TV Won’t Let You Forget Holidays
“It’s a Wonderful Life” turns 50 this year, but that life-affirming classic starring Jimmy Stewart is just a smidgen of what’s in Santa’s TV gift bag this season.
As usual, there’s something for every viewer, from the musically inclined “Mrs. Santa Claus,” to the saintly Dolly Parton in “Unlikely Angel,” to the ghoulish “The Munsters’ Scary Little Christmas.”
Here’s a shopping guide to the program highlights on network and cable TV:
Movies
“Mrs. Santa Claus,” tonight, CBS: Angela Lansbury stars in this original musical as Santa’s wife who gets lost in New York while testing out a timesaving, round-the-world route in her husband’s (Charles Durning) reindeer-powered sleigh. Stranded on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the anonymous Mrs. Claus finds herself drawn into the lives of lonely children.
“A Different Kind of Christmas,” Monday, Lifetime: The tale of a woman (Shelley Long) who always felt ignored by her father, who believes he is Santa Claus and only wants to bring joy to the world.
“Christmas in My Hometown,” Tuesday, CBS: Tim Matheson plays a corporate Scrooge who comes to a small Nebraska town just before Christmas to downsize the factory that employs most of the community. Melissa Gilbert falls in love with him; Travis Tritt, the local sheriff, loves her.
“The Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue,” Dec. 15, The Family Channel: During the Depression, a father (Robert Urich) is falsely accused of a crime and his family struggles to get him home for Christmas.
“Unlikely Angel,” Dec. 17, CBS: Dolly Parton plays an angel who returns to Earth to earn her wings by uniting a family.
“The Munsters’ Scary Little Christmas,” Dec. 17, Fox: The ghoulish brood from the 1960s TV series celebrates Christmas in their own cheerfully gruesome way.
“The Homecoming: A Christmas Story,” Dec. 21, CBS: The 1971 drama that inspired the long-running Emmy-winning series “The Waltons” stars Patricia Neal as the mother and Richard Thomas as the eldest son in a rural American family during the Depression.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Dec. 21, NBC: The Frank Capra film is broadcast in the original black-and-white director’s cut.
“Timepiece,” Dec. 22, CBS: Richard Thomas returns in a prequel to last season’s “The Christmas Box” (see Dec. 25). It tells the story behind a beautiful old watch that Thomas’ friend bequeaths to his daughter as a wedding gift.
“The Christmas Tree,” Dec. 22, ABC: Sally Field makes her directorial debut. Andrew McCarthy spots the perfect tree for Rockefeller Center’s Christmas centerpiece while flying over a remote convent. The problem is that the tree has its own significance to a nun (Julie Harris) who isn’t ready to see it come down.
“A Holiday to Remember,” Dec. 24, CBS: Connie Sellecca and Randy Travis star in this repeat romance about a recently divorced mother who returns to her childhood town and rediscovers her first love.
“The Christmas Box,” Dec. 25, CBS: A rebroadcast of last season’s drama starring Richard Thomas as a man who moves his family into the mansion of a stubborn widow (Maureen O’Hara).
Music
“Kathie Lee: Just in Time for Christmas,” Wednesday, CBS: Kathie Lee Gifford and family welcome the holiday season with an orchestral concert set in Oklahoma City.
“A Kissin’ Christmas with Bobby Vinton,” Friday, The Family Channel: Bobby Vinton and family recorded Christmas tunes at Vinton’s theater in Branson, Mo.
“Opryland’s Country Christmas,” Saturday, CBS: Some of Nashville’s most famous names - Clint Black, Patty Loveless, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Wynonna and others - sing holiday favorites country-style.
Stocking stuffers
“Teens on Faith: A Spiritual Journey,” tonight, CBS: Teen-agers from a wide variety of religious backgrounds talk about their faith.
“TV’s All Time Funniest Holidays,” Monday, Fox: Ted McGinley shows holiday-themed clips from TV shows.
“Martha Stewart: Home for the Holidays,” Tuesday, CBS: The hostess with the most-ess shares ideas for recipes, tree decorating and party planning. Michael Jordan, Dennis Franz and Miss Piggy are featured.
“Christmas in Washington,” Dec. 18, NBC: The cast of “3rd Rock from the Sun” host the 15th annual yuletide gala attended by President Clinton and the first lady.
“Christmas Miracles,” Dec. 22, ABC: Celebrities fulfill the wishes of children and their families from specially selected letters written to Santa.
“How Do You Spell God?”, Dec. 22, HBO: Children explore some of life’s universal questions, thoughts on God and the importance of faith.
“The Magic School Bus Family Holiday Special,” Dec. 25, PBS: Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton host this star-studded, animated and liveaction field trip aboard the bus. Among other things, the special celebrates recycling, “the gift that keeps on giving.”
“Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade,” Dec. 25, ABC: Live from Walt Disney World, Suzanne Somers and Jerry Van Dyke host a two-hour holiday extravaganza filled with elves, dancing Christmas trees, snowmen, colorful floats and marching bands.
Animation
“The Balloonatiks: Christmas Without a Claus,” Saturday, Fox: The highflying balloon characters fly into a holiday Big Balloon Parade in New York only to learn that Santa Claus has been kidnapped by their enemy, The Needler.
“An Edith Ann Christmas,” Saturday, ABC: From actress Lily Tomlin and writer Jane Wagner comes this tale following the holiday crisis of 6-year-old Edith Ann and her dysfunctional family.
“The Tick,” Dec. 15, Fox: The giant blue crimefighter and his trusty sidekick Arthur are called upon to rid the city of a small-time bank robber who dons a stolen Santa Claus costume.