Weekend TV: 'Fringe,' 'Christmas with Holly,' 'Homeland'

• Singer/actor Jill Scott stops by 'Fringe'
• Is 'Homeland' going off the rails?
• On this weekend's holiday viewing list: 'Christmas with Holly'

Fringe
Fox, Friday, 9 ET/PT

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency's delightful Jill Scott drops by as an oracle who helps Walter recover another piece of his defeat-the-Observers puzzle. Let's hope she also helps Peter recover from his rash decision to implant a bit of Observer technology in his head — because with just six hours left in this terrific sci-fi series, one can't help wishing it would start moving from "darkest" to "dawn." Assuming that's the move the show is planning to make; with Fringe, you never know.

Christmas with Holly
ABC, Sunday, 9 ET/PT

We get very few network movies these days and far too few Hallmark Hall of Fame specials, and those we get tend to be holiday specials based on light-reading, romance or inspirational novels. As in this adaptation of Lisa Kleypas' Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, which stars Sean Faris as a single man who becomes the guardian of his 6-year-old niece when her mother dies. Into their lives comes Maggie (Eloise Mumford), a single woman who opens a toy store in town. Feel free to bet that romance blossoms just in time for that holiday in the title.

Homeland
Showtime, Sunday, 10 ET/PT

Into every great show, some complaints must fall — and they rained down on Homeland after an episode last week that left some wondering whether the show's plotting had gone off the rails. No series is beyond reproach, but before you write off a show this good, you might want to wait and see where that plot is headed. After all, you only have two episodes left this season until it gets there.