"The Hobbit' and 'Homeland': PopWatch Planner

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — not just because the holidays are around the corner, but also because mid-season finales are at hand on TV, and a certain breed of small, fuzzy-footed creature is making its way back to the big screen. Check out our picks for the week below, including the all-star Hurricane Sandy benefit and the much-anticipated Homeland finale. Have a great week!

Sunday

The Amazing Race season finale, CBS, 8 p.m.

Four teams remain in the final sprint for $1 million during tonight’s two-hour finale. Alliances have been brokered — and broken. Anything can and will happen now.

Monday

Michael Bublé: Home for the Holidays, NBC 10 p.m.

Let the sing-alongs and Christmas specials begin! Get in the holiday spirit with this hour-long fest, featuring Bublé along with Rod Stewart, Carly Rae Jepsen, and more. Call me, hot legs?

Tuesday

Ted released on DVD

Family Guy creator and host of the upcoming Oscars Seth McFarlane added feature film writer-director to his expanding multi-hyphenate this year with this raunchy comedy. Mila Kunis and Mark Walhberg star in the film about a deeply disturbing teddy bear come to life (voiced by McFarlane). What would Roosevelt say?

Wednesday

12-12-12 Hurricane Sandy relief concert, AMC 7:30 p.m. and streaming online

The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Kanye West, and more team up to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in one of the biggest concert fundraising events since Live Aid. Tune in online or on AMC to catch all the acts.

Thursday

Glee, Fox 9 p.m.

Glee’s had a number of themed episodes this year, but love it or hate it, the recent Richard Curtis holiday classic Love, Actually is getting the McKinley High treatment this week. Will they all hug at an airport? Will Bill Nighy write a Christmas song for the New Directions? We can dream, can’t we?

Friday

The Hobbit opens in theaters

They’re back. Peter Jackson’s first installment of three Hobbit movies, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, comes out Friday. Maybe spend the rest of the week watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy to gear up? Or maybe just read our in-depth coverage of Hobbit-lore and the film’s road to the big screen in this week’s issue.

Saturday

Saturday Night Live, NBC 11:35 p.m.

Martin Short and Sir Paul McCartney are the host and musical guest on this week’s SNL Christmas episode. Perhaps an old school “Bag o’ glass” sketch or a surprise Adam Sandler Chanukkah Song appearance are in store? It’s Short’s third stint as host and McCartney’s fourth as musical guest. Let it be.

Sunday

Homeland season finale, Showtime, 10 p.m

It’s almost over, you guys! No! Will Carrie find Nazir? Will Brody die? Is Saul a good guy or a bad guy? So many questions. I’m really hoping that Petraeus scandal has some legs, because after Sunday’s Homeland finale we’re going to need some real espionage drama to get us through the long break between seasons.