President Clinton delivers a prime-time speech tonight at 9, sliding or shifting the network schedules accordingly -- all but Fox, that is, which probably will enjoy higher ratings for "New York Undercover" as a result. CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN provide live coverage.
* "Mad About You" (8 p.m.-8:30 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- Ira has a new girlfriend (Marita Geraghty), which isn't necessarily good news for the fussy Buckmans (Helen Hunt, Paul Reiser). NBC.
* "Elvis: The Tribute" (8 p.m.-10 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- This is more than merely a highlights package of the October Elvis tribute concert shown on pay-per-view. Clips of his TV and movie appearances are included as well. ABC.
* "Due South" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- A gang of
Santa imitators uses sacks to haul off cash, engaging in a series of seasonal bank robberies. They do not, however, make their escape through any chimneys. CBS.
* "Martin" (8 p.m.-8:30 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- Some weekly series this season have acknowledged Hanukkah as well as Christmas, but tonight's "Martin" may well be the first prime-time series to bring prominence to the African celebration of Kwanzaa. Fox.
* "Living Single" (8:30 p.m.-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- This series makes room for a guest star who's gotten good reviews, even in bad movies: "The Flintstones" and "Exit to Eden" co-star Rosie O'Donnell. Fox.
* "ER" (10 p.m.-11 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- Rosemary Clooney, an aunt of series star George Clooney, makes another guest appearance tonight, in a Christmas episode built around a potential organ donor. NBC.
* "Turning Point" (10 p.m.-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- In "White Christmas: Battle of the Bulge," David Brinkley reclaims World War II from CBS, which, with Charles Kuralt and others, did most of the anniversary specials in 1993 and 1994. No one but Brinkley could put quite as much bite into the alliterative phrase "the battered bastards of Bastogne," and the entire special brings history, and a 50-year-old battle, back to vivid life -- and vivid death. ABC.
Cable
* "Howards End" (9 p.m.-11:25 p.m., DIS) -- This Oscar-winning 1992 movie, starring Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter, is televised tonight by the Disney Channel.
* "Komodo Dragons" (10 p.m.-11 p.m., DSC) -- Hey, Bob & Ray, in their famous "Komodo dragons" radio routine, weren't pulling our legs after all.