'Portlandia'

Winter comes to the titular city in this half-hour preview episode (season three officially debuts on Jan. 4). All the elements that make this series so delightfully quirky are here: brilliantly underplayed performances from leads Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein; great guest stars (Jim Gaffigan, Matt Lucas, Jack White); and a right-on-the-money opening sequence that may feel a little too familiar for those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest. 7:30 p.m. Friday on IFC (seattletimes.com/tvlistings).

Doug Knoop, Seattle Times staff

dknoop@seattletimes.com or on Twitter @dougknoop

Also on Friday

"White Christmas" (1954), 7 p.m. (AMC): Former Army buddies put on a show with a sister act to save their general's hotel in Vermont.

"Last Man Standing," 8 p.m. (ABC): Mike decides to give Vanessa a family-free holiday for Christmas; Ed accidentally shoots a bald eagle.

"Great Performances," 8 p.m. (KCTS): "Magical Mystery Tour Revisited": The making of the Beatles' 1967 film "Magical Mystery Tour."

"Fringe," 9 p.m. (Fox): Walter tries to remember a plan to defeat the observers; while following a signal to the woods, Peter and Olivia come across a gruesome scene.

"Yes, Virginia," 9:01 p.m. (CBS): After being told by friends that Santa Claus does not exist, 8-year-old Virginia writes a letter to the editor of The New York Sun asking if the jolly man is real.

"Dateline NBC," 10 p.m. (NBC): Holiday do's and don'ts from Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford and Andy Cohen; Nick Cannon talks about giving back during the holidays.

The New York Times