The Christmas TV blitz keeps transforming.
On Thanksgiving Day, we had an elaborate list of what was coming up. Since then, however, several things have changed. Here’s the list in its original form, but with two changes — “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” (shown here) and “CMA Country Christmas” both moved back a week, to Dec. 8 — and a several additions: Read more…
“Monarch” ends its first (and, maybe, only) season with a surprise – a semi-sensible conclusion.
That’s the one thing we never expected. Until now, the show has kept piling up odd, soap-style twists. But then comes the season-finale, at 9:02 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 6) on Fox. If the show isn’t renewed, fans will have had a fairly satisfying farewell.
And no, we weren’t expecting that. Until now, “Monarch” (shown here with Trace Adkins) was like that crazy uncle who sometimes visits – weird, senseless, but fun in his own, goofy way. Read more…
1) “The Amazing Race” finale, 9 p.m., CBS. History says the first “Bachelorette” was a former Miami dancer who choose a firefighter; they’re still married. Now we see a similar duo – a Miami dancer (Michelle Burgess) and her husband, a firefighter (Luis Colon). They face a couple that met on “Big Brother” and twins (shown here), adopted from Korea, who accidentally discovered each other via DNA tests; they met in person this year, on their 36th birthday. Read more…
2) “People’s Choice Awards,” 9-11 p.m., NBC and E. For three years, this was confined to cable, where it belongs. Last year, it added NBC, with Kenan Thompson hosting; now it does that again. Categories range from silly (“favorite bromance”) to solid (movie of the year). There are special awards for Ryan Reynolds, Shania Twain and Lizzo – who also has nominations for her reality show and her “About” Damn Time” song. Read more…
If you think it’s hard to watch all these Christmas movies, imagine what it’s like to write them.
Consider Mark Amato. He used to be your standard TV writer, doing multiple episodes of “Mutant X,” “Baby Daddy,” etc. But in recent years, he’s had 13 TV movies produced; 10 were Christmas ones and two were she-meets-a-prince ones.
He’s used a lot of plots and groped for more. “You sit at a computer and the words aren’t coming,” he said. “Or, worse, they’re coming, just not any good.”
So he turned that struggle into his latest movie (shown here). ““Must Love Christmas” (9 p.m. Dec. 11) is the second of three new holiday films CBS airs on consecutive Sundays. The first (“Fit For Christmas”) was disappointing, the third (“When Christmas Was Young,” Dec. 18) has its moments … but it’s this middle one that stands out. Read more…
1) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), 7:30 and 8 p.m., TNT, with “Oz” repeating at 10:15. Here are two of the all-time greats, proving that family-friendly tales – ones with warmth and optimism – can be done with intelligence. “Grinch” (shown here) reflects the brilliance of Dr. Seuss and animator Chuck Jones. “Oz” peppers a lively story with strong music, including the Oscar-winning “Over the Rainbow.” Read more…
1) “George & Tammy” opener, 9 p.m., Showtime and Paramount Network. In 1967, George Jones was soaring (17 top-10 country hits) and sinking (twice-divorced and deeply alcoholic). Tammy Wynette had three singles on the country charts; she had three daughters, no money and a wobbly second marriage. Showtime’s six-parter (with Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain, shown here) starts strongly, with great music and a cinematic feel. This opener is also on Paramount, right after “Yellowstone.” Read more…
It’s one of the great country-music stories, filled with love, pain, sex, addiction and triumph.
But it also seems to spiral downward. “That’s not the way it’s gotta be,” George Jones says near the end of the “George & Tammy” mini-series (shown here). “There’s a happy ending.”
Well … not really, but this six-part film does find pieces of one.
“George & Tammy” opens at 9 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 4) on Showtime and the Paramount Network (right after “Yellowstone”). Its other five episodes arrive Sundays on Showtime and Paramount+. Read more…
1) “The Amazing Race” finale, 9-10 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. The final three duos race for the million-dollar prize. There’s a Miami firefighter (Luis Colon) and his wife (Michelle Burgess), a dancer. And a couple that met in the 2021 “Big Brother” (Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss, shown here). And Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert, adopted from Korea, who learned by accident, with DNA tests, that they are twins. They met in person this year, on their 36th birthday. Read more…
1) Football. It’s conference-championship day, peaking at 4 p.m. ET on CBS, with top-ranked Georgia (shown here) and 5th-ranked Louisiana State. At 8 p.m., it’s Michigan (No. 3) and Purdue on Fox; and Clemson (No. 8) and North Carolina (No. 17) on ABC. That’s in an ABC tripleheader, with Texas Christian (No. 4) and Kansas State (No. 12) at noon, then Tulane (No. 19) and Central Florida (No. 22) at 4. There’s more at noon and 3:30 on ESPN and 4 on Fox. Read more…
Best-bets for Nov. 21: doctor dramas & dead(?) dog 
Best-bets for Nov. 20: country stars, nature’s star 
Best-bets for Nov. 19: Yes, TV still has comedies 
