TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"A Charlie Brown Christmas," 7 p.m., ABC. If you missed this cartoon special last week — and during the previous 40 years — here's another chance. Charlie Brown struggles to find the true meaning of Christmas even as he's directing a Christmas play and taking the heat for getting a scrawny tree.

"Stand by Me" (1986), 6:15 p.m., AMC; and "The American President" (1995), 7 p.m., TBS. Watch one of these, tape the other, and you'll be reminded that Rob Reiner is a great director. "Stand by Me" turns a short Stephen King story into a classic portrait of youth. Reiner got great work from his young stars, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell and Corey Feldman. "The American President" is a fun romance involving a president (Michael Douglas) and a lobbyist (Annette Bening). Aaron Sorkin wrote the sharp script. He went on to create "The West Wing."

OF NOTE

"Biography of the Year," 6 p.m., A&E. This special ends with a profile of someone who has been named the channel's person of the year. Prior to that, we get biographies of those who came close.

"Spider-Man" (2002), 6 and 8:30 p.m., TNT. This well-crafted adventure is a fine mixture of action and drama, with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst starring.

"The Bernie Mac Show," 7 p.m., Fox. First is a new episode in which Bryana keeps asking about her mother. Then comes a rerun in which Bernie nudges a reluctant Vanessa toward music.

"A Scooby-Doo Christmas," 7:30 p.m., WB. A town has abandoned Christmas because it's too busy being frightened by a frosty-hearted snowman. The result is a reasonably entertaining rerun.

"Hope & Faith," 8 p.m., ABC. Hope quits helping her sister out of jams. That gives her more time to meddle with her husband's life.

"Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. An environmental group has been starting fires at auto dealerships. When one leads to a death, the FBI is brought in.