HOLIDAY PREVIEW ’Tis the Season
Published as supplement to
Sentinel Cottage Grove
November 29, 2017
Fox brings back the triple-dog-dare with ‘A Christmas Story Live!’
COVER STORY BY JAY BOBBIN
Fox stages musical ‘A Christmas Story’ live
Ralphie sings! However, we make no guarantees about the leg lamp. The 1983 movie version of “A Christmas Story” will have its traditional Christmas Eve and Day marathon on TBS again, but Fox also gets into the triple-dog-dare game this year by airing the stage-musical edition as “A Christmas Story Live!” Sunday, Dec. 17. Familiar faces including Matthew Broderick, Maya Rudolph and Ana Gasteyer will join young newcomer Andy Walken, the winner of a national search to fill the role of Ralphie — who desperately wants to find a Red Ryder BB gun under his family’s holiday tree. “You’ll never feel for one moment that you’re in a theater watching a musical,” promises executive producer Marc Platt (“Grease Live!,” “La La Land”). “You will be living the life of Ralphie. You’ll be experiencing his fantasies. You’ll be living the life of this community, this town. There’s lights. There’s snow. If you know the movie, there are dogs which appear. It’s live TV, (so) there will be live animals all over the place. You can’t ask for more: tap-dancing kids, live dogs, snow and Christmas, all in one night.”
The music for “A Christmas Story Live!” falls to Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who have created several new songs beyond the ones featured in the stage show that has had national tours and a Broadway run. The composers are wrapping up quite a year, having won Oscars for “La La Land” and Tony Awards for “Dear Evan Hansen.” “Something that’s so amazing about ‘A Christmas Story,’” Pasek reflects, “is that audiences have such an expectation coming in to see the show. They know the movie back-and-forth. They know every scene that they’re excited to come in and see, and how we’re going to be able to imagine it on stage … and, here, how we’re going to be able to imagine it in a live TV event.”
‘A Christmas Story’ behind the story Jack Nicholson was almost cast to play Ralphie’s dad in the original 1983 movie but the role instead went to Darren McGavin due to Nicholson’s salary command and the movie’s lack of budget. Tune in to the annual marathon to get your fix of “You’ll shoot your eye out!” We “double-DOG- dare ya!” Watch on TNT & TBS Dec. 24 8p; 10p; Dec. 25 12a; 2a; 4a; 6a; 8a; 10a; 12p; 2p; 4p; 6p
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FREE TELEVISION IN COTTAGE GROVE FOR OVER SIXTY YEARS South Lane Television, Inc. In the early days of television, most TV stations serving Oregon were located in Portland. And reception from Portland was poor in Cottage Grove. With the hopes of devising a plan for better reception, a group of local television enthusiasts met over coffee to discuss how members of the community could engineer a system that would provide better TV pictures in Cottage Grove. What emerged was a community non-profit organized in 1957 as South Lane Television, Inc. The new SLTV Board set out to raise money for an engineering study that determined Hansen Butte, located a mile southeast of Cottage Grove, was the ideal point to receive TV signals and translate those signals to new channels that could be easily picked up in and around Cottage Grove. A successful fund drive followed and the fledgling board was able to purchase the necessary equipment to put the first three channels on the air in 1957. Over the years, SLTV has steadily improved and expanded its service. Today, the Cottage Grove system has grown to 36 channels and the London Springs system now has 14 channels. All that is necessary to receive these free television signals from South Lane Television, is a good quality UHF antenna aimed toward the SLTV towers atop Hansen Butte, a mile southeast of Cottage Grove, or in the London area, the tower is located north of London and just west of London Road. The system in the Dorena/Culp Creek area is a bit different in that it operates on a low power VHF system. In order for the viewer to receive these SLTV signals, a good quality VHF antenna is necessary. The site for Dorena/Culp Creek is on Hawley Butte (east of the Dorena Post Office and northwest of Culp Creek). Because there is no commercial power available, South Lane Television produces its own power from collecting energy from solar panels and a wind turbine. The surplus energy is stored in a bank of batteries for nighttime operation. Then the system is backed up by a diesel generator. Even though this is a very elaborate and complex system, it is pretty reliable. It has been an expensive venture for SLTV, but the system offers a very isolated community eight of the most basic and important television channels. After many years of study and planning, South Lane Television converted from the old analog television standard to the new digital standard in 2009 – at the same time as the television broadcasters were required to convert. The new digital standard has been the most significant improvement in television performance and viewing pleasure since the arrival of color television. With the new digital standard and brand new state of the art equipment, the upgrade resulted in sparking clear digital pictures for our viewers, and SLTV’s Hansen Butte operation has become one of the largest and most technically advanced translator sites in the Country. And when you combine the rural areas of London and Dorena, our system is in a class of its own. The best part about our message is that this valuable service is yours absolutely free! All viewers need is a good quality antenna aimed toward the SLTV tower in your vicinity. The more rural you
live, the more challenging reception is. SLTV operates on much lower power than the full service stations in Eugene, Medford, Salem, or Portland -- and a hill or other obstructions such as trees can make reception difficult for the signals to penetrate your antenna. So look for the clearest path you can find for your antenna location, and if the signals are not producing a stable picture, an amplifier may improve the final signal to the TV. Within the city of Cottage Grove, many homes utilize indoor antennas, but these can be problematic. Indoor antennas are challenged by the walls in your house and any obstructions beyond your house, such as trees in the pathway to the towers. So the first step in purchasing an indoor antenna, is to NOT buy the cheapest antenna you can find. Occasionally, indoor antennas will often work if the antenna is set in a window with the towers clearly visible on Hansen Butte, otherwise these seldom work. You may get a few channels, but if you aren’t getting them all, you need a better antenna. A better decision is to buy the best antenna you can find. Generally speaking, a cheap antenna might be about $19, but one that has a better chance of working may cost closer to $40. And you usually get a built-in amplifier to help improve the signal with a better antenna. When people ask us about antennas, we always recommend folks skip indoor antennas altogether and buy a good quality outdoor antenna. With an outdoor antenna, even if you have a few trees in your or your neighbor’s yard that obscures your view of the towers, you should still get great reception with a good outdoor antenna. The cost for an outdoor antenna, with wiring, etc., will be about $100. For fringe areas, a bigger antenna may run around $150. These days, most people buy antennas and related equipment via the Internet. SLTV recommends Channel Master.com for superior equipment. When ordering, remember you need UHF for the Cottage Grove and London systems and a VHF for Dorena/ Culp Creek. BiMart also has an expanding line of antennas. Mike in the Electronics section is knowledgeable and can be a valuable resource in helping you select the proper antenna and wiring, etc. The cost savings compared to cable or satellite services often amounts to $1,000 per year, or more! And, a typical family only watches eight to 12 satellite/cable/premium channels regularly beyond the remaining 80% of what typical households routinely watch. We all watch the local news, network programming, and public broadcasting. SLTV carries all the networks and their affiliate’s sub-channels on all of our systems. Beyond the Eugene network affiliates, we add programming options from stations in Salem, Portland, and Medford on our main Cottage Grove system. SLTV also has an on-air program guide for all 36 channels and has agreements from various program suppliers from various regions of America to bring in additional varied programming to Cottage Grove via satellite. Altogether this results in South Lane Television being able to provide 36 channels of free crystal clear digital television of varied interests. You may be interested in knowing that a half dozen radio stations are also rebroadcast over the SLTV system for better reception in Cottage Grove. Due to an FCC mandate, SLTV is presently replacing seven of our 10 licenses as a part of an overhaul of the TV spectrum. It
These messages are brought to you as a public service by South Lane Television. Our goal is to continue serving the community with the highest quality free over-the-air television service possible.
is a very complicated process, but SLTV is ahead of the curve and will emerge with all of our lost channels being replaced, we believe. This will be expensive, but SLTV is ready to rebuild the system as needed. We are a non-profit community benefit organization who’s income comes from space leases and agreements with users of the site. We do not receive any tax money and SLTV does not solicit money from the public. In may areas of the country, translator systems are supported by a taxing district. While SLTV will come through our challenges OK, there are, unfortunately some translator organizations across the country that won’t make it as a result of the expense and complication of the process. Translators are considered a secondary service, so that makes it even harder for us as an industry to survive. But we have the best engineer on the West Coast and he has managed to receive approvals from the FCC to move to all seven of the affected channels to new replacement channels that he has identified. We then, once our new equipment is installed, will have to test for and meet certain engineering standards. We are optimistic of a positive outcome. Quite honestly, it is frustrating for us to try to serve the public and see the attitude of the FCC to be that nobody watches over-the-air television anymore and the spectrum could better serve the cellphone industry. While it is often true that viewers in more affluent areas don’t mind paying $100 per month for satellite or cable services, it is not necessarily true in Cottage Grove -- or much of the inter-mountain West where free over-the-air television is critical in people’s daily lives. Did you know that our studies have consistently shown that approximately 1/3 of the television households in the Cottage Grove area choose South Lane Television’s free TV service rather than pay for satellite or cable service. That’s thousands of people. Certainly free over-the-air TV is important to many folks in Cottage Grove. South Lane Television’s Board President, Lloyd Williams, is also a member of the National Translator Association Board of Directors so we are always well aware of changes in the industry – and how to respond. The NTA’s only interest is in keeping free television and radio available to rural America. South Lane Television has the same goal, along with a desire to continue to add as many programming choices beyond the standard broadcast TV model as we can. It is our desire to be an active voice in broadcasting, advocating for free television and radio services for everyone in America, whether urban or rural. South Lane Television and its volunteer board has been with you for six decades and is always watching for new ways to bring new and better ways to deliver the best television, radio, and general communications services to our community.
May you enjoy the holiday season to its fullest! Signed: Lloyd Williams, President, Ron Irvine; Executive Vice President, Gary Williams; Vice President, Joe Brown; Board Member, Don Lonsbury; Board Member, Naomi Motta; Board Member, Connie Ourada
Stay tuned!
S OUT H L A N E T E LE VISION
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New This Season
BY JAY BOBBIN
NEW DAY I L HO OVIE M
One of many new holiday movies featured in the channel’s annual “Countdown to Christmas� event, this drama stars Ashley Williams and Teddy Sears (“The Flash�) as two people whose yuletide plans are altered by the man’s daughter (Jaeda Lily Miller) – who makes a wish on a snow globe that keeps all of them in the veterinarian’s (Williams) Vermont town for Christmas. Holly Robinson Peete also stars.
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EVERGREEN CHRISTMASHAIN LLMARK SATURDAY, DEC. 2
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ABC, Dec. 4
MY CHRISTMAS PRINCE SUNDAY, DEC. 3 LIFETIME
>> Yes, it’s Christmas! And he’s a prince!
But the film’s heroine – played by Alexis Knapp, who also returns to theater screens in “Pitch Perfect 3� this holiday season – doesn’t know her European boyfriend (Callum Alexander) is a member of royalty until they go to her Wyoming hometown for the yuletide. She then has to decide whether to give up her teaching career to stay with him as he ascends to the throne.
El Tapatio
THE GREAT CHRISTMAS LIGHT FIGHT MONDAY, DEC. 4 ABC >> Just watch those electric bills go up again: It’s time for another battle between families trying to make their houses the most distinctive in the land – thanks to the elaborate decorations they lavish upon their respective residences – as the fifth season of this limited series starts. Carter Oosterhouse and Taniya Nayak are back as judges, with the winning family in each hour-long segment receiving $50,000.
Join in on all the reindeer games
Book your next party with us.
You’ll want to cancel your dentist appointment and tune in for Hermey the Elf, Rudolph and the rest of the misfit toys in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.� Santa’s got his work cut out for him on Christmas Eve with fog thicker than pea soup. Only the one with a nose-so-bright can help guide Santa’s Receive a 10% Food Discount sleigh and save Christmas. Watch on CBS Dec. 9 7p; Also be sure to catch “Rudolph’s Shiny Shiny ny New New w for all Christmas Parties Year.� Watch on Freeform Dec. 13 11a excludes alcohol.
Mexican Restaurant & Cantina & (JCCT t
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BY JAY BOBBIN
New This Season
NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE WITH ANDERSON COOPER AND ANDY COHEN
Her voice has been missing from “The Voice” lately, but music superstar and three-time Grammy Award winner Stefani remains very much in business with NBC, as proven by her headlining of this new offering that’s sure to integrate many favorite songs of the season – getting Stefani’s distinctive twists – as well as some of her hits. Guests will join her in holiday-themed skits, too.
GWEN STEFANI HOLIDAY SPECIAL
BOB’S BURGERS SUNDAY, DEC. 10 FOX >> A new holiday edition of the animated, Emmywinning comedy holds to its tradition of seasonal episodes – but this one also marks a first for the show by running for a full hour. “Girls” alum Adam Driver, who’s now a member of the “Star Wars” movie family, is among the guest voices in a highly musical tale that finds Bob (voice of H. Jon Benjamin) and his family again marking Christmas in their own unique way.
TUESDAY, DEC. 12 NBC
SUNDAY, DEC. 31 CNN >> It’s the start of another era for the cable news network’s annual celebration of the beginning of a new year, as CNN staple Cooper gets a new co-host in his longtime friend Cohen, of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” (and Fox’s “Love Connection” revival, which will return). Of course, they’ll be stationed in New York’s Times Square for to observe the descent of the illuminated globe, with various guests stopping by.
Don’t be a mean one Since the first airing of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on CBS in 1966, this adaptation of the Dr. Seuss children’s book has evolved into an annual holiday viewing tradition. Legendary animator Chuck Jones directed this story about a green-skinned grouch who sets out to spoil Christmas for the citizens of Whoville. Boris Karloff provides narration, with additional voices by Thurl Ravenscroft and June Foray. Watch on TBS Dec. 9 8p; TNT Dec. 22 7p; 9:45p; NBC Dec. 25 8p
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“The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special” CBS
Ginger- “I still go back to ‘A Christmas Story.’ I have great nostalgia for it. My grandmother and my aunt and I always watched it together. My grandmother was such a funny woman, and that was the epitome of her humor. It really meant something to our family.”
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ABC News
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“Scorpion” CBS
Carol- “‘It’s a W Wonderful Life’ ... with my favorite movie star, im (Stewart). It was Jimmy his favorite movie, and it was also (director) Frank Capra’s favorite movie that he did.”
Katharine- “It would probably be ‘Love Actually.’ That’s a pretty good one.”
“There’s something about the message of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ that’s really beautiful. It’s just a special one; I still get emotional about it. Also, National Lampoon’s ‘Christmas Vacation’ ... I can recite every word of that one, and it still cracks me up to this day. And I love ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ too; that’s really a year-round movie, though it has to do with Christmas.”- Maggie
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Osbou r “Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour” History
Jack“ ‘Nightmare Before Christmas!!’ ”
Osbourne y z Oz “Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour” History
Ozzy “ ‘Bad Santa’ ”
Robert Taylor “Longmire” Netflix Maggie Lawson “Psych: The Movie” USA
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Our favorite holiday TV
“Ever hear of a movie called ‘Withnail and I’? It’s about two young actors in London in the late ‘60s, and I watch that once a year. It always makes me laugh. There’s a whole cult of people who know every word in that movie.”Robert
Tony Denison “Major Crimes” TNT “It would have to be ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ As I watched that movie and the older I got, I would start crying sooner and sooner and sooner in the movie. Now the last time I watched, I started crying when the pharmacist smacks George Bailey in the ear. And from that point on, I start to cry … . “ - Tony
Michelle Dockery
Elizabeth Henstridge
“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” ABC
“Good Behavior” on TNT and “Godless” Netflix
“Each year, my auntie makes an Advent calendar and puts all different types of tea bags in it. She sends it through the mail on the run-up to Christmas, and I know I’ll be going home to England, so it just makes me get my ‘happy levels’ up for going home.”
“In our family, we always buy each ach other glish. g Terry’s Chocolate Orange. It’s English. It’s always in our stocking and it’s been a nd sherry. y tradition for years in our family. And ou wake Before you do anything, actually, you up – me and my sisters wake up and d we open a bottle of sherry. And that’s thee first thing we do on Christmas day (laughs). ). It’s the way to go – crack open the sherryy and and you’re good to go.”
Jennifer Nettles
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” NBC
“I hate to be clichéd, but (my son) Magnus was born on Dec. 6, and that’s close enough for me. I’d say that’s the best holiday gift I’ve both received and given!”
Reba McEntire
Melissa McBride
“The Walking Dead” AMC
“My favorite Christmas gift was a book that my dad gave me years ago. It was a big coffee table book about Leonardo da Vinci. But that my dad thought to give me that book was my favorite thing about the book.”
best. gift. ever.
Jeff Daniels
“CMA Country Christmas” ABC
“Godless” Netflix
“We were very fortunate. We always had Christmas presents. Mama and Daddy took very good care of us kids. It wasn’t anything elaborate, but we always got to unwrap something on Christmas morning.”
Nick Gehlfuss “Chicago Med” NBC
“I’ve paid my dues, and this is a point where I want to give back -- I always have, but I want to raise the bar a little more -- so I like it when I get something that says a donation to something has been made in my name.”
“Anything my kids make for me. Recently we’ve done, ‘You don’t need to go spend money. Save your money. You don’t need to be overspending on gifts for me and Mom.’ Kathleen and I have said, ‘Make something. It could be anything.’ And those mean a lot.”
John C. McGinley “Stan Against Evil” IFC
“My wife every year does these photography books that you can send your pictures to Apple and then they make a book for you and then you have the book. And she does them of the year. And so every year now since I never really want anything, I just want that book. And it’s not quite a coffee table book but it’s a little bigger than maybe it should be. And every year, I want that Apple photography book of the year. Nothing makes me happier.”
Angelique Cabral “Life in Pieces” CBS
“Well, that would be my engagement ring! My husband proposed to me two days before Christmas, and I was blown away.”
Brian Louden
“Mythbusters” Science Channel
It’s not a normal holiday for everyone, but for my birthday I was given a Leatherman from my father probably about 17 years ago now, and it’s still on my hip right now. And so of all holidays and all gifts, I’ve got to go with that Leatherman as probably the most important one to me.
Jon Lung “Mythbusters” Science Channel My favorite gift is the one I bought myself, which is a Leatherman I use now. … And I was like, ‘You know what? I need a tool.’ And I bought it for myself as a ‘selfholiday gifting.’ It’s just something that I use so often and so much that like – I don’t know, there’s nothing else I own that I use that much.
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Christmas Food Network’s with
Eddie Jackson -It’s about the meal
BY GEORGE DICKIE If you are spending Christmas with Eddie Jackson and his family, you will be assured of three things: There will be many guests, you will be among talented chefs and you will eat well. And interestingly, the Houston food truck maven and host of such Food Network series as “Kids BBQ Championship” and “Christmas Cookie Challenge” will likely not be at the stove. “My dad just cooks anything under the sun …,” Jackson explains. “He knows that I cook for a living so he kind of leaves all the cooking to himself and he kind of lets me take a break, which is always a good thing.” Indeed, when Jackson visits his father and family for the holiday in Dallas, the senior likes to show off his chops in the kitchen. And that starts with the protein. If it’s turkey, it is either smoked or roasted. If it’s smoked it’s done low and slow – at least four hours for a 14-18 pound bird. If it’s roasted, stuffing enters the picture. “We just do a straightforward, made-from-scratch dressing (with an unsweetened cornbread base),” Jackson says. Other side dishes can include baked macaroni and cheese and turnip or collard greens. For this they turn to a cookbook written by Jackson’s grandmother, Ruth Jackson, a professional chef. “We do ours the old-fashioned way, so we cook ours with some sort of meat,” Jackson says of the greens. “We like to use like a smoked turkey leg and basically we just simmer it all day long so that the greens are really nice and tender.” And for dessert, it’s sweet potato or pecan pie – made from fresh pecans from the backyard pecan tree. The beverage isn’t fancy, beer or whiskey, and on the TV is always sports – appropriate since Jackson is an ex-NFL cornerback. “Basketball is usually for Christmas,” Jackson says. “You know, they have three or four basketball games that come on Christmas Day so that’s what we’re watching.”
- Nonstick cooking spray, for spraying the parchment paper
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Any Age Can Ride
Season’s Streamings BY GEORGE DICKIE
“A Christmas Prince”
(Netflix, now streaming): Filmed in Romania, this Netflix original comedy movie stars Rose McIver (“iZombie,” “Once Upon a Time”) as an aspiring young New York journalist who is sent to Europe to get the scoop on a handsome prince who is about to be crowned king. Sarah Douglas (“Stargate: SG-1,” “Superman II”), Alice Krige (“The OA,” “Thor: The Dark World”), Theo Devaney (“Supernatural,” “Becoming Sophie”) and Honor Kneafsey (“Sherlock,” “Miss You Already”) are also in the cast.
“Christmas Eve”
(Hulu, now streaming): Six groups of New Yorkers find themselves trapped in elevators when a power failure strikes on Christmas Eve, forcing them to interact with one another to comedic, romantic and transcendent effect in this comedy movie. Patrick Stewart (“Blunt Talk”), Gary Cole (“Veep”), James Roday (“Psych”), Jon Heder (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) are among those in the large cast.
“Christmas, Again” (Sundance now streaming): This independent romance movie stars Kentucker Audley (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”) as a broken-hearted Christmas tree salesman who returns to his hometown of New York City to put the past behind him. Working the night shift and living in a trailer, his future looks ever dimmer until his rescue of a mysterious woman and the appearance of some colorful customers snap him out of his funk. Hannah Gross (“Mindhunter”), Craig Butta and Martin Courtney head a cast of unknowns.
“Click Clack Moo: Christmas at the Farm”
(Amazon, now streaming): In this animated children’s special, it’s Christmas at the farm and the animals are getting together to get Farmer Brown the gift of his dreams – the Tumbletron 300 clothes dryer. It’s a race against time for them – and for Duck, who needs to bump up his “nice” numbers to get off Santa’s naughty list.
A Festivus for the rest of us The “Seinfeld” episode “The Strike,” which originally aired in 1997, sees Kramer going back to work after a (12-year) long strike from the bagel shop and Elaine accidentally giving out a fake phone number on the back of a free sandwich coupon. But what makes this a real classic holiday episode revolves around George and his father celebrating an alternative holiday called Festivus that they created together many years ago. Watch on TBS Dec. 22 2:30p; Dec. 23 8p; Dec. 26 12a; Also streaming on Hulu and Crackle
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HOLIDAY PROGRAMS and SPECIALS DEC. 1
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer Grandmother goes missing on Christmas Eve. CW 8 pm Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic (N) Featured magicians include Jarret and Raja, Jonathan Pendragon, Ed Alonzo, Jibrizy, and Les Arnold. CW 9 pm
DEC. 2
Holiday Baking Championship Taking the fruitcake to a new level; the yule log. FOOD 9 pm The Tall Man At a Christmas party, Billy accidentally starts a fight and kills a man in self-defense. GET TV 9:15 pm Holiday Baking Championship The holiday flavors of peppermint and hot chocolate must be used in a dessert; holiday breakfast. FOOD 10 pm The Ugly Christmas Sweater (N) A woman hopes to impress her new boss, but she is forced to wear an ugly Christmas sweater. LIFETIME 10:02 pm
DEC. 3 School of Rock (N) Kale tries to get into the Holiday pageant; Dewey tries to recreate Freddy’s Christmas traditions. NICK 7:30 pm Christmas at Tiffani’s Tiffani and her husband host a party for friends, serving turkey, dressing and potatoes au gratin. COOK 8 pm Dear Santa After a girl tells her mailman that her mother is sad, he decides to bring gifts to the mother. LIFETIME 10:02 pm
DEC. 4
Holiday Baking Championship The remaining bakers are challenged to construct gingerbread worlds filled with all sorts of treats. FOOD 7 pm
DEC. 5
Chopped Gabriele Corcos, Kelsey Nixon, Roger Mooking and Jim Stacy take on a holiday challenge. FOOD 8 pm Perry Como: Christmas in Austria A musical celebration of the holidays takes place in Salzburg, the Alps and other Austrian environs; with Sid Caesar and the Vienna Boys Choir. GET TV 8 pm
DEC. 6
Unwrapped Sweet holiday treats. Host: Marc Summers. COOK 7 pm Iron Chef America Three teams must cook with the most feared ingredients from previous holiday battles. FOOD 7 pm A Very Pentatonix Christmas Pentatonix performs holiday favorites with special guests, including Jennifer Hudson. NBC 8 pm Saturday Night Live Holiday-themed sketches. NBC 9 pm Unwrapped Festive treats; Dove Chocolate Discoveries party; yams and sweet potatoes; pumpkin pie; gingerbread. COOK 9 pm
DEC. 7
Chopped It’s holiday time and the chefs discover ingredients for their holidayinspired dishes. FOOD 7 pm Chopped The stars of Food Network’s “The Kitchen” compete to win a holiday gift for a favorite charity. FOOD 8 pm A Nashville Christmas (N) Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 8 pm Johnny Cash Christmas 1983 Johnny Cash presents a Christmas music special with country stars Merle Haggard and Ricky Skaggs. GET TV 9 pm Mac Davis Special: The Music of Christmas Singer-songwriter Mac Davis
hosts a holiday special with a blend of soul, pop and country music. GET TV 10 pm Beat Bobby Flay Chefs Blythe Beck and Mark Allen battle for the chance to spoil Bobby’s Christmas. FOOD 10:30 pm
Holiday Trap (N) When a couple on the brink of divorce get stuck in an elevator, they realize where they went wrong. LIFETIME 10:02 pm
DEC. 8
Celebrity Food Fight Dean Cain, Joey McIntyre, Richard Blais and Katie Lee join Andy Richter for a night of holiday food. COOK 8 pm Celebrity Food Fight Jackee Harry, Ross Mathews, John O’Hurley and Carnie Wilson stop by for a night of food and games. COOK 8:30 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 10 pm
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives A shoulder pull and a holiday ham; Mexican tamales and quinoa sweet potato tacos. FOOD 7:30 pm Cupcake Wars Bakers compete to have their treats displayed at the New York City Ballet’s opening night party. COOK 8 pm The Big Bang Theory An attractive comic book artist tests Leonard and Priya’s relationship. TBS 8:30 pm Cupcake Wars Cupcakes presented at the Hollywood Christmas Parade. COOK 9 pm Cupcake Wars A chance to serve cupcakes at a party for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade in Chicago. COOK 10 pm
DEC. 9 Sugar Showdown Bakers must use candy canes in the elimination round; bakers face a toy shop-themed showdown. COOK 7 pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Boris Karloff narrates an animated tale about a curmudgeon and merry Whoville. TBS 7 pm Sugar Showdown Bakers face eggnog in the elimination round; the final two compete for the championship title. COOK 7:30 pm The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story An elf named Chippey tries to help a boy who is struggling to believe in the magic of Christmas. TBS 7:30 pm Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Burl Ives narrates an animated tale about Santa’s sleigh guide. CBS 8 pm Frosty the Snowman The jolly soul heads north to avoid the heat. CBS 9 pm Frosty Returns A snow-removal spray threatens magic Frosty. CBS 9:30 pm
A ‘Miracle’ for 70 years In the Oscar-winning 1947 classic, “A Miracle on 34th Street,” Edmund Gwenn plays a Macy’s Santa who gets into trouble when he claims he’s the real Kriss Kringle. In a city full of imposters, he can’t find anyone -- not even a little girl (Natalie Wood) -- willing to believe in him. With skeptics ridiculing him at every turn, Kringle has no choice but to take his case to court. Only one young lawyer has enough faith to defend him. Maureen O’Hara and John Payne also star. Watch on AMC Dec. 16 8p; Dec. 17 1:15p; Dec. 21 8p; Dec. 23 8a; Dec. 24 12:30p; SundanceTV Dec. 10 3p; 5:15p; 7:30p: 9:45p; Dec. 25 8:30a; 4p
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DEC. 10
DEC. 11
Family Guy Peter comes up with a way to get more customers for his and Lois’ cookie store. TBS 7 pm Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic (N) FREEFORM 8 pm The Best Thing I Ever Ate Coconut gold bars; traditional fruit cake. COOK 8:30 pm
DEC. 12
Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2017 (N) Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight host a countdown of the world’s best holiday commercials. CW 8 pm Gwen Stefani Holiday Special (N) NBC 9 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 13
Johnny Cash Christmas 1983 Johnny Cash presents a Christmas music special with country stars Merle Haggard and Ricky Skaggs. GET TV 8 pm
Unwrapped Holiday treats and traditions. COOK 9 pm
DEC. 14
Chopped Gabriele Corcos, Kelsey Nixon, Roger Mooking and Jim Stacy take on a holiday challenge. FOOD 7 pm iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 (N) The annual concert event. CW 8 pm The Johnny Cash Christmas Show In this 1977 holiday special, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Jerry Lee Lewis and others perform. GET TV 8 pm A Chef’s Life Holiday Special Chef Vivian Howard’s holiday celebration features Southern cooking and Hanukkah traditions. PBS 9 pm The Big Bang Theory The gang heads to Stuart’s comic book store to celebrate Halloween. TBS 9 pm A Chef’s Life Holiday Special Chef Vivian Howard’s holiday celebration features Southern cooking and Hanukkah traditions. PBS HD 9 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 9 pm The Andy Williams Christmas Show Holiday favorites with Lorrie Morgan and the Osmond Brothers. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 15
Cake Wars Edible toys; when Santa’s sleigh is broken the teams must create displays of Santa’s new ride. COOK 7 pm The 86th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (N) The event features character balloons, celebrity-filled cars and live musical performances. CW 8 pm Cake Wars Creating displays of Santa in space; transforming Christmas songs into an edible creation. COOK 8 pm Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Rolando Villazon (N)
Tenor Rolando Villazon joins the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a performance of seasonal favorites. PBS 9 pm Cake Wars Displays celebrating the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”; judge Lindsey Schulz. COOK 9 pm Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Rolando Villazon (N) Tenor Rolando Villazon joins the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a performance of seasonal favorites. PBS HD 9 pm Cake Wars The final two teams are tasked with creating edible Snow Globes and the ultimate gingerbread house. COOK 10 pm
DEC. 16 The Tall Man At a Christmas party, Billy accidentally starts a fight and kills a man in self-defense. GET TV 8 pm The Restless Gun Bonner, the marshal and their prisoner take shelter in a Spanish mission on Christmas Eve. GET TV 8:40 pm A Grandpa for Christmas A grouchy cashier is transformed by a child’s love when she asks him to be her grandpa. LIFETIME 10:02 pm
DEC. 17 A Christmas Story Live! (N) In the 1940s, little Ralphie tries to convince his parents to get him a BB gun for Christmas. FOX 7 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 7 pm Last Tango in Halifax (N) Caroline must move the family before Christmas; Alan has a difficult conversation wtih Gillian. PBS 8 pm Last Tango in Halifax (N) Caroline must move the family before Christmas; Alan has a difficult conversation wtih Gillian. PBS HD 8 pm The Best Thing I Ever Ate Coconut gold bars; traditional fruit cake. COOK 9:30 pm
The Simpsons Eating green goo turns Homer into a rampaging blob; Bart brings Golem to life; alien invasion. FXX 10 pm The Johnny Cash Christmas Show In this 1977 holiday special, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Jerry Lee Lewis and others perform. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 18
Family Guy The guys go to an abandoned asylum, where they kill a man who they think is keeping them hostage. TBS 7 pm Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic (N) Disney cast members and Santa’s helpers transform Disney theme parks and resorts for the holidays. FREEFORM 8 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 19
The Simpsons Homer seeks extra cash for his family’s Christmas gifts. FXX 8 pm The Simpsons Scrooge-like Homer spends a pile of cash on himself at Christmastime. FXX 10:30 pm
DEC. 20
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer Grandmother goes missing on Christmas Eve. CW 8 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 8 pm The Top 12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time (N) Dean Cain counts down films that define the holidays. CW 9 pm Doctor Who Earth’s population falls under the shadow of the sinister alien Sycorax. BBC-A 9 pm Doctor Who A bride mysteriously vanishes as she prepares to marry her boyfriend. BBC-A 10 pm
DEC. 21
The Simpsons When Homer stays out drinking with Moe on Christmas Eve, Marge tells him not to come home. FXX 8 pm Vanessa Williams & Friends: Christmas in New York Singer-actress Vanessa Williams hosts a concert benefiting City Harvest, a charity providing food for the homeless. Performers include Phil Collins, Babyface and Shania Twain. GET TV 8 pm The Simpsons When a leak at the power plant causes snowfall in Springfield, tourists inundate the town. FXX 8:30 pm Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Rolando Villazon Tenor Rolando Villazon joins the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a performance of seasonal favorites. PBS 9 pm Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Rolando Villazon Tenor Rolando Villazon joins the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a performance of seasonal favorites. PBS HD 9 pm The Simpsons Thirty years in the future, Bart, Lisa and their children plan a big family holiday. FXX 9 pm The Simpsons Homer accidentally destroys the town church; Lisa explores different religions. FXX 10 pm Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town A mailman (the voice of Fred Astaire) explains Santa. Animated. FREEFORM 10:55 pm
DEC. 22
Family Guy Peter runs into Jesus at the mall and learns he’s still a virgin. TBS 7 pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Boris Karloff narrates an animated tale about a curmudgeon and merry Whoville. TNT 7 pm I Love Lucy Christmas Special (N) CBS 8 pm Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic Featured magicians include Jarret and Raja,
Don’t be left out in the cold A viewing tradition for all ages, nothing beats the original, as Frosty tries to make it to the North Pole before he melts. The adventure isn’t complete without some “magical” trouble along the way but there’s always the happy ending! Make sure you don’t miss any of Frosty’s happy-jolly performances this season. Watch “Frosty the Snowman” on CBS Dec. 9 9p; “Frosty Returns” on CBS Dec. 9 9:30p; “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” on Freeform Dec. 2 1:30a; Dec. 19 7a; Dec. 25 7a; “Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July” on Freeform Dec. 9 7a; Dec. 13 12a
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HOLIDAY PROGRAMS and SPECIALS Jonathan Pendragon, Ed Alonzo, Jibrizy, and Les Arnold. CW 8 pm Doctor Who In order to save Amy and Rory, The Doctor must save the soul of a lonely miser. BBC-A 8 pm The Simpsons Homer accidentally destroys the town church; Lisa explores different religions. FXX 8:30 pm Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2017 Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight host a countdown of the world’s best holiday commercials. CW 9 pm Christmas at Belmont 2017 (N) Students at Belmont University’s School of Music present traditional carols and seasonal favorites. PBS 9 pm Christmas at Belmont 2017 (N) Students at Belmont University’s School of Music present traditional carols and seasonal favorites. PBS HD 9 pm The Simpsons Scrooge-like Homer spends a pile of cash on himself at Christmastime. FXX 9 pm Doctor Who A woman and her children encounter the Doctor. BBC-A 9:20 pm The Simpsons Homer relates the Nativity; Grampa plans to kill Santa. FXX 9:30 pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Boris Karloff narrates an animated tale about a curmudgeon and merry Whoville. TNT 9:45 pm Surprise! Instant Xmas Carol! Celebrity carolers sing unique renditions of Christmas songs for people in need of holiday cheer. TBS 10 pm The Simpsons Marge tries to save Christmas when the rest of the family seems to lack holiday spirit. FXX 10 pm The Simpsons Thirty years in the future, Bart, Lisa and their children plan a big family holiday. FXX 10:30 pm
DEC. 23 M*A*S*H Hawkeye writes to his father about Christmas at the camp. SUND 7 pm Good Eats Alton prepares long—lost yuletide classics after being visited by a series of culinary spirits. COOK 8 pm M*A*S*H Father Mulcahy writes of Christmas blues to his sister. SUND 8 pm Seinfeld George’s father invents a new holiday. TBS 8 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 8 pm M*A*S*H The camp throws a Christmas party for Korean orphans. SUND 8:30 pm The Johnny Cash Christmas Show In this 1977 holiday special, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Jerry Lee Lewis and others perform. GET TV 9 pm The Andy Griffith Show Andy and Barney give a Christmas party in the jail. SUND 9:30 pm Doctor Who The Doctor makes sacrifices to save a town called Christmas. BBC-A 9:40 pm All in the Family An expected Christmas bonus falls through. SUND 10 pm Johnny Cash Christmas 1983 Johnny Cash presents a Christmas music special with country stars Merle Haggard and Ricky Skaggs. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 24 Surprise! Instant Xmas Carol! Celebrity carolers sing unique renditions of Christmas songs for people in need of holiday cheer. TBS 7 pm
How Murray Saved Christmas A cranky deli owner finds himself forced to fill in for Santa one Christmas. NBC 7:30 pm The Simpsons Marge tries to save Christmas when the rest of the family seems to lack holiday spirit. FXX 7:30 pm Last Tango in Halifax (N) Caroline tells Gillian the truth about why she had to take the new headship. PBS 8 pm Doctor Who Creatures attack The Doctor and Clara while they are trapped on an Arctic base. BBC-A 8 pm Guy’s Grocery Games Wintertime favorites with eight items or fewer; frugal holiday desserts; the Holiday Food Wheel. FOOD 8 pm A Very Happy Yule Log A glowing yule log; holiday music; a happy cat and dog. HM&M 8 pm Last Tango in Halifax (N) Caroline tells Gillian the truth about why she had to take the new headship. PBS HD 8 pm Doctor Who While hiding from Christmas festivities, the Doctor is recruited to help River Song. BBC-A 9:20 pm Mac Davis Special: The Music of Christmas Singer-songwriter Mac Davis hosts a holiday special with a blend of soul, pop and country music. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 25 Holiday Baking Championship Baking and decorating a sugar cookie tree; a holiday tradition is transformed into a decorated cake. FOOD 7 pm The Simpsons Springfield has Christmas spirit, until Bart ruins everything. FXX 7 pm iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 The annual concert event. CW 8 pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Boris Karloff narrates an animated tale about a curmudgeon and merry Whoville. NBC 8 pm
Please pass the sugar This 2003 comedy “Elf” stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human who was adopted by elves as an infant and grows up thinking he’s just a large version of his adoptive father (Bob Newhart). When Buddy finds out the truth about his parentage, he is crushed and goes out into the real world to find his birth father (James Caan), who has his own family and isn’t interested in rehashing the past. Watch on Freeform Dec. 1 9:15p; Dec. 2 7p; Dec. 4 6:40p; Dec. 5 4:35p; Dec. 6 8:50p; Dec. 7 6:50p; Dec. 10 8:40p; Dec. 11 5:50p; Dec. 13 4:30p; Dec. 14 1:30p; Dec. 15 9:20p; Dec. 16 7:05p; Dec. 18 9p; Dec. 19 4:30p; Dec. 20 8:50p; Dec. 21 6:40p; Dec. 22 11:50p; Dec. 23 12:50p; Dec. 24 9:15p; Dec. 25 6:45p
pg 12 GRACENOTE - 2017 HOLIDAY PREVIEW
Family Guy Peter runs into Jesus at the mall and learns he’s still a virgin. TBS 8 pm The Simpsons Homer accidentally destroys the town church; Lisa explores different religions. FXX 8 pm A Nashville Christmas Join country musicians Emmylou Harris and Wynonna, as well as Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and more. GET TV 8 pm Family Guy Peter accidentally gives away all the Christmas presents; Brian burns Lois’ dinner. TBS 8:30 pm The Simpsons Scrooge-like Homer spends a pile of cash on himself at Christmastime. FXX 8:30 pm Family Guy Peter shares his version of the Nativity story. TBS 9 pm The Simpsons Homer relates the Nativity; Grampa plans to kill Santa. FXX 9 pm Family Guy Peter fills Lois’ dad with holiday spirit; Stewie only wants one thing for Christmas. TBS 9:30 pm Christmas Cookie Challenge Five confident and daring bakers compete to prove their holiday cookie-making skills. FOOD 10 pm American Dad An injunction prevents Langley Falls from lighting its annual Christmas tree. TBS 10 pm The Simpsons Marge tries to save Christmas when the rest of the family seems to lack holiday spirit. FXX 10 pm American Dad Stan demands a grander Christmas and looks for a bigger tree in the forest, where he meets his end. TBS 10:30 pm The Simpsons Thirty years in the future, Bart, Lisa and their children plan a big family holiday. FXX 10:30 pm
DEC. 27 A Home for the Holidays (N) CBS 8 pm
HOLIDAY MOVIES DEC. 1 Journey Back to Christmas (2016 Drama) Candace Cameron Bure, Oliver Hudson. A nurse from World War II is transported in time to 2016. HM&M 7 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 7:05 pm Home Alone (1990 Comedy) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci. A left-behind boy battles two burglars in the house. ENCORE 8 pm With Love, Christmas (2017 Romance) Emilie Ullerup, Aaron O’Connell. Melanie is assigned her office crush for Secret Santa. HALLMARK 8 pm Miracle in the Wilderness (1991 Western) Kris Kristofferson, Kim Cattrall. A woman tells the Nativity tale to her Blackfoot captors. GET TV 8 pm Christmas in the Air (2017 Romance) Catherine Bell, Eric Close. A professional organizer falls for one of her clients. HM&M 9 pm Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 9:15 pm The Mistletoe Inn (2017 Romance) Alicia Witt, David Alpay. An aspiring author signs up for a romance writing retreat. HALLMARK 10 pm All Mine to Give (1957 Drama) Glynis Johns, Cameron Mitchell. An 1850s immigrant seeks homes for his orphaned siblings. TCM 10 pm
DEC. 2 Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 7 pm A Bramble House Christmas (2017 Romance) David Haydn-Jones, Autumn Reeser. A man investigates why his late father left a nurse $50,000. HM&M 7 pm A Madea Christmas (2013 Comedy) Tyler Perry, Kathy Najimy. Madea dishes out her own brand of Christmas spirit. BET 8 pm Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas! (2011 Comedy) Bridgit Mendler, Leigh-Allyn Baker. Members of a family get separated during the holidays. DISNEY 8 pm Christmas in Evergreen (2017 Romance) Premiere. Ashley Williams, Teddy Sears. A veterinarian wishes upon a snow globe for romance. HALLMARK 8 pm Four Christmases and a Wedding (2017 Romance) Premiere. Arielle Kebbel, Markie Post. Something magical may finally bring a couple together. LIFETIME 8 pm Christmas in Angel Falls (2017 Drama) Premiere. Rachel Boston, Paul Greene. Guardian angel Gabby is sent to the town of Angel Falls. HM&M 9 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Premiere. Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two co-workers throw an epic Christmas party. SHOW 9 pm The Best Man Holiday (2013 ComedyDrama) Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs. Longtime friends reunite over the Christmas holidays. FXX 9 pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 Fantasy) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor. A curmudgeon hates the Christmas-loving Whos of Whoville. FREEFORM 9:10 pm
The Sweetest Christmas (2017 Romance) Lacey Chabert, Lea Coco. A chef makes it to finals of a national baking contest. HALLMARK 10 pm
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006 Comedy) Tim Allen, Martin Short. Jack Frost wants to freeze Santa out of the North Pole. FREEFORM 10:50 pm
DEC. 3
DEC. 4
Engaging Father Christmas (2017 Romance) Wendie Malick, Niall Matter. Ian plans what he thinks is the perfect marriage proposal. HM&M 7 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FX 8 pm Christmas at Holly Lodge (2017 Drama) Premiere. Alison Sweeney, Jordan Bridges. Sophie tries to save her Holly Lodge from a developer. HALLMARK 8 pm My Christmas Prince (2017 Romance) Premiere. Alexis Knapp, Callum Alexander. Samantha has to make a difficult choice during Christmas. LIFETIME 8 pm A Christmas Carol (1999 Fantasy) Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant. Crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge experiences a holiday epiphany. GET TV 8 pm The Santa Clause (1994 Comedy) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold. An adman takes over for fallen Santa. FREEFORM 8:45 pm The Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017 Drama) Premiere. Jessica Lowndes, Brendan Penny. Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened. HM&M 9 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FX 10 pm The Christmas Train (2017 Drama) Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly WilliamsPaisley. A cynical journalist takes a crosscountry train. HALLMARK 10 pm
The Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017 Drama) Jessica Lowndes, Brendan Penny. Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened. HM&M 7 pm Miss Christmas (2017 Romance) Brooke D’Orsay, Marc Blucas. A woman searches for the perfect Christmas tree. HALLMARK 8 pm Christmas on Division Street (1991 Drama) Premiere. Fred Savage, Hume Cronyn. A vagrant takes a teen on a walking tour of Philadelphia. GET TV 8 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 8:50 pm The Christmas Secret (2014 Drama) Bethany Joy Lenz, John Reardon. A struggling single mom searches for a lost family heirloom. HM&M 9 pm A Rose for Christmas (2016 Romance) Rachel Boston, Marc Bendavid. A talented artist takes on a float-building business. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 5 Christmas in Angel Falls (2017 Drama) Rachel Boston, Paul Greene. Guardian angel Gabby is sent to the town of Angel Falls. HM&M 7 pm Christmas Festival of Ice (2017 Romance) Taylor Cole, Damon Runyan. Emma is determined to keep an icesculpting contest going. HALLMARK 8 pm
It’s the Holiday Armadillo! On this classic episode of “Friends,” when his son, Ben (Cole Mitchell Sprouse), comes to stay with him for the holidays, Ross (David Schwimmer) seizes the opportunity to teach the boy about his Jewish heritage. But Ben’s little heart belongs to Santa, Rudolph and all those great tunes. Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) feels the need to sow seeds of discontent between Rachel and Joey (Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc) before moving back in with Rachel in “The One With the Holiday Armadillo.’’ Watch on TBS Dec. 22 11:30a; Dec. 23 5 p; Dec. 24 8:30a Also streaming on Netflix
GRACENOTE - 2017 HOLIDAY PREVIEW pg 13
HOLIDAY MOVIES The Polar Express (2004 Fantasy) Voices of Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter. Animated. A conductor guides a boy to the North Pole. FREEFORM 8:55 pm A Bramble House Christmas (2017 Romance) David Haydn-Jones, Autumn Reeser. A man investigates why his late father left a nurse $50,000. HM&M 9 pm I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1997 Drama) Ann Jillian, Robert Hays. Former high-school sweethearts reunite on Christmas Eve. GET TV 9 pm A Dream of Christmas (2016 Drama) Nikki DeLoach, Andrew Walker. A married woman’s wish to be single is magically granted. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 6 I’ll Be Home for Christmas (2016 Drama) James Brolin, Mena Suvari. A woman and her estranged father spend Christmas together. HM&M 7 pm Switched for Christmas (2017 Drama) Estranged identical twins decide to swap lives up until Christmas Day. HALLMARK 8 pm A Song for the Season (1999 Drama) Naomi Judd, Andy Griffith. A superintendent is forced to cut the school music program. GET TV 8 pm Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 8:50 pm Home Alone (1990 Comedy) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci. A left-behind boy battles two burglars in the house. ENCORE 9 pm Christmas Homecoming (2017 Drama) Julie Benz, Michael Shanks. A widow and a soldier team up to save a town’s museum. HM&M 9 pm
Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHO2 9 pm Christmas in Homestead (2016 Romance) Michael Rady, Taylor Cole. An actress is shocked when a romance blooms. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 7
Journey Back to Christmas (2016 Drama) Candace Cameron Bure, Oliver Hudson. A nurse from World War II is transported in time to 2016. HM&M 7 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHOW 7:45 pm With Love, Christmas (2017 Romance) Emilie Ullerup, Aaron O’Connell. Melanie is assigned her office crush for Secret Santa. HALLMARK 8 pm The Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017 Drama) Jessica Lowndes, Brendan Penny. Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened. HM&M 9 pm The Night Before (2015 Comedy) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Three lifelong friends party in New York on Christmas Eve. STARZ 9:57 pm The Christmas Train (2017 Drama) Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly WilliamsPaisley. A cynical journalist takes a crosscountry train. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 8
Christmas in Evergreen (2017 Romance) Ashley Williams, Teddy Sears. A veterinarian wishes upon a snow globe for romance. HALLMARK 8 pm A Christmas Carol (1951 Fantasy) Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison. A London miser meets cautionary spirits. TCM 8 pm
Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas (1977 Comedy-Drama) Robert Young, Jane Wyatt. The Anderson clan gets together for a holiday celebration. GET TV 8 pm Engaging Father Christmas (2017 Romance) Wendie Malick, Niall Matter. Ian plans what he thinks is the perfect marriage proposal. HM&M 9 pm Scrooge (1935 Fantasy) Seymour Hicks, Donald Calthrop. Ghosts visit miserly Scrooge on Christmas Eve. TCM 9:45 pm A Heavenly Christmas (2016 Drama) Kristin Davis, Eric McCormack. A workaholic becomes a Christmas angel after death. HALLMARK 10 pm Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (1991 Docudrama) Richard Thomas, Edward Asner. Holiday woe prompts a girl’s 1897 query to the New York Sun. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 9 A Song for Christmas (2017 Romance) Becca Tobin, Kevin McGarry. A stranded pop star finds refuge at a family’s dairy farm. HM&M 7 pm Why Him? (2016 Comedy) James Franco, Bryan Cranston. A man disapproves of his daughter’s awkward boyfriend. HBO2 7:38 pm Christmas Encore (2017 Romance) Premiere. Maggie Lawson, Brennan Elliott. An actress finds renewed passion for her craft at Christmas. HALLMARK 8 pm Christmas in Mississippi (2017 Romance) Premiere. Jana Kramer, Wes Brown. Holly finds love when she returns to her hometown. LIFETIME 8 pm Love the Coopers (2015 Comedy-Drama) Alan Arkin, John Goodman. Family members gather for a Christmas Eve celebration. SHO2 8 pm
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 ComedyDrama) James Stewart, Donna Reed. A guardian angel strengthens a man ruined by a miser. USA 8 pm Miracle in the Wilderness (1991 Western) Kris Kristofferson, Kim Cattrall. A woman tells the Nativity tale to her Blackfoot captors. GET TV 8 pm The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006 Comedy) Tim Allen, Martin Short. Jack Frost wants to freeze Santa out of the North Pole. FREEFORM 8:35 pm Christmas Cottage (2017 Drama) Premiere. Merritt Patterson, Steve Lund. A cynical designer decorates the romantic Christmas cottage. HM&M 9 pm Marry Me at Christmas (2017 Romance) Rachel Skarsten, Trevor Donovan. Wedding planner unexpectedly falls for the bride’s brother. HALLMARK 10 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 10:45 pm
DEC. 10 A Joyous Christmas (2017 Romance) Natalie Knepp, Michael Rady. A motivational speaker learns the true meaning of Christmas. HM&M 7 pm Miracle on 34th Street (1947 Fantasy) Maureen O’Hara, John Payne. An adwoman’s boyfriend defends Macy’s Santa in court. SUND 7:30 pm Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 8:40 pm Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle (2017 Drama) Premiere. Jill Wagner, Luke McFarlane. Casey wishes his
Do you smell what I smell? “ ‘Twas the week before Christmas and fate played a joke. No tree and no presents, Homer was broke!” In the first-ever episode of “The Simpsons,” “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” Marge has to spend all the family’s Christmas present money getting Bart’s tattoo removed, so Homer gets a job as Santa but bets all his wages on a dog with a festive name – Santa’s Little Helper. FXX Dec. 19 8p; Dec. 21 11:30p; Dec. 25 6p; Also streaming on Amazon
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mother Maggie could find love. HM&M 9 pm Miracle on 34th Street (1947 Fantasy) Maureen O’Hara, John Payne. An adwoman’s boyfriend defends Macy’s Santa in court. SUND 9:45 pm A Gift to Remember (2017 Romance) Peter Porte, Ali Liebert. A hopeless romantic finds love with a handsome stranger. HALLMARK 10 pm Four Christmases (2008 RomanceComedy) Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon. A couple must somehow fit in four holiday visits with family. FREEFORM 10:50 pm
DEC. 11 Home for Christmas Day (2017 Romance) Catherine Bell, Victor Webster. A woman begins a long-distance relationship with a soldier. HM&M 7 pm The Christmas Gift (1986 Drama) John Denver, Jane Kaczmarek. A man and his daughter visit a town of Santa Claus believers. GET TV 8 pm The Polar Express (2004 Fantasy) Voices of Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter. Animated. A conductor guides a boy to the North Pole. FREEFORM 9 pm Christmas Homecoming (2017 Drama) Julie Benz, Michael Shanks. A widow and a soldier team up to save a town’s museum. HM&M 9 pm I’m Not Ready for Christmas (2015 Comedy) Alicia Witt, George Stults. Santa Claus makes a perpetual liar tell the truth. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 12 Christmas Cottage (2017 Drama) Merritt Patterson, Steve Lund. A cynical designer decorates the romantic Christmas cottage. HM&M 7 pm
Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 8 pm A Gift to Remember (2017 Romance) Peter Porte, Ali Liebert. A hopeless romantic finds love with a handsome stranger. HALLMARK 8 pm A Christmas Carol (1999 Fantasy) Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant. Crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge experiences a holiday epiphany. GET TV 8 pm The Santa Clause (1994 Comedy) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold. An adman takes over for fallen Santa. FREEFORM 8:50 pm The Perfect Christmas Present (2017 Romance) Sam Page, Tara Holt. A man helps clients find gifts for their loved ones. HM&M 9 pm Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 10 pm A Wish for Christmas (2016 Drama) Lacey Chabert, Paul Greene. Sara asks Santa for the courage to stand up for herself. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 13 The Christmas Secret (2014 Drama) Bethany Joy Lenz, John Reardon. A struggling single mom searches for a lost family heirloom. HM&M 7 pm This Christmas (2007 Comedy-Drama) Premiere. Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba. A reunion at the holidays tests family ties. AMC 8 pm My Christmas Dream (2016 Drama) Danica McKellar, David Haydn-Jones. A manager has to choose between her dreams and her heart. HALLMARK 8 pm Why Him? (2016 Comedy) James Franco, Bryan Cranston. A man disapproves of his daughter’s awkward boyfriend. HBO 8 pm
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006 Comedy) Tim Allen, Martin Short. Jack Frost wants to freeze Santa out of the North Pole. FREEFORM 8:50 pm Christmas in Angel Falls (2017 Drama) Rachel Boston, Paul Greene. Guardian angel Gabby is sent to the town of Angel Falls. HM&M 9 pm A Christmas Carol (1999 Fantasy) Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant. Crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge experiences a holiday epiphany. TNT 9 pm The Christmas Wish (1998 Drama) Neil Patrick Harris, Debbie Reynolds. A man looks for a woman named in his late granddad’s diary. GET TV 9 pm Christmas at Holly Lodge (2017 Drama) Alison Sweeney, Jordan Bridges. Sophie tries to save her Holly Lodge from a developer. HALLMARK 10 pm A Christmas Carol (1984 Fantasy) George C. Scott, Angela Pleasence. Christmas Eve spiritual visitations enlighten an old miser. AMC 10:30 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHOW 10:30 pm
DEC. 14 The Christmas Note (2015 Drama) Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Leah Gibson. Gretchen and Melissa grow closer until they uncover a huge surprise. HM&M 7 pm Deck the Halls (2006 Comedy) Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick. Neighbors clash over decoration glare. AMC 8 pm Christmas Encore (2017 Romance) Maggie Lawson, Brennan Elliott. An actress finds renewed passion for her craft at Christmas. HALLMARK 8 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide
backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 8:50 pm The Christmas Card (2006 Romance) Ed Asner, John Newton. A soldier falls for a woman who wrote a well-wishing card. HM&M 9 pm Ernest Saves Christmas (1988 Comedy) Premiere. Jim Varney, Douglas Seale. Santa turns to a wacky cabbie in his search for a successor. AMC 10 pm Christmas in Evergreen (2017 Romance) Ashley Williams, Teddy Sears. A veterinarian wishes upon a snow globe for romance. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 15 The Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017 Drama) Jessica Lowndes, Brendan Penny. Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened. HM&M 7 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 7:10 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FX 8 pm A December Bride (2016 Drama) Jessica Lowndes, Daniel Lissing. Layla and Seth pretend to be a couple for a wedding. HALLMARK 8 pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 ComedyDrama) James Stewart, Donna Reed. A guardian angel strengthens a man ruined by a miser. USA 8 pm Once Upon a Christmas (2000 Fantasy) John Dye, Kathy Ireland. The daughter of Santa Claus must prove the spirit of Christmas. GET TV 8 pm A Bramble House Christmas (2017 Romance) David Haydn-Jones, Autumn Reeser. A man investigates why his late father left a nurse $50,000. HM&M 9 pm
‘I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG …’ With so many memorable moments of the holiday staple “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” this year we pay tribute to Aunt Bethany played by Mae Questel. Though her cat-wrapped lines were few, they sure bring plenty of laughs. This was Questel’s last film ever made. Her other notable work includes pro viding the voices of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. “Play ball!” Freeform Dec. 1 7:05p; Dec. 2 4:50p; Dec. 4 8:50p; Dec. 5 6:45p; Dec. 7 12a, 2:35p; Dec. 9 10:45p; Dec. 10 6:30p; Dec. 12 7:30a; Dec. 14 8:50p; Dec. 15 7:10p; Dec. 17 10:45p; Dec. 18 10:40a; Dec. 19 8:50p; Dec. 20 11:05a; Dec. 23 7a, 7:10p; Dec. 24 4:25p; Dec. 25 2:35p, 8:50p; Dec. 26 6:45p
GRACENOTE - 2017 HOLIDAY PREVIEW pg 15
HOLIDAY MOVIES Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 9:20 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FX 10 pm Coming Home for Christmas (2017 Romance) Danica McKellar, Neal Bledsoe. A woman preps an estate for sale and one final family gala. HALLMARK 10 pm Holiday Affair (1949 Romance) Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh. Two men want to marry war widow for Christmas. TCM 10 pm Twice Upon a Christmas (2001 Fantasy) Kathy Ireland, John Dye. Santa’s daughter becomes engaged to a widower with children. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 16
Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle (2017 Drama) Jill Wagner, Luke McFarlane. Casey wishes his mother Maggie could find love. HM&M 7 pm Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 7:05 pm Miracle on 34th Street (1947 Fantasy) Maureen O’Hara, John Payne. An adwoman’s boyfriend defends Macy’s Santa in court. AMC 8 pm Christmas Next Door (2017 Romance) Premiere. A bachelor is left in charge of his niece and nephew. HALLMARK 8 pm Snowed-Inn Christmas (2017 Romance) Premiere. Bethany Joy Lenz, Andrew W. Walker. Jenna and Kevin help to save a historic town inn. LIFETIME 8 pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 Fantasy) Jim Carrey,
Jeffrey Tambor. A curmudgeon hates the Christmas-loving Whos of Whoville. FREEFORM 9:15 pm The Mistletoe Inn (2017 Romance) Alicia Witt, David Alpay. An aspiring author signs up for a romance writing retreat. HALLMARK 10 pm White Christmas (1954 Musical Comedy) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye. Four entertainers try to save an innkeeper from ruin. AMC 10:15 pm
friends party in New York on Christmas Eve. FX 10 pm With Love, Christmas (2017 Romance) Emilie Ullerup, Aaron O’Connell. Melanie is assigned her office crush for Secret Santa. HALLMARK 10 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 10:45 pm
DEC. 17
DEC. 18
Journey Back to Christmas (2016 Drama) Candace Cameron Bure, Oliver Hudson. A nurse from World War II is transported in time to 2016. HM&M 7 pm Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 8 pm The Night Before (2015 Comedy) Premiere. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Three lifelong friends party in New York on Christmas Eve. FX 8 pm Romance at Reindeer Lodge (2017 Romance) Premiere. Robert Pine, Josh Kelly. Two cynics spend the holidays at a Christmas-themed ranch. HALLMARK 8 pm Miracle in the Wilderness (1991 Western) Kris Kristofferson, Kim Cattrall. A woman tells the Nativity tale to her Blackfoot captors. GET TV 8 pm Christmas Connection (2017 Comedy) Premiere. Brooke Burns, Tom Everett Scott. Sydney is invited to spend the holidays with a family. HM&M 9 pm Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 10 pm The Night Before (2015 Comedy) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Three lifelong
Christmas Connection (2017 Comedy) Brooke Burns, Tom Everett Scott. Sydney is invited to spend the holidays with a family. HM&M 7 pm This Christmas (2007 Comedy-Drama) Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba. A reunion at the holidays tests family ties. AMC 8 pm The Mistletoe Inn (2017 Romance) Alicia Witt, David Alpay. An aspiring author signs up for a romance writing retreat. HALLMARK 8 pm A Christmas Carol (1999 Fantasy) Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant. Crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge experiences a holiday epiphany. TNT 8 pm A Song for the Season (1999 Drama) Naomi Judd, Andy Griffith. A superintendent is forced to cut the school music program. GET TV 8 pm Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 9 pm Christmas in Angel Falls (2017 Drama) Rachel Boston, Paul Greene. Guardian angel Gabby is sent to the town of Angel Falls. HM&M 9 pm Christmas List (2016 Romance) Alicia Witt, Gabriel Hogan. Isobel tries to complete a bucket list of traditions. HALLMARK 10 pm
New Year’s Eve (2011 Romance-Comedy) Halle Berry, Jessica Biel. New Yorkers’ lives intertwine on New Year’s Eve. TNT 10:16 pm A Christmas Carol (1984 Fantasy) George C. Scott, Angela Pleasence. Christmas Eve spiritual visitations enlighten an old miser. AMC 10:30 pm
DEC. 19
A Princess for Christmas (2011 Comedy) Katie McGrath, Roger Moore. An English duke reconnects with members of his family. HM&M 7 pm Deck the Halls (2006 Comedy) Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick. Neighbors clash over decoration glare. AMC 8 pm
The Polar Express
Cary Grant’s angelic role turns 70
David Niven stars as busy bishop Henry Brougham in the 1947 tale “The Bishop’s Wife,” directed by Henry Koster. Brougham is attempting to get a new cathedral constructed, to the detriment of his marriage to Julia (Loretta Young). Dudley (Cary Grant) is an angel just trying to help the bishop realize what, and whom, he has before it’s too late. As he gets to know Julia, Dudley begins to fall in love with her -- definitely not part of his job description. Watch on TCM Dec. 17 2:15p; Dec. 24 8p
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Finding Santa (2017 Romance) A woman rushes to find a St. Nick replacement for a parade. HALLMARK 8 pm Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (1991 Docudrama) Richard Thomas, Edward Asner. Holiday woe prompts a girl’s 1897 query to the New York Sun. GET TV 8 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 8:50 pm A Joyous Christmas (2017 Romance) Natalie Knepp, Michael Rady. A motivational speaker learns the true meaning of Christmas. HM&M 9 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHO2 9 pm Ernest Saves Christmas (1988 Comedy) Jim Varney, Douglas Seale. Santa turns to a wacky cabbie in his search for a successor. AMC 10 pm Romance at Reindeer Lodge (2017 Romance) Robert Pine, Josh Kelly. Two cynics spend the holidays at a Christmasthemed ranch. HALLMARK 10 pm A Town Without Christmas (2001 Drama) Patricia Heaton, Rick Roberts. A child’s letter to Santa unites a reporter and a novelist. GET TV 10 pm
DEC. 20 The Perfect Christmas Present (2017 Romance) Sam Page, Tara Holt. A man helps clients find gifts for their loved ones. HM&M 7 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. STARZ 7:13 pm
Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 8 pm The Night Before (2015 Comedy) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Three lifelong friends party in New York on Christmas Eve. FX 8 pm Christmas in Evergreen (2017 Romance) Ashley Williams, Teddy Sears. A veterinarian wishes upon a snow globe for romance. HALLMARK 8 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FXX 8 pm Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 8:50 pm Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 10 pm The Night Before (2015 Comedy) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Three lifelong friends party in New York on Christmas Eve. FX 10 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FXX 10 pm
DEC. 21
Christmas in the Air (2017 Romance) Catherine Bell, Eric Close. A professional organizer falls for one of her clients. HM&M 7 pm Miracle on 34th Street (1947 Fantasy) Maureen O’Hara, John Payne. An adwoman’s boyfriend defends Macy’s Santa in court. AMC 8 pm Romance at Reindeer Lodge (2017 Romance) Robert Pine, Josh Kelly. Two cynics spend the holidays at a Christmasthemed ranch. HALLMARK 8 pm
The Polar Express (2004 Fantasy) Voices of Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter. Animated. A conductor guides a boy to the North Pole. FREEFORM 8:50 pm A Christmas to Remember (2016 Drama) Mira Sorvino, Cameron Mathison. A TV personality gets amnesia after a car crash. HM&M 9 pm Christmas Next Door (2017 Romance) A bachelor is left in charge of his niece and nephew. HALLMARK 10 pm White Christmas (1954 Musical Comedy) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye. Four entertainers try to save an innkeeper from ruin. AMC 10:15 pm
Ebenezer Scrooge experiences a holiday epiphany. GET TV 8 pm Almost Christmas (2016 ComedyDrama) Danny Glover, Gabrielle Union. A widower and his bickering family gather for the holidays. HBO2 8:30 pm Christmas Homecoming (2017 Drama) Julie Benz, Michael Shanks. A widow and a soldier team up to save a town’s museum. HM&M 9 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHOW 9 pm
DEC. 22 The Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017 Drama) Jessica Lowndes, Brendan Penny. Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened. HM&M 7 pm Love the Coopers (2015 Comedy-Drama) Alan Arkin, John Goodman. Family members gather for a Christmas Eve celebration. SHOW 7 pm Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987 Comedy) Steve Martin, John Candy. A stranded ad exec and a salesman make unlikely co-travelers. ENCORE 7:25 pm The Santa Clause (1994 Comedy) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold. An adman takes over for fallen Santa. FREEFORM 7:30 pm The Christmas Train (2017 Drama) Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly WilliamsPaisley. A cynical journalist takes a crosscountry train. HALLMARK 8 pm Christmas in Connecticut (1945 Comedy) Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan. A newspaper columnist is made to play host to a war hero. TCM 8 pm A Christmas Carol (1999 Fantasy) Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant. Crotchety
The Santa Clause
‘It’s a Wonderful’ … heat wave? The 1946 film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was originally shot in the summer during a tremendous heat wave. If you pay close attention, George Bailey (played by James Stewart) can be seen sweating. However, thanks to Hollywood magic, everything looks cold and snowy. This movie also introduced a new kind of artificial snow that was used for the very first time using a fire-fighting chemical Foamite, mixed with sugar and water to make 6,000 gallons of winter wonderland. Watch on USA Network Dec. 9 8p; Dec. 10 1a; Dec. 15 8p; Dec. 16 10a; NBC Dec. 24 8p
GRACENOTE - 2017 HOLIDAY PREVIEW pg 17
HOLIDAY MOVIES The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006 Comedy) Tim Allen, Martin Short. Jack Frost wants to freeze Santa out of the North Pole. FREEFORM 9:40 pm Christmas Encore (2017 Romance) Maggie Lawson, Brennan Elliott. An actress finds renewed passion for her craft at Christmas. HALLMARK 10 pm Remember the Night (1940 RomanceComedy) Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray. An assistant DA takes a shoplifter home for the holidays. TCM 10 pm I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1997 Drama) Ann Jillian, Robert Hays. Former high-school sweethearts reunite on Christmas Eve. GET TV 10 pm A Christmas Carol (1999 Fantasy) Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant. Crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge experiences a holiday epiphany. TNT 10:15 pm
DEC. 23 A Bramble House Christmas (2017 Romance) David Haydn-Jones, Autumn Reeser. A man investigates why his late father left a nurse $50,000. HM&M 7 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 7:10 pm Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 8 pm Christmas Getaway (2017 Romance) Premiere. Bridget Regan, Travis Van Winkle. A travel writer decides to go on a Christmas trip, alone. HALLMARK 8 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two co-
workers throw an epic Christmas party. SHO2 8 pm The Best Man Holiday (2013 ComedyDrama) Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs. Longtime friends reunite over the Christmas holidays. FXM 8 pm Christmas Cottage (2017 Drama) Merritt Patterson, Steve Lund. A cynical designer decorates the romantic Christmas cottage. HM&M 9 pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 Fantasy) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor. A curmudgeon hates the Christmas-loving Whos of Whoville. FREEFORM 9:20 pm A Christmas Carol (1984 Fantasy) George C. Scott, Angela Pleasence. Christmas Eve spiritual visitations enlighten an old miser. AMC 10 pm A Gift to Remember (2017 Romance) Peter Porte, Ali Liebert. A hopeless romantic finds love with a handsome stranger. HALLMARK 10 pm The Best Man Holiday (2013 ComedyDrama) Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs. Longtime friends reunite over the Christmas holidays. FXM 10:20 pm
DEC. 24
The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FX 7 pm Home Alone (1990 Comedy) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci. A left-behind boy battles two burglars in the house. ENCORE 7:08 pm A Christmas Carol (1984 Fantasy) George C. Scott, Angela Pleasence. Christmas Eve spiritual visitations enlighten an old miser. AMC 7:30 pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 ComedyDrama) James Stewart, Donna Reed. A guardian angel strengthens a man ruined by a miser. NBC 8 pm
Switched for Christmas (2017 Drama) Estranged identical twins decide to swap lives up until Christmas Day. HALLMARK 8 pm Fred Claus (2007 Comedy) Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti. Santa’s ne’er-dowell brother puts Christmas in jeopardy. HBO 8 pm A Christmas Story (1983 Comedy) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin. A boy tries to convince his parents to get him a BB gun. TBS 8 pm The Bishop’s Wife (1947 Fantasy) Cary Grant, Loretta Young. An angel saves a cleric and his wife from woe. TCM 8 pm A Christmas Story (1983 Comedy) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin. A boy tries to convince his parents to get him a BB gun. TNT 8 pm The Night Before (2015 Comedy) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Three lifelong friends party in New York on Christmas Eve. FXX 8 pm Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas (1977 Comedy-Drama) Robert Young, Jane Wyatt. The Anderson clan gets together for a holiday celebration. GET TV 8 pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002 Comedy) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell. Santa must get married in order to keep his job. FX 9 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHOW 9 pm Elf (2003 Comedy) Will Ferrell, James Caan. A man leaves Santa’s workshop to search for his family. FREEFORM 9:15 pm Finding Santa (2017 Romance) A woman rushes to find a St. Nick replacement for a parade. HALLMARK 9:30 pm
Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. AMC 10 pm A Christmas Story (1983 Comedy) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin. A boy tries to convince his parents to get him a BB gun. TBS 10 pm The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945 Drama) Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman. A carefree singing priest clashes with a no-nonsense nun. TCM 10 pm A Christmas Story (1983 Comedy) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin. A boy tries to convince his parents to get him a BB gun. TNT 10 pm The Night Before (2015 Comedy) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Three lifelong friends party in New York on Christmas Eve. FXX 10 pm
Home Alone
As for me and Grandpa, we believe! A familiar holiday tune -- and one that’s more off-color than most -- is translated into an animated show as the “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” special sets visuals to the long-popular Elmo and Patsy song. A youngster has his suspicions about why his grandmother is missing on Christmas Eve. His quest to find her involves his not-as-pure-minded cousin (voice of Michele Lee, “Knots Landing’’). Watch on The CW Dec. 1 8p; Dec. 20 8p; Freeform Dec. 21 7a; Dec. 22 7a
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DEC. 25
DEC. 26
A Song for Christmas (2017 Romance) Becca Tobin, Kevin McGarry. A stranded pop star finds refuge at a family’s dairy farm. HM&M 7 pm Home Alone (1990 Comedy) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci. A left-behind boy battles two burglars in the house. ENCORE 7:08 pm A Christmas Carol (1984 Fantasy) George C. Scott, Angela Pleasence. Christmas Eve spiritual visitations enlighten an old miser. SUND 8:15 pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 Fantasy) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor. A curmudgeon hates the Christmas-loving Whos of Whoville. NBC 8:30 pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. A traditional Griswold yuletide backfires in comic fashion. FREEFORM 8:50 pm Christmas in the Air (2017 Romance) Catherine Bell, Eric Close. A professional organizer falls for one of her clients. HM&M 9 pm Miracle in the Wilderness (1991 Western) Kris Kristofferson, Kim Cattrall. A woman tells the Nativity tale to her Blackfoot captors. GET TV 9 pm A Dream of Christmas (2016 Drama) Nikki DeLoach, Andrew Walker. A married woman’s wish to be single is magically granted. HALLMARK 10 pm Why Him? (2016 Comedy) James Franco, Bryan Cranston. A man disapproves of his daughter’s awkward boyfriend. HBO2 10:15 pm Scrooged (1988 Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. TV-network bigshot meets Christmas ghosts. SUND 10:45 pm
Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle (2017 Drama) Jill Wagner, Luke McFarlane. Casey wishes his mother Maggie could find love. HM&M 7 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHOW 7:15 pm Four Christmases (2008 RomanceComedy) Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon. A couple must somehow fit in four holiday visits with family. FREEFORM 8:55 pm The Christmas Secret (2014 Drama) Bethany Joy Lenz, John Reardon. A struggling single mom searches for a lost family heirloom. HM&M 9 pm A December Bride (2016 Drama) Jessica Lowndes, Daniel Lissing. Layla and Seth pretend to be a couple for a wedding. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 27 Christmas Cottage (2017 Drama) Merritt Patterson, Steve Lund. A cynical designer decorates the romantic Christmas cottage. HM&M 7 pm A Rose for Christmas (2016 Romance) Rachel Boston, Marc Bendavid. A talented artist takes on a float-building business. HALLMARK 8 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHO2 8 pm Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow (2015 Romance) Meghan Ory, Andrew W. Walker. A young woman accepts a ride from a man. HM&M 9 pm Christmas Getaway (2017 Romance) Bridget Regan, Travis Van Winkle. A
travel writer decides to go on a Christmas trip, alone. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 28 A Joyous Christmas (2017 Romance) Natalie Knepp, Michael Rady. A motivational speaker learns the true meaning of Christmas. HM&M 7 pm A Gift to Remember (2017 Romance) Peter Porte, Ali Liebert. A hopeless romantic finds love with a handsome stranger. HALLMARK 8 pm The Perfect Christmas Present (2017 Romance) Sam Page, Tara Holt. A man helps clients find gifts for their loved ones. HM&M 9 pm The Mistletoe Inn (2017 Romance) Alicia Witt, David Alpay. An aspiring author signs up for a romance writing retreat. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 29 The Christmas Card (2006 Romance) Ed Asner, John Newton. A soldier falls for a woman who wrote a well-wishing card. HM&M 7 pm Christmas Next Door (2017 Romance) A bachelor is left in charge of his niece and nephew. HALLMARK 8 pm Christmas in Angel Falls (2017 Drama) Rachel Boston, Paul Greene. Guardian angel Gabby is sent to the town of Angel Falls. HM&M 9 pm My Christmas Dream (2016 Drama) Danica McKellar, David Haydn-Jones. A manager has to choose between her dreams and her heart. HALLMARK 10 pm
DEC. 30 A Royal New Year’s Eve (2017 Romance) Premiere. An aspiring fashion designer meets a prince. HALLMARK 8 pm
Christmas Connection (2017 Comedy) Brooke Burns, Tom Everett Scott. Sydney is invited to spend the holidays with a family. HM&M 9 pm Christmas in Evergreen (2017 Romance) Ashley Williams, Teddy Sears. A veterinarian wishes upon a snow globe for romance. HALLMARK 10 pm Office Christmas Party (2016 Comedy) Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn. Two coworkers throw an epic Christmas party. SHOW 10 pm
DEC. 31 Christmas in Angel Falls (2017 Drama) Rachel Boston, Paul Greene. Guardian angel Gabby is sent to the town of Angel Falls. HM&M 7 pm Coming Home for Christmas (2017 Romance) Danica McKellar, Neal Bledsoe. A woman preps an estate for sale and one final family gala. HALLMARK 8 pm New Year’s Eve (2011 RomanceComedy) Halle Berry, Jessica Biel. New Yorkers’ lives intertwine on New Year’s Eve. TBS 8 pm The Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017 Drama) Jessica Lowndes, Brendan Penny. Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened. HM&M 9 pm A Royal New Year’s Eve (2017 Romance) An aspiring fashion designer meets a prince. HALLMARK 10 pm New Year’s Eve (2011 Romance-Comedy) Halle Berry, Jessica Biel. New Yorkers’ lives intertwine on New Year’s Eve. TBS 1 0:30 pm Why Him? (2016 Comedy) James Franco, Bryan Cranston. A man disapproves of his daughter’s awkward boyfriend. HBO2 10:45 pm
Bidding farewell to another year Following the pattern of his “Valentine’s Day,’’ director Garry Marshall assembles another huge cast in a multiplotted 2011 salute to another holiday, “New Year’s Eve.” Featured are Hilary Swank as the executive overseeing the traditional ball drop in Times Square, Sarah Jessica Parker as a mother concerned about her teen daughter’s (Abigail Breslin) plans and Robert De Niro as a hospital patient. Halle Berry, Lea Michele and Jon Bon Jovi are among the many others on hand. Watch on TNT Dec. 18 10:16p; TBS Dec. 31 8p, 10:30p
GRACENOTE - 2017 HOLIDAY PREVIEW pg 19
Cookies and candy may be sweet, but customers like you are our favorite treat! As we enjoy another holiday season, we’d like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation for the friendship and support of our many customers here in the community. Your trust means the world to us, and we thank you for making 2017 such a wonderful year. It is truly our pleasure to serve you, and we look forward to seeing you again soon. From our family to yours, best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!
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