Tis the season for Yule specials, old and new
LOS ANGELES — Welcome back, Donner and Blitzen! And thanks for bringing along Gwen Stefani, Tariji P. Henson and Love Actually to a holiday TV lineup that mixes the familiar and the fresh.
We want Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and It’s a Wonderful Life again, for the pleasure and the memories they summon. But no complaints if the punch is spiked with new music specials, comedy and original movies.
Settle in to wrap gifts, slurp nog and choose among these highlights: • Love Actually, Netflix, Dec. 14. Filmmaker Richard Curtis’s witty, romantic creampuff that weaves together stories featuring, among many, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Keira Knightley and Alan Rickman. Add the hit tune All I Want for Christmas Is You and, of course, many happy endings. • It’s a Wonderful Life, 8 p.m. Dec. 24, NBC. Watch it for the 100th time or the first and try to resist the sentimental pull of the 1946 Frank Capra fable about a self-doubting man (Jimmy Stewart) who gets perspective from a dotty but caring angel (Henry Travers). Future TV mom Donna Reed also stars. • A Home for the Holidays, 8 p.m. Dec. 19, CBS. Music stars including Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson, Kacey Musgraves and Kane Brown align to bring attention to the issue of adoption with inspirational stories and songs. • I Love Lucy Christmas Special, 8 p.m. Dec. 22, CBS. Irrepressible redhead Lucy (Lucille Ball) shines even brighter in two colourized episodes of the classic sitcom: 1955’s Christmas episode and The Fashion Show, in which Lucy goes over-budget on a dress and pays the price for showing off. • Gwen Stefani’s You Make it Feel Like Christmas, 9 p.m. Dec. 12, NBC. The singer-songwriter mixes music, sketches and friends including duet partner Blake Shelton, Chelsea Handler, Ken Jeong, Seth MacFarlane and Ne-Yo. Stefani’s new album gives the special its title and tunes, including Silent Night.
• Taraji’s White Hot Holidays, 8 p.m., Showtime at the Apollo: Christmas, 9 p.m. Dec. 14, Fox. This double bill opens with Tarji P. Henson offering classic holiday tunes with help from Chaka Khan, Faith Evans, Leslie Odom Jr. and others. In Showtime, artists including Snoop Dogg and Boyz II Men and aspiring newcomers performing their Christmas favourites at the famed New York City theatre.
• Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Rolando Villazon, Dec. 15, PBS. Celebrated tenor Villazon joins the choir in what’s described as a “cross-cultural, Latin-themed” celebration of Christmas that promises pageantry as well as music.
• A Christmas Story Live! 7 p.m. Dec. 17, Fox. Writer Jean Shepherd’s priceless anecdotes came first, followed by the 1983 bigscreen movie comedy and a Broadway musical. Now it’s TV’s turn to share Ralphie’s (Andy Walken) memorable holiday, inspired by the stage version and with new songs and a cast including Maya Rudolph, Chris Diamantopoulos and Jane Krakowski.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 8 p.m. Dec. 9, CBS. Rudolph and his glowing nose rescue Christmas and all is right with the world in this 1964 song-inspired tale. It’s paired with Frosty the Snowman, which follows at 8:30 p.m.
• I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! 8 p.m. Dec. 16, ABC. Re Run, little brother to Lucy and Linus, gets caught up in Peanuts holiday mischief with Snoopy and his brother Spike.
• How Murray Saved Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 24, NBC. Music and animation are joined with the voices of Jerry Stiller, Sean Hayes, Dennis Haysbert and others in the story of a cranky deli owner who fills in for Santa.