TV Highlights: Dec. 12

SERIES

Smallville: When he accidentally triggers a Kryptonian box that belonged to Lionel Luthor (John Glover), Clark (Tom Welling) is transported to a parallel universe where he was raised by Lionel instead of the Kents in this new episode (8 p.m. KTLA).

Dateline NBC: This new episode follows George Clooney on a fact-finding mission across war-torn Sudan (10 p.m. NBC).

Gold Rush: Alaska: Struggling to cope with the prolonged economic downtown, six men risk everything in the hope of striking it rich as they mine for gold in the wilds of Alaska in this new unscripted series (10 p.m. Discovery).

Conspiracy Theory With Jesse Ventura: The former wrestler/governor believes corporations and super-rich oil dynasties are buying up water rights with an eye on controlling nations and populations (10 p.m. Tru).

SPECIALS

CMT Artists of the Year 2010: This new special honors country music artists’ successes of the past year; honorees include Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and the Zac Brown Band (8 p.m. CMT).

MOVIES

A Walk in My Shoes: A mysterious stranger (Yara Martinez) helps stressed-out high-school teacher Trish Fahey (Nancy Travis) see that there is more than indifferent parenting behind the inadequate scholastic performance of a popular basketball star (Cameron Deane Stewart) in her class. Philip Winchester also stars in this new TV drama (8 p.m. NBC).

Debbie Macomber’s Call Me Mrs. Miracle: A new employee saves a department store in trouble during the Christmas season in this new TV holiday movie starring Doris Roberts and Eric Johnson (8 p.m. Hallmark).

SPORTS

College football: Northern Illinois vs. Miami (Ohio) (4 p.m. ESPN2); Illinois at Fresno State (7:15 p.m. ESPN2).

Pro basketball: The Clippers visit the Denver Nuggets (6 p.m. FS Prime); Sacramento Kings visit the Lakers (7:30 p.m. FSN).

Hockey: The Detroit Red Wings visit the Ducks (7 p.m. KDOC).