CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHTS
JENNIFER NETTLES Shohreh Aghdashloo Michael Bublé ‘George Bailey’ Mario Batali
the story!
TV’s Remaining Christmas Gifts
NBC gives the movie classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” its annual Christmas Eve showing Thursday.
WHAT'S FOR DINNER
Featuring: “Booze Traveler”
Featured Stories “64th Annual Miss Universe Pageant” “I LOVE LUCY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL” “Our Favorite Interviews of 2015”
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Profiled athlete Kawhi Leonard
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“OUR FAVORITE INTERVIEWS OF 2015” Angela Lansbury, Ray Liotta, Sally Field among those who made the grade.
CELEBRITY
4 JENNIFER NETTLES
The singer-songwriter gets “a big kick” out of hosting “CMA Country Christmas” again.
5 SHOHREH
AGHDASHLOO The “Expanse” co-star is a longtime sci-fi fan.
6 Michael Bublé
Bublé’s Christmas jam
8 ‘GEORGE BAILEY’
64th Annual Miss Universe Pageant The head that wears the crown
What if he really lived his “Wonderful Life”?
9 Mario Batali “I LOVE LUCY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL” Ready for another dose of Vitameatavegamin?
17
Getting to know ‘The Chew’s’ resident chef extraordinaire
FOOD
7 “Booze Traveler” Downing the ‘liquid Christmas tree’
the story!
SPORTS
“The Sound of Music”
18-19 Kawhi Leonard
This annual classic is among holiday-week specials.
and the Spurs help NBA light up Christmas day
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IN EVERY ISSUE
Review, Our top DVD pick, and Coming Soon on DVD.
suggested programs to watch this week!
20-21 Featuring: Theatrical
22-23 Featuring: Our top
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REALITY 16 The gift of basketball
Editor's choice
STORY
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Television still has Christmas presents to deliver By Jay Bobbin This year, Dec. 25 is on a Friday, so there’s still a lot of yuletide viewing left to do. While virtually all of them already have done so this month, many networks will be responding in kind this week with seasonal specials and movies. Here are several of the holiday highlights.
Pictured: Julie Andrews
one of the sitcom’s most classic tales, “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” – newly colorized, and featuring Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) getting intoxicated on Vitameatavegamin.
“The Sound of Music” (Sunday, Dec. 20, ABC): While it’s not literally a Christmas movie, the Julie Andrews-starring Rodgers & Hammerstein musical is a holiday-season favorite ... and this is the 1965 Oscar winner’s sing-along edition that displays the song lyrics on the screen. “Holiday Baking Championship” (Dec. 20, Food Network): It’s the moment of truth for the last three contestants in the finale of this competition, as host Bobby Deen gives them marching – er, baking – orders that include making a sugar-cookie tree. “Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Santino Fontana and the Sesame Street Muppets” (Monday, Dec. 21, PBS; check local listings): Seen lately on The CW’s “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Broadway veteran Fontana joins some familiar faces from PBS’ daytime lineup who make their first-ever appearance with the choir for a festival of holiday tunes. “Miracle on 34th Street” (Dec. 21, AMC): The recent passing of star Maureen O’Hara makes this 1947 film classic, about a department-store Santa (Oscar winner Edmund Gwenn) who claims to be the real thing, somewhat bittersweet this season. “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” (Wednesday, Dec. 23, CBS): The “Christmas Episode” that has been shown in the past two years’ editions now is partnered with
“Happy Holidays With Bing and Frank” (Dec. 23, Turner Classic Movies): Here’s a true relic, a principally musical 1957 special pairing two of the top entertainers of their time ... a year after they’d starred in the movie “High Society.” “It’s a Wonderful Life” (Thursday, Dec. 24, NBC): A Christmas Eve tradition of more than 40 years is maintained as director Frank Capra’s 1946 classic, starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, gets its traditional telecast. “A Christmas Story” (Dec. 24, TBS and TNT): Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) still wants that Red Ryder air rifle – and between the 24-hour marathons on the two networks, he’ll have lots of chances to get it, since the nostalgic 1983 movie comedy will start every hour on the hour on one network or the other. “Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration” (Friday, Dec. 25, ABC): Mickey Mouse and friends will be on screens again this Christmas morning, as the annual special is presented from the Disney-owned theme parks. “The Andy Griffith Christmas Special” (Dec. 25, CBS): Another classic comedy follows in the footsteps of “I Love Lucy” by teaming and colorizing two classic episodes, “The Christmas Story” and “The Pickle Story.”
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CELEBRITY Jay Bobbin’s Q&A
Jennifer
Nettles
of ‘CMA Country Christmas’ on ABC
With this being your sixth year of hosting “CMA Country Christmas,” are you still surprised by the combination of performers put together for the special? That’s one of the things I love about it. Clearly, it is (staged) by the Country Music Association, so it’s primarily country artists who are on it, but it’s also super-diverse. The point of the show is to celebrate the holidays, and getting to do that with such a diverse group of artists is a big kick. This holiday season also has seen you make your television acting debut in “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors.” How big a deal was that for you? I grew up doing theater, so I love acting in general and have wanted to get back to that. At the beginning of the year, I did “Chicago” on Broadway, and that was really transformative for me. Then I had this fantastic opportunity when “Coat of Many Colors” came across the desk, but I didn’t think it was going to happen because I thought I was going to be recording a new album then. Luckily, as the universe works things, it ended up working out and I read for (the producers) and they thought I was right for it. The actual process of doing it was cathartic for me, and I loved being able to play a character for longer than 3-1/2 minutes (in a music video).
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You’ve also been doing concerts that will resume early in the new year. How has the tour been going for you? You know what? It has been so much fun! Much of the show is the new music, but I laugh and call it ‘The Ghosts of Past, Present and Future’ because I also play some Sugarland stuff and some from “That Girl” (Nettles’ first solo album), but a lot of it is also from my new album that’s coming in the spring, “Playing With Fire.” It has been so rewarding to watch all my fans lean in and listen and participate in the new material. I have been so touched and pleased and happy and thrilled that everybody’s getting into it the way they are.
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CELEBRITY Jay Bobbin‘s Q&A
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Shohreh Aghdashloo oF ‘The Expanse’ Tuesday on Syfy
How would you describe your character in “The Expanse,” Chrisjen Avasarala?
She is supposedly the assistant to the undersecretary of the executive administration, but trust me, her vast knowledge in politics exceeds her title. She knows everybody in politics. She’s been raised in a political world. She comes from a tribe of politicians. She knows everybody’s names. She knows their career paths, psychological profiles, pay rates, political alliances. She even knows who they’re sleeping with. And I’m not making this up. The second book (in the “Expanse” series of novels), “Caliban’s War,” talks about her. She knows everybody. And she strongly believes that Earth is like a fountainhead from which all human life flows. “Earth must come first,” she keeps saying. “Earth must come first.” I love this character for its strength, for its background, for its backbone.
Many of the projects you’ve done, from “House of Sand and Fog” to “24,” have been based strongly in real-world matters. Are you enjoying this step into science fiction?
I do believe that if I call myself an actor, I should be able to portray all these characters from all walks of life. It obviously depends on the actor’s love for the character whether the actor wants to play the character or not. I’ve been a fan of science fiction since I was nine years old. I learned about science fiction when I was nine, back in Iran, watching “Flash Gordon.” There were 39 episodes, half made in Germany, and they ran on television. It took two years to show us these 39 episodes only. My three brothers and I waited week after week to see what was going to happen to Flash Gordon and Dr. Zarkov and the Planet of Death. That’s why I love science fiction. I’m an actor.
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CELEBRITY George Dickie’s Q&A
Michael Bublé of ‘Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood’ Wednesday on NBC
In your special two years ago, you did a terrific improv version of “Blue Christmas.” Yeah, I remember we opened with that. That wasn’t even supposed to be our opening, by the way. We had a completely different opening but we were messing around in the hallway and we went, ‘You know what? This could be fun. This could be a fun way to start the thing.’
Do you have anything like that this year? Click or tap on icon for more!
What made you decide to do your Christmas special in Hollywood this year? You know, what better place to celebrate Christmas than Los Angeles, you know? When I think of Christmas, I think sunshine, palm trees, leaving fajitas for Santa Claus (laughs). You know what? Every year has been a different place. Every year has been a different challenge and I think it’s kind of cool seeing Christmas from the perspective of different places all over this beautiful planet that we have. I’ve had a Christmas special in the U.K., a Christmas special, obviously, in New York; I’ve come home to Vancouver and now in beautiful Hollywood. So either I’m incredibly brave or I owe the first four places money. Page 6 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 20 - 26, 2015
Yeah, we do, actually. One of the things that I love most about this special is getting to connect via social media with the fans and fans all over the world. So we did that again this year and this year Tori Kelly actually joined me in one of those moments where someone asks for a certain song and I thought it’d be great to do it with her, so I asked her if she was up for it and it was very impromptu. She came up and did it and it’s always my favorite part, to be honest with you. I really love doing it and it’s cool ... .
FOOD George Dickie’s What's for Dinner
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International drinks evoke Christmas for ‘Booze Traveler ’ Maxwell For a lot of people, nothing says Christmas like a nice, tall glass of spiked eggnog. But for Jack Maxwell, South Boston native and the host of Travel Channel’s Tuesday series “Booze Traveler,” Irish whiskey takes him back. “I grew up in an Irish neighborhood,” he says, “which it seemed everybody had (Irish whiskey) out on the counter at Christmas. No matter how well or not well they were doing in life, they’d always have a nice bottle of Irish whiskey – including my great grandmother, who lived to be 101, probably because of all the Irish whiskey nips she took.” “I think it was the drink all the time,” he says, laughing. “I don’t think it was just Christmas.” Maxwell, now in his second season as host of the series that takes him around the world in search of the most exotic, tasty and downright strange cocktails, doesn’t have much use for eggnog, except around the holidays. And while he’s never been on the road filming the series at Christmas – and therefore never got to sample any official Christmas beverages from other countries – he has encountered a few that for him that evoke the holiday.
What book are you currently reading?
“The last book I was reading was ‘Illusions’ by Richard Bach, which is an old book. He also wrote ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull.’ And it’s just a beautiful story about how life can kind of be what you want it to be and it’s very simply stated. ... A great follow-up to ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull.’ ”
What did you have for dinner last night?
“My mother and stepfather cooked a beautiful salmon out on the grill with some risotto and a nice salad. It was really a sweet and simple home-cooked meal, which I die to have on the road.”
Take, for instance, an Austrian concoction known as zirbinschnaps. “(It) is basically made from the tar of a pine cone,” he explains. “And you whirl it around in the water and you put a ton of sugar in it, of course, and it tastes like a liquid Christmas tree. Not just a pine cone, because they put other things in there that they don’t tell you about.” “And of course it sits there for a long time. It must because that can be very strong – there’s a reason we don’t eat pine cones for survival. But it’s really good and of course, sugar masks a lot of things. But they’ve been doing it right there forever. And who am I to say? Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s strange.”
What is your next project?
“I hope it’s this. I’d love to keep doing ‘Booze Traveler.’ To see the world and meet people is one of the great things. I didn’t make up this quote but I read it somewhere. It said, ‘If you don’t travel, it’s like reading only one page of a book.’ And that’s so true.”
When was your last vacation, where and why?
“I just got back from a week away in Phoenix, where my folks live – my mother and stepfather and nieces and friends. ... And I got to just chill out with my family and have some home cooking and see the folks, and that to me is the best vacation.”
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CELEBRITY Jay Bobbin’s Celebrity ScooP
‘George Bailey’ Born: 1907 Birthplace and current residence: Bedford Falls, N.Y. Family info: Wife Mary; children are Pete, Janie, Zuzu and Tommy Favorite saying: “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.” What he thinks of James Stewart of an actor: “Well, if they ever make a movie about me, he’s the guy I’d want playing me. Just very down-to-earth and wellmeaning. You could always see the goodness in him, and even if things didn’t go right for the people he played, you just knew in your heart that it wasn’t really their fault. Now that I think about it, it kind of reminds me of ... me.”
Pictured: James Stewart
He’s one of the most thought-about people during the holiday season, though he isn’t real. But what if George Bailey was? As played by James Stewart, the central character in the Frank Capra-directed 1946 movie classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” – again getting its traditional Christmas Eve showing Thursday, Dec. 24, on NBC – popularized a notion that’s been used since in countless television-series episodes: “How would life and the people I know be different without me?” Imagine for a moment that George actually did exist, that he still was around, and that he was asked for an update on his life. “It really has been a wonderful life,” Bailey says. “If I hadn’t gone through what I did back then, particularly with the people I love seeming not to know who I was, I don’t know that I would have appreciated them – or the world – as much as I have.” Bailey isn’t surprised that his story has had so much resonance with people for the better part of 70 years: “I think that, at one time or another, just about everybody wonders what they’d do with a second chance at life if they got it. Avoid the mistakes you made the first time, be more considerate of others, and just make the most of every opportunity you’re given.” Does Bailey think often about Clarence, the then-novice angel who showed him the way back from the brink of desperation? “Oh, sure. How could I not? Without Clarence doing what he did, I would have missed out on so much ... and I probably wouldn’t be here today. And you can only imagine how I feel every time I hear a bell ring.” Page 8 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 20 - 26, 2015
CELEBRITY CelebritY profile
Ma rioBatali
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- Born Sept. 19, 1960.
- Born and raised in Seattle, he attended high school in Madrid and studied business management and the golden age of Spanish theater at Rutgers University. - At Rutgers, Batali worked at a local pizzeria called Stuff Yer Face, and held the record for most pizzas made in an hour. - He attended the Cordon Bleu in London for a short time before deciding to learn by working for experienced chefs and gaining hands on experiences. - In 1999, he was named man of the year in the chef category by GQ Magazine - In 2002, he won the James Beard Foundation’s best chef: New York City award
Mario Batali is a celebrated chef, writer, restaurateur, and media personality who can be seen as a co-host on “The Chew” on ABC. - In 2005, the James Beard Foundation awarded him the designation outstanding chef of the year.
“Molto Mario.” In the fall of 2008, his PBS series “Spain ... On the Road Again” aired with co-stars Mark Bittman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols.
- With over two dozen, he and his partner Joe Bastianich are the distinctive forces behind an eclectic group of critically acclaimed, unanimously adored restaurants.
- Also in 2008, he started the Mario Batali Foundation with a mission of feeding, protecting educating and empowering children. The James Beard Foundation also named him best restaurateur of the year.
- He is the author of ten cookbooks including the James Beard Award Winning, “Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes”; New York Times best-seller “Mario Batali Italian Grill”; and “Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals form My Home to Yours.”
- In 2011, he and co-hosts Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz, and Michael Symon launched “The Chew” on ABC daytime.
- For his fiftieth birthday, his sons, Benno and Leo, compiled a cookbook of the recipes they prepare as a family during their summers in Northern Michigan. In May 2013, the boys took their tome to the masses with “The Batali Brothers Cookbook.” - As a TV personality, he has hosted a variety of television shows for Food Network, including “Ciao America” and
- When the manufacturers of Crocs decided to discontinue his trademark orange color, he bought 200 pairs to make sure he never ran out. - He splits his time between New York City’s Greenwich Village and Northern Michigan with his wife and their two sons.
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CELEBRITY
“I’m sure there’s a Sinatra here somewhere and the first guy that comes to mind is a Bruno Mars – a guy who thinks about music all the time, talented as hell and kind of takes control … . I’m sure there were guys who were Sinatra in their time. But I’m telling you what, if you want a f… blueprint, there it is. This guy laid it down, he laid it down with confidence and did it his way and there were no lines of gray.” – Garth Brooks, recently of “Sinatra 100 – An All-Star Grammy Concert” on CBS, on Frank Sinatra “I’ve had a Christmas special in the UK, a Christmas special, obviously, in New York; I’ve come home to Vancouver and now in beautiful Hollywood. So either I’m incredibly brave or I owe the first four places money.” – Michael Bublé, recently of “Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood” on NBC
Page 10 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 20 - 26, 2015
“Being able to be on location for a month or two on a film is a much more consistent lifestyle than it would be to drag (young son Magnus) around on tour for years on end. I’ll be back out again in January, after taking a break for the holidays, and I’ll probably tour through the end of April.” – Jennifer Nettles, seen recently on “CMA Country Christmas” on ABC, about her recent move into acting
CELEBRITY
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ON DVRs Michael Gross of “Becoming Santa” on Lifetime “We mostly record ‘Masterpiece Classic.’ We’re kind of a PBS family ... we love the costume dramas, and we love the storytelling. It’s a different kind of work than we’re accustomed to seeing in the United States, more of an ensemble, and I love that.” Mariah Carey of “A Christmas Melody” on Hallmark Channel “I like ‘Empire,’ and I really like ‘Scandal’ and ‘How to Get Away With Murder.’ ”
Hilarie Burton of “Last Chance Christmas” on Lifetime “ ‘The Good Wife’ (now featuring husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is definitely one. As much as he travels, I’m definitely his nerdy girlfriend watching him at home. That’s a really dorky thing to do, but hey, I’ll watch him ... he’s a great-looking dude! And we really love the new season of ‘Fargo.’ I can’t find anything wrong with that show; it is dynamite.”
Taniya Nayak of “The Great Christmas Light Fight” on ABC “It’s so funny. Because I’m on television, I like to watch it and just be lost in silly TV. So I’m a huge ‘Bachelor/Bachelorette’ fanatic. Sometimes I’m embarrassed to admit it but it’s the truth. ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ I love ‘Law & Order: SVU,’ ‘Castle.’ And of course – I gotta say it – my girl ‘Ellen.’ I always record her, too. She just makes me laugh.” December 20 - 26, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 11
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STORY
Recalling
our favorite 2015 interviews
Sally Field, co-host of Turner Classic Movies’ “The Essentials,” was among our favorite interviews of the year. Story on next page Page 12 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 20 - 26, 2015
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Sally Field, Missy Peregrym among the year’s interview favorites By Jay Bobbin and George Dickie For many entertainment writers, each year brings numerous interviews, but some stand out for particular reasons. The past 12 months were no exception, and here’s a look at some of the favorite conversations we had with celebrities relatively recently. Sally Field: Robert Osborne’s co-host this year on Turner Classic Movies’ “The Essentials,” the two-time Oscar winner was refreshingly opinionated in her views, both on the air and in an interview about her role on the series. “The only voice I have is that of an actor,” she said, “and that I had my own evolution and that I came from an acting family. I studied different styles of acting all my life,” she said, “and I saw how what was considered a good performance changed ... so I felt my task was not only to talk about the lead actors, but the incredible weight and importance of the supporting cast.” (Bobbin) Ray Liotta: While being interviewed for the History miniseries “Texas Rising,” Liotta noted how lucky he was to be in two enduring movie classics early in his career: “Field of Dreams” and “GoodFellas.” He spoke about how even today. people come up to him and talk about the latter film. “I have kids coming up to me 10, 11, 12 years old, believe it or not, saying that they saw ‘GoodFellas,’ which makes me wonder about their parents.” (Dickie) Missy Peregrym: Though it wasn’t known at the start of its summer season whether it would be the last – which it turned out to be – for the ABC series “Rookie Blue,” the actress who played Officer Andy McNally reflected very honestly on it possibly being the end. Since Seasons 5 and 6 were filmed together last year, she hadn’t seen her fellow cast members in a while and said about the show’s then-uncertain future, “At the end of the day, I can’t believe we’ve even gone this long. It’s such a blessing
Click or tap on icon for more! Pictured: Missy Peregrym
that we’ve been able to work together for so long.” (Bobbin) Philip Winchester: The affable Winchester was eight months removed from filming the final scenes for his Cinemax action series “Strike Back” when he called to talk about it. He laughed heartily as he recalled some of the more adventurous stunts he pulled off with co-star Sullivan Stapleton, including one in which he jumped into the back of a helicopter as it was taking off. Clearly, a good time was had by him. (Dickie) Angela Lansbury: The stage and screen icon returned to television in a “Great Performances” presentation of “Driving Miss Daisy,” shown at a time when she was in the midst of receiving awards including an honorary Oscar and appointment as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. “It seems that if you remain alive long enough, these are the things that come drifting your way,” Lansbury mused during one of the very few interviews she did for the PBS telecast. “I’m very proud and humbled to have received, and to have been given, so much recognition. What can I say? It’s terrific.” (Bobbin) Dana Delany: In an in-person interview, the former “China Beach” Emmy winner proved to be as down-to-earth and charming as she was talented in discussing her new role on the Amazon series “Hand of God.” She talked about how curiosity brought her to streaming TV and working with Ron Perlman, “who I’ve known since back when I was on ‘China Beach’ and he was on ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ so we sort of circled each other for years.” (Dickie)
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STORY
Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega crowns her successor at the 64th Annual Miss Universe Pageant Sunday on Fox. Story on next page
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What happens in Vegas –
The 64th Annual Miss Universe Pageant By George Dickie To borrow a sports analogy, landing a spot in a Miss Universe pageant is not unlike getting to a World Series or a Super Bowl. The hard part of getting there is done and now you can take a breath. But only a breath for there is still work ahead. “Once you’re there,” explains Olivia Jordan, the reigning Miss USA, “you just do what you know how to do. You just are confident in the fact that you’re there for a reason and you do your best.” Jordan and contestants from 80 other countries will vie for the crown at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas as The 64th Annual Miss Universe Pageant airs live (in Eastern and Central time zones) Sunday, Dec. 20, on Fox. The three-hour broadcast marks the beginning of Fox’s agreement with The Miss Universe Organization to broadcast the pageant after 12 years with NBC. It also represents a change in ownership from NBC to (briefly) Donald Trump to WME/IMG. But that, of course, will be immaterial to viewers come Sunday, when some of the world’s most beautiful women perform on a Las Vegas stage before a worldwide television audience. And in the end, one will be crowned Miss Universe. Last year’s winner, Paulina Vega of Colombia, remembers it didn’t hit her immediately when she was announced. “I didn’t even react,” she recalls, “because nobody thought that a Colombian woman could win the Miss Universe (title). We were never in the top five. We only had one Miss Universe 57 years ago, so when I was the first one that they called for the top 50, (people in Colombia) turned on their TVs and were like, ‘Oh, my God. What is
Click or tap on icon for more! Pictured: Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega
happening here?’ And when they called my name and Miss Colombia, everyone went crazy. I was going crazy inside. On the outside, I was lost, lost completely. ... It’s amazing. All 47 million people supported me and followed me, following every step. It’s amazing. My home country was amazing.” Jordan, the first Miss Oklahoma to take the national crown, says her triumph in the 2015 Miss USA Pageant in July hit her “right away and then in some ways it’s still sinking in.” For her, it would be an honor to win the world crown for her home state. “It would be so incredible,” she says. “To represent to Oklahoma and take the national title was the most unbelievable feeling of pride and joy, and then this is the next level – to represent the United States and be able to have the opportunity to even fight for that Universe crown. It’s incredible and it would be a true honor if I got to that place.” No matter who wins, Vega will be the one crowning the new Miss Universe. She looks forward to a future with the title on her resume, albeit with bittersweet sentiments. “I’m very excited for the new things, the new chapter in my life,” she says. “ ... I don’t know. I saw the end so far away and now it’s here around the corner.”
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STORY
ESPN, ABC offer up a five-spot of NBA Christmas day action Pictured: Dwyane Wade
By George Dickie Ah, Christmas – a day filled with family, friends, food and – let’s be honest – liberal amounts of consumerism.
points and looked like his old MVP self in leading the Bulls to a 104-89 victory.
And since we’re in the consuming mood on this Friday, Dec. 25, why not sit down and take in five games and 12plus hours of NBA action courtesy of ESPN and ABC? It’s the perfect way to remove yourself from the holiday hubbub while your food coma runs its course.
Then in early evening on ABC, it’s a rematch of last June’s NBA Finals as Stephen Curry and the Pacific-leading Golden State Warriors welcome in LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the first place team from the Central. This is the first meeting between these teams since last spring, when the Warriors vanquished the Cavs in six games to win the franchise’s first league title in 40 years.
Opening things up at midday (ET) on ESPN is a battle of the haves and have-nots as Dwyane Wade and the Southeast Division-leading Miami Heat play host to Anthony Davis and the Southwest-trailing New Orleans Pelicans. If nothing else, this game should offer a glimpse of the old guard versus the new in terms of the game’s top power forwards, with Heat veteran Chris Bosh being matched up against the Pelicans’ up-and-coming star Davis.
Back on ESPN in prime time, a battle of the Lone Star State plays out as LaMarcus Aldridge and the Southwestleading San Antonio Spurs pay a visit to Dwight Howard and the talented though struggling Houston Rockets. This is the first meeting between these division rivals this season.
Closing out the day’s slate in late night on ESPN is a That’s followed in midafternoon on ABC by a clash of clash of the two Los Angeles teams as Kobe Bryant and teams that are expected to be playing well into spring the Lakers take on Blake Griffin and the Clippers. Unless as Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls drop in on Kevin he has a change of heart, Bryant will be making his final Durant and the Northwest-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Christmas day appearance in a Lakers uniform, as he has The Bulls got the better of the Thunder when these teams announced that this season will be his last. This is the first last met on Nov. 5 in Chicago, when Rose scored 29 game between these Pacific rivals this season.
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‘I Love Lucy’
returns for another colorized Christmas celebration By Jay Bobbin
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Pictured:Lucille Ball
Vitameatavegamin. If you know the word, you know one of television’s most classic sitcom episodes. “I Love Lucy” still was in its infancy when the episode “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” aired in May 1952, toward the end of the show’s first season – and its immediate popularity did much to cement the series as a CBS mainstay. It would remain a hallmark of Lucille Ball’s career, so it’s little surprise the network has chosen it as part of its third annual, newly colorized “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” Wednesday, Dec. 23. As with the earlier editions, the latest version combines two of the original “Lucy” stories. The first (also shown in the first two specials) logically is the 1956 “Christmas Episode” that finds Lucy and Ricky Ricardo (Ball and Desi Arnaz), along with friends and neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz (William Frawley and Vivian Vance), decorating a tree while recalling the birth of Little Ricky. Then, instead of Lucy stomping grapes or working a chocolate-factory conveyor belt as in the past specials, she picks up a bottle of a health tonic to pitch in an ad during a TV appearance by Ricky (who has told her she can’t do the spot). She samples what’s in the bottle ... and keeps sampling it. And the hilarious trouble begins.
While it has vitamins, minerals, meat and vegetables, Vitameatavegamin also is almost one-fourth alcohol. Lucy clearly isn’t crazy about her first spoonful of the mixture, but as it begins to have its effect on her, she becomes much more sincere about delivering the line, “It’s so tasty, too!” She also becomes much more intoxicated, leading her to an all-time-great transposing of words as she addresses viewers: “Do you pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular?” Lucy’s advice on joining the product’s “happy, peppy” consumers has endured as a high mark for comics on television ever since it first aired, and Ball herself cited it as her favorite “I Love Lucy” episode. Small wonder, since her drunk act is riotously effective, right up to the point where her alter ego ditches the spoon and starts chugging Vitameatavegamin straight from the bottle. If there’s any question of how satisfied CBS is with the “I Love Lucy Christmas Specials,” consider that for the first time this year, there’s also “The Andy Griffith Show Christmas Special” on Christmas night. The concept is the same, with two previously black-and-white episodes (“The Christmas Story” and “The Pickle Story”) now in color ... so in a couple of instances, what’s old will be new again in highly entertaining ways as this holiday season continues.
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SPORTS
KawhiLeonard
Leonard
and the Spurs dig in to
Christmas
feast
Story on next page Full Name: Kawhi Anthony Leonard Born: June 20, 1991 Birthplace: Los Angeles Height/Weight: 6 foot, 7 inches/230-pounds Team: San Antonio Spurs Position: Forward No.: 2 College: San Diego State Drafted: Round 1, Pick 15 in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers Honors & Acheivements: NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 2015; NBA champion, 2014; NBA Finals MVP, 2014 Page 18 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 20 - 26, 2015
SPORTS
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By Dan Ladd In the sports world, the NBA owns Christmas day with a full slate of games airing throughout the day. An evening contest features one of the league’s brightest young stars in Kawhi Leonard, whose San Antonio Spurs visit the Houston Rockets at 7pm EST on ESPN. Leonard is the latest in a long string of quality players in the Spurs franchise that has won five championships since 1999. The MVP of the Spurs’ latest title in 2014, Leonard made it obvious that he was a more than a suitable heir-apparent to players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili who were all part of previous championship teams. Leonard was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th pick in the 2011 NBA draft only to be immediately traded to the Spurs. In just his second season the Spurs reached the NBA Finals, losing in game seven to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. A year later Leonard would earn MVP honors when the Spurs turned the tables on the Heat, winning the Finals that year 4-1. The Forward played through injuries in the 2014/2015 season and still was honored as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. So far, he’s off to a solid start this season, including a career high 32-point effort in a season opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
KawhiLeonard
At season’s end, Leonard could be in the running for a roster spot on the 2016 USA Men’s Olympic basketball team in Rio. December 20 - 26, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 19
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MOVIES JAY BOBBIN's Theatrical movie review
review
‘Mockingjay–
Part 2’
gives ‘Hunger Games’ its final course
Pictured: Jennifer Lawrence
If you’re not immersed in the world of “The Hunger Games” already, “Mockingjay – Part 2” is not the place to start – not only because it’s the last of the four movies in the series, but also because it’s not remotely concerned with getting you caught up at this point. “Part 2” picks up precisely where last year’s “Part 1” left off, with Jennifer Lawrence as heroine Katniss in mortal peril from someone unexpected. She recovers pretty quickly, though, and continues her quest to eliminate the president who’s wrought havoc on her multifactioned society. That’s fellow returnee Donald Sutherland. Getting to him is tough, given all the traps that have been set around the capitol – and those challenges take the place of the teen-against-teen Hunger Games that started the series. Director Francis Lawrence (no relation to Jennifer) treats those with his usual visual flair and efficient pacing, particularly when some not-so-human beings are factored in. Despite the presence of such Oscar winners as Lawrence, Julianne Moore and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, plus fellow returnees Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson,
“Mockingjay: Part 2” feels like a let’s-just-get-to-the-end venture (and also overlong). It’s a given that when a series reaches its end, it’s obligated to tie up the loose ends, especially for devotees ... but you almost can hear the checklist being read off as each plot point is met and taken care of. When she made the original “Hunger Games,” Lawrence wasn’t an Oscar winner yet, and the challenging work she found afterward in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle” might have made he role of Katniss seem more confining to her than it was at first. The character had pretty much a single aim that’s fulfilled this time, and you have to credit the actress with seeing her obligation to it through. Even if her latest performance isn’t surprising, it’s sturdy, and that’s enough for her duties here. The thought that “The Hunger Games” has stayed around maybe one film too many is understandable, but it only makes sense to finish up author Suzanne Collins’ stories about the survival contest and its aftermath. With that said, established fans of the franchise may enjoy “Mockingjay – Part 2,” but the best hasn’t been saved for last.
Page 20 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 20 - 26, 2015
MOVIES JAY BOBBIN's movie review movies to watch
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“PAN”: The saga of “Peter
Pan” has had many screen retellings, but few if any have been as offbeat – and, it might be argued, misguided -- as director Joe Wright’s (“Affliction”) take on the tale. The parentless Peter (Levi Miller) is taken from the London orphanage where he resides to Neverland, where he makes a friend in the Captain Hook-to-be (Garrett Hedlund) and a notable enemy in the pirate Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman, giving the role his typical gusto). As a measure of how different this version is, consider that the buccaneers break into crooning punk-rock songs … and no, we are not kidding. Rooney Mara plays Tiger Lily in a cast that also include Nonso Anozie (“Zoo’’), Amanda Seyfried and Cara Delevingne (“Paper Towns”). DVD extra: “making-of” documentary. ** (PG: P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)
Top Pick
DVD
Pictured: Hugh Jackman
upcoming DVD releases
Coming Soon on DVD... “HITMAN: AGENT 47” (Dec. 29): An assassin (Rupert Friend) turns on the agency that wants to utilize his very special DNA to create a brigade of similar killers; Zachary Quinto also stars. (R: AS, P, V) “THE PERFECT GUY” (Dec. 29): A woman (Sanaa Lathan) comes to regret getting involved with a stranger (Michael Ealy) who begins stalking her; Morris Chestnut also stars. (PG-13: AS, P, V) “A WALK IN THE WOODS” (Dec. 29): A travel writer (Robert Redford) tackles the Appalachian Trail with a very dissimilar friend (Nick Nolte). (R: AS, P)
“SICARIO” (Jan. 5): Emily Blunt plays an FBI agent trying to dismantle a drug cartel along the U.S.-Mexico border; Benicio Del Toro also stars. (R: AS, P, GV) “EVEREST” (Jan. 19): Climbers on the legendary and potentially lethal mountain end up in the midst of a storm; Jason Clarke stars. (PG-13: P, V) “STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON” (Jan. 19): The formation and survival of the controversial hiphop group N.W.A. is dramatized; stars include Aldis Hodge and Paul Giamatti. (R and unrated versions: AS, N, P, V)
Pictured: Rupert Friend
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FAVORITE SHOWS
“Nature” on PBS
Jason Beghe stars in “Chicago PD”
SUNDAY 10 p.m. on AMC Into the Badlands In the season finale, a new episode called “Hand of Five Poisons,” a frustrated yet undaunted Sunny and M.K. (Daniel Wu, Aramis Knight) continue their fight to escape Quinn’s (Marton Csokas) vicelike grip once and for all. Meanwhile, on a much wider playing field, the Baron’s assortment of enemies conspire to take him down and change the Badlands forever. Orla Brady, Sarah Bolger and Emily Beecham also star. Season Finale New
Carter Oosterhouse and Taniya Nayak judge the last batch of displays in “The Great Christmas Light Fight”
MONDAY 8 p.m. on ABC The Great Christmas Light Fight Given how much electricity is expended on these literally dazzling displays, it’s hard to watch this engaging seasonal competition series and not picture power-company executives carting boatloads of cash to the bank while caroling “Joy to the World.” As this season wraps with its final double episode, judges Taniya Nayak and Carter Oosterhouse award their last pair of $50,000 grand prizes, based on use of lights, overall design and Christmas spirit. Season Finale New
Page 22 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 20 - 26, 2015
Daniel Wu stars in “Into the Badlands”
TUESDAY 8 p.m. on NBC Chicago PD Voight (Jason Beghe) is determined to find the old enemy he’s convinced targeted a hit against him in “Debts of the Past.” As she and Roman (Brian Geraghty) investigate the disappearance of an upper-class owner’s dog, Burgess (Marina Squerciati) isn’t happy about what she learns regarding Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) from Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins). Oliver Platt guest stars in his role from “Chicago Med.” continued on next page
FAVORITE SHOWS WEDNESDAY 8 p.m. on PBS Nature “Magic of the Snowy Owl” takes a look at the bird made popular by Harry Potter’s faithful companion Hedwig. Filmmakers go deep into the owl’s tundra home on the North Slope of Alaska to observe its daily struggles in raising a family of helpless owlets until they are able to fly. THURSDAY 7 p.m. on TNT Movie: A Christmas Story “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Peter Billingsley stars in this 1983 comedy as the little boy who yearns to find a Red Ryder BB gun under the Christmas tree. Not just a Christmas story, it’s about parents, little brothers, bullies, decoder rings, double dog dares and most of all, the workings of a youthful mind. The writing by Jean Shepherd (who also narrates) captures it all perfectly. Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon also star. This airing kicks off TNT’s traditional day-long Christmas marathon of the movie, which also airs on TBS. 9:30 p.m. on CW Whose Line Is It Anyway? The CW gets extra mileage out of one of its top talents of current times, as “Jane the Virgin” star Gina Rodriguez joins this show’s regular players — Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles — to generate improvised songs and sketches from audience suggestions in this episode. Comedian Jeff Davis, who’s made a number of appearances on the program, returns again. Aisha Tyler is the host.
FRIDAY 10 a.m. on ABC Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration A popular Christmas Day tradition returns as co-hosts Robin Roberts and Jesse Palmer from ABC’s “Good Morning America” anchor coverage of family-friendly festivities at California’s Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Guests and performers are scheduled to include Reba, Ariana Grande, Jason Derulo, singersongwriter Andy Grammer, Canadian musician and producer David Foster and the cast of Disney Channel’s hit TV musical “Descendants,” among many others. New
Tom Riley stars in “Da Vinci’s Demons”
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SATURDAY 8 p.m. on STARZ Da Vinci’s Demons Leo (Tom Riley) faces his ultimate challenge in the series finale, “Ira Deorum,” which is Latin for “Wrath of the Gods.” In this action-packed conclusion, the Ottoman army launches a savage ambush, forcing Leo — still plagued with doubts about those around him — to shake off his insecurity and put his faith in his friends and in himself to have a chance to defeat the Turks. Greg Chillin, Blake Ritson, Laura Haddock, Eros Vlahos and Elliot Cowan also star. Series Finale New
Ariana Grande in “Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration”
Aisha Tyler hosts “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
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