Hunt for the Shadow Cat
Prowling for jaguars, documentary cameras follow animal preservationists into the jungles of Belize and the swamps of Brazil. The show is part of Big Cat Week, a programming blitz that will also spotlight other endangered species, including leopards and African lions. Hunt for the Shadow Cat: Monday, Dec. 12, at 9 p.m.; Return of the Clouded Leopards: Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 10 p.m.; The Last Lions, Friday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m.; Nat Geo Wild
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This year’s Oscar winner for best documentary short looks at a public school in Tel Aviv where Jewish, Christian, and Muslim children, many with violent backgrounds and little previous education, learn together. Over the course of one school year, the film follows several members of the multinational student body, including a 16-year-old from Darfur and a 9-year-old South African girl whose mother was murdered. Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7:45 p.m., HBO
Live From Lincoln Center: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Choreographer George Balanchine created his iconic interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet in 1954, and the New York City Ballet has performed it during every Christmas season since. Eight cameras will capture the 2011 performance, which features 50 children from the School of American Ballet along with NYCB’s entire roster of 150 dancers and musicians. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 8 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Christmas in Washington
Conan O’Brien makes his first appearance as host of this annual benefit event for the Children’s National Medical Center. This year the entertainment lineup includes rapper/singer Cee Lo Green, teen idol Justin Bieber, and the country group Band Perry. President Obama and the First Lady are expected to be in the audience. Friday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m., TNT
Homeland
As the first season of this gripping series reaches its climax, former al Qaida captive Nicholas Brody prepares for a policy summit hosted by the vice president; meanwhile, bipolar CIA officer Carrie Mathison is in a near catatonic state, putting the burden on her mentor to investigate the implications of her dark suspicions. Damian Lewis, Claire Danes, and Mandy Patinkin are all first-rate in this thinking-man’s thriller. Sunday, Dec. 18, at 10 p.m., Showtime
Other highlights
American Pickers
Scouring West Virginia, antiques hunters Mike and Frank come upon a 1929 Schwinn-built motorbike and a mask used in secret ceremonies of the Oddfellows fraternal organization. Monday, Dec. 12, at 9 p.m., History
Republican Presidential Debate
Special Report host Bret Baier moderates another debate among GOP White House hopefuls, this time broadcast live from the Sioux City Convention Center in Iowa. Thursday, Dec. 15, at 9 p.m., Fox News Channel
Jimmy Fallon is this week’s host; the musical guest is pop/jazz vocalist Michael Bublé. Saturday, Dec. 17, at 11:30 p.m., NBC
-
Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A: a ‘magnificent’ exhibitionThe Week Recommends The UK’s first show dedicated solely to the French queen explores the complex woman behind the ‘bling’
-
8 riveting museum exhibitions on view in the fallThe Week Recommends See Winslow Homer rarities and Black art reimagined
-
Crossword: September 18, 2025The Week's daily crossword
