A holiday classic with class
Jimmy Stewart stars in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
By Kyla Brewer TV MediaThe holiday favorite that never fails to warm viewers’ hearts is back just in time for Christmas Eve.
Oscar winner Jimmy Stewart (“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” 1939) stars as George Bailey, a good man facing financial ruin in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” airing Tuesday, Dec. 24, on NBC. Directed by Frank Capra (“You Can’t Take It With You,” 1938), the film was re leased in 1946 and has since become a Yuletide classic.
George has given up many of his own dreams to help the people in his hometown of Bedford Falls, but when his uncle misplaces $8,000 from the family building and loan business, the situation looks bleak. As a distraught George contemplates suicide and wishes he was never born, God sends a bumbling guardian angelin-training named Clarence (Henry Travers, “Mrs. Miniver,” 1942) to help him through. Clarence — who hopes the assignment will fi nally earn him his wings — shows George what Bedford Falls would be like without him, and they visit the many people whose lives he
has touched throughout the years, including his wife, Mary (Donna Reed, “From Here to Eternity,” 1953).
Karolyn Grimes (“The Bishop’s Wife,” 1947), who played George and Mary’s daughter Zuzu, is one of the film’s few remaining living cast members. She’s famous for the memorable line: “Look daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” In a 2016 Vanity Fair article com-
movie was considered a financial flop at the time of its release. The tale behind the production is almost as interesting as the movie itself.
As the story goes, the movie was based on the short story “The Greatest Gift,” by author Philip Van Doren Stern. Capra bought the rights for $10,000, and it was the director’s first feature since making propaganda films during the war. It was also Stewart’s first since returning from his wartime
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A Little Late With Lilly Singh
foamite and sugar to create fake snow for the film.
When the film was released in December 1946, it garnered mixed reviews and failed to break even at the box office. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but only won for Shearman’s special effects. While it may not have been a complete bomb, as some suggest, it did lose the studio about a half a million dollars.
However, all was not lost for the film. In 1974, the rights to “It’s a Wonderful Life” were not renewed due to a clerical error, and since it was now free to do so, hundreds of TV stations aired the movie repeatedly throughout the 1980s, and millions of viewers became enamored with the holiday tale. Although rights have since been reclaimed, it continues to delight fans each Christmas, and is now widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made.
Stewart’s critically acclaimed performance as Bailey undoubtedly has a lot to do with the success of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and Hollywood legend Lionel Barrymore (“Key Largo,” 1948) is fantastic as the movie’s antagonist, the mean, rich, old Mr. Potter. Barrymore had worked with Capra before, as had H.B. Warner (“The King of Kings,” 1927), who played druggist Mr. Gower. Fans of Capra’s work may also recognize another familiar face, or beak, as it were. The raven in the building and loan scenes was Jimmy the Raven, who appeared in many of Capra’s films.
Fans of Stewart’s work may recognize Beulah Bondi, who played George’s mother, Mrs. Bailey. Bondi portrayed the mother of Stewart’s characters in four of the actor’s films, including “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939). Thomas Mitchell, who stars as George’s Uncle Billy in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” is also in that film.
Whether you’re celebrating a homey family Christmas with all of the trimmings or honoring the holiday in a more understated way, don’t miss the magic of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” airing Tuesday, Dec. 24, on NBC. And remember the wisdom of the film’s angel, Clarence, who sent George a card that read: “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”
Sometimes my fans can be nervous, and they say things they don’t necessarily mean. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve got, “Woah, you’re actually really pretty in real life” — it’s just like anytime I’m on a Tinder date!
I go back and forth on artificial intelligence. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad. It’s like taking shots. The next day you realize it was a mistake, but the night of you’re like, “I’m going to live forever!”
The one reason I love Thanksgiving is it brings the whole family together. And the one reason I hate Thanksgiving is because it brings the whole family together.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Trump had his annual physical. There was an awkward moment when the nurse told Trump, “Mr. President, the open part of the robe should be in the back.”
Victoria’s Secret has officially canceled their Fashion Show. Or, as one guy put it, “Oh my God, this week CAN get worse!”
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but impeachment is still the big story. So big, in fact, that this year at the parade, the transcript of Trump’s Ukraine call is going to be one of the balloons.
This year the two turkeys up for pardon were called Bread and Butter. Butter got the official pardon moment. Only one thing: Bread won the White House Twitter poll by 12 points. I’m surprised Bread won the popular vote — I can’t believe it’s not Butter!
According to the TSA, you can bring your Thanksgiving turkey on an airplane. As for other Thanksgiving food, pies or cookies are allowed right in your carry-on, gravy or cranberry sauce can go in your checked luggage and corn pudding can go directly to hell!
5 Addis Ababa’s land: Abbr. 6 Butler of fiction
7 Ascend Mount Everest
8 One of Ned Flanders’ two sons 9 Down under currency: Abbv. 10 “Star Trek” and “The Big Bang Theory” actor Wheaton 11 Comics legend Stan 17 ___ tai (drink) 19 States of
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX “Lost in Space” Season 2
The Robinson family returns as Season 2 of Netflix’s reboot of the popular 1960s sci-fi series premieres Tuesday, Dec. 24. True to the original series, “Lost in Space” follows the Robinson family, astronauts who have become lost after their colony ship is attacked. Toby Stephens (“Black Sails”) and Molly Parker (“House of Cards”) lead the cast as father and former Navy SEAL John and mother and engineer Maureen, respectively. The parents are joined by their three children: Judy (Taylor Russell, “Escape Room,” 2019), Penny (Mina Sundwall, “Freeheld,” 2015) and Will (Maxwell Jenkins, “Betrayal”). Lost alongside the Robinsons are the cunning Dr. Smith (Parker Posey, “Columbus,” 2017), the roguish Don West (Ignacio Serriccho, “The Young and The Restless”) and the Robot (Brian Steele, “Exists,” 2014) that Will has befriended. Season 2 sees them still lost on the ocean planet Jupiter 2 facing new challenges as they search for Robot, who has gone missing, and try to find a way to survive and reunite with their colony ship. Don’t miss the action when Season 2 of “Lost in Space” premieres.
“You” Season 2
On Thursday, Dec. 26, Penn Badgley (“Gossip Girl”) returns in Season 2 of this thrilling series that had viewers obsessing last year. Badgley stars as Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who becomes increasingly obsessed with his customer, Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail, “Once Upon A Time”), and uses social media to stalk her. The intense first season of the series is based on the popular novel of the same name by author Caroline Kepnes, and Season 2 is loosely based on the sequel called “Hidden Bodies,” a title that should serve as an indicator of thrills to come. As the series continues, we see Goldberg move to Los Angeles,
where he meets and becomes infatuated with aspiring chef Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti, “The Haunting of Hill House”). Things are different this time around, though, since Quinn doesn’t use social media. Find out to what lengths Goldberg will go to make someone love him when Season 2 of “You” premieres.
“Fast & Furious: Spy Racers”
Vin Diesel continues working on his longest-running franchise as he produces and stars in the upcoming ninth and 10th installments of the Fast and Furious series, and takes on the role of executive producer for this new animated show
“Fast & Furious: Spy Racers,” which is set to premiere Thursday, Dec. 26. The animated series follows Tony Toretto (voiced by Tyler Posey, “Teen Wolf”), the cousin of Diesel’s original series character Dominic Toretto. Tony takes a cue from his cousin when he is recruited by a government agency to gain access to a crime organization that is using an elite racing league to cover up their plans for world domination. Also lending their voices to the series are Camille Ramsey (“Class of Lies”) as underground racer Layla Gray, Luke Youngblood (“Galavant”) as tech genius Frostee Benson, Charlet Chung (“Carmen Sandiego”) as the spy Echo, and Jorge Diaz (“Lost in Oz”) as the team muscle, Cisco.
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME VIDEO
“Night Hunter” (2018)
On Wednesday, Dec. 25, don’t miss this star-studded new crime drama. Henry Cavill (“The Witcher”) stars as police officer Marshall, alongside Alexandra Daddario (“Baywatch” 2017) as the newly promoted criminal profiler Rachel. After arresting a serial killer named Simon (Brendan Fletcher, “Siren”), Marshall and Rachel must team up with retired judge and vigilante, Cooper (Ben Kingsley, “Self/less,” 2015), in order to stay one step ahead as Simon manages to orchestrate brutal attacks despite being behind bars. Also starring Stanley Tucci (“The Silence,” 2019), Nathan Fillion (“The Rookie”) and Minka Kelly (“Titans”), this thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU “Better Things” Season 3
Despite the scandal surround-
ing series creator Louis C.K. that co-creator and star Pamela Adlon (“Californication”) described as a “Molotov cocktail,” this FX dramedy has pulled through and is back for a third season, which is available to stream starting Saturday, Dec. 28. Aldon continues in her role as Sam Fox, an actress who, on top of dealing with the intense pressure of working in Hollywood, is also a single mother raising her three daughters: angsty teenager Max (Mikey Madison, “Imposters”), radical middle child Frankie (Hannah Alligood, “Paper Towns,” 2015) and the adorable Duke (Olivia Edward, “Crazy ExGirlfriend”). She also has to handle her eccentric mother, Phyllis (Celia Imrie, “Malevolent,” 2018). The hilarious chaos of their lives continues as Sam’s age begins to show more physically, thanks to the onset of menopause. While Aldon has described the series as an exaggeration of being a single working mother, it is still deeply relatable. Watch this hilarious and heartwarming family that may rip each other apart but would still choose each other over anything else.
“Into the Dark: Midnight Kiss” Hulu’s horror anthology series “Into the Dark” continues on Friday, Dec. 27, in this New Year’s themed installment. Augustus Prew (“Prison Break”), Scott Evans (“Grace and Frankie”), Ayden Mayeri (“Homecoming”), Lukas Gage (“T@gged”), Chester Lockhart (“Todrick”) and Adam Faison (“Liberty Crossing”) star in this edition as a group of gay best friends. Every year on New Year’s Eve, the friends play a game called Midnight Kiss to ring in the new year in a fun and sexy way. The game challenges them to find someone special to be with at midnight. This year, though, their friendships are tested by resentment, secrets and jealousy, not to mention a psychotic killer who wants in on the fun. As what should be a night of thrilling fun turns into a night of terror, truths are revealed and the friends must fight to survive.
From the list, find each word and circle its letters in the puzzle to reveal a message relating to this week's theme
Spotted at the North Pole
Sunday, Dec. 22
8:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 Daily Wager (Live) (1:00)
FSN In-Depth Outdoors (0:30)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round The Northern Trust. (3:00)
8:30 a.m. FSN Lindy Fish Ed. (0:30)
9:00 a.m. ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (Live) (3:00)
ESPN2 Fantasy Football Now (Live) (3:00)
FSN Jason Mitchell Outdoors (0:30)
9:30 a.m. FSN Vikings Game Plan
(0:30)
10:00 a.m. (9) KMSP Vikings GameDay Live (Live) (1:00)
(15) KVRR (29) WFTC NFL Kickoff (Live) (1:00)
(23) WUCW The Meatsauce and Monty Show (0:30)
FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
NBCSN Premier League Mornings (Live) (0:25)
10:25 a.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer CHE at TOT (Live) (2:05)
10:30 a.m. FSN Pro Football Weekly (0:30)
11:00 a.m. (7) KCCO The NFL Today (Live) (1:00)
(9) KMSP (15) KVRR Fox NFL Sunday (Live) (1:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round BMW Championship. (3:00)
11:30 a.m. FSN Rooster Tales (0:30) Noon (7) KCCO NFL Football Pit. at N.Y. J (Live) (4:00)
(9) KMSP (15) KVRR NFL Football
N.O. at Ten. (Live) (3:00)
(11) KARE PGA Tour Year in Review (Live) (1:00)
ESPN Adventure Racing Spartan: Para World Championship. (1:00)
ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Women’s Stan. at Tex. (Live) (2:00)
FSN NCAA Basketball Kan. vs. Vill. (2:00)
12:30 p.m. NBCSN Premier League Goal Zone (Live) (1:00)
1:00 p.m. (5) KSTP World of X Games (1:00)
(11) KARE Team USA Awards (Live) (1:00)
ESPN Adventure Racing Spartan: Para World Championship. (1:00)
1:30 p.m. NBCSN Premier League Download (1:00)
2:00 p.m. (5) KSTP NCAA Basketball
S.C. at Vir. (Live) (2:00)
(11) KARE FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup Big Air (1:00)
ESPN Subject to Review (1:00)
ESPN2 I-S-L Swimming (1:00)
FSN NCAA Wrestling Tex. vs. Prov. (2:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Tour Championship. (4:00)
2:30 p.m. NBCSN RFU Rugby English Premiership. Bath vs. L.I. (2:00)
3:00 p.m. (9) KMSP (15) KVRR NFL Football Dal. at Phi. (Live) (3:30)
(11) KARE ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final. (2:00)
ESPN Poker World Series. (1:00)
ESPN2 30 for 30 (1:00)
4:00 p.m. (7) KCCO Off-Road Racing Lucas Oil Challenge Cup (1:00)
ESPN Poker World Series. (1:00)
ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Xav. at TCU (Live) (2:00)
FSN H.S. Football Minnesota Showcase All-Star Game. (2:00)
4:30 p.m. NBCSN IBU Biathlon World Cup 15km Mass Start (1:00)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
5:30 p.m. NBCSN FIS Cross-country Skiing World Cup Men’s and Women’s Team Sprint (1:00)
6:00 p.m. (11) KARE Football Night in America (Live) (1:20)
ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 NBAGL Basketball Winter Showcase. (Live) (2:00)
FSN The Yearbook Published by PrepSpotlight.tv (0:30)
GOLF Golf Final Round American Century Championship. (3:00)
6:30 p.m. (9) KMSP (15) KVRR The OT (Live) (0:30)
FSN Red Bull Event Highlights (0:30)
NBCSN FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Women’s Combined (1:00)
7:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (0:30)
FSN Crashed Ice (1:00)
7:20 p.m. (11) KARE NFL Football Kan. at Chi. (Live) (3:15)
7:30 p.m. ESPN The Greatest (0:30)
8:00 p.m. ESPN 30 for 30 (2:00)
ESPN2 Gymratts (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00)
8:30 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Quarter-final Diamond Head Classic. Ball St. vs. Wash. (Live) (2:00)
9:00 p.m. FSN Cliff Diving (1:00)
GOLF Golf Men’s Round of 16, Women’s Quarter-final and Masters Final World Long Drive Championship. (2:30)
9:30 p.m. NBCSN World Chase Tag (1:00)
10:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN 18 Holes (0:30)
10:30 p.m. (15) KVRR Vikings Connected (0:30)
ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Quarter-final Diamond Head Classic. UTEP at Haw. (Live) (2:30)
FSN Swing Clinic (0:30)
10:35 p.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Sports Now (0:30)
11:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00)
11:30 p.m. (5) KSTP In Depth With Graham Bensinger (0:30)
GOLF Golf Men’s and Women’s Final World Long Drive Championship. (2:30)
NBCSN Match of the Day (1:00)
Monday, Dec. 23
8:00 a.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Spotlight (0:30)
NBCSN Pro Football Talk (2:00)
8:30 a.m. FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
9:00 a.m. ESPN First Take (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 Get Up! (2:00)
FSN DFL Soccer Dor. at Hoff. (2:00)
10:00 a.m. NBCSN Sky Sports News (2:00)
11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
ESPN2 First Take (2:00)
FSN NHL Hockey Wpg. at Min. (2:00)
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: By Essentrics (0:30)
NBCSN Poker Masters. (1:00)
12:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Rewind (Live) (1:00)
1:00 p.m. ESPN2 Jalen & Jacoby (0:30)
FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Por. (2:00)
NBCSN Poker Masters. (1:00)
1:30 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Gasparilla Bowl. (Live) (3:30)
ESPN2 NFL Live (Live) (1:30)
6:30 p.m. (7) KCCO Vikings Pre-Game
(0:45)
FSN Wild Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
7:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Football G.B. at Min. (Live) (3:15)
FSN Becoming Wild (0:30)
USA WWE Monday Night Raw (Live) (3:00)
7:15 p.m. (7) KCCO NFL Football G.B. at Min. (Live) (3:15)
7:30 p.m. FSN Spotlight (0:30)
8:00 p.m. ESPN2 PFL Playoff Review (0:30)
FSN Spotlight (0:30)
11:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Rewind (1:00)
Tuesday, Dec. 24
8:00 a.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Wolves Live Post-game (0:30)
NBCSN Pro Football Talk (2:00)
8:30 a.m. FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
9:00 a.m. ESPN First Take (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 Get Up! (2:00)
FSN DFL Soccer Wolf. at B. Muni. (2:00)
10:00 a.m. NBCSN Sky Sports News
11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter Special (1:00)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
7:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Hawaii Bowl. (Live) (3:30)
FSN H.S. Football Minnesota Showcase All-Star Game. (2:00)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
8:00 p.m. GOLF Feherty (1:00)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
SHOW Inside the NFL (1:00)
9:00 p.m. ESPN2 30 for 30 (2:00)
FSN The Yearbook Published by PrepSpotlight.tv (0:30)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
9:30 p.m. FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
10:00 p.m. GOLF Feherty (1:00)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
SHOW Inside the NFL (1:00)
10:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30)
11:00 p.m. ESPN2 UFC Archival (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00) GOLF Feherty (1:00)
Wednesday, Dec. 25
8:00 a.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN The Yearbook Published by PrepSpotlight.tv (0:30)
8:30 a.m. FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
9:00 a.m. ESPN First Take (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 Get Up! (2:00)
FSN DFL Soccer U.Ber. at Fort. (2:00)
10:00 a.m. GOLF Golf Women’s Final Round Augusta National Amateur. (2:30)
11:00 a.m. ESPN NBA Basketball Bos. at Tor. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker High Roller L.A. Classic. (1:00)
11:30 a.m. ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30) Noon ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker High Roller L.A. Classic. (1:00)
12:30 p.m. ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
GOLF Golf Films (0:30)
1:00 p.m. (5) KSTP NBA Countdown (Live) (0:30)
2:00 p.m. NBCSN Poker Masters. (1:00)
3:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
NBCSN Poker Masters. (1:00)
3:30 p.m. FSN Wild Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
4:00 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live (1:00)
FSN NHL Hockey Cgy. at Min. (Live) (2:30)
NBCSN Poker Masters. (1:00)
5:00 p.m. ESPN Monday Night Countdown (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
NBCSN NHL Live! (Live) (1:00)
6:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Semifinal Diamond Head Classic. (Live) (2:00)
NBCSN NHL Hockey N.Y. R. at Pha. (Live) (2:45)
8:30 p.m. ESPN2 Kayla Harrison Making History: PFL Women’s 155 (0:30)
FSN The Yearbook Published by PrepSpotlight.tv (0:30)
8:45 p.m. NBCSN NHL Overtime (Live) (0:45)
9:00 p.m. ESPN2 Road to the PFL Championship (1:00)
FSN Wolves Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
9:30 p.m. FSN NBA Basketball Min. at G.S. (Live) (2:30)
NBCSN NHL Road to the Winter Classic (0:30)
10:00 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Semifinal Diamond Head Classic. (Live) (2:00)
10:15 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt (1:15)
FSN NHL Hockey Cgy. at Min. (2:00)
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: By Essentrics (0:30)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
12:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:30)
1:00 p.m. FSN NBA Basketball Min. at G.S. (2:00)
2:00 p.m. ESPN NBA: The Jump (Live) (1:00)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
3:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN NHL Hockey Cgy. at Min. (2:00)
4:00 p.m. ESPN Boomer’s Vault (1:00)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN NBA Basketball Min. at G.S. (2:00)
ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker High Roller L.A. Classic. (1:00)
GOLF Chronicles of a Champion Golfer (0:30)
1:30 p.m. (5) KSTP NBA Basketball Mil. at Phi. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:30)
ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
GOLF Chronicles of a Champion Golfer (0:30)
2:00 p.m. ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker (1:00)
GOLF Chronicles of a Champion Golfer (0:30)
2:30 p.m. ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
GOLF Chronicles of a Champion Golfer (0:30)
3:00 p.m. ESPN Peyton’s Places (0:30)
Sports this week
ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker (1:00)
GOLF PGA Golf The Challenge: Japan Skins. (4:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Peyton’s Places (0:30)
ESPN2 The Greatest (0:30)
4:00 p.m. (5) KSTP NBA Basketball
Hou. at G.S. (Live) (2:30)
ESPN Peyton’s Places (0:30)
ESPN2 Football Is Us (1:30)
FSN WPT Poker (1:00)
4:30 p.m. ESPN Peyton’s Places (0:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00)
5:30 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Third Place Game Diamond Head Classic. (Live) (2:00)
6:00 p.m. FSN Town Ball (0:30)
6:30 p.m. (5) KSTP ESPN NBA: The Jump (Live) (0:30)
FSN Town Ball (0:30)
7:00 p.m. (5) KSTP ESPN NBA Basketball L.A. C. at L.A. L. (Live) (2:30)
FSN Town Ball (0:30)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
USA WWE NXT (2:08)
7:30 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Championship Diamond Head Classic. (Live) (2:30)
FSN Town Ball (0:30)
8:00 p.m. FSN Town Ball (0:30)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
8:30 p.m. FSN Town Ball (0:30)
9:00 p.m. FSN Town Ball (0:30)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
9:30 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball N.O. at Den. (Live) (2:30)
FSN Town Ball (0:30)
10:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
11:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
Thursday, Dec. 26
8:00 a.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00)
GOLF PGA Tour Special (1:00)
8:30 a.m. NBCSN Premier League Mornings (Live) (0:25)
8:55 a.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer SOU at CHE (Live) (2:05)
9:00 a.m. ESPN First Take (2:00)
ESPN2 Get Up! (2:00)
FSN DFL Soccer Fran. at Pad. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
10:00 a.m. GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
ESPN2 First Take (2:00)
FSN Champions Tennis QQQ Series Champions Cup. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Premier League Mornings (Live) (0:25)
11:25 a.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer NEW at MUN (Live) (2:05)
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: By Essentrics (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
12:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:30)
1:00 p.m. ESPN2 Jalen & Jacoby (0:30)
FSN DFL Soccer Fran. at Pad. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
1:30 p.m. ESPN2 Highly Questionable (0:30)
NBCSN Premier League Live (Live) (0:25)
1:55 p.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer Liverp’l at Leic. (Live) (2:05)
2:00 p.m. ESPN NBA: The Jump (Live) (1:00)
ESPN2 NFL Live (1:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
3:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Independence Bowl. (Live) (3:30)
FSN Champions Tennis QQQ Series Champions Cup. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live (1:30)
4:00 p.m. GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Premier League Goal Zone (Live) (1:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
5:30 p.m. FSN 18 Holes (0:30)
NBCSN Men in Blazers (0:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN2 Boxing Card TBA Top Rank. (1:00)
FSN Swing Clinic (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Premier League Legends (1:00)
6:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Scoreboard (Live) (0:30)
FSN Due North Outdoors
7:00 p.m. ESPN NCAA Lane Bowl. (Live) (3:30)
ESPN2 Boxing Card TBA Top Rank. (1:00)
FSN Rooster Tales (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Premier League Download (1:00)
TNT NBA Basketball N.Y. at Brook. (Live) (2:30)
HBO Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel (1:00)
7:30 p.m. FSN Minnesota Sports Awards (1:00)
8:00 p.m. ESPN2 Boxing Card TBA Top Rank. (1:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Soccerbox (1:00)
8:30 p.m. FSN Wolves Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
9:00 p.m. ESPN2 Boxing Card TBA Top Rank. (1:00)
FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Sac. (Live) (2:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Soccerbox (1:00)
9:30 p.m. TNT NBA Basketball Por. at Utah (Live) (2:30)
10:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Soccerbox (0:30)
10:05 p.m. HBO Belichick and Saban: The Art of Coaching (1:20)
10:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (0:30)
ESPN2 Mixed Martial Arts Welterweight and Women’s Lightweight PFL Playoffs. (2:30)
NBCSN Premier League Download (1:00)
11:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
11:30 p.m. FSN Wolves Live Postgame (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN Premier League Download (1:00)
Friday, Dec. 27
8:00 a.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Wolves Live Post-game (0:30)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
NBCSN Pro Football Talk (2:00)
8:30 a.m. FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
9:00 a.m. ESPN First Take (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 Get Up! (2:00)
2:20 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Pinstripe Bowl. (Live) (3:25)
3:00 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live (1:30)
FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
GOLF Masters Highlights (1:00)
3:30 p.m. FSN Rooster Tales (0:30)
4:00 p.m. FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Premier League Goal Zone (Live) (0:30)
4:30 p.m. ESPN2 Max on Boxing (0:30)
FSN In-Depth Outdoors (0:30)
NBCSN Men in Blazers (0:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Lindy Fish Ed. (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN NHL Road to the Winter Classic (0:30)
5:30 p.m. FSN Three Wide Life (0:30)
9:30 p.m. (15) KVRR KVRR Sports Extra (0:30)
9:45 p.m. NBCSN NHL Overtime (Live) (0:45)
10:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
TBS ELeague (1:00)
10:15 p.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Sports Now (0:20)
10:30 p.m. FSN Pro Football Weekly (0:30)
NBCSN NHL Road to the Winter Classic (0:30)
11:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker Cash Game (1:00)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
NBCSN Supercross Preview Show (1:00)
TBS ELeague (1:00)
Saturday, Dec. 28
8:00 a.m. ESPN College GameDay (Live) (2:50)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Rooster Tales (0:30)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
8:30 a.m. NBCSN Premier League Mornings (Live) (0:25)
8:55 a.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer (Live) (2:05)
9:00 a.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Gopher Pregame (Live) (1:00)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods (0:30)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
9:30 a.m. FSN Midwest Outdoors (0:30)
10:00 a.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (0:30)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
10:30 a.m. ESPN2 NCAA Basketball Brown at Duke (Live) (2:00)
FSN Made for the Outdoors (0:30)
2:00 p.m. FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Sac. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
2:30 p.m. (5) KSTP World of X Games (1:00)
(9) KAWE Prairie Sportsman (0:30)
ESPN ESPN2 CFP Pre-game Show (Live) (0:30)
2:45 p.m. (7) KCCO NCAA Basketball L.ville at Ken. (Live) (2:15)
3:00 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 NCAA Football (Live) (3:40)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
3:30 p.m. NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
4:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Prairie Sportsman (0:30)
(11) KARE All-American Dream (1:00)
FSN Champions Tennis QQQ Series Champions Cup. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
5:00 p.m. (23) WUCW Gametime With Boomer Esiason (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
5:30 p.m. NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
6:00 p.m. GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
6:30 p.m. FSN Wolves Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
6:40 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 CFP Pre-game Show (Live) (0:20)
7:00 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 NCAA Football (Live) (3:40)
FSN NBA Basketball Cle. at Min. (Live) (2:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
7:30 p.m. NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
8:00 p.m. GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
SHOW Boxing Gervonta Davis vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa Showtime Championship. (Live) (3:30)
9:00 p.m. PARMT Mixed Martial Arts Fedor Emelianenko vs. Quinton Jackson Bellator 237. (Live) (2:45)
FSN Crashed Ice (1:00)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
10:00 a.m. FSN Minnesota Sports Awards (1:00)
GOLF Golf Films (1:00)
NBCSN Sky Sports News (2:00)
11:00 a.m. ESPN NCAA Football Military Bowl. (Live) (3:20)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:30)
FSN NBA Basketball Min. at Sac. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
Noon (9) KAWE Sit and Be Fit (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
12:30 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live (Live) (1:30)
12:55 p.m. HBO Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel (1:00)
1:00 p.m. FSN John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Premier League Mornings (Live) (0:55)
1:30 p.m. FSN Midwest Outdoors (0:30)
1:55 p.m. NBCSN EPL Soccer MCI at Wol. (Live) (2:05)
2:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN NHL Road to the Winter Classic (0:30)
5:45 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football Texas Bowl. (Live) (3:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN2 Boomer’s Vault (1:00) FSN Pro Football Weekly (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN NHL Live! (Live) (1:00)
6:30 p.m. FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
7:00 p.m. (9) KMSP (15) KVRR WWE Friday Night Smackdown! (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN Minnesota Sports Awards (1:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN NHL Hockey Min. at Col. (Live) (2:45)
8:00 p.m. ESPN2 eSports (1:00)
FSN H.S. Football Minnesota Showcase All-Star Game. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
8:30 p.m. (29) WFTC Vikings Connected (0:30)
9:00 p.m. ESPN2 UFC Archival (1:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
9:15 p.m. ESPN NCAA Football CheezIt Bowl. (Live) (3:30)
10:50 a.m. ESPN Pre-game Showcase (Live) (0:10)
11:00 a.m. (5) KSTP NCAA Football Camping World Bowl. (Live) (3:30)
ESPN NCAA Football Cotton Bowl Classic. (Live) (3:30)
FSN Passion for the Hunt (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Premier League Mornings (Live) (0:30)
11:30 a.m. (11) KARE EPL Soccer TOT at Norw. (Live) (2:00)
FSN Fishing the Midwest (0:30)
NBCSN RFU Rugby English Premiership. Lei. vs. Har. (2:00)
Noon FSN NCAA Basketball UW-Mil. at N.Kent. (Live) (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
12:30 p.m. (7) KCCO NCAA Basketball Wis. at Ten. (Live) (2:15)
ESPN2 NCAA Basketball N.Orl. at Mem. (Live) (2:00)
1:00 p.m. (9) KMSP (15) KVRR Red Bull Signature Series Rampage. (1:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
1:30 p.m. (11) KARE EPL Soccer MUN at Burn. (Live) (2:30)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
9:30 p.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Sports Now (0:30)
(15) KVRR Vikings Game Plan (0:30)
FSN Wolves Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
10:00 p.m. (9) KMSP FSN Vikings Game Plan (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
10:30 p.m. (9) KMSP Vikings Connected (0:30)
FSN #VikingsConnected (0:30)
10:40 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 Post-game (Live) (0:10)
10:50 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt (1:10)
ESPN2 SportsCenter Special (0:40)
11:00 p.m. (23) WUCW Ring of Honor Wrestling (1:00)
FSN Pro Football Weekly (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
11:30 p.m. ESPN2 UFC Archival (0:30)
FSN Wolves Live Pre-game (0:30)
NBCSN The National Dog Show (2:00)
Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Sports Dec 22, 2019 to Dec 28, 2019
ffffudge!’: ‘Food Network Challenge’ reboot begins with a movie homage
By Michelle Rose TV MediaQuick!Name your favorite holiday movie. If you said “A Christmas Story” (1983) and you happen to love cake, you’re in for a special treat this week. (If you said 1988’s “Die Hard” and you hate cake, well, maybe there will be something for you next year.)
It’s been nearly a decade since the last installment aired in 2011, but “Food Network Challenge” returns this week with six new episodes beginning Monday, Dec. 23.
Actor Ian Ziering — he of “Beverly Hills 90210” fame and the “Sharknado” franchise that inspired my
Christmas sweater this year — hosts this reboot of the race-againstthe-clock, pop culture-themed competition.
There have been other skill sets, themes and recipes featured in past competitions, but “Food Network Challenge” has leaned pretty heavily on elite-level cake making. This 2019-20 edition is no exception: It challenges some of the top bakers, cake and sugar artists in the country to create supremely decorated, specially themed cake masterpieces. Each episode begins with four competitors before the elimination round. The three remaining food artists must then compete for the final prize of $10,000 and the fancy new
moniker of “Food Network Challenge” Champion.
As mentioned, the theme for the first episode is “A Christmas Story.” And while the news release talks about there being “no shortage of ‘Oh ffffudge!’ moments,” I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s hoping to see a pink bunnysuit, a Red Ryder air rifle (that’s all Ralphie wanted for Christmas, after all) and a “major award” leg lamp at some point.
Food Network’s eponymous competition series has had an incredible track record of launching new TV talent, including Duff Goldman, who competed in 2005 (“Ace of Cakes” launched the following year). And this new batch of competitors will surely enjoy a career boost from competing in front of a
national audience in the coming weeks, when the episode themes will include “Back to the Future,” Pokémon, Monopoly and “The Wizard of Oz.”
But if you can’t get enough of “A Christmas Story,” even after the Dec. 23 episode of “Food Network Challenge,” you might want to plan a visit to A Christmas Story House in Cleveland. It’s the actual house used in the movie, complete with leg lamp and a bar of soap in the bathroom (I’ve been, it’s true). Be sure to go in the winter if you want to see snow, though fans will point out much of the white stuff in the “neighborhood bully” scenes wasn’t real anyway — it was soap flakes and firefighting foam.
Sunday, Dec. 22
Noon (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking
1:00 p.m. (9) KAWE Ciao Italia
2:00 p.m. (9) KAWE The Great British Baking Show
4:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Food Flirts
2:00 a.m. (9) KAWE Lidia Celebrates America
Monday, Dec. 23
1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show
Tuesday, Dec. 24
11:30 a.m. (9) KAWE Sara’s Weeknight Meals
1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show
Wednesday, Dec. 25
1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show
Thursday, Dec. 26
1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show
8:00 p.m. (5) KSTP The Great American Baking Show (N)
9:00 p.m. (5) KSTP The Great American Baking Show (N)
Friday, Dec. 27
12:30 p.m. (9) KAWE Food Over 50
1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show
Saturday, Dec. 28
7:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Steven Raichlen’s Project Smoke
7:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Moveable Feast With Fine Cooking
8:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Jamie’s Quick and Easy Food
8:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Simply Ming
9:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Martha Bakes
9:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Pati’s Mexican Table (N)
10:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Mexico: One Plate at a Time
10:30 a.m. (2) KTCA
Milk Street
1:30 p.m. (2) KTCA Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen (9) KAWE Steven Raichlen’s Project Fire
2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen
3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Food Dec 22, 2019 to Dec 28, 2019
Feature Story this week
Tender laughs Walton Goggins stars in ‘The Unicorn’ on CBS
By Sachi Kameishi TV MediaT he trope of the loving-but-ultimately-incapable single dad is a prevalent one in pop culture. From “Aladdin” (1992) to comedydramas like “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) and beloved shows that include “Full House” and “Two and a Half Men,” it’s clear that there’s something about an earnest, flawed father that disarms and charms audiences. Perhaps it’s the subversion of a gender role, or maybe even more about the absent mother herself, but single fatherhood is a detail that can be conducive to many kinds of narrative, everything from comedy to melodrama or the coming of age of a young heroine.
However, most single-dad narratives don’t flesh out the dad character himself: he’s usually more of a detail in someone else’s life, a small part of the greater story. Even in shows where you’d think it would warrant a greater arc, this character is often used as comic relief or to punctuate the lead character’s story with endearing moments. CBS is looking to change all that.
“The Unicorn,” which you can catch on Thursday, Dec. 26, on CBS, feels different than everything else on television right now. The show stars Walton Goggins (“The Hateful Eight,” 2015) — one of the best and most underrated actors working today — who plays Wade, a single father of two trying to find a way to cope with life a year after his wife’s death. It’s an exploration of grief and middleage friendships. It examines what it takes to rear children on your own. Perhaps most importantly, it navigates different ways to find relief in the aftermath of great tragedy. Oh yeah, and it’s hilarious.
The show’s name may not seem appropriate at first glance. Unicorns and familial tragedy? The pilot episode spells out the connection nicely:
Wade is still reeling from his wife’s death and is unable to focus on anything but work. This takes a toll on his daughters, Grace (Ruby Jay, “Holly Hobbie”) and Natalie
(Makenzie Moss, “Steve Jobs,” 2015). When the situation deteriorates to the point where the girls have nothing to eat but leftover casseroles, lasagnas and other frozen offerings left over from their mother’s wake a year prior, Wade’s friends, Forrest (Rob Corddry,”Childrens Hospital”), Delia (Michaela Watkins, “Casual”) and Ben (Omar Benson Miller, “CSI: Miami”), decide to talk some sense into him. Their solution? Get Wade back into the dating game. He’s a unicorn, they say — a man who is not single out of desire or lack of potential, but one who has a proven ability to commit and provide. In a dating landscape full of unemployed, emotionally vacant, toxic people, Wade is like a mythical creature, something most believe to be impossible. He’s a unicorn.
The show doesn’t kick into gear with Wade and his new journey as a player on the dating scene. A lesser-quality series might find the laughs in goofy encounters and the quirky women a single dad might get tangled up with. Instead, we get to witness Wade on a date with divorcee Danielle (Bianca Kajlich, “Rules of Engagement”), as he, disarmingly and sincerely, overshares with her that without his wife, “I don’t really know who I am anymore.” Again, a lesser show would follow that up with a pity-sex encounter, but not “The Unicorn.” Wade declines. From the start, his character is a whole, well-drawn one, not the stereotype we’re used to.
So far this season, we’ve seen Wade get a dressing down from a widows support group because of his anger issues; we’ve seen him deal with his friends breaking into his online profiles to micromanage and protect his dating life; and we’ve seen him reassure his children that he loves them and their mother. It becomes clear early on that the show measures Wade’s “unicorn-ness” not by how much he shines among other single men, but in how he copes with (and learns from) his loss and experiences. Cast member Rob Corddry said of “The Unicorn”: “It’s a halfhour comedy, but it’s not afraid of the feels.”
If it’s not “feels” you’re hankering for, do not fret. “The Unicorn” pulls at the heartstrings, but it also showcases a bulletproof comedic
core. The cast is full of comedy veterans, most of whom have known each other for years, which creates a chemistry that most
shows can only hope to stumble upon. The writing is quick and witty, and Goggins proves that he is a gifted comedic lead. Make sure to
tune in to the network sitcom that is as rare as its namesake: “The Unicorn” airs Thursday, Dec. 26, on CBS.
Adopt a Highway
After serving 25 years in prison for a minor drug offense, former convict Russell Millings (Hawke) discovers an abandoned infant in a dumpster outside where he works as a dishwasher in a seedy motel. He finds a note under the baby that says, “Her name is Ella,” and Russell de-
Stars:Ethan Hawke,Elaine Hendrix,Diane Gaeta,Mo McRae, Chris Sullivan,Betty Gabriel, Loni Love. 2019. 78 mins. Drama.
The Kill Team
A young soldier, Pte. Andrew Briggman (Wolff), grapples with the morally questionable actions of his unit under the command of Sgt. Deeks (Skarsgård). When an Afghan boy is killed,
Briggman considers reporting his platoon to the authorities. But when Deeks starts to suspect that Briggman’s loyalty to the team is waning, he begins to show his true colors. Briggman’s very life may be at stake as Deeks reveals just how violent and single-minded he can be. Director: Dan Krauss. Stars:Alexander Skarsgård,NatWolff, Adam Long,JonathanWhitesell, Brian Marc,Osy Ikhile,Rob Morrow. 2019. 87 mins.Action.
Extreme Sudoku
cides to take the child home with him instead of turning her over to the police. New to the world outside of prison and still adjusting to a world so different from the one he knew before prison, Russell falls in love with Ella and puts his freedom at risk in the hopes of keeping her. Director:Logan Marshall-Green.