TBS and TNT Holiday Programming 2025

TBS TNT Christmas New Year 

        TBS' All I Want for Christmas and TNT's Christmas Maximus programming starts Sunday, November 9.   TBS and TNT will have 24 hour marathons of "Elf" , "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" , and  a " Christmas Story".   TNT will be airing the broadcast premiere  of "Candy Cane  Lane" on November 16.  "Shrek the Halls" comes on December 16.  "Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas"  is part of the line as always. 

            Here's a full list and air dates/times of the programming. 

A Christmas Story 

on TNT 

     

•   Friday December 19 at  4:45pnET/1:45pt 
• Saturday, December 20 at 12:30pm ET/ 9:30am PT
• 24 hour marathon airs December 24 at 9pm ET to December 25 at 9pm ET

On TBS

•     Sunday, December 14 at 10:30am and 11pm ET 
• 24 hour marathon airs December 24 at 8pm to December at 8pm ET 

A Christmas Story Christmas 

on TNT 

• Friday, December 19 at 6:45pm/3:45pt 

on TBS 

• Sunday, December 14 at 12:30pm and 1am ET 
• Thursday, December 25 at 8pm and 12:45am ET/PT

A Christmas Carol (1999)

on TNT 

• Friday, December 19 at 12am ET/ 9pm PT

on TBS 

•      Sunday, December 14 at 3:15am ET/PT 

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) 

on TNT 

• Monday, November 10 at 7:30pm ET/PT
• Friday, November 21 at 7:30pm ET/PT 
• Sunday November 23 at 11am and 10:30pm ET/PT
• Sunday, December 20 at 12pm ET/ 9am PT

on TBS 

• Saturday, November 15 at 11:30am ET/PT 
• Sunday, November 23 at 6:30pm ET/PT 
• Saturday, December 13 at 4pm ET/PT 
• Sunday, December 14 at 10am and 10:30pm ET/PT 
• Sunday, December 21 at 7:30pm and 10:30pm ET/PT 

Full details in press release after the jump

Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas 2025

Freeform Christmas 

         Freeform's annual 25 Days of Christmas is back and ready to bring viewers 25 days of Christmas fun.  They'll continue to have "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" , "Frosty the Snowman",  "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" -which airs on Freeform in better quality than you'd find on sister network ABC,  and  "The Little Drummer Boy"  They are running the same favorites that have mostly been staples of the network for the past few years.  

         In terms of premieres to the network, there's the 2005 film "The Legend of Frosty the Snowman" a special that is unrelated to the Rankin Bass specials but features the classic snowman in a town trying to fix things for kids. It previously aired on AMC, and will air 4 times in December. Freeform has been airing the 1994 version of Miracle on 34th Street and has now added the 1947, or the original movie to it's line up  , it will air once. AMC had been airing the movie. and I'm assuming that FX will be airing it this year as well. The 1994 version airs 6 times.   And finally, they'll be adding the new "Prep and Landing" special "Disney's "Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol"  which will also only air once. The special is on Disney Plus, and ran on Disney Channel first this year, and later ABC.  

         I will note that now, Freeform can stream the Frosty and Rudolph specials on things like Hulu Live TV and Sling TV, when they air live.  

 Here's the full line up all times ET/PT 

Monday, December 1

7:00 AM Richie's Rich Christmas Wish
10:30 AM Cricket on the Hearth
11:30 AM The Santa Clause
1:35 PM The Santa Clause 2
4:00 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
6:00 PM Home Alone
8:25 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:00 AM Jingle all the Way


Tuesday, December 2

7:00 AM I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
10:30 AM Love Actually
1:35 PM Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
3:10 PM Home Alone
5:40 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
8:20 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12:00 AM Jingle All the Way 2


Wednesday, December 3

7:00 AM Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve
10:30 AM The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular (2025)
12:30 PM The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (Freeform Premiere)
2:00 PM The Santa Clause
4:05 PM The Santa Clause 2
6:30 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
9:00 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol
12:00 AM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause


Thursday, December 4

7:00 AM Miracle on 34th Street (1947) (Freeform Premiere)
10:30 AM Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
12:00 PM Jingle All the Way
2:00 PM Jingle All the Way 2
4:00 PM Home Alone Freeform Pop'n Knowledge
6:25 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
9:00 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
12:00 AM Richie Rich's Christmas Wish


Friday, December 5

7:00 AM The Family Stone
9:30 AM I'll Be Home For Christmas (1998)
11:35 AM Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You
1:40 PM Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
3:10 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
5:10 PM The Santa Clause
7:20 PM The Santa Clause 2
9:50 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
11:55 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol


Saturday, December 6

7:00 AM The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
8:35 AM Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You
10:40 AM Arthur Christmas
12:45 PM Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
3:25 PM Home Alone
5:55 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
8:35 PM Frosty the Snowman
9:10 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
10:15 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
12:55 AM Santa Claus Is Coming to Town


Sunday, December 7

7:00 AM Arthur Christmas
9:05 AM Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
11:45 AM Disney's A Christmas Carol
1:50 PM Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
2:55 PM Frosty the Snowman
3:30 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
4:35 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
7:15 PM Home Alone
9:45 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:25 AM Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas


Monday, December 8

7:00 AM Home Alone 3
10:30 AM The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
11:05 AM Home Alone
1:35 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
4:15 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
6:55 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol
9:00 PM Dr Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
12:00 AM Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws


Tuesday, December 9

7:00 AM Snow
10:30 AM Cricket on the Hearth
11:35 AM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
2:15 PM Dr Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
4:15 PM The Santa Clause
6:25 PM The Santa Clause 2
8:55 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12:00 AM The Search for Santa Paws


Wednesday, December 10

7:00 AM Snow 2: Brain Freeze
10:30 AM Kung Fu Panda Holiday
11:00 AM Jingle All the Way
1:05 PM Jingle All the Way 2
3:10 PM Home Alone
5:40 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
8:20 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12:00 AM Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups


Thursday, December 11

7:00 AM Santa's Little Helper (2015)
10:30 AM The Family Man (2000)
1:25 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol
3:25 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
6:00 PM Frozen (Disney Animation)
8:25 PM Frozen II (Disney Animation)
10:30 PM Olaf's Frozen Adventure (Disney Animation)
12:00 AM Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
1:30 AM The Little Drummer Boy (1968)


Friday, December 12

7:00 AM Home Alone 3
9:00 AM Home Alone
11:25 AM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
2:00 PM Home Alone
4:25 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
7:00 PM Home Alone Freeform Pop'n Knowledge
9:25 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:00 AM Home Alone 3


Saturday, December 13

7:00 AM Merry Madagascar
7:30 AM Kung Fu Panda Holiday
8:00 AM Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws
10:05 AM The Search for Santa Paws
12:10 PM Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
2:10 PM Disney's Prep & Landing
2:40 PM Disney's Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol (Freeform Premiere)
3:15 PM Toy Story (Disney-Pixar)
5:15 PM Toy Story 2 (Disney-Pixar)
7:20 PM Toy Story 3 (Disney-Pixar)
9:50 PM Toy Story 4 (Disney-Pixar)
12:00 AM Toy Story That Time Forgot (Disney-Pixar)
12:30 AM The Legend of Frosty the Snowman


Sunday, December 14

7:00 AM The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
8:30 AM Home Alone
10:55 AM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
1:30 PM Arthur Christmas
3:30 PM Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
5:10 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol
7:15 PM The Santa Clause
9:25 PM The Santa Clause 2
11:55 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause


Monday, December 15

7:00 AM Jingle All the Way
10:30 AM Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
1:05 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol
3:10 PM Home Alone
5:40 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
8:20 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12:00 AM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)


Tuesday, December 16

7:00 AM Jingle All the Way 2
10:30 AM Kung Fu Panda Holiday
11:05 AM Arthur Christmas
1:10 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
3:50 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
5:50 PM Home Alone Freeform Pop'n Knowledge
8:20 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:00 AM Santa's Little Helper (2015)


Wednesday, December 17

7:00 AM Arthur Christmas
10:30 AM Merry Madagascar
11:00 AM The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
11:30 AM Home Alone
1:55 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
4:25 PM The Santa Clause
6:30 PM The Santa Clause 2
8:55 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12:00 AM Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You


Thursday, December 18

7:00 AM Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You
10:30 AM The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
11:00 AM Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
1:30 PM The Santa Clause
3:40 PM The Santa Clause 2
6:10 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
8:15 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
9:20 PM Frosty the Snowman
9:55 PM Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
12:00 AM Home Alone 3


Friday, December 19

7:00 AM Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
8:30 AM Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws
10:30 AM The Search of Santa Paws
12:30 PM Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
2:30 PM Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
3:35 PM Frosty the Snowman
4:10 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
5:15 PM Home Alone
7:45 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
10:25 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
12:25 AM Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas


Saturday, December 20

7:00 AM Cricket on the Hearth
8:00 AM Arthur Christmas
10:00 AM Disney's A Christmas Carol
12:05 PM The Santa Clause
2:10 PM The Santa Clause 2
4:40 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
6:45 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
8:45 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
11:25 PM Miracle on 34th Street (1994)


Sunday, December 21

7:00 AM Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
9:30 AM Jingle All the Way
11:30 AM Jingle All the Way 2
1:30 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
4:05 PM Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
5:10 PM Frosty the Snowman
5:45 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6:50 PM Home Alone
9:20 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:00 AM Home Alone 3


Monday, December 22

7:00 AM Kung Fu Panda Holiday
7:30 AM Home Alone
9:55 AM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:30 PM Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
1:35 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
2:40 PM Frosty the Snowman
3:15 PM The Santa Clause
5:20 PM The Santa Clause 2
7:50 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
9:55 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
11:55 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol


Tuesday, December 23

7:00 AM Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
8:30 AM Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
10:00 AM Frozen (Disney Animation)
12:25 PM Frozen II (Disney Animation)
2:30 PM Olaf's Frozen Adventure (Disney Animation)
3:00 PM Disney's A Christmas Carol
5:05 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
7:45 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
9:45 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
12:25 AM Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas


Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve

7:00 AM Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
10:30 AM Disney's Prep & Landing
11:00 AM The Santa Clause
1:05 PM The Santa Clause 2
3:30 PM The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
5:35 PM Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
8:15 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
9:20 PM Frosty the Snowman
9:55 PM Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
12:00 AM I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)


Thursday, December 25 Christmas Day

7:00 AM Disney's A Christmas Carol
10:30 AM The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
11:00 AM Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
12:00 PM Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (2025)
2:00 PM Toy Story That Time Forgot (Disney-Pixar)
2:30 PM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
4:30 PM Frosty the Snowman
5:00 PM Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6:00 PM Home Alone
8:25 PM Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
12:00 AM Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)

Full Press release after the jump

ABC Holiday Programming 2025

ABC Christmas  New Year Holiday 

         ABC is ready for the end of the year with their Christmas and New Year programming.  ABC will airing returning favorites and the NBA on Christmas Day.  ABC also has a new installment to their "Prep and Landing" specials with "Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol".    

Here's there full line up , kicking off with a Thanksgiving night airing of "Mary Poppins".   all times are ET/PT, unless otherwise noted. 

 Thursday, November 27

8-11pm   The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Mary Poppins 

Sunday, November 30 

8:01-8:30pm  Disney Prep & Landing 

8:30-9pm  Disney Prep & Landing : Naughty vs. Nice 

9-9:30pm  Disney Prep & Landing : The Snowball Protocol 

9:31-10pm Olaf's Frozen Adventure 

10-11pm  Santa Claus is Comin' to Town 

Monday, December 1 

8-10pm The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular 

Tuesday, December 2 

8-9:01pm Dancing the the Holidays 

9:01-10:02pm CMA Country Christmas 

10:02-11pm  What Would You Do? Holiday Edition 

Thursday, December 4 

8-9pm   Celebrity Family Feud: The Housemaid vs. the Housewives All Stars Holiday Special 

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight : The Holiday Express (Season Premiere) 

10-11pm The Great Christmas Light Fight : Santa's Making his List (new episode) 

Sunday December 7 

7-8:01pm  America's Funniest Home Videos: Holiday Hoots, Santa Shenanigans and Festive Funnies

9-11pm he Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Santa Clause 

Tuesday, December 9 

8-10pm Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas 

Wednesday, December 10

8-8:30pm Shifting Gears (midseason finale) 

8:30-9:02pm Abbot Elementary  (midseason finale) 

9:02-10:02pm Shark Tank 

Thursday, December 11

8-9pm Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight : Christmas Vacation (new episode) 

10-11pm  The Great Christmas Light Fight : Holiday Igoomination 

Wednesday, December 17 

8-10pm iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025 

Thursday, December 18 

9-10pm  The Great Christmas Light Fight (new episode) 

10-11pm  The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Finale) 

Sunday , December 21 

7-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “The Sound of Music”

Wednesday, December 24

8-10:30pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Home Alone” 

Thursday, December 25 

10am ET/ 9am CT/ 5am MT/ 5am PT - 40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day  Parade 

12PM/9PT  NBA Christmas Special : Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks

2:30pm/11:30pt  San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder

5PM /2pt Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors

7:30pm Inside the NBA 

8pm  Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers.

10:30pm ET Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets.

Wednesday, December 31 

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025

Thursday, January 1 

8-11pm  2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Full press release after the jump 

NBC announces Holiday programming for 2025

NBC  Thanksgiving  Christmas New Year 

              It's almost Thanksgiving and Christmas and NBC is back with their holiday programming. NBC has returning staples of the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" , "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" , "Frosty the Snowman" , "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" , and more. 

        

          Here's the full list of programming details, all times are ET/PT, unless otherwise noted. 

Thursday, November 6 

8-10pm  Wicked :One Wonderful Night 

Wednesday, November 26

8pm Countdown to the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

9-11pm A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving 

Thursday, November 27

8:30-12pm  99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Encore at 2pm) 

12-2PM   National Dog Show 

Wednesday, December 3

8-10pm Christmas in Rockefeller Center 

10-11pm Christmas in Nashville 

Thursday, December 4 

8-8:30pm How The Grinch Stole Christmas 

8:30-9pm Frosty the Snowman 

Friday, December 5, 

8-9:15pm  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 

Monday, December 8

10-11pm  Password Holiday Special 

Tuesday, December 9

8pm  Frosty the Snowman 

8:30pm Shrek the Halls

9-11pm A Motown Christmas 

December 11

8pm Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

9:15pm NBC 2025 Year in Review by Access Hollywood 

December 17

8-8:30pm Shrek the Halls

9-10pm  Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular 

10-11pm  NBC 2025 Year in Review by Access Hollywood 

December 18 

8pm Password Holiday Special 

9pm A Saturday Night Live Christmas 

December 22 

9pm A Saturday Night Live Christmas 

December 24 

8-11pm It's a Wonderful Life

11:30-1am  Christmas Eve Mass

December 25 

8pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas 

8:30-11pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas

January 1 

11-1pm/ 8-10am PT  Rose Parade Presented by Honda 

More after the Jump

The CW'S Holiday Programming 2025

The CW     Thanksgiving   Christmas Holidays 

    

          The CW is  ready for the holidays with a slate of holiday movies and specials.  There's their annual broadcast of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer",  their Waltons specials and the Christmas parade. Also of note, the network will be airing Yogi's First Christmas.  Here's a full detailed look at their line up, all times are ET/PT/Denver Saint Louis.   

Saturday, November 22

8-10pm  A Waltons Thanksgiving 

Friday, November 28 

8-9pm Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer 

9-10pm A Totally Funny Animals Holiday

Thursday, December 4

8-10pm   Best Christmas Movies Ever! 

Monday, December 8 

8-10pm  The Waltons' Homecoming 

Wednesday, December 10 

8-9pm Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer

9-10pm Penn & Teller: Merry Fool US

Thursday, December 11

8-10pm Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors

Friday, December 12 

8-10pm  The 93rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade 

Monday, December 15

8-10pm A California Christmas 

Wednesday, December 17

9-10pm Best Christmas Movies Ever! 

Friday, December 19 

8-10pm Yogi's First Christmas 

Monday, December 22 

8-10pm A California Christmas  :City Lights 

Friday, December 26

8-9pm PopStar! Best of 2025 

Full Press Release after the Jump 

CBS Announces Holiday Programming

CBS   Holidays Thanksgiving  Christmas 

        CBS has released its holiday programming line up for the season of 2025.  This includes special episodes in primetime and daytime, specials,  and more.  

         "Ghosts" gets a special Thanksgiving based episode on November 20.  "Everybody Loves Raymond" celebrates its 30th anniversary with a reunion special on November 24.   

         "Paw Patrol" Christmas special will air November 28,  and Reindeer in Here will air on December 6. 

         Here's the full line up  all times ET/PT unless otherwise noted,  and subject to change. 

    

        Thursday, November 20 

      8:30pm  Ghosts-  New Thanksgiving episode 

        Monday, November 24 

       8pm  Everybody Loves Raymond : 30th Anniversary Reunion 

        Wednesday, November 26 

        Daytime : The Prices Right Thanksgiving 

        Daytime: The Bold and the Beautiful 

        Friday, November 28 

       8pm  Paw Patrol Christmas 

        Saturday, December 6 

         8pm Reindeer in Here 

        Monday, December 8 

         8pm  The Neighborhood 

        8:30pm DMV 

        Thursday, December 11 

        9pm Matlock 

        

       Saturday, December 13

       8pm  Family, Film and TV Awards 

         Monday, December 15 

       8pm FBI 

         Tuesday, December 16

         8pm NCIS Tuesday 

        Thursday, December 18

        9pm  Ghosts 

        10pm  Elsbeth 

         Sunday, December 21 

        8:30-9:30pm ET/ 8-9pm PT  Hollywood Squares 

        December 22-24 

      Daytime: Let's Make a Deal

      Daytime: The Price is Right 

      Tuesday, December 23 

         8pm Kennedy Center Honors 

          December 24 and December 30 

         Daytime: Beyond the Gates

        Friday, December 26 

        8pm  A Grammy (R) Celebration of Latin Music 

        Wednesday, December 31

     8-10pm ET/PT and 10:30-1:30am ET/PT New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash 

      

    Full Press Release after the Jump 

Christmas: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas

      In the grab bag, let's see what we have this time, hmm a Hallmark Channel movie.  Hmm interesting.  Hallmark Channel Christmas movies and their movies, in general, seem to be their own genre in a way.  Even the network itself has tried ideas to break away and do slightly different ideas, but also they know what the people come to watch.  

             This movie The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is from 2008, it's an older Hallmark Channel  movie that the network still seems to run. The network seems to bump movies that are older down to their other channels or streaming thing.  They tend to go rampant hard with Christmas and introduce a lot of new movies a season.   It is interesting that this one still gets repeats on the main channel. I'm not a big Hallmark Channel movie viewer, if anything I watch the channel for their sitcom reruns, but I do like this one. 

         The movie is simple and seems to set up things that became Hallmark Channel uh hallmarks in their movies later on.  The best thing about this movie is Henry Winkler.  Winkler plays Uncle Ralph, the protagonist woman's uncle.  He a retired police officer who coming to visit his niece, Jennifer, for Christmas. Ralph -and his wife- essentially raised her. He brings a quirky and loveable charm to the movie and makes it a fun trip. 

             The movie starts with Jennifer Cullen (Jen) played by Brooke Burns. She is a single mother with a son named Brian. She is single, because plot reasons, but she does have a boyfriend whom umm... also plot reasons.  Her son wants a bike called a rocket wheel.  Also boys at school had Brian think Santa isn't real because that also happens in Christmas movies.  Jen is a business woman who does business-y business stuff.  She also isn't big into Christmas anymore. 

Son, for Christmas, do you want a less boring room? / Copyright Hallmark Channel

             We finally see Ralph, our hero. Picking Henry Winkler for this role was great and glad they chose him and he said yes and we have this existing.  We see him leave  a bar a mugger wants to mug him.  Ralph decides that there's going to be need for an ambulance call, not for him, but the mugger. If had put Ralph in Home Alone Marv and Harry would be dead.  This is a fun start for a movie about Christmas. 

Took him down hard/ Copyright Hallmark Channel 

            Jen finds out that thing her son wants for Christmas is also very hard to get. I am also concerned that a Chicago newspaper's top story is about a toy.  Jen's mother isn't coming over for Christmas because Hallmark didn't get an actress for her.  (sure) Jen is bothered because she can't make turkey and Christmas dinner, she's trying to impress her boyfriend's parent. The boyfriend is named Richard. ( A bit on the nose, movie) I'm going to like spoil things in this, so this how these posts go.  Richard plays the role of the boyfriend that will not be one at the end.  He's not too bad as a character, he's not evil or over the top.  The characters in this do feel like people, maybe a little different too many others you'd meet since they are more business-y business people, minus uncle Ralph and the kid. He also doesn't seem to like Ralph. (He must have been mad how Happy Days changed later on)   

They created the most stiff guy they could/ Copyright Hallmark Channel 

             There's a neighbor woman who wants Jen to put up her Christmas lights and what kind and how, because reasons. Jen thinks about running her over with her car. (that would be a different movie)  She goes to a toy store. She wants to buy the rocket wheel bike in the window the guy uses to bait and switch and she makes a deal.   

             Ralph is taking an airplane and a man named Morgan Derby helps him. Morgan is played by Warren Christie. Ralph takes an instant comradery with the man.  He gets them both on the plane quickly and first class. (Henry Winkler should always get free flights)   Ralph and Morgan getting along on the plane is good and again I like how they mesh. Morgan is also a more a free spirit but not over the top and strange.  Ralph doesn't like her boyfriend either, he doesn't trust people with 800 dollar shoes. 

So, do you know Laverne and Shirley? / Copyright Hallmark Channel 

             There's a strange running gag in this movie of the wreath being too big and falling off the front door and Jen going it's not too big. I'm sure someone thought that was funny.  Morgan can't go to Denver because flights are canceled (typical) and he is able to somehow bump into Jen and Brian and creeps them out by knowing their names and what they look like.  Ralph asks Jen if Morgan can stay the night. She, of course, is against the idea but he wears her down.  Also saying that Morgan is a chef might be of help. 

more after the jump

Christmas: The Simpsons: Marge Be Not Proud

The Simpsons  Christmas 

          The Simpsons is known for starting off its series run with a Christmas episode , but it didn't do A Christmas episode every season. It's probably for the best to have your series have one big Christmas episode that will be memorable and playable every year. But, eventually, they did take another crack at the holiday being shown for a plot.  The very next time was in Season 7 with "Marge Be Not Proud".

            This episode aired December 17, 1995 which is 6 years to the date of them airing the first episode. Both days were Sundays. It's fitting in a way for them to do this.  

 

              The Krusty special in the beginning is funny in how it both homages the classic Christmas specials like with Bing Crosby would do, but also go off the rails because it's Krusty the Clown. It also is  a good way to bring in something during the commercial break  Bart sees the commercial for a video game for video game Bone Storm. He wants his parents to get it for him. Also Marge saying the game costs $70 which is funny that the price of average video game now $70 so why don't Simpsons predict the future didn't run with this?  

Storm of Bones? Copyright Fox 

            The thing that this episode is really about is Bart and Marge. It was a rarer pairing for this show to take at the time, where most Bart and parent stuff was Bart and Homer.  Bart doesn't like that his mom baby's him , he doesn't want her to tuck him in and sing to him a good night song. It will play well when things get switched up later. 

            Millhouse is funny for refusing Bart a spot to play the game and that he would call his mom just to get rid of him. It plays well into how kids are and yeah I think Bart would have done the same if he was the one with the game.  I love the added sauce of Bart doing minor swears when he was trying to tell Millhouse's mom that he wasn't swearing. This episode really adds in a lot of little things that add to it. 

           Bart goes to the store and he sees some kid who can his mom names and can get the get the game. He sees Nelson and Jimbo who are shoplifting.  The Simpsons acknowledging they are cartoons with 4 fingers is funny.  Bart struggles but with the encouragement of video game characters he decides to steal the game. He forgot he's not a minor character so... uh oh and gets caught by security.  

Bart has gone down/ Copyright Fox 

              Security guy Don Brodka is an interesting character. I like how he looks with his Marine tattoo and clinched cigarette. He shows Bart a shoplifting is bad video but hates it and stops it.  This is a man who loves his job and shows it well. He calls Bart's parents but does it so well to convince Bart he called them live, but only left a voicemail. Lawrence Tierney really plays this role well. He tells Bart a parting  line that if he sees him in that store again- it's over. 

                There's not a lot of Homer in this episode. He takes a back seat to Bart who takes over Act 1 and Marge who will be part Act 2 a lot more. Both of those in Act 3 with Bart getting a little more. He does get some funny moments though. I like his reaction to Bart saying "Go to Hell" and he just says "There's a little thing called please" and his listening to the tape that Bart swapped out for the answering machine and asking Marge if Lisa went to camp Granada was funny.  

            Uh oh guess where Marge wants to have the family picture taken?  He tries to figure out away to make sure that Brodka can't figure it's him. There's a painfulness to wondering to see what happens and does Bart get away with it. Lisa, like Homer, doesn't get much to do this episode. Her moments she does get range from funny to a little charming.  Bart does get found. 

             Marge, because of Bart being able to make sure she and Homer didn't get the voicemail, goes up to bat for Bart and it's sweet that she does. That is until the guy shows her the tape and Bart tries to make her not see it but we get a multiple TV frame instead. 

Woah I don't have time for Home Alone! / Copyright Fox

            This is where the episode changes tone a little.  You can kind of tell Marge feels broken and not happy.  She skips him for the good night song and tuck in and just says good night and closes his door. She tells Homer maybe she mothers him too much.  It's a flip in where Bart feels bad at not having his mother's attention and even ends up hanging out with Millhouse's mom because he misses it.  The episode does this in balance where it doesn't seem that Marge has pushed Bart away it's more she feels that maybe he needs his space and her mothering was bugging him and he realizes that maybe he kind of likes some of it still and doesn't want her to totally detach from him.  

             Bart comes home and looks like he shoplifted, episode has us going in that first half there. But he ended up buying her a gift.  She lets him open a gift early and it's kind of sweet that she got him a video game. It was the wrong one, but done in earnest.  

           I think the episode is fairly good. It stays towards "The Simpsons" tone without getting syrupy or sappy to the point it feels like you'd be watching an episode of "Full House" on Christmas where Stephanie stole something and everyone is concerned she might end up becoming a future murderer.  It does a story that  many can fit with. At some point, a kid feels like they are too old for their parents to be so parental, but then sometimes might miss something that their parent did they weren't expecting to miss if it didn't happen. 

    

            Something that can be noticed in this episode is how Christmas is more the background and not the main plot.  The Christmas special  Bart watches gives the catalyst to him seeing the ad for the video game but that could have really been anything.  If anything, Christmas comes into play really into Bart using his money to buy Marge the gift photo. But Christmas is lightly sprinkled into the episode. It's not a bad thing, I like how it works here for a balance of the story not having to try and force itself around Christmas but still fit the Christmas spirit.  

        A lot of fun of the episode is the Simpsons charm and hallmarks.  It makes you feel for Bart and Marge in what's going on in the episode.  It knows how to keep the beats of funny going as well as sprinkling in the heart.  It's a good one , there's a reason why this one is liked. 

         That's it for now, tune in next time when we stop this shoplifter and force him to write a post.  

                 

        

Christmas: Noël (The Christmas Ornament Special)

Christmas 

            I've decided to dip into something that's a little more obscure and weird for Christmas.   This special has a Rankin-Bass connection, but wasn't created by them , instead it involves Romeo Muller. If you watched a Rankin-Bass special like "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" you would have seen the name Romeo Muller. He had found ways to take really short things like  Christmas songs to make full special stories about them.  He also told a story every year on radio station WGHQ  and that story is the basis of this special.  I also have to mention that Muller died at the end of December 1992. 

            Noël first aired on December 4, 1992 on NBC, the same night as they aired "Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas" what an odd night. This special has fallen out of play , I think the last US airing was on Fox Family in like 2000 (that channel is now known as Freeform).  It's not highly remembered and their might be some reasons for that.   

        

          The narrator of this is Charlton Heston with his distinct voice giving a sense of seriousness to a special where there's talking Christmas ornaments and the words "people things".  The main story is there is a glass blower who was blowing glass (as one does) to make ornaments back in the time when ornaments weren't heavily factory produced in some factory in another country.  His name is Herman, he gets a name but isn't going to be here that long. Anyway, he's really happy because he got news that his daughter has given birth to a girl and he's really happy and his tear of joy ends up going into an ornament. 

I'm a little too happy 

           Noel is our main character and one of those round ornaments, the simple ones, and is red.  Because he is filled with the happiness tear he's filled with "a happiness" as it's said.   There's another ornament named Miss Freezenda, she seems to be filled with not happiness. I don't even know why she's mad or grumpy. It's also funny that she thinks she's upper class and will be sold , with Noel and 10 other ornaments, for cheap.  The other ornaments don't seem to have names. It's an odd set with 12 different types of ornaments. 

                 Some woman buys the ornament set for her family and there's a girl that seems to know Noël's main character energy and likes him best to kiss him.  I'm also a little confused on how the other ornaments know more about things than Noël ,like did Noël  miss a meeting or something?  Also interesting they say people-things to mean humans but then call children, children-things, I guess children aren't people to them. This says the word 'thing' a lot to the point it won't be word anymore. 

            Noël  meets the Christmas tree named Brutus.  (Brutus? Noo Noël  watch out!) Brutus doesn't seem to be bothered by Noël  questions. The tree also has accepted his fate that he was born to be cut down and decorated for Christmas. Ahhh talking train with a face!  There's also a little nativity under the tree that's only explained as that's what Christmas is all about.  I like how the tree knows about Christmas stuff but only as far as a few things but doesn't know much about the Christmas story. 

This is what Christmas is about. What? Umm we won't tell you. 

            It kind of goes out of its way to explain Christmas Eve night and things (oops) to a point where it feels like this story probably wasn't meant to be 22 minutes long.  Noël's happiness also seems to give him the power to feel things that only people, animals, and some trees can.  This lore is something.  

             It runs through the days between Christmas and New Year then the worst day of the year -January 2nd- shows up and everything is taken down. Also Brutus gets dragged out to die. Then it speed runs a year, and eventually allows Christmas to return again.  Noël  is happy, the little girl kiss him again and it lots of repeating. New Christmas tree, though.  (yay) 

She senses the happiness 

            Then Christmas is over again.  Fine alright. Then the specials this happens for years and years. It even mentions that the kids grew up, also mentioning World War II, like the boy was in World War II.  Everything else. Then, it's decided by the now old parents that Christmas won't be happening at their house.  Noël  has gone in a deep sleep, while the parents died.  Good work this bleak, let's go. 

         Finally, a 90's family shows up and has bought the house.  The new mom finds the ornaments in the attic and is like these are all chipped and old compared to their new plastic ones. The new mom only finds Noël usable. Also, this time a boy for some reason kisses Noël . I don't know why children want to kiss him. Noël  is by himself and the new tree talks to him. Anyway, Noël  dies.  That's right his clip breaks because of age and he falls, breaks and dies. But guess what? Apparently that happiness is his soul and he can finally see the nativity. Now Noël  can spread his happiness around the world or something. That was an ending. 

        

             

Great he thinks he's a god now! 

                 The ending is very much closely aligned with the concept of death being a leaving of your cold glass body but your soul is free. Noël's happiness is explained as his real essence. Does leave some questions open for why the other ornaments are alive and if they die do they cease completely?  Oddly it also just goes and shows a nativity and says that's what Christmas is about but doesn't say what they mean. I know what they mean, but it's more like they are going "If you know, you know" sort of thing.  Should have just said what it out loud special, don't be cowards! 

           I'm surprised that the guy who found ways to make very simple stories that were songs and make them into 25 minute or 47 minute specials had a special that really feels like it shouldn't be 22 minutes. There's lot of padding. It goes through how Christmas goes like it's a new unexplored concept then runs through a lot of years in details. There's also not a lot that happens here. It's mostly just Noël  asking questions and some other ornaments whining. Then Christmas stuff, then being sent to the attic, then repeat, random kissing, a mention of war and death, then finally one last time and Noël  falls and is now just a spirit. It feels like they were going for an allegory but also showing the spirit of joy is inside and we should spread it around.    This special might work for younger kids more than any older people.  

            That's it for now, tune in next time when we question what the ornaments thing about us. 

              

           

              

Christmas: Alf's Somehow Depressing Christmas

Christmas 

            Alf , the TV series, that is to separate from the character known as Alf whose name is Gordon Shumway in the series of Alf, is a strange sitcom.  The series concept is of course, a silly alien whose planet has blown up crash lands into Earth at a family's home and their whole world is turned upside and antics ensue. 

            Most episodes of the hit NBC series are like "We have to make the neighbors don't see Alf, except for their nephew because we need a few people to know about him."  Basically, you know what kind of things to expect. Alf breaks things and bothers the family but they love him or accept him-for some reason.  This is the biggest puppet TV show that has nothing to do with Jim Henson.   I was watching the reruns and forgot something and that means I forgot something about this show kind of blanked until it aired again.  The Christmas 2-part episode is depressing.  

              This season 2 two-parter comes after an episode where Kate Tanner is having dreams that Alf has become president and getting woke up every time and seeing Alf doing something goofy. The episode after this has Alf befriending the neighbors' nephew who moved in and breaking stuff at the same time. 

         Welcome to our second time talking about Alf, and this time the series proper from season 2, episodes 12 and 13 it's "Alf's Special Christmas". 

                The episode does give a different intro, no theme song just the family in a car while Alf sings over 80 ways to cook cats. If you don't know that's his thing.   That actually feels like a normal episode, it lulls its prey into a trap. The Tanner family make it to an old cabin where they will be spending Christmas.  Willie Tanner is very nostalgic for this place, he spent a Christmas there.  Apparently, the cabin gives him warm comfort of the best Christmas he ever had.  That Christmas was one where his family lost their house because his father lost his job. The man who owns this cabin named Mr. Foley, remember him for later, brought them in and let them stay.   I don't think that's the best Christmas, Willie, like yeah I can understand the warmth and understanding the love of family and stuff, but none with your wife and kids are in that list or something?  

Being Homeless and staying in this cabin is better than being around Alf/ Copyright ALF 

            Alf, being Alf, messed with the presents because of course he does.  Did they explain Christmas to him in advance?   I'm actually surprised they didn't do a plot where Alf has to learn the true meaning of Christmas after he was presents greedy.   

             Mr. Foley shows up (played by Cleavon Little)  he's on his way to take us to the plot, I mean he's taking toys to the hospital for sick children.  Willie explains that Mr. F goes out and repairs toys for sick kids.  Mr. Foley is asked about how is wife is doing and well's she not doing that well, she died.  He said that she died two weeks prior.  (This is actually only the 2nd depressing thing about this episode)  Anyway, Alf had snuck in the back of Foley's truck and now he's on the way to the hospital. Foley is dressed like Santa and Alf is pretending to be a stuffed toy riding in the cart.

Get your Alf Toy! Real sized only $99.99 plus shipping / Copyright Alf 

          Well that's nice a guy helping some sick kids in a hospital, hopefully there's no problems... they will just recover and go home, yep.  Anyway Foley, helps take the Alf "toy" to the hospital room of a girl who thought Alf was cute.  The funniest part of this is we see Alf having to be still and not talk for a very long time.  The girl names Alf, Amanda, and talks to him like a doll, her name is Tiffany. 

Not coming this fall: Alf and Tiffany/ Copyright Alf

                Also, the episode went pretty long where Tiffany has to carry on talking by herself, that's until Alf draws a line a her putting earrings on him.  Tiffany's reaction is stunned and surprise and not AAAAAAH AHHHHHHH AHHHHHH. He has to tell her that he's not a stuffed toy and needs to get home.  He has to explain to her why.  She lets him go back to "Santa".  

more after the jump

NBC Announces Holiday Programming 2024

NBC Thanksgiving Christmas New Year 

                    NBC is ready to round out the year with a bang.  NBC's Thanksgiving to New Year include the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, "Christmas at Rockefeller Center", "The National Dog Show" and "The Grinch" all return as NBC staples.  

           There are a couple new additions to the NBC line up. Leaving CBS, are two classic Rankin-Bass specials.  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"  returns to NBC after leaving the network after the 1971 year, where the special will be celebrating its 60th anniversary.  NBC will air the special on the anniversary date of it's premiere from 1964. On December 6 with a 75 minute broadcast.   Also joining the network for the first time also moving from CBS is "Frosty the Snowman" which turns 55 this year it will premiere on December 5.  

             NBC will also air the 1966 special "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" , "It's A wonderful Life"  and "Shrek the Halls".  Here's a full look at the NBC line up all times ET/PT unless otherwise noted.  (Subject to change) 

Tuesday, November 19 

10-11pm Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked

Wednesday, November 27

8-9pm Countdown to Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 

9-11pm A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving 

Thursday, November 28- Thanksgiving 

8:30-12pm  Macy's Thanksgiving Parade  (encore 2pm) 

12-2pm  National Dog Show 

Wednesday, December 4 

8-10pm  Christmas in Rockefeller Center 

10-11pm  Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular  

Thursday, December 5 

8-8:30pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas 

8:30-9pm  Frosty the Snowman 

Friday, December 6 

8-9:15pm  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Wednesday, December 11 

8-8:30pm Frosty the Snowman 

8:30-9pm Shrek the Halls

9-11pm  A Motown Christmas 

Thursday, December 12 

8-9:15pm Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

9:15-10pm E! News Presents NBC's Hot 10 of 2024 

Monday, December 16

8-10pm  Little Big Town's Christmas at the Opry 

Tuesday, December 17

 A Motown Christmas  (encore) 

Wednesday, December 18 

8-9pm  Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular  

9-11pm  A  Saturday Night Live Christmas 

Thursday, December 19 

8-9pm Little Big Town's Christmas at the Opry 

10-11PM Barry Manilow's A Very Barry Christmas 

Monday, December 23 

8-10pm  A  Saturday Night Live Christmas  

Tuesday, December 24- Christmas Eve 

8-11pm It's A Wonderful Life 

11:30pm-1am Christmas Eve Mass 

Wednesday, December 25- Christmas Day

8-8:30PM How the Grinch Stole Christmas  

8:30-11pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas 

Thursday, December 26 

9-11pm Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas 

Monday, January 1, 2025 

11-1pm ET/ 8-10am PT 135th Rose Parade 

Full Press Release after the Jump 

ABC Holiday programming 2024

ABC Christmas New Year 

            

        ABC is ready for the festive time  with a mixture of classics and new stuff.  ABC will present a new 1-hour Christmas episode "Abbott Elementary" , also movie presentations of "The Sound of Music" , "Home Alone" and "The Santa Clause". Holiday-themed episodes of game shows including "Press Your Luck " and "Celebrity Family Feud" and of "Shark Tank" make their way under ABC's tree of programming.   "The Great Christmas Light Fight" also returns. (Also renewed for season 13 in 2025). 

         ABC News will have a special for the 60th anniversary of "Mary Poppins" with the "Untold Story of Mary Poppins", and a presentation of "Mary Poppins" the next evening. 

         There are specials of "CMA Country Christmas" , "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular " , "The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade", "The iHeart Radio Jingle Ball", "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" and "Rock& Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony" that round out the line up. 

             ABC will air 13 hours of NBA basketball on Christmas Day. 

Here's the full line up all times ET/PT * Unless otherwise noted 

Wednesday, November 27 

9-11pm  The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20 

Thursday, November 28 

8-11pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Mary Poppins

Sunday, December 1 

7-8:01pm  AFV's Wreck the Halls: 35 Years of Holiday Hijinks 

8:01-10pm  The Wonderful World of Disney : Holiday Spectacular 

Monday, December 2 

8-9pm  Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 

9-10pm Press Your Luck 

Tuesday, December 3 

8-9pm  CMA Country Christmas 

9-10pm  Santa Claus is Comin' to Town 

Wednesday, December 4

8-8:31pm Abbott Elementary - Winter Show 

8:31-9:02pm  Abbott Elementary- Winter Break 

9:02-10:02pm  Celebrity Family Feud

Thursday, December 5 

8-9pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

Sunday, December 8 

8:31-11pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents : The Lion King (2019) 

Tuesday, December 10

8-8:30pm  Olaf's Frozen Adventure 

8:30-9pm  Toy Story That Time Forgot 

9-9:30pm Disney Prep & Landing

9:30-10pm Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice 

Thursday, December 12 

8-9pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight

Friday, December 13

8-9:01pm  Shark Tank 

Sunday, December 15 

7-11pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “The Sound of Music

Wednesday, December 18 

8-10pm  iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 

Thursday, December 19 

8-9pm The Great Christmas Light Fight  (season finale) 

9-10pm The Great Christmas Light Fight (season finale)

Saturday, December 22 

8-10pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Santa Clause 

Tuesday, December 24 

8-10pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Home Alone”

Wednesday, December 25 

10:00pm .-12:00pm ET / 9:00-11:00 am CT / 5:00-7:00 am MT/PT – “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”

12pm ET /9am PT :  NBA : Spurs vs Knicks 

2:30pmET/11:30am PT : Timberwolves at Mavericks 

5pm/2pt  76ers at Celtics 

7:30pm  NBA Countdown Presented by Papa Johns

8pm Lakers vs. Warriors 

10:30pm  Nuggets vs. Suns 

Thursday, December 26 

9-11pm The Year : 2024

Sunday, December 29

7-9pm The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Frozen"

9-11pm  The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Frozen II"

Tuesday, December 31 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025”

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 

8-11pm 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Full Press Release after the Jump