“Dunk the Halls” (Disney+ — Dec. 25, Special Premiere)
Disney, ESPN and the NBA are teaming up to present the first real-time animated NBA game using Sony’s Beyond Sports technology. Streaming on Christmas Day, the special sees the New York Knicks — led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — host the San Antonio
Spurs and Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul at a virtual Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. As the real-life game plays out, iconic Disney Characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, plus Santa Claus and Elves from “Prep and Landing,” provide addition entertainment.
sports this week
BASEBALL
6 p.m. CHSN White Sox Prospects Encore 2024: Norfolk Tides at Charlotte Knights. From July 31, 2024.
BASKETBALL
Sunday
12 p.m. WLS Women’s College Basketball NC State at Louisville. From the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. (L)
1 p.m. ESPN2 Women’s College Basketball West Virginia at Temple. From the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. (L)
9 p.m. ESPN2 The Last Dance Episode 9. The Bulls path to a sixth title only gets more challenging.
10 p.m. ESPN2 The Last Dance Episode 10. The Bulls look for a perfect ending for “The Last Dance.”
Monday
2 p.m. ESPN2 NBA Today (L)
Tuesday
2 p.m. ESPN NBA Today (L)
3 p.m. ESPN2 NBA Today
6 p.m. ESPN North Carolina vs. Florida. From Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (L)
ESPN2 Michigan State vs. Oakland. From Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. (L)
7 p.m. WLS NBA Countdown (L)
7:30 p.m. WLS NBA Cup, Championship: Teams TBA. (L)
8 p.m. ESPN2 Oklahoma vs. Michigan. From Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (L)
12 a.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater. Jennifer juggles wedding plans and movie premieres.
1 a.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Getting Messy in Mexico. Unexpected guests threaten to upend the trip to Mexico.
Wednesday
2 p.m. ESPN NBA Today (L)
3 p.m. ESPN2 NBA Today
6 p.m. ESPN2 Memphis at Virginia. From John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. (L)
CHSN Murray State at Indiana State. From Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind. (L)
8 p.m. ESPN2 Oklahoma vs. Michigan. From Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (L)
8:30 p.m. CHSN Murray State at Indiana State. From Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind.
11:30 p.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Shots Poured, Shots Fired. The ladies throw Jennifer a bachelorette party.
12:30 a.m. VH1 Basketball Wives You Can’t Even Spell Wife. The ladies heal old wounds on their trip to Mexico.
Thursday
10 a.m. CHSN Murray State at Indiana State. From Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind. (L)
2 p.m. ESPN NBA Today (L)
3 p.m. ESPN2 NBA Today
5:30 p.m. TNT NBA Tip-Off NBA Tip-Off Presented by Carmax.
6 p.m. CHSN Bulls Countdown Live (L) TNT Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic. From Kia Center in Orlando, Fla. (L)
6:30 p.m. CHSN Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics. From TD Garden in Boston. (L)
8:30 p.m. TNT New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves. From the Target Center in Minneapolis. (L)
9 p.m. CHSN Bulls Postgame Live (L)
11 p.m. TNT Inside the NBA Inside the NBA Presented by Kia. (L)
12 a.m. TNT Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic. From Kia Center in Orlando, Fla.
VH1 Basketball Wives Sisterhood of the Traveling Drama. The ladies return; Jackie’s talk show dreams become reality.
1 a.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Evelyn tries to broker peace between Malaysia and Jackie.
Friday
1 p.m. CHSN Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics. From TD Garden in Boston.
7 p.m. WFLD WYZZ St. John’s at Providence. From Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. (L)
10 p.m. CHSN Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics. From TD Garden in Boston.
12 a.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Malaysia confronts her grief over her brother’s murder.
1 a.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Jackie dials up the volume on her peacemaking efforts.
Saturday
11 a.m. ESPN Syracuse vs. Maryland. From Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. (L) ESPN2 Women’s College Basketball Duke at South Florida. From Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla. (L)
WBBM WMBD Inside College Basketball (L)
WFLD WYZZ Marquette at Xavier. From Cintas Center in Cincinnati. (L)
WGN SMU at Boston College. From the Conte Forum in Boston. (L)
11:30 a.m. WBBM WMBD Mississippi State at Memphis. From the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn. (L)
1 p.m. ESPN College Basketball Live Scoreboard (L)
WGN Louisville at Florida State. From the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla. (L)
1:30 p.m. ESPN Wake Forest at Clemson. From Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. (L)
2 p.m. WBBM WMBD UCLA vs. North Carolina. From Madison Square Garden in New York. (L)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Purdue vs. Auburn. (L)
4 p.m. ESPN2 Women’s College Basketball
4:30 p.m. WBBM WMBD Ohio State vs. Kentucky. From Madison Square Garden in New York. (L)
6:30 p.m. CHSN Bulls Countdown Live (L)
7 p.m. CHSN Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls. From the United Center in Chicago. (L)
WFLD WYZZ Women’s College Basketball USC at Connecticut. From XL Center in Hartford, Conn. (L)
9:30 p.m. CHSN Bulls Postgame Live (L)
10 p.m. CHSN Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls. From the United Center in Chicago. 11:30 p.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Malaysia and Jackie come face to face; OG opens up.
12:30 a.m. VH1 Basketball Wives Malaysia and Jackie try to compromise; Nia has some gossip.
FOOTBALL
Sunday
9 a.m. ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (L)
ESPN2 Fantasy Football Now (L)
10 a.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
WPWR WYZZ FOX NFL Kickoff (L)
10:30 a.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly
11 a.m. WFLD WYZZ FOX NFL Sunday (L)
12 p.m. WBBM WFLD WMBD WYZZ NFL Football (L)
3:25 p.m. WBBM WFLD WMBD NFL Football (L)
6 p.m. WEEK WMAQ Football Night in America (L)
6:30 p.m. WFLD WYZZ The OT (L)
7:15 p.m. WEEK WMAQ Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks. From Lumen Field in Seattle. (L)
10:30 p.m. WFLD Bears Game Night Live
Monday
2 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (L)
4 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live
5 p.m. ESPN Monday Night Countdown (L)
CHSN Big College Football Show
5:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
WFLD Bears Game Night Live
7 p.m. WLS Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings. From U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (L)
7:30 p.m. ESPN Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders. From Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (L)
9:30 p.m. CHSN Big College Football Show
10:30 p.m. ESPN Monday Night Postgame (L)
12:30 a.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
Tuesday
1 p.m. ESPN2 College Football Live (L)
1:30 p.m. ESPN2 This Is Football
3 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (L)
3:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
4 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live
5 p.m. CHSN Big College Football Show
5:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
8 p.m. ESPN Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl: Teams TBA. From Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (L)
9:30 p.m. WFLD 1st & North
1 a.m. ESPN2 NFL Live
1:30 a.m. WFLD 1st & North
Wednesday
12:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
1 p.m. ESPN2 College Football Live (L)
1:30 p.m. ESPN2 Always College Football
3 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (L)
3:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
4 p.m. ESPN2 College Football Live
4:30 p.m. ESPN Boca Raton Bowl: Teams TBA. From FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. (L)
5 p.m. CHSN Big College Football Show (L)
5:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show (L)
8 p.m. ESPN LA Bowl: Teams TBA. From SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. (L)
CHSN Big College Football Show
WGN Inside the NFL Week 15. Highlights from Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season.
11:30 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live
2 a.m. ESPN2 NFL Live
Thursday
12 p.m. CHSN Big College Football Show
12:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
1 p.m. ESPN2 College Football Live (L)
3 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (L)
3:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
4 p.m. ESPN2 NFL Live
5 p.m. CHSN Big College Football Show (L)
5:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show (L)
6 p.m. ESPN2 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Teams TBA. From Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (L)
1 a.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly
1:30 a.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
2 a.m. ESPN LA Bowl: Teams TBA. From SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Friday
11 a.m. ESPN StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Teams TBA. From Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. (L)
12:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
2:30 p.m. ESPN Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. UCF. From Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
3:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
5 p.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly
5:30 p.m. CHSN The Big Pro Football Show
6 p.m. ESPN College Football Countdown (L)
7 p.m. ESPN Teams TBA. ESPN2 WLS CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (L)
9:30 p.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly
10:40 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 College Football Bowl Game Pre/Post Studio (L)
12:30 a.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly
1 a.m. ESPN CFP First Round: Teams TBA.
Saturday
7:30 a.m. ESPN2 NFL Matchup
8 a.m. ESPN College GameDay (L)
10 a.m. TBS TNT College Football Playoff Pregame (L)
11 a.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly TBS TNT CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (L)
11:30 a.m. WEEK WMAQ Football Night in America (L)
12 p.m. WEEK WMAQ Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs. From Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (L)
1 p.m. ESPN2 NCAA Division II Championship: Teams TBA. From McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. (L)
3 p.m. TBS TNT CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (L)
sports this week
WFLD WYZZ FOX NFL Pregame (L)
3:30 p.m. WFLD WYZZ Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens. From M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (L)
6 p.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly
6:30 p.m. WFLD WYZZ NFL on FOX Postgame (L)
7 p.m. ESPN Teams TBA. ESPN2 WLS CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (L)
10:40 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 College Football Bowl Game Pre/Post Studio (L)
12:30 a.m. CHSN Pro Football Weekly GOLF
Sunday
1 p.m. WEEK WMAQ PGA Tour Golf Grant Thornton Invitational, Final Round. From Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla. (L)
Tuesday
5 p.m. TNT The Crypto.com Showdown: Rory/Scottie vs. Bryson/Brooks From Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. (L)
6 p.m. TBS The Crypto.com Showdown: Rory/Scottie vs. Bryson/Brooks From Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. (L)
Saturday
3 p.m. WEEK WMAQ Golf PNC Championship, Day 1. From Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. (L)
playerprofile
HOCKEY
Sunday
11 a.m. CHSN Chicago Blackhawks at New Jersey Devils. From Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
1:30 p.m. CHSN Blackhawks Countdown Live (L)
2 p.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago. (L)
4:30 p.m. CHSN Blackhawks Postgame (L)
8:30 p.m. CHSN Every Shift
11 p.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
1:30 a.m. CHSN Every Shift
Monday
10 a.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
1 p.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
7 p.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
10 p.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
BY ROBERTO JOZEF
Superstars clash as the Minnesota Timberwolves host the New York Knicks in prime-time matchup
Get your popcorn ready, folks. It’s a star-studded NBA regular-season matchup as Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks visit Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, Dec. 19, at Target Center in Minneapolis, with all the action airing live on TNT.
Last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves reached the Western Conference final for the second time in franchise history. This year, the Timberwolves have set their expectations even higher, with superstar Anthony Edwards already putting up incredible numbers to start the 2024-25 NBA campaign. At press time, Edwards averaged 28.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, while shooting a career-high true shooting percentage of 58.4 percent.
Despite trading longtime Timberwolves player Karl-Anthony Towns during the offseason, the team’s play has remained more or less the same. Now, they’ll be looking to improve on their 56 wins from last season.
Against the New York Knicks, the Timberwolves will need to continue their dominance on defense. Allowing 111 points per game this season, the Timberwolves were ranked among the league’s best, with Rudy Gobert’s presence on the boards remaining a key factor in their defensive line. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference third-place New York Knicks are coming off a strong fourgame winning streak. Star point guard Jalen Brunson averaged 27.8 points and 9.5 assists during that stretch, including a dominant 138-122 victory over the Phoenix Suns, led by Brunson’s 36-point performance. At press time, the Knicks rank 10th in three-pointers made per game this season.
Full name: Anthony Edwards
Birthdate: Aug. 5, 2001
(23)
Birthplace: Atlanta
Height/weight: 6-4/225 pounds
Team(s): Minnesota Timberwolves (2020-present)
Tuesday
10 a.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
1 p.m. CHSN New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
5 p.m. ESPN2 The Point (L)
7 p.m. CHSN Blackhawks Countdown Live (L)
7:30 p.m. CHSN Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago. (L)
10 p.m. CHSN Blackhawks Postgame (L)
10:30 p.m. CHSN Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
Wednesday
10 a.m. CHSN Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
1 p.m. CHSN Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
4:30 p.m. TNT Road to the NHL Winter Classic
5 p.m. TNT Road to the NHL Winter Classic
5:30 p.m. TNT NHL on TNT Face Off NHL on TNT Face Off Presented by Verizon. (L)
6 p.m. TNT Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings. From Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. (L)
8:30 p.m. TNT Florida Panthers at Minnesota Wild. From the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. (L)
10:30 p.m. CHSN Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
11:30 p.m. TNT NHL Post-Game on TNT NHL on TNT Postgame. (L)
Thursday
1 p.m. CHSN Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
9:30 p.m. CHSN Seattle Kraken at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago. (L)
10 p.m. CHSN Blackhawks Postgame (L)
10:30 p.m. CHSN Seattle Kraken at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
Friday
10 a.m. CHSN Seattle Kraken at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
7 p.m. CHSN Seattle Kraken at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
sportsquiz
Honors and achievements: 2x NBA All-Star (2023, 2024), All-NBA Second Team (2024), SEC Rookie of the Year (2020), McDonald’s All-American (2019)
Saturday
11:30 a.m. CHSN Seattle Kraken at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.
2 p.m. CHSN Every Shift
2:30 p.m. CHSN Blackhawks Countdown Live (L)
3 p.m. CHSN Chicago Blackhawks at Calgary Flames. From Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. (L)
5:30 p.m. CHSN Blackhawks Postgame (L)
7 p.m. WPWR AHL Hockey Iowa Wild at Chicago Wolves. From Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. (L)
SKIING
Sunday
3 p.m. WEEK WMAQ FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Beaver Creek - Women’s Super G. SOCCER
Sunday
8 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace. (L)
10:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Manchester City vs. Manchester United. From Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, United Kingdom. (L)
1 p.m. USA Premier League Soccer Chelsea vs. Brentford. From Stamford Bridge in London. (L)
Monday
2 p.m. USA Premier League Soccer AFC Bournemouth vs. West Ham United. (L)
7 p.m. ESPN2 Men’s College Soccer NCAA Tournament, Championship: Teams TBA. From WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. (L)
Friday
1:25 p.m. ESPN2 Bundesliga Soccer Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig. From Allianz Arena in Munich. (L)
Saturday
6:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Aston Villa vs. Manchester City. From Villa Park in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom. (L)
9 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest. From Gtech Community Stadium in London. (L)
11:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal. From Selhurst Park in London. (L)
BY ALEX HENDRY
PWHL: Year Two
1) On Sept. 9, 2024, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) revealed the names and logos for all six franchises. Who enters the 2024-25 season as the defending league champions?
2) The PWHL’s Original Six franchises includes four cities that were also part of the NHL’s Original Six. Name all four matching locations.
3) Who was the inaugural recipient of the Billie Jean King MVP Award?
4) Taylor Heise was selected as the top pick at the 2023 PWHL Entry Draft — who was drafted 1st overall in 2024?
5) Which 4-time Olympic gold medal winner currently serves as the commissioner of the PWHL?
1) Minnesota Frost
2) Boston, Montreal, New York and Toronto
3) Natalie Spooner
4) Sarah Fillier (New York)
5) Jayna Hefford
5
the Kranks ('04) Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Tim Allen. <++ Uncle Buck ('89) John Candy 32 129
BRAVO Housewives "Thelma and Louise Take Flint" Housewives-Atlanta "Into the Woods" Housewives-Atlanta Housewives "Loose Lips Sink Ships" Housewives "Lei It All on the Table" Housewives-Atlanta "Maui Mayhem" Housewives-Atlanta "Aloha & Goodbye" Housewives "Baby Nups & Breakups" Housewives-Atlanta Housewives-Atlanta
33 122 244 SYFY (7:30) <+++ Hook ('91) Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Dustin Hoffman. (:45) <++ Speed Racer ('08) Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, Emile Hirsch (:45) <+++ Cloverfiel d ('08) Mike Vogel, Odette Annable, Michael Stahl-David <+++ Pacific Rim ('13)Diego Klattenhoff, Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam 34 107 249 COM <++ The Longest Yard ('05) Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, Adam Sandler. <+++ Wedding Crashers ('05) Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken, Owen Wilson. <++ 50 First Dates ('04) Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Adam Sandler. <+++ The Wedding Singer ('98) Drew Barrymore,Christine Taylor, Adam Sandler. <++ 50 First Dates ('04) Adam Sandler.
35 105 242 USA Premier League Soccer Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace (N) (Live) Premier (N) (Live) Premier League Soccer Manchester Cit y vs. Manchester United (N) (Live) Premier (N) (Live) Premier Soccer Chelsea vs. Brentford From Stamford Brid ge in London. (N) (Live) Law-SVU "All Pain Is One Malady" Law & Order: SV U "Truth Embargo" Law & Order: SV U "The Punch List"
Women at war: Tyler Perry war epic boosts morale on Netflix
For some in our day and age, low morale could stem from something like a personal loss, a change in one’s financial or medical situation, or a global pandemic. For others, like those in Netflix’s newest drama, low morale is a pandemic in and of itself.
In the war epic “The Six Triple Eight,” premiering Friday, Dec. 20, on Netflix, multihyphenate filmmaker Tyler Perry (“Zatima”) joins forces with actress and entrepreneur Kerry Washington (“Scandal”) to tell the remarkable story of a group of women who dedicated themselves to boosting soldier morale during World War II. Tasked with a daunting and perilous duty, members of the Black women’s U.S. Army battalion, known collectively as the 6888th, risked their lives to deliver a backlog of undelivered mail to American soldiers on the front lines.
Billed by Netflix as “the inspiring story of World War II’s only Women’s Army Corps Unit of color,” “The Six Triple Eight” is a period drama which focuses on “the quiet heroism of everyday individuals.” Nearing the end of the war, soldier morale was at an all-time low as battles dragged on all over Europe and several supporting efforts continued on the home front. Due to the massive loss of life and increasingly dangerous condi-
tions abroad, much of the United States’ outgoing mail — which largely consisted of messages of hope and important news from loved ones — failed to reach its intended recipients overseas.
Aware of the ever-growing backlog, philanthropist, educator and human rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune (portrayed by Oprah Winfrey, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” 2017) approached then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (played by Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, “Dead Man Walking,” 1996) to discuss the creation of a military unit to address the nearly 17 million pieces of mail for delivery, some of which dated back as far as three years. Thus, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, or Six Triple Eight, was born, and Maj. Charity Adams (Washington) was assigned as its strong and capable leader.
The idea for “The Six Triple Eight” came to writer/director Perry as something he felt called to after having been approached by producer Nicole Avant (“Wag the Dog,” 1997), who wished to film a movie based on a Kevin Hymel article in WWII History Magazine. The article, titled “WAC Corporal Lena Derriecott and the 6888th Central Postal Battalion,” was an interview with battalion member Lena Derriecott King, whom Perry met later, in preparation for the film. Ninety-nine years old at the time, Derriecott King told Perry “that her decision to enlist was spurred by the death of her friend, a Jewish man named Abram David, on his first combat mission for the U.S. Army Air Forces” (per Backstage).
“She got really emotional, saying to me that he had died within a few weeks of being in the war,” Perry said to the Backstage interviewer. “And to see her emotion after 70-plus years, I thought, ‘Wow!’”
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan in “Dexter: Original Sin”
Michael C. Hall narrates this “Dexter” prequel, which joins the murderous vigilante at the beginning of his career, working as an intern at the Miami-Metro Police Department. In his youth, young Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson) begins experiencing strong, dark urges when his father (Christian Slater) faces a health scare, changing his life forever. “Dexter: Original Sin” makes its debut this Sunday, Dec. 15, on Showtime, with a first look available at youtube.com/ watch?v=f_Q936R8Hwk
celebrity q&a
This two-hour special delivers some festive fun to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, as Little Big Town takes to the stage and performs some Christmas classics and brand-new songs, alongside guests like Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Kirk Franklin, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson and Orville Peck. Celebrate the holiday season with “Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry,” airing Monday, Dec. 16, on NBC. To learn more about the event, visit nbc.com/nbc-insider/ little-big-town-christmas-at-the-opry-details
Whoopi Goldberg OF THE VIEW ON ABC
BY JAY BOBBIN
Q: I’m used to seeing Whoopi Goldberg as a co-host of “The View,” but didn’t she once have a comedy series?
A: A couple of them, in fact. The first was a weekly CBS version of the movie “Bagdad Cafe” that ran for two seasons (1990-91), teaming Goldberg with “All in the Family” veteran Jean Stapleton. They played very dissimilar people who operated a rundown combination of gas station, diner and motel in the Mojave Desert. Cleavon Little (“Blazing Saddles,” 1974) was also in the cast as the Goldberg character’s husband.
Goldberg had much more of a creative say in her next try at a sitcom, as indicated by the show’s name ... “Whoopi.” It lasted a single season (2003-04) on NBC and had a certain thematic link to “Bagdad Cafe,” since Goldberg played a hotel operator, albeit one in Manhattan. The humor of the show often was topical, with politics and ethnicity among the subjects as Mavis Rae (Goldberg) dealt with her employees and guests. One episode reunited Goldberg with her fellow “Ghost” (1990) star Patrick Swayze, while another teamed her again with Eli Wallach, with whom she worked in the movie “The Associate” (1996).
Though they weren’t comedies, Goldberg also did ongoing duty on several other programs. She portrayed Guinan in a recurring role on the syndicated “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-94); she made an early attempt at a talk show with the syndicated “The Whoopi Goldberg Show” (1992-93), which ran for a half-hour on weeknights, as opposed to the usual hour-long length of such ventures; and she was the narrator of “The Con” (2020-22), an ABC series recounting true crimes and compiling interviews with people who were involved in the featured situations.
Milauna Jackson, Kerry Washington and Ebony Obsidian in “The Six Triple Eight”
Rachael Ray’s Holidays
A&E 9 a.m.
Keep your winter meals warm and hearty, with a brand-new episode airing of this holiday loving cooking show. This week, TV personality Rachael Ray shows how to make a lasagne with layers of cime di rapa, ricotta and ragu sauce with sweet sausage.
Christmas With The Chosen: Holy Night WGN 6 p.m.
This unique dramatic and musical experience tells the story of Jesus’ birth through the eyes of his parents Mary (Sara Anne) and Joseph (Raj Bond) as they travel to Bethlehem. Features an exclusive performance from Andrea and Matteo Bocelli.
The Sound of Music WLS 6 p.m.
Julie Andrews stars as Maria, a young nun who leaves the convent to become a governess, in this beloved musical. The film is based on the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical and also stars Christopher Plummer as the widowed dad, Capt. Von Trapp.
Following Yonder Star HALL 7 p.m.
Once a famed TV mom, Abby (Brooke D’Orsay) finds her life a wreck due to a scandal. She hopes to find respite in a luxury Vermont inn during Christmas, but a booking snafu leaves her without a room until a local B&B owner (John Brotherton) steps up.
Yellowstone PAR 7 p.m.
This season has been a roller coaster well before Gov. John Dutton (Kevin Costner) met his untimely demise at the hands of adopted son Jamie (Wes Bentley) and Sarah (Dawn Olivieri). This series finale will hope to answer all lingering questions.
An Evening With Dua Lipa WBBM WMBD 7:30 p.m.
With her latest album, “Radical Optimism,” hitting all the right notes, Grammy winner Dua Lipa is ready to celebrate the holidays with new songs, her greatest hits and a duet with Elton John in this new concert special from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Dua Lipa performs in “An Evening With Dua Lipa”
M <+ Zookeeper ('11) Kevin James. (:15) <+ Mr. Deeds ('02)Adam Sandler. (:15) <++
With the Kranks ('04) (:15) <++ Click ('06) Kate Beckinsale, Adam Sandler. < National Lampoon's Christma T Nestor <+++ Rudy ('93) Ned Beatty, Sean Astin. <++ Snow Day Chris Elliott. <++ National Lampoon's Vacation ('83) <+ Vegas Vacation ('97) Chevy Chase <+++ Elf ('03) W <++ Nanny McPhee Returns ('10) Emma Thompson. <++ Nanny McPhee ('05) <++ Fred Claus ('07) Paul Giamatti, Vince Vaughn. <++ Four Christmases ('08) < Christmas With th Th < March of the Wooden Soldiers (:45) <++ Ghostbusters II ('89) Bill Murray. (:15) <+++ Big ('88) Elizabeth Perkins, Tom Hanks. (:45) <+++ The Polar Expres s ('04) < National Lampoon's Christma F <+++ Gremlins ('84) Phoebe Cates, Zach Galligan. <+++ Trading Places ('83) Dan Aykroyd < National Lampoon's European Vacation <++ National Lampoon's Vacation ('83) < The Great Outdoors
M (7:30) <+++ Buried ('10) <+ Repo Men ('10)Forest Whitaker,Jude Law <+ The Legend of Hercules ('14) <++ Armageddon ('98) Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Bruce Willis. < Olympus Has Fallen
T (7:30) < The Legend of Hercules <++ King Arthur: Legend of the Sword ('17)Charlie Hunnam <+++ Nobody ('21)Bob Odenkirk. <++ Olympus Has Fallen ('13) Gerard Butler. < London Has Fallen
W (7:00) < Planet of the Apes <++ Come Play ('20)Azhy Robertson. <+++ Monster House ('06) <++ Old ('21) Vicky Krieps, Gael Garcí a Bernal. (:55) <++ The Forever Purge ('21)
Th (7:30) <+ Peppermint ('18) (:45) <++ Old ('21)Vicky Krieps, Gael García Bernal. (:15) <++ Life ('17)Jake Gyllenhaal. (:15) <+ Firestarter ('22)Zac Efron. (:20) <++ Halloween Kills ('21)
F < Night of the Wild <++ Happy Death Da y ('17)Jessica Rothe. <+++ The Cabin in the Woods ('11) <+++ The Northman ('22) Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgård. <++ Ambulance ('22) Jake Gyllenhaal.
M Futurama Futurama SouthPark
Hemsworth.
Dark World ('13) Chris Hemsworth. <+++ Thor: Ragnarok ('17) Chris Hemsworth.
Damon.
Tooth
('10)Dwayne Johnson. <+++ Mrs. Doubtfire ('93) Sally Field,Robin Williams <++ Jingle All the Way ('96)
Fou
('15)Miles Teller. < Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer <+++ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ('18) <+++ Spider-Man: No Way Home ('21)
Gentlemen
Spider-Man:
Zendaya,Tom Holland.
Iron Man
('13)Robert Downey Jr..
Holiday Baking Championship FOOD 7 p.m.
Jesse Palmer asks the final bakers to create faux candy desserts, eggnog desserts and gingerbread house cakes for judges Carla Hall, Duff Goldman and Nancy Fuller. In the end, only one baker will be named Holiday Baking Champion and take home $25,000!
Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry WEEK WMAQ 7 p.m.
This two-hour special brings the holidays to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry as Little Big Town performs Christmas classics and brand-new songs with guests Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Kirk Franklin, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson and Orville Peck.
Operation Mistletoe WGN 7 p.m.
The holidays become a weave of love when interior designer Grace (Jen Lilley) is hired by her best friend to decorate a house that Ryan (Nick Bateman), a former classmate and crush, is hoping to sell. Will real estate matchmaking lead to romance?
NFL Football WLS 7 p.m.
The NFC North has been tough from the beginning of the season, and the Minnesota Vikings have been solid throughout behind quarterback Sam Darnold. Can Bears quarterback Caleb Williams score the upset as Chicago visits U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis?
NCIS: Origins WBBM WMBD 9 p.m.
This will be a holiday he’d likely rather forget as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) faces his first holiday season without his wife and daughter. Memories reveal how his tragic circumstances led him to his first day on the job at NCIS.
American Masters WTTW 9 p.m.
This documentary on country, pop, rockabilly and rock ’n’ roll star Brenda Lee examines her early fame and life of poverty and how her work impacted other artists. With her hit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” she is still a force on the charts today.
Kyle Schmid stars in “NCIS: Origins”
Mack Wilberg
FBI WBBM WMBD 7 p.m.
When it comes to cases of tremendous magnitude, whether it be terrorism, organized crime or counterintelligence, it’s best to trust the experts. First class agents from the FBI work day and night to serve and protect their country in each new episode.
LEGO Masters WFLD WYZZ 7 p.m.
Host Will Arnett brings together celebrity guests Sophia Bush, Holly Robinson Peete, Lil Rel Howery and Eric McCormack with past champions for part two of this holiday brick building challenge. Judges Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard name the winners.
The next generation of WWE stars are ready to go head-to-head live from the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Mass., in order to make a name for themselves and move up to the big leagues. Trick Williams, Tony D’Angelo, Zaria and more compete.
Joy — Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir WTTW 7 p.m.
It’s a cast of more than 500 as Broadway star Michael Maliakel and British actress Lesley Nicol join the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra, along with actors and dancers, at Temple Square in Salt Lake City for a night of classic holiday songs.
Night Court WEEK WMAQ 7:30 p.m.
As the Rockefeller Christmas Tree sparkles and busy shoppers head store to store, Abby’s (Melissa Rauch) own holiday plans come to a halt, when a murder mystery causes chaos in the courthouse. Meanwhile, Gurgs (Lacretta) works on etiquette.
Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown FOOD 8 p.m.
It’s only the most wonderful time of the year if someone can take down Bobby Flay. Chefs Damaris Phillips, Eric Adjepong and Brooke Williamson have their holiday wishes squarely on a Flay defeat, while Jeff Mauro adds a dash of spice to the holiday.
5
Ryan Paevey,Cameron Bancroft, Janel Parrish. An event planner discovers Christmas magic and love.
Christmas on Call ('24) Ser'Darius Blain, Erik Athavale, Sara Canning.
Ryan Murphy, Michael Maliakel, Lesley Nicol and
in “Joy: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir”
The STREAM Scene
“Beast Games” - Season 1 (Dec. 19)
From the mind of social media sensation and entrepreneur MrBeast comes a new, record-breaking competition series. A staggering 1,000 players compete in nail-biting, physical, mental and social challenges for a chance to win a whopping $5 million cash prize. Week by week, players use their strength and wit to stay in the game, with the hope of being the ultimate prize winner.
celebrity update
BY ADAM THOMLISON
“Law & Order” - Seasons 1-20 (Dec. 16)
In Dick Wolf’s legendary procedural, detectives and prosecutors work to convict criminals. On air since 1990, the series takes stories ripped from the headlines and chronicles the investigations that go into some complex cases. Series regulars include Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Steven Hill, Leslie Hendrix and Anthony Anderson.
Where all the top choices can be found in one place!
“Ronny Chieng: Love To Hate It” (Dec. 17)
Emmy-winning actor and comedian Ronny Chieng returns with his third Netflix stand-up special. Filmed over a five night sold-out run in Honolulu at the historic Hawai’i Theatre, this extremely personal special hilariously unpacks the indignities of the IVF process, the pitfalls of being a man on the internet, American politics and the place of the older generation in today’s world.
Vivica A. Fox
Q: I just saw Vivica A. Fox from “Soul Food” in a new Christmas movie and she was great! Has she done others? Does she plan to do more?
A: If you love the mere idea of NAACP Image Award-winning star Vivica A. Fox doing a Christmas movie, I have great news for you.
Fox established herself first as a soap star (“Generations”; “Young and the Restless”) and later as an acclaimed film star (“Independence Day,” 1996; “Soul Food,” 1997). But in more recent
“The Simpsons” - O C’mon All Ye Faithful (Dec. 17)
Exclusive to Disney+, this two-part Christmas special sees the Simpson family, along with their fellow Springfield residents, search for some holiday cheer. Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Pamela Hayden and Tress MacNeille voice star.
OF A COZY CHRISTMAS INN ON HALLMARK
years, she’s made a firm claim on being the face of holiday TV.
She dove into the genre headfirst, with a pair of holiday movies: “A Royal Family Holiday” and “Royal Family Christmas,” which aired weeks apart on TV One in 2015.
She’s done at least one every year since. Her output peaked at three in 2022: “A Cozy Christmas Inn,” “Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays” and “A New Diva’s Christmas Carol.”
Corey Schultz, Funeral Director
Hagi & Schultz Funeral Home understands this is a difficult time to have a funeral for your loved one. We are here to assist you in the grieving process and provide your loved one with the compassionate, dignified funeral they deserve.
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And so we can guess that she’s going to do more, though nothing has been announced yet. To be fair, it’s still a little early, and these movies tend to come together pretty quickly.
The fact that they’re quick to make helps explain why Fox has been able to do so many in just a few years. But it’s also because there is an ever-growing demand for them. It seems like every cable channel — and now streaming service — is producing its own Christmas programming. For example, all three of Fox’s 2022 movies aired on different channels (Hallmark, Ion and VH1, respectively).
ACROSS
1. “O Brother, Where ___ Thou?” (2000)
4. Cost-of-living stat.
7. __ __ no good
11. “What a no-brainer!”
12. “Sunday Night Baseball” commentator 13. Close 14. “The Simpsons” grandpa
15. Long-running TV series set in Colorado
17. Setting for “The Vampire Diaries”
19. Hospital staffer 20. Black-maned ruminant
21. Pickling need 23. Pontiacs of yore 27. ___ Swanson (“Parks & Rec” character)
28. Knot-tying words
29. High school mil. group
31. Widely known 33. Curve 36. Oviedo stew
A Lasting Tribute
37. Setting for “Gilmore Girls”
41. The Log Lady lived there
43. Risk a perjury rap
44. Composer Bartok
45. Some health warnings: Abbr.
46. Chi. railroads
47. 2011 Viola Davis film, with “The”
48. Old possessive
49. Empire St. paper since 1851
DOWN
1. Brody of “The O.C.” 2. Jewel 3. 1960s Roger Moore TV series
4. “I Got a Name” singer Jim 5. Light whiff
6. One way to learn someone’s name
7. Render powerless?
8. Soup vegetables
9. 2022 Cate Blanchett film 10. Mork’s planet
12. Out of the way 16. CNN offshoot 18. Solder ingredient
21. Cold call?
22. Friend of Owl and Rabbit
24. “Home Improvement” star
25. Dedicated work
26. Turf
30. Forty winks
31. Dentist’s suggestion
32. “Agatha ___ Along”
34. Seance sound
35. Moved stealthily
36. Gershwin musical whose name sounds like an approval
37. Threshold
38. Brownie accessory
39. Slick, physically or relationally
40. Dominic of “The Wire”
41. “Candidly,” in textspeak
42. Itsy-bitsy
Q: I just watched the 1990s remake of “Miracle on 34th Street,” and was surprised to see Jennifer Morrison as an elf — I didn’t realize she was in that. Then it occurred to me that I haven’t seen her a lot lately. What’s she up to?
A: Being a remake of one of the best-loved Christmas movies of all time, 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” pulled together a pretty famous cast. But it also featured quite a few people before they were famous, including Jennifer Morrison.
In 1994, Morrison was still 10 years away from her star-making turn as Dr. Allison Cameron on “House,” which she followed up with another long-running TV hit, “Once Upon a Time.”
But since that one ended in 2018, she’s been a little scarcer. She’s dabbled with films — most notably 2019’s award-winning “Bombshell” — and a few small TV guest roles, including a long-running arc as an ex-U.S. Marine on “This Is Us,” but she’s mostly pivoted towards directing.
For example, in 2023, she helmed a handful of episodes of Peacock’s “Dr. Death” and an episode of the Paramount+ musical-comedy series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.”
This year, she directed a recent episode of CBS’s crime hit drama “Tracker” (she also starred in the show’s Season 1 finale) and is doing the same for a couple of episodes of Showtime’s horror mystery “Yellowjackets.”
But she hasn’t totally given up on acting. This fall she wrapped filming on the bigscreen indie comedy “BFFs,” which is now working out distribution.
Survivor WBBM WMBD 7 p.m.
If there’s one thing you can rely on, it’s that there will be a few more tricks up someone’s sleeve as viewers learn who has survived the rest of the castaways to claim the title of Sole Survivor and win $1 million in this Season 47 finale.
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024
WLS 7 p.m.
Warm the cocoa, it’s the gift that keeps on giving as musical artists Katy Perry, Shaboozey, NCT Dream, Tate McRae, Twenty One Pilots, The Kid LAROI, Madison Beer, Gracie Abrams and others take the stage during this holiday special.
Saturday Night Live WEEK WMAQ 8 p.m.
Nothing says the holidays like some Schweddy Balls. This special highlights classic holiday skits from past episodes of “SNL.” From Adam Sandler’s “The Hanukkah Song” to Steve Martin’s “Holiday Wish,” the laughs are wrapped and nonreturnable.
Inside the NFL WGN 8 p.m.
This Emmy-winning series returns for another week, breaking down the latest from the NFL as panelists Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson, Chris Long and Bill Belichick offer in-depth analysis and share highlights from the field, player interviews and more.
The Floor WFLD WYZZ 8 p.m.
It can be hard to focus when host Rob Lowe smiles his pearly whites in your general direction. But when Lowe calls a number, a contestant needs to battle a neighbor in randomly chosen trivia topics in hopes of gaining ground and a chance at $250,000.
Fugitives Caught on Tape A&E 9:30 p.m.
Technology has made a life of crime so much more challenging. In this season finale, police officers use every option at their disposal, including body, dash, security, traffic, doorbell and smartphone cameras, to catch criminals trying to make an escape.
('24)
Broderick, Caroline Rhea.
Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Maya Rudolph and Bowen Yang in “Saturday Night Live”
Light Fight”
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
HBO 7 p.m.
Acting as the prequel to 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road,” this brand-new adventure sees a young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) caught in the crossfire of two tyrannical, blood-thirsty warlords after she is stolen from the Green Place of Many Mothers.
Jersey Shore Family Vacation
MTV 7 p.m.
They’re back, tans and all. While reliving their glory days on vacation, past “Jersey Shore” housemate Mike decides to gift the squad designer duds for a day of extravagance during a new episode. Meanwhile, Angela’s relationship takes an unexpected turn.
Six Schizophrenic Brothers
TLC 7 p.m.
In the premiere of this four-episode documentary, Don and Mimi Galvin thought they were raising the perfect family. But when their oldest son, Donald, begins to act out, bullying his siblings and performing unexplainable rituals, it’s a sad beginning.
Scrabble WGN 7 p.m.
Can you spell antidisestablishmentarianism?
What about w-i-n-n-e-r? A new episode of this game show airs, seeing wordsmiths play a series of linguistic games that earn them points, adding words to a giant scrabble board that determines a winner.
The Great Christmas Light Fight
WLS 7 p.m.
The fur-lined gloves are off as the Wright, Mach, Artz, MacGregor, Blasko, Slankard, Buchanan and Clinkscales families put their holiday decorations to the ultimate test in hopes of winning bragging rights and a whopping $50,000 in this season finale.
Christmas Cookie Challenge
FOOD 8 p.m.
The nation’s top cookie artisans celebrate the magic of the North Pole as they showcase their decorating talents in a festive showdown. When the glitter settles, judges Eddie Jackson and Ree Drummond award one Holiday Cookie Master with a $10,000 prize!
Taniya Nayak and Carter Oosterhouse in “The Great Christmas
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story: Extended Cut HALL 7 p.m.
Alana (Hunter King) comes from a line of Kansas City Chiefs superfans and thinks she has a shot to win the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. But first she must meet with Derrick (Tyler Hynes), the team’s Director of Fan Engagement, about a lucky hat.
Meet Me in St. Louis TCM 7 p.m.
The Smith family of St. Louis have four lovely daughters and are trying to teach them the ways of the world as the 1904 World’s Fair is about to visit their city in this classic 1944 MGM musical starring Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien and June Lockhart.
National Christmas Tree Lighting WBBM WMBD 7 p.m.
From the Ellipse in President’s Park, President Joe Biden flips the switch to light the National Christmas Tree during this special broadcast of an American tradition. An all-star lineup of musical acts joins the President in the celebration. Cold Case Files A&E 8 p.m.
Susan Schwarz was just 22 years old when she was found shot to death in her apartment in 1979. Police suspected attempted robbery, but the case went cold for 32 years until a tip from a prisoner broke the case open and led investigators to the killer.
Guy’s All-American Road Trip FOOD 8 p.m.
The Fieri family and their friends, including Antonia Lofaso, are on road trip from South Dakota to Wyoming. Their epic trip starts with an indigenous feast, real deal ramen and a trip to a freeze-dried food factory that becomes a campground showdown.
Children Ruin Everything WGN 8 p.m.
Two new episodes air back-to-back. First, James (Aaron Abrams) is taken to task by Mr. Dongall (Colin Mochrie) after Felix (Logan Nicholson) defaces school property. Then, Astrid (Meaghan Rath) realizes how hard she was on her mother (Veena Sood).
5
The National Christmas Tree, located in The Ellipse
Voices of Cameron Seel y, Benedict Cumberbatch
Alone: Pop'n Knowledge Edition ('90) Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern,Macaulay Culkin
Lost in New York ('92)Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Macaul ay Culkin (:35) Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (:40) <
(:15) < Frosty the Snowman ('69)
Marsden.
Marsden.
BY STAFF WRITERS
Questions:
1) In “Home Alone” (1990), what is Kevin’s favorite kind of pizza?
2) In “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), what topping does a young George encourage Mary to add to her chocolate sundae?
3) What did Ralphie’s decoder ring tell him to drink in “A Christmas Story” (1983)?
4) He took the Who-pudding! He took the roast beast! What other “icebox” item did the Grinch take in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”?
5) Don’t feed mogwai after midnight — what late-night snack did Billy serve up in “Gremlins” (1984)?
6) In the movie “Elf” (2003), what kind of “sauce” does Buddy add to his spaghetti?
7) Aside from her cat, what did Aunt Bethany bring as a gift in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)?
8) Which snack was Sgt. Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) buying for his pregnant wife in “Die Hard” (1988)?
9) In “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992), what feast does Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) offer to Bob Cratchit (Kermit) on Christmas morning?
Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone”
Little Women TCM 1 p.m.
Based on the eponymous book by Louisa May Alcott, this 1949 iteration of the beloved coming-of-age story stars Elizabeth Taylor, June Allyson, Margaret O’Brien and Janet Leigh as the March sisters, who forge an unbreakable bond during the Civil War.
Golf WEEK WMAQ 3 p.m.
A one-of-a-kind competition, the PNC Championship begins, inviting 20 Major Champions to tackle the greens at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla., where they will team up with family members to play their favorite game and make lasting memories.
Happy Howlidays HALL 7 p.m.
Jessica Lowndes stars opposite of “Finding Mr. Christmas” winner in this dog-filled film, which sees webpage editor Mia (Lowndes) form meaningful connections with a dog shelter owner, his ailing canine companion and a stray dog during the holidays.
A Carpenter Christmas Romance LIFE 7 p.m.
Novelist Andrea (Sasha Pieterse) mentions that she may kill off a beloved character. When fans complain, she seeks refuge at her family farm to finish her novel. There, she finds her ex-crush, Seth (Mitchell Slaggert), who’s helping rebuild the town.
Love and Marriage: Huntsville OWN 7 p.m.
The power couples are spelling drama with a capital D as they attempt and fail at mixing business with pleasure. While the Comeback Group really needs to focus on business, at least one of them is happy to put things at risk by stirring the pot.
48 Hours WBBM WMBD 8 p.m.
No matter the story — be it a shocking criminal case or salacious real-life scandal — viewers turn to the investigative reporting of Erin Moriarty, Peter Van Sant and the rest of the CBS News crew to give them the answers in this latest episode.
Peter Van Sant from “48 Hours”
weblinks
Here comes the countdown to end all countdowns: New Years Eve. To commemorate the end of 2024 – and the end of the season – chefs Damaris Phillips, Eric Adjepong and Brooke Williamson make a resolution to beat Bobby Flay, each bringing their own spice to the Season 3 finale of “Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown,” airing this Tuesday, Dec. 17, on Food Network. To go alongside your holiday feasts, enjoy some of Flay’s favorite cocktails, with recipes found at foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/photos/ bobby-flays-holiday-drinks
To make it this far, you’ve got to outwit, outplay and outlast. But once the votes are cast and all idols have been played, it’s up to the jury to decide which player did it best. The finalists plead their case and one earns the title of Sole Survivor, during the epic
reality tv
“Christmas Gameday” (Netflix — Dec. 25, Special Premiere)
Fill the holiday season with excitement when Netflix hosts the NFL’s two Christmas Day marquee games: the Super Bowl LVII-winning Chiefs face the Steelers at 1 pm ET; then at 4:30 pm ET, the Ravens take on the Texans. Plus, fans will be treated to the highly-anticipated halftime show during the Ravens-Texans game, featuring a dazzling set from global superstar Beyoncé.
“Blended Christmas” (BET+ — Dec. 25, Movie Premiere)
After a freak accident, a new bride cancels her tropical Christmas honeymoon to take care of her husband’s ex-wife and kids with a little help from a holiday angel. Jennifer Freeman, Anthony Dalton, Dream Doll and Victoria Rowell star.
Season 47 finale of “Survivor,” premiering this Wednesday, Dec. 18, on CBS. Missed an episode? Relive the season with episodes available to stream online, at cbs.com/ shows/survivor/
It’s a battle of bright lights and big personalities as the Wright, Mach, Artz, MacGregor, Blasko, Slankard, Buchanan and Clinkscales families put their holiday decorating abilities to the ultimate test, each designing extravagant, outdoor displays that would put the Rockefeller Christmas Tree to shame in hopes of winning a life-changing $50,000 prize. Season 13 of “The Great Christmas Light Fight” concludes with this final episode, airing Thursday, Dec. 19, on ABC — but if you want more, find clips from the series at youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe0CguuqcMClEEl2ppcpfsQvHkZ4CEbm
BY CAROLINE COLLACUTT
With a 24/7 news cycle and endless social media accounts to scroll through, it’s hard to keep up with everything going on in the world. Thankfully, Deion Sanders and Rocsi Diaz have our backs. Keep updated on today’s most talked-about moments with “We Got Time Today,” airing a brand-new episode Tuesday, Dec. 17, on Tubi.
Hosted by Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and the Emmy-winning Rocsi Diaz (“Entertainment Tonight”), this brand-new talk show is said to, according to Tubi, “[take] viewers on a lively journey through the realms of news, culture, entertainment and sports, all through the lens of Sanders’ largerthan-life energy and complemented [by] Diaz’s equally authentic personality.”
During each episode, the duo offers a dynamic discussion on current events, sharing intimate and relative interviews with relevant players, trendsetters and special celebrity guests. In addition to expert insight, Tubi has shared that the series features “vibrant segments and playful games that will keep each episode fresh and engaging,” along with “lively debates, heartfelt advice and candid conversations,” making for a unique viewing experience.
When asked about his new hosting role, Sanders shared: “I’m stepping into the studio to have real conversations with people from all walks of life. This show is about tapping into the culture. We’re going to laugh, debate, inspire and, most importantly, we got time to talk life into our viewers while keeping things 100.”
Sanders’ co-host, Diaz, has exhibited equal excitement. “I couldn’t be more excited to co-host this new talk show with such a legend,” she claimed, speaking with Tubi. “Deion and I definitely have unique POVs that we’re excited to bring to the table when we interview guests and engage with audiences. I can’t wait to explore everything and have real, authentic conversations that the culture is missing, from fun to serious and, like Deion said, you can count on us to keep it 100.”
From Jesse Collins Entertainment, with Sanders, Dionne Harmon (“Tia Mowry: My Next Act”), Madison Merritt (“America’s Most Smartest Model”) and Elaine Metaxas (“City Guys”) acting as executive producers, “We Got Time Today” airs a new episode Tuesday, Dec. 17, on Tubi.
3:10 to Yuma +++ (2007, Western) Russell Crowe, Christian Bale. PARSHO Wed. 7 p.m.
Animal House +++ (1978, Comedy) John Belushi, Kevin Bacon. IFC Sat. 5 p.m.
Arthur Christmas +++ (2011, Animated) Voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie. FREEFRM Fri. 11 p.m. Auntie Mame +++ (1958, Comedy) Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker. TCM Mon. 7 p.m.
Avengers, The +++ (2012, Action) Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans. FX Wed. 10 p.m. B
Babes in Arms +++ (1939, Musical) Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland. TCM Thu. 7 p.m. Babes on Broadway +++ (1941, Musical) Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland. TCM Thu. 11:15 p.m. Black Panther +++ (2018, Action) Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan. TBS Sat. 7 p.m. Black Stallion, The +++ (1979, Children) Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney. TCM Thu. 5 p.m.
Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! +++ (2007, Animated) Voices of Frank Welker, Casey Kasem. TOON Sun. 2:30 p.m.
Christmas Story, A ++++ (1983, Children) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin. A boy wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. TNT Mon. 6:45 p.m., Mon. 11 p.m.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind ++++ (1977, Sci-Fi) Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut. UFO sighters finally meet the aliens that obsessed them. TCM Mon. 4:30 p.m. D
Die Hard With a Vengeance +++ (1995, Action) Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons. TNT Sat. 9 p.m. Dreamgirls +++ (2006, Musical) Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé. BET Sun. 5:30 p.m. E
Iron Man 3 +++ (2013, Action) Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow. FX Wed. 7 p.m., Thu. 4 p.m.
Italian Job, The +++ (2003, Thriller) Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron. PARSHO Tue. 5:05 p.m.
It’s a Wonderful Life ++++ (1946, Comedy Drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed. An angel saves a distraught businessman from suicide. E! Mon. 4 p.m., Mon. 7 p.m.
John Wick +++ (2014, Action) Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist. PAR Sat. 4:30 p.m.
John Wick: Chapter 2 +++ (2017, Action) Keanu Reeves, Common. PAR Sat. 7 p.m.
John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum +++ (2019, Action) Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry. PAR Sat. 9:30 p.m.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle +++ (2017, Adventure) Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart. FX Thu. 7 p.m.
Jungle Book, The +++ (2016, Children) Neel Sethi, Bill Murray. FX Fri. 9:30 p.m. K
Kingsman: The Secret Service +++ (2014, Action) Colin Firth, Michael Caine. PAR Fri. 7 p.m.
Meet Me in St. Louis +++ (1944, Musical) Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien. TCM Fri. 7 p.m.
Meet the Parents +++ (2000, Comedy) Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller. E! Tue. 3 p.m.
Metropolitan +++ (1990, Comedy Drama) Carolyn Farina, Edward Clements. TCM Mon. 9:30 p.m. N
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation +++ (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo. AMC Sun. 7:15 p.m., Mon. 4:45 p.m., Wed. 7 p.m., Thu. 4:45 p.m., Sat. 3:45 p.m., Sat. 8 p.m. No Country for Old Men +++ (2007, Thriller) Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem. PARSHO Tue. 3 p.m. Northman, The +++ (2022, Adventure) Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman. SYFY Thu. 6:45 p.m. Nutty Professor, The +++ (1996, Comedy) Eddie Murphy, Jada Pinkett Smith. BET Sat. 4:30 p.m. O
Ocean’s Eleven +++ (2001, Comedy Drama) George Clooney, Matt Damon. PAR Wed. 9 p.m., Thu. 7 p.m.
Ocean’s Thirteen +++ (2007, Comedy Drama) George Clooney, Brad Pitt. PAR Thu. 9:30 p.m. Other Guys, The +++ (2010, Comedy) Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg. COMEDY Sat. 9 p.m.
Pacific Rim +++ (2013, Sci-Fi) Charlie Hunnam, Diego Klattenhoff. SYFY Sun. 3:30 p.m., Sun. 9:45 p.m.
Puss in Boots +++ (2011, Animated) Voices of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek. E! Sun. 11 p.m. R
Rio +++ (2011, Animated) Voices of Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg. TBS Thu. 10 p.m.
Rope +++ (1948, Crime Story) James Stewart, John Dall. TCM Mon. 11:15 p.m. S
Santa Clause, The +++ (1994, Children) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold. FREEFRM Sun. 6:20 p.m., Wed. 3:30 p.m., Sat. 6:20 p.m.
Saving Private Ryan ++++ (1998, War) Tom Hanks, Edward Burns. U.S. troops look for a missing comrade during World War II. PARSHO Sat. 10 p.m. Selena +++ (1997, Drama) Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos. VH1 Fri. 7 p.m.
Shop Around the Corner, The +++ (1940, Romance) Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart. TCM Fri. 11 p.m.
Shrek +++ (2001, Animated) Voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy. E! Sun. 5 p.m.
Shrek 2 +++ (2004, Animated) Voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy. E! Sun. 7 p.m.
Sound of Music, The ++++ (1965, Family) Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer. A governess weds an Austrian widower with seven children. WLS Sun. 6 p.m.
Spider-Man: No Way Home +++ (2021, Action) Tom Holland, Zendaya. FX Wed. 4 p.m.
Strike Up the Band +++ (1940, Musical) Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland. TCM Thu. 9 p.m. T
Talk to Me +++ (2022, Drama) Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen. PARSHO Fri. 3 p.m.
Thor: Ragnarok +++ (2017, Action) Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston. FX Mon. 3:30 p.m.
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas ++++ (1993, Animated) Voices of Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon. Halloweentown’s leader aims to kidnap Santa. DISN Sun. 7 p.m.
Top Gun: Maverick +++ (2022, Action) Tom Cruise, Miles Teller. PAR Tue. 7 p.m.
Point Break +++ (1991, Action) Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves. BBCA Thu. 6 p.m. Polar Express, The +++ (2004, Animated) Voices of Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter. AMC Wed. 9:15 p.m., Thu. 2:45 p.m., BBCA Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sat. 8:45 p.m.
Town, The +++ (2010, Thriller) Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall. PAR Mon. 7 p.m.
Trading Places +++ (1983, Comedy) Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy. AMC Sun. 9:30 p.m., Thu. 11 p.m. W
Wedding Singer, The +++ (1998, Romance) Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore. COMEDY Sun. 3 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m.
Wizard of Oz, The ++++ (1939, Family) Judy Garland, Frank Morgan. A tornado whisks a Kansas girl to a magical land. TNT Sun. 6:30 p.m., Sun. 9:15 p.m.
