‘Christmas Memory’ A Show To Remember
You’ve probably had it up to your eyeballs with yuletide commercialism and the seemingly endless parade of Christmas-themed episodes, specials and movies.
Just when you’re ready to say “Bah! Humbug!” and toss the remote control out the window, CBS weighs in with a treat and a good reason to endure one more holiday show.
“A Christmas Memory” (CBS Sunday at 9) is full of Southern charm, intelligent writing and memorable acting. The tale, based on Truman Capote’s short story, flashes back to a small town in Alabama in 1934.
Back then, Christmas was more about family and friends than the latest shoot-em-up video game or tickle-me Sesame Street doll.
“Memory” centers on 7-year-old Buddy (Eric Lloyd) who lives with his four elderly cousins. He has forged a strong friendship with one of them, Sook (Patty Duke).
This year, they each sense this is their last Christmas together, so Sook and Buddy want to make this holiday the best yet. They have collected pennies to make fruitcakes as gifts (one is earmarked for Eleanor Roosevelt), and their baking task turns into a whimsical tale about life in a small town.
Included in their adventures is a visit to the local watering hole to secure liquor for their cakes from a fearsome bar owner.
The simplicity of the story allows anyone (young and old) to relate to a close relationship with an older relative.
It’s full of heartwarming moments, that are more than apropos for this time of year.
Highlights
“Figure Skating,” ABC tonight at 8 and 9; FOX tonight at 8: Performances on ice aren’t hard to find.
ABC has back-to-back reruns. The first one features Ekaterina Gordeeva and Victor Petrenko in “Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice.” At 9, familiar faces on ice show off their skills to Disney tunes in “Disney’s Christmas Fantasy on Ice.”
Over on FOX, Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan are among the Olympic hopefuls competing in the “Skate International Women’s and Dance Finals.”
“The Wonderful World of Disney,” ABC Sunday at 7: “Flash,” the tale of a boy, his horse and a reunion with dad, features Lucas Black (“Sling Blade”). Black brings honesty and determination to his 14-year-old character, Connor Strong, who rides his horse from Atlanta to New York City to meet his dad.
“The Simpsons,” FOX Sunday at 8: A hilarious Christmas spoof is made enjoyable by a voice appearance by “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek.
“Little Women” (1994), NBC Sunday at 8:30: Louisa May Alcott’s classic is hard to resist, especially with Winona Ryder as outspoken Jo March.
“Junior” (1994), ABC Sunday at 9: This uneven comedy serves up Arnold Schwarzenegger as the world’s first pregnant man. Danny DeVito and Emma Thompson join in the parody, which has lots of jokes about breathing, labor and pain killers.
Parents’ Picks
“Doom Runners” (1997), SHOW tonight at 8: The primary market for this futuristic action tale is kids.
This film, jointly produced by Showtime and Nickelodeon, eventually will be shown on the children’s cable channel - and probably spawn a series.
The violence here is quite minimal. Even Tim Curry as the evil dictator Doctor Kao is as scary as Scrooge before he sees the light.
“Doom” is reminiscent of “Mad Max” with its post-apocalyptic setting and food-hunting gangs. All the visuals are appropriate for the younger set, with most of the violence occurring off-camera.
“Doom” traces the adventures of a group of kids (Bradley Pierce, Lea Moreno and Dean O’Gorman) and an adult (Nathan Jones) as they make the treacherous trek from their empty warehouse digs to an alleged land of promise called New Eden. Their journey takes them across a barren land filled with deadly gases, where they are pursued by troopers dispatched by Kao and evil gangs.
“Short Films by Short People Film Festival,” NIK Sunday at 8: From the Creative Lab at NICK comes films made by regular kids. The shorts are inventive, entertaining, clever and at the level of the under-12 crowd, exactly the kind of programming one should find on this channel.
Cable Calls
“Los Locos” (1997), TMC tonight at 9: Mario Van Peebles is a gambling cowboy who leads a group of mentally disabled patients to safety. There’s not much plot but lots of strange characters and Western action, including showdowns with the cavalry and Mexican soldiers.
“Mars Attacks!” (1996), HBO tonight at 8: This inventive spoof from Tim Burton has several knee-slapping moments as the U.S. president (Jack Nicholson) greets visitors from Mars.
“Horton Foote’s ‘Alone,”’ SHOW Sunday at 8: Hume Cronyn plays recently widowed John Webb, a sensitive man with an extremely troubled immediate and extended family. Money and greed come into play when an oil company offers Webb and nephews (Frederic Forrest and Chris Cooper) money to drill for oil on family land.
This slice-of-life tale moves slowly but never disappoints, with Cronyn giving Webb many layers as he contends with grief and thoughts of retiring. There’s a touching graveyard scene in which Webb expresses his sorrow.
Movie Marquee
“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), NBC tonight at 8: Throw a log on the fire and enjoy this old chestnut. Frank Capra’s sentimental holiday tale only gets better with age.
It’s one of those rare movies one never tires of watching.