This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Parenthood (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) is not getting the credit it deserves.That's due, in no small part, to the fact that it wasn't that great a show when it premiered in March 2010. It wasn't a bad show, but it wasn't a real good show - and first impressions are hard to overcome.If you've kept up with the Braverman family, however, you know that "Parenthood" has developed into a fine drama. Probably the best family drama on TV today.In this week's episode:Adam (Peter Krause) and Kristina (Monica Potter) experience a health scare.Crosby (Dax Shepard) and Jasmine (Joy Bryant) celebrate their first Christmas together as a family.Sarah (Lauren Graham) is torn between her feelings for Mark (Jason Ritter) and Hank (Ray Romano).Amber (Mae Whitman) and Ryan (Matt Lauria) face challenges in their relationship.And Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) helps to restore belief in a childhood hero.Elsewhere on TV ...NCIS (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): FBI Agent Fornell is the target of a shooting.Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Classic 1970 animation.The Voice (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Contestants are eliminated.Raising Hope (7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Virginia is convinced the world is about to end.Hart of Dixie (7 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Zoe tries to avoid seeing her mother.Rizzoli & Isles (7 and 9 p.m., TNT): A microbrewer is murdered.NCIS: Los Angeles (8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Gunmen in costumes pull off a heist that could affect the U.S. economy.Happy Endings (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Max looks for a new best friend.Take It All (8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): This game show continues its weeklong run.New Girl (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): The gang tries to attend multiple holiday parties in one night.Leverage (8 and 10 p.m., TNT): The team tries to obtain an unbelievably expensive bottle of wine.Don't Trust the B.... in Apt. 23 (8:30 p.m. ABC/Ch. 4): James finally step into the 'Dancing With the Stars" spotlight, and mouths will drop.The Mindy Project (8:30 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Mindy hosts the office Christmas party.Vegas (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Lamb investigates the murder of a showgirl.Private Practice (9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Sheldon finds happiness with a new woman.Parenthood (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Jasmine and Crosby celebrate their first Christmas as a family; Sarah feels torn between Mark and Hank.Mankind: The Story of All of Us (10 p.m., History): From the American Revolution to the industrial revolution.Underemployed (11 p.m., MTV): Raviva gets suspicious.