Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Best bets on TV

`Veronica Mars’

9 p.m., Ch. 44

It’s official: This series has received the stamp of approval from the ``Buffy the Vampire Slayer’’ gang. Earlier this month, ``Buffy’’ creator Joss Whedon turned up for a cameo appearance as a rental-car agent. Tonight, Alyson Hannigan (Willow) returns to ``Veronica’’ as Logan’s sister Trina. That reunites her with ``Buffy’’ alum Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) who has added a dash of trash to the show this season as sexy stepmom Kendall Casablancas. (Guess what? They don’t get along.) The episode is another good one from a series that is having a fabulous second season.

8 p.m. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Ch. 5 Ch. 46 — Burl Ives narrates an animated tale about Santa’s sleigh guide. (CC) (TV-G)

8 p.m. Christmas in Rockefeller Center Ch. 8 Ch. 11 — Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Earth, Wind & Fire are scheduled to perform at the 73rd annual tree-lighting; Al Roker and Megan Mullally host. (CC)

8:15 p.m. Movie: ``Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’’ TCM — (1932) Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins. A Victorian London doctor drinks a potion and frees his bad side. (Adult situations, violence.) ***

9 p.m. Lost Ch. 7 — ``What Kate Did.’’ Kate’s original crime is revealed; Locke and Eko discover something about the film. (N) (CC) (TV-14-V) (HDTV)

10 p.m. Barbara Sher: Creating Your Second Life After 40 Ch. 9 — Advice on living a rich, full life after age 40.

Other highlights

11 p.m. Movie: ``The Day the Earth Stood Still’’ AMC — (1951) Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal. Klaatu and his guardian robot, Gort, come from afar to warn Earth about nuclear war. Directed by Robert Wise. (G) ****

11:30 p.m. The Bernie Mac Show Ch. 2 — ``Mac Local 137.’’ The children strike, and Bernie hires youngsters from the neighborhood to do their work. (CC) (TV-PG-L)

Talk shows

10 a.m. The Ellen DeGeneres Show Ch. 8 Also 4 p.m. Ch. 11. — Ellen looks back at her 25 years as a comic; actor David Spade. (N) (CC) (TV-PG)

11:35 p.m. Late Show With David Letterman Ch. 5 Ch. 46 — Actress Charlize Theron; columnist Maureen Dowd. (N) (CC) (TV-PG) (HDTV)

Radio

10 a.m. KQED-FM (88.5) Forum with Michael Krasny — Discussion of a movement to increase participation of African Americans in recreational and competitive swimming.

LEGEND: (CC) Closed captioned; (LtB) Letterboxed format; (S) Stereo; (N) Indicates new programming. Other programs are repeats unless noted otherwise; (HDTV) High-definition TV.