2009 Christmas TV Special Roundup...

[posty]

http://blogs.courant.com/roger_catlin_tv_e...al-roundup.html

 

Yes, there are probably too many of them. But they have long since become part of the holiday tradition: Seeing your favorite special or old movie is just as much a part of the season as having an eggnog latte.

 

And there are always a dozen new titles every year to add to the mix. Here, now that it's December, is what's scheduled this month and where. (A work in progress).

 

New Specials

 

* "Larry the Cable Guy's HulaPalooza Christmas Luau," CMT Dec. 1, 10 p.m. The latest showing of the comedy special, new this year, that first started airing well before Thanksgiving.

* "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," NBC, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. A tree from Weston is lit up at 30 Rock, with a bunch of singers taking part.

* "Sandra Lee Celebrates: Magical Merry Christmas" HGTV, Dec. 5, 8 p.m. Decoration tips.

* "Celebrity Holiday Homes," HGTV, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. How Holly Robinson-Peete and Kathie Lee Gifford are decking their halls.

* "Holiday Celebration on Ice," Hallmark, Dec. 7, 6 p.m. features Brian Boitano and a host of skating champs spinning to the music of REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield.

* "Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special," Fox, Dec. 7, 8 p.m. A two hour variety special with guests Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, David Cook, Kristin Chenoweth and Christina Applegate.

* "Disney Prep & Landing," ABC, Dec. 8, 8:30 p.m. New animated story about a couple of elves.

* "Hollywood Christmas Parade," MyNetwork TV, Dec. 10, 8 p.m. Brian McKnight, Ace Young and War help move along the parade, rerunning on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

* "Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas," ABC, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. The Oscar winning "American Idol" runner up sings the classics in Chicago, where Michael Buble is a guest.

* "Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special" ABC, Dec. 13, 10 p.m. Her first sitdown with the Obamas since she helped them gain office. Tree-trimming is in order.

* "Christmas in Washington," TNT, Dec. 20, 8 p.m. Annual concert from the National Building Museum, this year starring Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland, Rob Thomas and Usher. George Lopez hosts.

* "Home for the Holidays," CBS, Dec. 23, 8 p.m. The adoption-endorsing special features music from Carrie Underwood, Shakira, Reba McEntire, Mary J. Blige and host Faith Hill.

* "Disney Parks Christmas Parade," Dec. 25, 10 a.m. If you have nothing else to do Christmas morning.

 

Perennial Specials

 

* "The Year Without a Santa Claus," ABC Family, Dec. 1, 7 p.m.; Dec. 8, 8 p.m. Animated fare from 1974 from Rankin-Bass with Mickey Rooney lending voice to Santa and Shirley Booth and Dick Shawn in the cast.

* "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," CBS, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. One of the oldest running specials has been spiffed up for HD in recent years.

* "Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular," VH1, Dec. 3, 10 p.m. A replay of the 2007 comedy special.

* "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," The CW, Dec. 4, 9 p.m.; Cartoon Network, Dec. 6, 9 p.m. Animated version of the novelty song.

* "Dora's Christmas Carol" Nickelodeon, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. Preschool heroine takes own swipe at Dickens.

* "Cranberry Christmas," ABC Family, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Animated special from last year about life in New England bog. With songs by Barry Manilow.

* "A Charlie Brown Christmas" ABC, Dec. 8 and 15. The classic, bumped a week because of a Presidential address.

* "A Miser Brothers Christmas" ABC Family, Dec. 8, 9 p.m. The 2008 animated sequel to the 1974 "Year without Christmas," with the Heat Miser and all the rest.

* "Rudolph's Shiny New Year," ABC Family, Dec. 8, 10 p.m.; Dec. 9, 10 p.m. The Rankin-Bass sequel from 1976 in which Rudolph looks to saving the Baby New Year.

* "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," ABC Family, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.; Dec. 10, 7 p.m. The 1970 Rankin-Bass animated special with Fred Astaire narrating the story of the evil Burgermeister.

* "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys," ABC Family, Dec. 9, 9 p.m. The 2001 update of the animated tale, with the voices of Richard Dreyfuss, Jamie Lee Curtis and Rick Moranis.

 

New Movies

 

* "The National Tree," Hallmark, Dec. 4, 8 p.m. A replay of a new film this season starring Andrew McCarthy as a dad who travels with his teenage son cross country after winning a Christmas tree contest.

* "The Dog Who Saved Christmas," ABC Family, Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. Replay of new live action film this season about a guard dog voiced by Mario Lopez. Dean Cain plays a Yuletide thief.

* Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle," Hallmark, Dec. 5, 8 and 10 p.m. James Van Der Beek stars in a new movie about a single dad who needs a miracle, which comes in the form of Doris Roberts.

* "12 Men of Christmas," Lifetime, Dec. 5, 9 p.m.; Dec. 6, 9 p.m. Stars Kristen Chenoweth as New York PR exec who organizes a beefcake calendar after moving to Montana. Nothing much about Christmas in it, except that December is one of the 12 months.

* "Christmas in Canaan," Hallmark, Dec. 12, 8 p.m. A new holiday film starring Billy Ray Cyrus as a widowed farmer fighting racist tendencies in his young son in the days of the Civil Rights Movement.

* "Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe," ABC Family, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. A sequel to the TV movie returns Jenny McCarthy as the daughter of Santa, but Paul Sorvino stepping in as the new St. Nick, who is itchy to retire. Dean McDermott so stars.

* "The Christmas Hope" Lifetime Movie Channel, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. Madeline Stowe and James Remar star as a couple who try to survive the death of a son by adopting.

* "A Golden Christmas," ION, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. The first original movie from the network may not be about Christmas, but it features Andrea Roth seeking to buy a family home where she vacationed.

* "We Three Gifts," Hallmark, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. a new movie starring Dan Cain and Jean Louisa Kelly star as toymakers who have to take in some troublesome boys.

 

Recurring Movies

 

* "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," AMC, Dec. 1-4, 8 and 10:15 p.m. You may not realize it, but we're in the middle of a twice a night nightly blitz of the sturdy Chevy Chase comedy.

* "Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," ABC Family, Dec. 1, 8 and 10 p.m.; Disney, Dec. 5, 9 p.m. Tim Allen plays Santa for a third time, battling Jack Frost, played by Martin Short.

* "The Ultimate Christmas Present," Disney, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. about teens finding Santa's weather making machine.

* "The Christmas Choir," Hallmark, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. Not a bad film from last year about a man who organizes a choir at a homeless shelter. With Rhea Perlman.

* "Lost Holiday: The Jim and Suzanne Shemwell Story," Lifetime, Dec. 2, 9 p.m. Jami Gertz and Dylan Walsh star in story of estranged couple caught in blizzard just before the holiday.

* "I'll Be Home for Christmas" Hallmark, Dec. 2, 10 p.m. A 1998 film about a college student returning for the holiday.

* "The Polar Express," ABC Family, 6 and 8:30 p.m.). The computerized version of the illustrated book came out in theaters in 2004, with Tom Hanks in just about every role.

* "Deck the Halls," FX, Dec. 3, 8 p.m.; Dec. 5, 9 p.m. Danny DeVito competes with Matthew Broderick about their lighting displays in this 2006 movie.

* "A Diva's Christmas Carol," Hallmark, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. Vanessa Williams plays the female Scrooge in a 200 filmalso starring Kathy Griffin.

* "Ms. Scrooge" Hallmark, Dec. 3, 10 p.m. Another variation of "A Christmas Carol" from a female point of view.

* "A Christmas Carol," TCM, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. The 1938 version of the Diekens classic with Reginald Owen.

* "Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus," Lifetime, Dec. 3, 9 p.m. Steve Guttenberg plays Santa's son, dating Crystal Bernard.

* "Christmas with the Kranks" FX, Dec. 4, 9 p.m.; Dec. 5, 7 p.m. The 2004 film stars Tim Allen and Jamie Curtis as a couple who want to skip the holiday.

* "Meet the Santas," Hallmark, Dec. 4, 10 p.m. is the 2005 sequel to "Single Santa" with Steve Guttenberg and Crystal Bernard reprising their roles.

* "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas," ABC Family, 7 a.m. Three holiday cartoons starring the usual gang.

* "White Christmas," AMC, Dec. 5, 8 p.m. The 1954 film featuring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

* "The Santa Claus 2," Disney, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. The sequel in the series starring Tim Allen as Santa.

* "A Christmas Proposal," Lifetime, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. Nicole Eggert tries to save land from demolition in 2008 movie.

* "The Christmas Card," Hallmark, Dec. 6, 10 p.m. Schmaltzy 2006 film about soldier receiving a holiday card.

* "Unaccompanied Minors," ABC Family, Dec. 7, 8 p.m.; Dec. 11, 10 p.m. Basic cable premiere of 2006 movie about kids being snowed in at an airport on Christmas Eve. With Lewis Black and Wilmer Valderrama.

* "Holiday in Handcuffs," ABC Family, Dec. 10, 8 p.m. Replay of the 2007 romantic comedy with Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez.

* "It's a Wonderful Life," NBC, Dec. 12, 8 p.m. The Jimmy Stewart classic.

* "The Christmas Shoes," Lifetime Movie Network, Dec. 13, 4 p.m. Rob Lowe stars in 2002 adaptation of Donna VanLiere novel.

* "The Christmas Blessing," Lifetime Movie Network, Dec. 13, 6 p.m. Neil Patrick Harris stars in 2005 film, with Rebecca Gayheart.

 

Not Christmas

 

* "An American Carol," Showtime, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. is actually that leadfooted parody of Michael Moore.

 

Not the Holidays

 

* "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," CBS, Dec. 1, 10 p.m.). Black Eyed Peas perform in the Heidi Klum-hosted lingerie fest.

* "Grammy Nominations Concert Live!" CBS, Dec. 2, 9 p.m. L.L. Cool J hosts the second annual event where nominees are announced, presumably by many of the acts that will receive them.

* "Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live," Fox, Dec. 15, 9 p.m. The foul-mouthed chef acts nice as he tries to guide an audience how to prepare a three course meal live in an hour.

Edited December 1, 2009 by posty

[Skippy]

Where the hell is "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"?