Two sisters and one ‘Smart Guy’; a knockout ‘Muppets’ show; celebrating New Year’s on Nickelodeon

Children ages 4 months to 14 years are seen dancing, singing and acting on The Canadian Brass: A Christmas Special (A&E;, Sunday at 10 p.m.). The show includes interviews with the children and home movies of the Brass and the kids. The Toronto Children’s Choir also performs. For the family.

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Rizzo and Clifford discover Gary Cahuenga, a ventriloquist’s puppet who has been locked away in a storage box for 40 years, on The Muppets Tonight (Disney Channel, Sunday at 6:30 p.m.). Illusionists Penn & Teller also make the mistake of inviting the Muppets to take part in their act. Actress Kathy Najimy and heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield make cameo appearances. For the family.

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A young girl (Liesel Matthews) lives a life of luxury in India with her father but her life changes drastically when he is called to military service during World War I in A Little Princess (ABC, Sunday at 7 p.m.). For the family.

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Nickelodeon’s fifth annual New Year’s Eve Celebration (Nickelodeon, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.) rings in 1998 with a countdown of the channel’s Top 10 toons of 1997, beginning with a “Hey Arnold!” show. Episodes of “Rugrats,” “AAAHH!!! Real Monsters” and “The Angry Beavers” also are shown. For ages 4 to 8.

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Tia and Tamera Mowry (WB’s “Sister, Sister”) make guest appearances on their brother’s Smart Guy (WB, Wednesday at 9 p.m.) in an episode appropriately titled “Brother, Brother.” T.J. (Tahj Mowry), Marcus (Jason Weaver) and Mo (Omar Gooding) devise a scheme so Marcus can date both sisters. For ages 10 to 14.

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Bill Nye the Science Guy explains why being called “cold-blooded” is not an insult to amphibians (KCAL, Saturday at 9 a.m.). He shows how the animals can live both on land and water. For ages 8 to 12.