friends from school.

A girl, also 7, wants to give toys to children less fortunate than she. Oh, and one other thing: She wants it to snow in her Arizona hometown.

Other segments seem a bit labored with too much business to work through to get to the payoff. But they do pay off, which is a nice gift for viewers too.