Queen’s safety at stake during voyage
Atlantis: As plans progress for the royal wedding, Ariadne ( Aiysha Hart, Honour) must journey to Telemon’s ( Clive Standen, Vikings) homeland of Aegina. With the kingdom still beset by Colcheans, Jason ( Jack Donnelly) is not the only one who fears for the Queen’s safety, yet Ariadne continues regardless. But as the voyage progresses, it becomes clear that the royal retinue faces enemies at every turn. ( 6 p. m. — Space) Outrageous Christmas: This new special features everything from the world’s largest gingerbread village to a 453- kilogram chocolate Santa sculpture to 2.5- metre- tall handmade candy canes. There’s also a life- size Christmas tree cake. ( 9 p. m. — Food Network)
It’s a Wonderful Life: We tried to ignore it, but there’s no getting away from this 1946 weepy. Small- town guy George Bailey ( James Stewart) defers one big dream after another to stay home, marry a local girl ( Donna Reed) and run the family business. Facing financial ruin, he’s pulled from suicidal despair by angel Clarence ( Henry Travers), who shows him how terrible the world would have been if he’d never lived. Lionel Barrymore also stars in director Frank Capra’s classic. ( 8 p. m. — NBC, CTV)
Is this really the final season for Parenthood? Is there any chance NBC will change its mind? — Sue Douglas
Though we never like to say “never,” it seems pretty certain that when the network has been saying Farewell Season, it’s meant. For a while, it was anything but definite that the current, closing round of the show even would happen. The audience for Parenthood never has been huge, but it certainly has been loyal, so NBC should be credited for honouring that fact and allowing the series the wrapup it evidently feels its fans deserve. From what co- star Erika Christensen ( alias Julia on the series) told us recently, from the time they all returned to work in the summer, the cast and crew have accepted that this is the end. As viewers likely recognize, the stories have been designed to provide some sort of closure for the characters ... or, at least, a strong sense of what the future holds for them.
Can you tell me if, in Canada, Netflix’s new miniseries Marco Polo will be available on satellite services on other venues such as HBO? — John William Ellis, Sechelt
As with Netfllx in the U. S., the program will become available exclusively in Canada on Dec. 12.
The Equalizer was a television show originally. Could you please give me details on the actors who were in it, and how long it was on? — Marla Howard, via email
It was indeed a TV series first, with Edward Woodward originating the Robert McCall role that Denzel Washington redefined to a great degree in the recent movie version. The show aired on CBS for four seasons ( 1985- 89), with Woodward supported by recurring players Robert Lansing and Keith Szarabajka and Mark Margolis, as helpers to McCall. After Woodward suffered a heart attack midway through the run, some other actors made contributions to help ease the load on him. Richard Jordan was added to the show as another “equalizer” ... and though his stay was brief, movie legend Robert Mitchum even lent a hand, gueststarring in a two- part episode.