’TIS THE SEASON Holiday specials roll out on air and online
With gatherings advisably on hold right now, the screens — TV, phone, tablet, etc. — have become homes for holidays. This weekend’s virtual celebrations include:
• On “My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood,” the country star and “American Idol” champ sings for the season, with help from John Legend and Underwood’s son Isaiah, via HBO Max.
• All Mariah Carey wants for Christmas is for you to watch “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special,” starting Friday, Dec. 4, via Apple TV. Her guest list is impressive, with Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Misty Copeland and Mykal-Michelle Harris, as well as Carey’s twins, Moroccan and Monroe.
• If you’ve ever wondered how all those letters to Santa Claus get answered, check out “Dear Santa,” a documentary about Operation Santa, premiering Friday, Dec. 4, via video on demand. Visit dearsanta. movie.
• The American Conservatory Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol: On Air,” a radio play rendition of the Dickens tale, at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, via broadwayondemand.com. Tickets are $40.
• “Celebremos: Eterna Navidad” teams Latinx musicians and comedians for an all-star holiday celebration, hosted by Juanes and Karen Martinez, via pantaya. com.
• What’s a holiday without food? You know the answer — and so does the Food Network, whose hosts roll out seasonal recipes via “Pioneer Woman” (10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6), “Girl Meets Farm” (11 a.m. Sunday) and “Delicious Miss Brown” (noon Sunday).
• Dolly Parton continues to celebrate “A Holly Dolly Christmas” on this special named after her latest album at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, on CBS (WWJ-Channel 62 in Detroit) and streaming via CBS All Access. Parton will be joined by Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Michael Bublé, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson and others.
• Santa — The Experience offers a virtual, family-friendly visit to the North Pole, with elves, reindeer and an audience with the great Claus himself, $34.95 through Dec. 24 via thesantaexperience.com.