From Wire Reports
He knows if you’ve been good; he knows if you’ve been bad. But in the great democracy of TV Land, we all get to tune in the same gifts anyway!
Here’s a rundown of the movies, music and more in store for angels and the scamps who may be out of luck with Santa (schedule subject to change).
Movies
“Ebbie,” Monday, Dec. 4, Lifetime. Susan Lucci plays a ruthless retailer, a female Scrooge, in a contemporary version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
“A Holiday to Remember,” Tuesday, Dec. 12, CBS. A romance starring Connie Sellecca as a recently divorced mother who returns to her hometown and rediscovers her first love. Randy Travis co-stars.
“A Christmas Carol,” Friday, Dec. 15, TBS. A colorized version of the Charles Dickens story. With Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart.
“The Christmas Box,” Sunday, Dec. 17, CBS. A family moves in with an older woman and learns about love and life. Maureen O’Hara and Richard Thomas star.
“A Christmas Reunion,” Thursday, Dec. 21, A&E. James Coburn and Edward Woodward star in the classic children’s story about a boy who wishes Christmas would just go away.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Friday, Dec. 22, NBC. The once-ubiquitous holiday film is now NBC’s alone to air. Starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and an angel named Clarence.
“Christmas on Division Street,” Sunday, Dec. 24, CBS. Hume Cronyn and Fred Savage are featured in this 1991 drama about a youth who befriends an elderly man and learns about homelessness and life.
“A Bing Crosby Film Festival,” Monday, Dec. 25, American Movie Classics. A gift box of Crosby classics, including “Holiday Inn” and “Going My Way,” ensures sweet Christmas Day crooning.
Animation
“Mole’s Christmas,” tonight, Disney. New animated tale featuring Kenneth Grahame’s “Wind In The Willows” characters.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Wednesday, Dec. 6, CBS. The Peanuts gang finds the true meaning of the season underneath trappings of tinsel and commercialism. The special marks its 30th anniversary.
“Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree,” Wednesday, Dec. 6, CBS. New Muppet cast members the Muppet Mice venture out in search of the perfect Christmas. Guest voices include Robert Downey Jr., Leslie Nielsen and Stockard Channing.
“Peter and the Wolf,” Friday, Dec. 8, ABC. The classic musical tale is revisited in an animation and liveaction special starring Kirstie Alley and Lloyd Bridges.
“Twas the Night Before Bumpy,” Saturday, Dec. 9, ABC. Mr. Bumpy and friends from the Saturday morning series “Bump in the Night” enjoy a holiday adventure. Cheech Marin and Cathy Moriarty provide guest voices.
“A Chipmunk Christmas,” Wednesday, Dec. 13, USA Network. The Chipmunks are set to play Carnegie Hall on Christmas, but the concert is doomed unless Alvin can replace the harmonica he gave an ailing friend.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Friday, Dec. 15, TBS. The Grinch tries to eradicate the holiday from the wholesome Whos. (A “Special Edition” version includes interviews with Chuck Jones, “Mrs. Seuss” Audrey Geisel and others, Wednesday, Dec. 13, TNT.)
“Winnie the Pooh and Christmas, Too,” Thursday, Dec. 21, CBS. Walt Disney’s adaptation of A.A. Milne’s Pooh Bear and his friends as they prepare for the holidays in the Hundred Acre Wood.
“Mumfie’s White Christmas,” Saturday, Dec. 23, Fox. Mumfie, on a mission to ensure a white Christmas for his skating party, becomes entangled in the legend of The Snowbird.
“Father Christmas,” Monday, Dec. 25, PBS. A year in the life of Santa Claus reveals how he spends his offhours. The animation style is based on British author Raymond Briggs’ “Father Christmas” books.
Music
“Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters Christmas Show,” Monday, Dec. 4, TNN. Bobby Vinton and Andrae Crouch join the sibs.
“Gregorian Chant: Songs of the Spirit,” Thursday, Dec. 7, PBS. Lilting 12th-century sounds performed by the Gregorian Chant Choir of Spain.
“Kiri’s Coventry Carols,” Thursday, Dec. 7, A&E. Soprano Kiri Te Kanawa joins the choirs of Britain’s Coventry and Lichfield cathedrals and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
“Swing Into Christmas,” Thursday, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, A&E. Two half-hour specials jazz things up with Wynton Marsalis, Grover Washington Jr. and others.
“Riders Radio Theater: The Christmas Show,” Wednesday, Dec. 13, TNN. Go west with comical musical posse Riders in the Sky. Guests include the Grand Ole Opry’s Little Jimmy Dickens and Kathy Mattea.
“Carols From King’s,” Thursday, Dec. 14, A&E. A Celebration of Christmas from the Chapel of King’s College in Cambridge, England.
“Holiday at Pops,” Sunday, Dec. 17, A&E. Live From Boston’s Symphony Hall.
“Kathie Lee: Home for Christmas,” Wednesday, Dec. 20, CBS. Kathie Lee Gifford and family welcome musical guests, including Kathy Mattea, Andy Williams and Aaron Neville, to their Vail, Colo., home.
“Opryland’s Country Christmas,” Saturday, Dec. 23, CBS. A 1994 Nashville celebration with Clint Black, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Ronna Reeves, Marty Stuart, Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Tammy Wynette, Trisha Yearwood - and Neil Diamond.
“Cincinnati Pops Holiday with Erich Kunzel and Mel Torme,” Sunday, Dec. 24, PBS. The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, with Kunzel conducting, is joined by Mel Torme singing his “The Christmas Song” and the Indiana University Singing Hoosiers.
“Christmas at Saint Olaf,” Monday, Dec. 25, PBS. In a nearly century-old tradition, St. Olaf college in Northfield, Minn., heralds Christmas with a 450-singer choir and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
“Atlanta Symphony Gospel Christmas,” Monday, Dec. 25, PBS. The orchestra unites with a choir composed of the best gospel singers from the Atlanta area. The Pointer Sisters join in the mix.
Stocking stuffers
“Lamb Chop’s Special Chanukah,” Monday, Dec. 11, PBS. Shari Lewis and buddy Lamb Chop try to illuminate the meaning of the Jewish festival of lights for non-Jewish family and friends, including guest Alan Thicke.
“Martha Stewart’s Home for the Holiday,” Tuesday, Dec. 12, CBS. The hostess with the mostess shares ideas for recipes, tree decorating, homemade ornaments and wreaths, and gift wrapping. Julia Child is featured.
“The Weinerville Chanukah Special,” Thursday, Dec. 14, Nickelodeon. A lighthearted celebration with Marc Weiner’s puppet characters. David Johanson, as alter ego Buster Poindexter, is among the guests.
“Ho Ho Ho: TV’s All-Time Funniest Christmas Moments,” Monday, Dec. 18, Fox. Highlights of Christmas-themed sitcoms, specials, variety programs and commercials over the years.
“Christmas at War,” Sunday, Dec. 24, History Channel. The efforts of combat soldiers trying to honor the holiday is explored through interviews, home movies and videos, letters and archival footage over the decades.
“God’s House,” Sunday, Dec. 24, TBS. The series “Network Earth” examines the ways in which Christian Americans celebrate their faith. Segments on Christian contemporary music and the pope’s New York visit are included.
“Storytime Para Ti,” Monday, Dec. 25, PBS. A bilingual holiday episode from the children’s series about the joy of books includes about one-third Spanish dialogue and reading. Actor-musician Ruben Blades guests.
“The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade,” Monday, Dec. 25, ABC. Joan Lunden and Regis Philbin host the 13th version of the annual event. Pocahontas and “The Toy Story” clan are among this year’s stars.