Small-screen surprises
New musicals, romantic comedies and specials arrive in a flurry on television
It's December and pretty much every network and streaming service seemingly has a show aimed at spreading holiday cheer.
For those looking to skip reruns of Christmases past, there's a bounty of fresh shows and specials targeted to traditionalists, romantics and family friendly entertainment. This guide has you covered on some of the notable musicals, rom-coms, animated and cooking shows airing throughout the season.
ALREADY AVAILABLE SANTA CAMP
Crave
This documentary follows members of the non-profit New England Santa Society, made up of more than 100 professional Christmas performers, who decide to tackle the lack of diversity among Santa stand-ins at their annual summer camp in New Hampshire. The group enlists a Black Santa, a Santa with a disability and a transgender Santa to help make playing Santa more inclusive.
CHRISTMAS WITH YOU Netflix
Freddie Prinze Jr. plays a single dad and music teacher named Miguel, whose daughter Cristina is a massive fan of the pop star Angelina (played by Aimee Garcia).
What Cristina doesn't know is that Angelina's career is in jeopardy, and she is in danger of being dropped by her record label if she doesn't release a new hit soon. When Angelina stumbles upon a video Cristina posted online of her singing one of Angelina's songs, she decides to meet her for an ego boost. Angelina meets Miguel and offers to help him — and herself — by writing a holiday song with him.
HOLIDAY SOUNDTRACK OHOLYNIGHT:CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR PBS, Dec. 19
Broadway's Megan Hilty, also known for her role on the television series Smash, leads this annual concert with the beloved Tabernacle Choir that was recorded in 2021 to air this year. Actor Neal Mcdonough narrates.
MARIAH CAREY:
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Paramount+, Dec. 20
Mariah Carey first took the Christmas Queen crown in 1994 with her hit single All I Want for Christmas is You that's still in heavy rotation today, and she has no desire to give it back. Her latest seasonal offering is a two-hour holiday concert filmed at New York's Madison Square Garden.
MISTLETOE ENVY
A CANDY COATED CHRISTMAS Crave, Dec. 16
Molly Mccook stars in this original holiday romance film featuring Food Network star Ree Drummond.
THE HOLIDAY SITTER W Network, Dec. 11
Jonathan Bennett is a busy businessman named Sam who is laser-focused on work, until he gets tapped to babysit his niece and nephew while their parents are away.
Sam's not the best at uncle-duty and isn't thrilled to meet Jason (George Krissa), a family friend who seems to have the surrogate uncle job down pat. Each thaw to one another as the days go by in this LGBTQ love story.
MUST LOVE CHRISTMAS Cbs/global, Dec. 11
The Equalizer star Liza Lapira plays a popular romance novelist specializing in Christmas-set love stories who finds herself stranded in a small, picturesque town ... and in a love triangle.
A CHRISTMAS TO TREASURE
Crave, Dec. 25
Real-life married couple Kyle
Dean Massey and Taylor Frey star as estranged best friends who reunite for a holiday treasure hunt in their hometown — and the two begin to see each other as more-than-friends.
HEARTWARMING
FOR THE HOLIDAYS
THE 24TH ANNUAL A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT THE GROVE
CBS, Dec. 23
This yearly special mixes musical performances with docu-style stories about adoption and foster care, as more than 400,000 children in the U.S. dream of finding a forever home and family. Gloria Estefan hosts and Andy Grammer, Little
Big Town, David Foster and Katharine Mcphee, and Mickey Guyton will perform.
FAMILY FARE SNOW DAY Paramount+, Dec. 16
This is a musical remake of the 2000 comedy film featuring Chris Elliott, Jean Smart and Chevy Chase about hijinks that occur when a record level of snow falls in Upstate New York.
5 MORE SLEEPS 'TIL CHRISTMAS
NBC, Dec. 23
This half-hour animated special is inspired by Jimmy Fallon's bestselling book of the same name and also narrated by The Tonight Show host. It's about a boy whose specific plans leading up to Christmas get interrupted by surprise guests, helping him to embrace the true meaning of the holiday.
HOLIDAY EATING
MARY BERRY'S ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS PBS, Dec. 19
Beloved British home cook Dame Mary Berry takes viewers inside her approach to hosting a holiday feast attended by special guests.