OK, we’re down to the final week before Christmas Eve. Here’s a shortened version of the Christmas TV mega-list, sticking strictly to Dec. 17-25:
CARTOONS: THE CLASSICS
– Dec. 18: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 7 and 9:30 p.m.,, TNT; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 25, NBC.
– Dec. 19: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (shown here), 6:45 p.m., Freeform; also, 5:15 p.m., Dec. 20; 9 p.m., Dec. 24; 5:40 p.m., Dec. 25. Read more…
Aaron Sorkin’s latest masterwork is ready to reach our TV sets.
“Being the Ricardos” (shown here with Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem) is already in theaters; it arrives Tuesday (Dec. 21) on Amazon’s Prime Video, which produced it. Like all things Sorkin, we cheer it … cautiously.
When working with pure fiction – including the “West Wing,” “Newsroom” and “Sports Night” TV series – Sorkin is the best, concocting wondrous twists.
And when adapting true events? He still concocts. Read more…
1) “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (shown here), 7:30 p.m., PBS. One of the best moments in TV history came because there wasn’t time to meddle. Coca-Cola ordered a holiday special on a tight deadline and there was no time for CBS to second-guess Charles Schulz. He promptly broke all the TV traditions; there was primitive animation, kids’ voices, a jazzy score and even a tad of Scripture. Officials considered junking it … then found that viewers loved this blend of wit and emotion. It’s also on Apple TV+. Read more…
