Stay ho, ho, home: Small-screen fare
Believe it or not, there really are more seasonal stories waiting to be told.
A re you getting tired of rewatching “It’s a Wonderful Life”? Well, there are plenty of new holiday films on TV and streaming services this Christmas season:
‘Holiday in the Wild’
Kristin Davis plays a newly-separated woman who goes on a solo safari to Africa and ends up helping her pilot (Rob Lowe) rescue an orphaned baby elephant. Netflix. Streaming now.
‘Radio Christmas’
Keshia Knight Pulliam plays a Philadelphia radio DJ who has to broadcast from the small town of Bethlehem, Pa., when her station is closed for repairs during the holiday season. She sets out to discover the identity of the town’s Secret Santa to increase ratings. Michael Xavier, Tim Reid and Belinda Montgomery also star. Lifetime. Nov. 9.
‘Noelle’
Anna Kendrick plays Santa’s daughter forced to take over the family business when her father retires. Bill Hader, Shirley MacLaine also star. Disney Plus.
Nov. 12.
‘Klaus’
Netflix’s first original animated feature is about a postman (Jason Schwartzman) assigned to a frozen island north of the Arctic Circle where he befriends a mysterious toy maker (J.K. Simmons). Nov. 15.
‘Christmas in Louisiana’
Jana Kramer plays a Louisiana town’s former Miss Christmas who returns home for the holidays only to discover romance with her former Mr. Christmas. Lifetime. Nov. 16.
‘The Knight Before Christmas’
Josh Whitehouse and Vanessa Hudgens star in a fantasy about a medieval knight in present-day Ohio. Netflix. Nov. 28.
‘You Light Up My Christmas’
The holiday tale reunites the cast of the beloved 1980s sitcom “The Facts of Life”: Kim Fields, who is also executive producer, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon. Lifetime. Dec. 1.
‘A Christmas Love Story’
Kristin Chenoweth and Scott Wolf star in this romance about a New York City youth choir director who gets distracted from writing a song for their Christmas show when a gifted young boy — with a handsome, widowed father — joins the choir. Hallmark Channel. Dec. 7.
‘Mistletoe & Menorahs’
Kelley Jakle and Jake Epstein star in this romantic comedy about a toy executive who enlists her co-worker’s Jewish friend to give her a crash course on Hanukkah. There’s lots of squabbling. Or is that romantic tension? Lifetime.
Dec. 7.
‘Christmas at Dollywood’
Danica McKellar, Niall Matter and Dolly Parton star in this holiday romance. Hallmark Channel. Dec. 8.
‘When Calls the Heart Christmas’
The popular Hallmark Channel ensemble series gets the yuletide movie treatment as the residents of Hope Valley celebrate the holiday spirit. Hallmark Channel. Dec. 25.