Thursday’s TV highlights

SERIES

Dawn of the Nazis: This new series recalls the rise of Hitler and fascism in Germany. The premiere traces the Fuehrer’s military career during World War I and a second new episode covers the impact of the 1929 economic crisis (5 and 8; 6 and 9 p.m. National Geographic).

The Big Bang Theory: Leonard (Johnny Galecki) comes face-to-face with his high school bully (Lance Barber) in this new episode (8 p.m. CBS).

The X Factor: This results episode features performances by Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz (8 p.m. Fox).

The Office: Andy (Ed Helms) tries to make this year’s Christmas the best ever by granting each person’s holiday wishes. Meanwhile, Robert (James Spader) tries to drown his sorrows at the office party in this new episode (9 p.m. NBC).

Whitney: Whitney and Alex (Whitney Cummings, Chris D’Elia) decide they’d rather spend Christmas with their friends than with their families but her white lie to her mother (Jane Kaczmarek) unravels, and her father (Peter Gallagher) pays a surprise visit in this new episode (9:30 p.m. NBC).

Beyond Scared Straight: The hard-hitting unscripted series returns for a third season of putting at-risk youth into programs where they interact with hardened convicts in hopes of keeping them from a life behind bars (10 p.m. A&E).

Burn Notice: Jesse (Coby Bell) recruits the team to help a friend take down his boss, who is using diplomatic immunity to smuggle blood diamonds in this new episode (10 p.m. USA).

SPECIALS

BET News: The Curious Case of Citizen Cain: This new special tracks the rise and apparent fall of the corporate executive who sought the Republican presidential nomination and faced allegations of sexual misconduct (9 p.m. BET).

SPORTS

College basketball: Harvard at Connecticut (4 p.m. ESPN2); West Virginia at Kansas State (6 p.m. ESPN2).

Hockey: The Ducks visit the St. Louis Blues (5 p.m. FS Prime); the Minnesota Wild visit the Kings (7:30 p.m. FSN).

Football: The Cleveland Browns visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5 p.m. NFL).