lilhave
11-30-2008, 09:05 AM
10 holiday TV programs not to miss
Posted by Alec Harvey -- The Birmingham News November 30, 2008 1:17 AM
Hundreds of programs with holiday themes are airing between now and the end of December, and we have an extensive list in Sunday's Play section in The Birmingham News.
To get you started, though, here's what we consider the top 10.
First, a note: the original "Miracle on 34th Street" certainly would have made this list, but NBC aired it Thanksgiving Day. Right now, it's not scheduled to air again this year.
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (Dec. 8, 7 p.m., ABC). Is there anything that says Christmas more than Charles Schulz's enduring Peanuts holiday tale? The droopy Christmas tree, Snoopy's decorated doghouse and Linus' quoting of the scriptures all combine for the holiday tale of all holiday tales.
• "It's a Wonderful Life" (Dec. 13 and 24, 7 p.m., NBC). An angel earns his wings and makes us cry in the classic movie starring Jimmy Stewart and directed by Frank Capra. Who wouldn't want to spend their holidays with the folks in Bedford Falls?
• "A Christmas Story" (Dec. 24, 7 p.m., and continuously through Christmas day, TBS). All Ralphie Parker wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun in Jean Shepherd's 1983 movie that is a contemporary classic. Thanks to TBS, you can see it over and over again once the marathon begins on Christmas Eve.
• "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (Dec. 1 and 23, 7 p.m., ABC). You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch, but you also win our hearts as the folks of Whoville try to teach you the real meaning of Christmas. Watch the classic cartoon, though, instead of the live-action Jim Carrey film.
• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Dec. 3, 7 p.m., CBS). You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, and you also know who is the most famous reindeer of all. Watching the shiny-nosed one is a must for any holiday season.
• "A Christmas Carol" (Dec. 20, 3:45 p.m., Turner Classic Movies). You'll find a number of takes on Dickens' tale, and some of them are quite good, but none is better than Alistair Sims' portrayal of the spend-thrift Ebenezer Scrooge.
• "Frosty the Snowman" (Dec. 12, 7 p.m., CBS). Not quite on the level of the Grinch and Rudolph, but an animated classic nonetheless. Watch Frosty come to life with his corn-cob pipe and two eyes made out of coal.
• "Elf" (Dec. 10, 9 p.m., USA). Will Ferrell charms in this live-action comedy about a regular-sized guy who is one of Santa's elves. He takes a trek from the North Pole to New York City, spreading his own version of Christmas joy around Manhattan.
• "Christmas at Rockefeller Center" (Dec. 3, 7 p.m., NBC). This special marks the official opening of the Christmas season in New York. This year, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Tony Bennett will perform.
• "A Very Brady Christmas" (Dec. 20, 8 a.m., ABC Family). A guilty pleasure for people who loved the TV series of the 1970s. In this 1988 TV movie, the Brady clan (minus Cindy) reunites and celebrates the season as only the Bradys can.
Harvey
Posted by Alec Harvey -- The Birmingham News November 30, 2008 1:17 AM
Hundreds of programs with holiday themes are airing between now and the end of December, and we have an extensive list in Sunday's Play section in The Birmingham News.
To get you started, though, here's what we consider the top 10.
First, a note: the original "Miracle on 34th Street" certainly would have made this list, but NBC aired it Thanksgiving Day. Right now, it's not scheduled to air again this year.
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (Dec. 8, 7 p.m., ABC). Is there anything that says Christmas more than Charles Schulz's enduring Peanuts holiday tale? The droopy Christmas tree, Snoopy's decorated doghouse and Linus' quoting of the scriptures all combine for the holiday tale of all holiday tales.
• "It's a Wonderful Life" (Dec. 13 and 24, 7 p.m., NBC). An angel earns his wings and makes us cry in the classic movie starring Jimmy Stewart and directed by Frank Capra. Who wouldn't want to spend their holidays with the folks in Bedford Falls?
• "A Christmas Story" (Dec. 24, 7 p.m., and continuously through Christmas day, TBS). All Ralphie Parker wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun in Jean Shepherd's 1983 movie that is a contemporary classic. Thanks to TBS, you can see it over and over again once the marathon begins on Christmas Eve.
• "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (Dec. 1 and 23, 7 p.m., ABC). You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch, but you also win our hearts as the folks of Whoville try to teach you the real meaning of Christmas. Watch the classic cartoon, though, instead of the live-action Jim Carrey film.
• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Dec. 3, 7 p.m., CBS). You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, and you also know who is the most famous reindeer of all. Watching the shiny-nosed one is a must for any holiday season.
• "A Christmas Carol" (Dec. 20, 3:45 p.m., Turner Classic Movies). You'll find a number of takes on Dickens' tale, and some of them are quite good, but none is better than Alistair Sims' portrayal of the spend-thrift Ebenezer Scrooge.
• "Frosty the Snowman" (Dec. 12, 7 p.m., CBS). Not quite on the level of the Grinch and Rudolph, but an animated classic nonetheless. Watch Frosty come to life with his corn-cob pipe and two eyes made out of coal.
• "Elf" (Dec. 10, 9 p.m., USA). Will Ferrell charms in this live-action comedy about a regular-sized guy who is one of Santa's elves. He takes a trek from the North Pole to New York City, spreading his own version of Christmas joy around Manhattan.
• "Christmas at Rockefeller Center" (Dec. 3, 7 p.m., NBC). This special marks the official opening of the Christmas season in New York. This year, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Tony Bennett will perform.
• "A Very Brady Christmas" (Dec. 20, 8 a.m., ABC Family). A guilty pleasure for people who loved the TV series of the 1970s. In this 1988 TV movie, the Brady clan (minus Cindy) reunites and celebrates the season as only the Bradys can.
Harvey