What to Watch Saturday: 48 HOURS in NC for Russian adoption story (plus ‘Rudolph’)
48 HOURS (10 p.m., CBS) - 20 years ago, CBS correspondent Troy Roberts reported on a family from Georgia who adopted a 9-year-old child from Russia in 1997 but returned her two years later, saying that she tried to murder their young son. The girl, whom they named Caralee, denied that she ever tried to kill her brother. Roberts was there when Caralee was left at a psychiatric hospital in Moscow, and for years tried to learn what happened to her. He found out last summer after Caralee — now an adult named Sabrina Caldwell — reached out to him. In tonight’s report, Roberts visits her in Charlotte, where she now lives with her husband and child. She tells Roberts the story of how she went from a locked Russian ward to finding happiness decades later in North Carolina. Roberts also shares how reporting this story 20 years ago changed his life and prompted him to adopt a child from Africa.
Christmas movies and specials on tonight
A Clüsterfünke Christmas (7 p.m., Comedy Central) - In this new comedy spoof Christmas movie, a go-getter real estate exec from New York City heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a mega-resort. After talking with the owners, she meets their nephew and sparks begin to fly. This stars Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Cheyenne Jackson, Vella Lovell and Ryan McPartlin. Repeats at 9 p.m.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (7:45 p.m., Freeform) - The reindeer with the shiny nose guides Santa’s sleigh through a bad storm on Christmas Eve in this beloved 1964 classic. Narrated by Burl Ives.
It’s a Wonderful Life (8 p.m., NBC) - In this 1946 Frank Capra classic, a suicidal man ruined by a miser on Christmas Eve sees his life in a new light thanks to his guardian angel. It stars James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore.
Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas (8 p.m., Lifetime) - A new pastor finds romance during Christmastime while trying to get the church choir ready for the town’s annual Winter Jamboree.
A Very Merry Bridesmaid (8 p.m., Hallmark) - In this new movie, Leah’s 30th birthday is on Christmas Eve, the same day as her brother’s wedding. Her childhood crush is back in town for the ceremony, and he’s determined to make sure her special day doesn’t go by the wayside.
The Jenkins Family Christmas (8 p.m., BET) - After burying their father earlier in the year, two sisters attempt to carry on his Christmas traditions without strangling each other in this new movie. When an unknown half-sister arrives at the family festivities, more than just Christmas presents are exchanged.
Silent Night: A Song for the World (8 p.m., The CW) - The creation and cultural impact of the world’s most famous Christmas carol, composed in 1818 in Salzburg; Hugh Bonneville narrates.
Home Alone (8:50 p.m., Freeform) - Accidentally left behind by his Paris-bound family at Christmas time, an 8-year-old (Macaulay Culkin) makes mincemeat of two burglars (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) in the house.
Our Christmas Journey (10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) - In this new movie, a single mother and her autistic teenage son come to a crossroad during Christmastime.
Some programming descriptions are provided by networks.
