‘Bridgerton’ is outside the box for Shonda Rhimes and other Christmas viewing
Even as Turner Classic Movies (TCM) holds a “Christmas Marathon” that includes my favorite movie of all, “Auntie Mame,” as well as others high on my list, such as “Christmas in Connecticut,” “Remember the Night,” “The Bishop’s Wife,” and “The Shop Around the Corner,” the Christmas Day television offering that interests me the most is “Bridgerton,” a new drama series about a British family premiering on Netflix.
It isn’t only the possibility of new “Upstairs, Downstairs” or “Downton Abbey” that piques my curiosity. It’s the thought that “Bridgerton” is produced by Shonda Rhimes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” Scandal,” “How to Get Away With Murder,” and “Station 19” fame.
Rhimes is known for taut, intense dramas that involve legions of diverse characters. Her shows, emanating from what is called “Shondaland,” are usually contemporary and in urban settings where a lot takes place, such as a hospital, Washington, or a university. ‘Bridgerton” is a departure because it is set in Austen-ish Georgian London, therefore involving costumes, courtly manners, and a tight aristocracy.
Most interesting for a Rhimes series is the cast is mostly British and primarily Caucasian, although among the eight Bridgerton siblings that provide show creator Chris Van Dusen with plot lines are Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Ruby Barker as a character named Marina Thompson, and Martins Imhangbe as a character named Will Mondrich.
Of course, the first thing I noticed when “Bridgerton” was announced was star billing for Julie Andrews, who I longed to see taking her place among the Maggie Smiths, Penelope Wiltons, and Imelda Stauntons of the world as a dowager heading a large and, one hopes, complicated clan.
As it turns out, Andrews does not appear in “Bridgerton.” She narrates it as a character named Lady Whistledown. She and most of “Bridgerton’s are based on figures from series of novels by Julia Quinn, whose work when he can keep track of her just as Van Dusen adapts. Van Dusen was well, if she tags along? Handcuffed, also the creator of Rhimes’s “Scanof course. dal.” “The Bishop’s Wife,” the 1947 ver
Among the starring cast is Jonasion, delightfully shows angel Cary than Bailey, who doesn’t have a lot of Grant saving a marriage by answercachet in America but caught my eye ing a prayer from a prelate’s wife, Lowith his wit and versatility in 2018 retta Young, that her husband, David London production of Stephen SondNiven, be less stuffy and workbound. heim’s ‘Company.” (That production, “The Shop Around the Corner,” with sans Bailey, had recently opened in James Stewart and Margaret SullaNew York when the coronavirus crivan, is another that has one Christsis shut down all theaters.) Bailey, mas scene, but it’s a thrilling one, as Polly Walker, Regé-Jean Page, Clautwo pen pals, who are attracted to dia Jessie, Phoebe Dynevor, and Niceach on stationery but despise each ola Coughlan will “Bridgerton’s” most at the Budapest perfumery where central characters. they both work, finally figure out the
Another premiere of note on Friother’s identity. If you recognize the day, Christmas Day, is “Soul,” an anplot, it’s because it’s been borrowed imated piece on Disney+ with Jamie liberally, the most recently for “SleepFoxx voicing the lead role of a music Dennis fails at several jobs, marks the less in Seattle” with Tom Hanks and teacher who wants to be a jazz artoccasion when Mame meets the man Meg Ryan. ist who plays in big clubs but who who changes her life and solvency. It’s Other TCM offerings worth peeklands in a place popular by unborn a marvelous scene that includes the ing at include “Penny Serenade,” a souls to glean their inevitable lessons. classic line, “Marry him, Mum, the touching Cary Grant-Irene Dunne The movie, which was set for a summinute he asks.” piece airing today; “In the Good Old mer release in theaters before COBarbara Stanwyck stars in two Summertime,” a musical version of VID, is directed by Pete Doctor who Christmas classics. “Christmas in “Shop Around the Corner” with Van also helmed the popular and artisConnecticut” is part satire, part Johnson and Judy Garland, “Come to tically successful “Up” and “Inside screwball comedy about a famous the Stable” with Loretta Young and Out,” and features voiceover by Annational magazine writer whose Celeste Holm, and “The Lion in Wingela Bassett and Delco’s Tina Fey. It monthly column is all fabrication as ter” with Peter O’Toole and Kathais among works being considered for she writes about homemaking and rine Hepburn running tomorrow; Oscar nominations. has no idea how to cook, clean, dec“Meet Me in St. Louis, again with
Also making a Christmas debut on orate, or care for a child. Her ruse is Garland, and “Bell, Book, and Cantelevision, HBO Max, in spite of adthreatened when the magazine runs dle,” with Kim Novak on Wednesvertising to the contrary, is “Wonder a contest for a soldier to spend Christday; Stanwyck again, this time with Woman 1984,” a movie that boasted mas weekend at the writer’s idealGary Cooper, in “Meet John Doe” on several premiere dates before being ized, but fictional home in ConnectiThursday, Christmas Eve; and the delayed until this last week of the cut. Unlike contemporary comedies, Katharine Hepburn version of “Lityear. Gal Gadot stars in the title role, “Christmas in Connecticut” knows tle Women” and Monte Woolley, Bette as she did in 2017. She is once again how to keep the plot funny, but also Davis, Ann Sheridan, Jimmy Dujoined by Chris Pine as the male lead sophisticated and witty. Stanwyck, rante, and others in “The Man Who and Patty Jenkins as the film’s direcas other movies such as “Ball of Fire” Came to Dinner” on Christmas Day. tor. New to the cast are Kristen Wiig and “The Lady Eve” indicate, is a TCM is doing many screenings and “The Mandalorian’s” Pedro Pasgreat comedian. of “A Christmas Carol,” their version cal. There’s a little more heart, yet a tad this year being the 1938 release with
Returning to TCM, the channel more cynicism, in her other ChristReginald Owen as Scrooge. I prefer fields a particularly choice group mas movie, “Remember the Night,” the 1951 movie with Alistair Sim and of movies, some of which touch on in which she plays a thief, arrested the 1984 television production with Christmas in famous scenes while on Christmas Eve, just as the sherGeorge C. Scott in the curmudgeon others use the holiday as its raison iff role.whowouldhavetoguardher,is d’etre and total background. D about to leave for the Midwest and on’t worry. “It’s a Wonderful
“Auntie Mame” is one of the movhis mother’s cooking. Stanwyck Life,” the sad but heartwarming ies in which the Christmas sequence cons the sheriff, played by the un1946 movie with James Stewart and is one among many hilarious parts. derrated Fred MacMurray, into takDonna Reed, will be shown as usual, A Christmas during the Depression, ing her with him. Why, she bargains, by NBC (Channel 10) at 8 p.m. on when usually rich, resourceful Mame should he stay home, and she in jail, Christmas Eve. It can also be seen in
marathon, all day, starting at 6 a.m., on E!.
TCM is great, especially for film buffs like me, who prefer the classics, but Christmas Central for many years, resides with the company that invented gift wrap and has been providing cards, bags, etc. for more than a century, the Hallmark Channel.
New this year on Hallmark are Neal Bledsoe and Rachel Boston in “A Christmas Carousel;” Rachael Cook and Greyston Holt in “Cross Country Christmas;” Julie Gonzalo, Donna Benedicto, and Lindsay Gibson in “Jingle Bell Bride,” and Merritt Patterson, Luke Macfarlane, and Jesse Hutch in “Chateau Christmas.”
These are the tip of a deep and solid iceberg as Hallmark has been all Christmas all the time for more than a month and has what seems like an inexhaustible library of Christmas offerings.
Not to be outdone, Lifetime Channel also keeps the Christmas season chocked with romances that emerge during the holidays. This year, these include “Christmas on Ice,” “Christmas Unwrapped,” ‘Forever Christman,” “A Crafty Christmas Romance,” “Forever Christmas,” “Candy Cane Christmas,” and “The Christmas Aunt” with Keisha Knight Pulliam of “Cosby Show” fame.
“Miracle on 34th Street” fans will be disappointed, as this favorite has no 2020 air date I can find. Same thing with “The Wizard of Oz.”
Streaming constantly on Apple and Amazon Prime, “A Christmas Story” airs marathon-style on both TBS and TNT from 9 p.m. Christmas Eve to 8 a.m. Christmas Day. The 1951 “Christmas Carol” with Sim can be seen on FXM at several time on Christmas Day and at 1:40 p.m. on Saturday.