TV

Ring in the holidays with TV cheer

Holiday specials, old and new, arrive this week.

By Diane Holloway
AMERICAN-STATESMAN TELEVISION WRITER
Tuesday, November 25, 2008

In Central Texas, just about the only chestnuts we look forward to during the holidays are TV specials. Roasting stuff on an open fire in our semi-tropical climate can mean turning on the air conditioner in the dead of winter. Too depressing.

Thus the non-Scrooges among us anticipate shows such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's a Wonderful Life." They warm our hearts, and we don't even care that we know every line of dialogue.

Of course, we fully recognize that one viewer's seasonal joy is another person's annual revulsion. Can't we please not hear "The Little Drummer Boy" this year, some of us are already thinking? Please?

The annual influx of Christmas cheer always begins Thanksgiving week and revs up to onslaught by mid-December. The perennials return, along with a smattering of new animated, live action and musical specials. Just about every TV series has a Christmas episode - "ER" used to be famous for its odd combination of gore and good tidings. And there are cable channels, such as ABC Family and Hallmark, that will serve wall-to-wall holiday fare for the entire month of December.

Acknowledging that some folks will cringe at the bah humbug-inducing lineup, we offer our non-comprehensive, chronologically listed highlights for those who care.

• 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,' 7 p.m. tonight and Thursday (ABC) - Lucy taunts Charlie with a football (how many times have we seen the poor boy go splat?), but the kids find their way to gratitude eventually. Originally telecast in 1973, this is one of Charles M. Schulz's many Peanuts adaptations.
• 'Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,' 8 a.m. Thursday (CBS and NBC) - It's the 82nd annual marching of bands, swooping of gigantic balloons and waving and warbling of celebrities. Scheduled to ride: the music duo Sugarland, "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken, soap stars Jessica Leccia and Julie Pinson and the Broadway casts of "Mary Poppins" and "Grease."
• 'Polar Express,' 7 p.m. Friday on ABC - The IMAX version of this big-screen flick is breathtaking, but it plays well on TV, too. Based on Chris Van Allsburg's 1985 book, the movie pairs former "Bosom Buddies" Tom Hanks as the kindly conductor and Peter Scolari as one of the kids on the train.

• 'Shrek the Halls,' 7 p.m. Dec. 1 (ABC) - An animated special that features the original "Shrek" movie voice cast, including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas. Shrek struggles to get into the holiday spirit with Fiona and the kids, but Donkey, Gingerbread Man and the rest turn coziness into chaos.
• 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 (ABC) - A favorite since 1966, the animated special tells the story of the bitter, misery-loving Grinch. Irritated at the thought of Whoville having a merry Christmas, he disguises himself as Santa Claus and steals all the presents to keep Christmas from coming. It comes anyway, and the Grinch grows a heart.
• 'Christmas in Rockefeller Center,' 7 p.m. Dec. 3 (NBC) - The live broadcast from New York celebrates the lighting of the famous Christmas tree. Hosted by "Today's" Al Roker, the program will feature performances by Beyoncé, Tony Bennett, Neil Boyd, the Jonas Brothers, Harry Connick Jr., David Cook, Rosie O'Donnell and The Broadway Kids, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts and Solange Knowles.
• 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' 7 p.m. Dec. 3 (CBS) - The longest-running holiday special in TV history celebrates its 44th anniversary in this digitally remastered version. Since 1964, millions of families have watched Rudolph and his friends save Christmas. The music features the cheery voice of Burl Ives.
• 'The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show,' 9 p.m. Dec. 3 (CBS) - OK, this one might be just a seasonal favorite for guys, but Heidi Klum makes a lovely angel prancing around in lingerie and giant feathery wings. When this sugar-and-spice spectacle first debuted a few years ago, some viewers were offended, but it was a hit from the get-go.
• 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' 7 p.m. Dec. 5 (ABC) - This lavish movie version of Dr. Seuss's tale stars Jim Carrey, laboring beneath 10 pounds of green makeup, as the grinning Grinch. Toddlers might find him scary.
• ' 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' 6 p.m. Dec. 8 (ABC Family) - Joel Grey narrates the 1974 animated special adapted from the famous poem by Clement Moore.
• 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' 7 p.m. Dec. 8 and Dec. 16 (ABC) - If there's a must-see animated holiday special, this is it. Originally telecast in 1965, the true meaning of (noncommercial) Christmas is revealed through a scrawny tree and Linus' recitation of the birth of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke. Required viewing for anyone who celebrates the season.
• 'A Garfield Christmas,' 6 p.m. Dec. 9 (ABC Family) - The big cat, Jon and Odie go to Jon's grandmother's house for Christmas. First telecast in 1987, when just about every cartoon character came out with a holiday Christmas special. Seems entirely superfluous now.
• 'Mickey's Christmas Carol,' 6 p.m. Dec. 10 (ABC Family) - Toddlers who love Mickey Mouse will be entertained, but others probably should take a pass.
• 'Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too,' 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 (ABC Family) - Christopher Robin sends a letter to Santa requesting gifts for his greedy Hundred Acre Woods pals, but he forgets to ask for anything for himself. Hilarity and lesson-learning ensue in a lovely cartoon that looks just like the Pooh books by A.A. Milne.
• 'Little Spirit: Christmas in New York,' 7 p.m. Dec. 10 (NBC) - Danny DeVito, Lucy Liu, Freddy Rodriguez, Brenda Song and NBC anchor Brian Williams lend their voices to the new animated show that features original songs by Duncan Sheik, composer of Broadway's "Spring Awakening." The animation blends the look of traditional painting with contemporary 3-D technology. The story is about a boy, his lost dog and the magical creature who helps him search the city. This one's a keeper.
• 'Frosty the Snowman,' 7 p.m. Dec. 12 (CBS) - That "jolly soul," whose magical old silk hat has turned him into a Christmas legend, demonstrates his unique showmanship. Narrated by Jimmy Durante, the special from 1969 includes the voices of Jackie Vernon (as Frosty) and Billy De Wolfe (as Professor Hinkle).
• 'Frosty Returns,' 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 (CBS) - The dancing snowman continues his adventures in this 1995 sequel. Jonathan Winters is the narrator, with John Goodman as the voice of Frosty.
• 'It's a Wonderful Life,' 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and Dec. 24 (NBC) - Frank Capra's 1946 holiday classic stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a once-charmed and then suicidal man whose guardian angel shows him what life in Bedford Falls would have been like without him. If you wait a few years between viewings, it holds up well.
• 'I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown,' 7 p.m. Dec. 15 (ABC) - ReRun, the lovable but skeptical younger brother of Linus and Lucy, yearns for a pet.
• 'A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa,' 7 p.m. Dec. 17 (NBC) - Another new special joins the fray. On Christmas Eve, Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and pals mistakenly keep three letters from getting to Santa Claus. Can they get them to Santa in time? With new songs by Paul Williams, the cast includes Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Griffiths, Tony Sirico, Steve Schirripa and Madison Pettis.
• 'The Nutcracker,' 7 p.m. Dec. 17 and 9 p.m. Dec. 22 (PBS) - The San Francisco Ballet performs the yuletide favorite in a special edition of "Great Performances."

• 'White Christmas,' 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 23 (ABC Family) - Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney star in the 1954 film featuring the famous song of the same name. Great song; OK movie.
• 'Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir,' 7 p.m. Dec. 24 (PBS) - The renowned choir is joined by opera superstar Renée Fleming, British actress Claire Bloom, dancers from the University of Utah Ballet and the Bells on Temple Square for the annual holiday concert. Turn the volume up as high as you dare ... it's worth it.