A Gift of Special Holiday TV Programming
By ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press
Hollywood cranks out holiday programming as fast as toys are made in Santa’s workshop with broadcast networks, cable channels and streaming services offering seasonal specials.
This year’s options include three sequels to the 2023 Hallmark Channel hit “Christmas on Cherry Lane,” a docuseries following what happens when a letter to Santa is dropped in the mail, and the stop-motion classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Below are 10 options to get you in the Christmas spirit:
“Our Little Secret”: Lindsay Lohan stars in a new holiday rom-com for Netflix called “Our Little Secret,” out Wednesday. Lohan and Ian Harding (“Pretty Little Liars”), play exes who find themselves spending Christmas together after discovering they’re now dating siblings. “It has a lot of heart and it’s very funny and I think that’s what we need in film these days,” Lohan told The Associated Press in an interview. Kristin Chenoweth is in it too.
“Dear Santa, The Series”: This show will warm the soul like a cup of hot chocolate. Now in its second season, the show highlights the United States Postal Service’s Operation Santa program where children write letters to Santa and a team of Elves help to grant their holiday wishes. The new season streams on Hulu beginning Friday.
“Home Sweet Christmas”: Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Mathison star in “Home Sweet Christmas” as former childhood friends who reunite after the death of a family member who leaves his maple sugar farm to them both. It premieres Sunday on Great American Family.
“Brewster’s Millions”: Remember the 1985 film “Brewster’s Millions” starring Richard Pryor and John Candy? The comedy classic has been updated with a holiday twist. “Brewster’s Millions: Christmas” stars China Anne McClain as Morgan Brewster, a wealthy heiress who will lose her family’s fortune unless she completes a series of tasks in time for Christmas. It premieres Dec. 5 on BET+. The film also stars Romeo Miller and two of Pryor’s children, Richard Pryor Jr. and Rain Pryor.
“Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane”: The 2023 Hallmark movie “Christmas on Cherry Lane” was a big hit for the network. It followed three families on Christmas Eve who live in the same home in different time periods. Three sequels will stream on Hallmark+, spanning from 1951 to present day. Jonathan Bennett, Vincent Rodriguez III star in the first sequel, “Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane,” debuting Dec. 5. “Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane” premieres Dec. 12 starring Catherine Bell and James Denton. The third film, ‘Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane” arrives Dec. 19 with Erin Cahill and Brooke D’Orsay.
“A Season to Remember”: An original holiday romance movie called “A Season to Remember” airs Dec. 7 on OWN. Michele Weaver plays a sports reporter who works hard to prove herself in a male-dominated industry but still sometimes gets overlooked for opportunities. The pressure is on to find a compelling story the week before Christmas. Weaver teams up with a freelance photographer (Nathan Owens) who helps her find romance, confidence and the right path.
“Santa Claus,” “Rudolph” and “Frosty”: Freeform has designated its December programming, “25 Days of Christmas” with holiday fare airing from morning to midnight. Dec. 8 is a highlight with Tim Allen’s “The Santa Clause” franchise and the 1964 stop motion classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and 1969’s “Frosty the Snowman.”
“A Motown Christmas Special”: Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey host NBC “A Motown Christmas Special” on Dec. 11 (streaming next day on Peacock). Motown legends including Robinson, Gladys Knight and the Temptations sing some of their best-known songs as well as Christmas tunes. Bailey will perform a medley of music by Diana Ross and the Supremes, while Jamie Foxx will lead a Stevie Wonder tribute featuring Andra Day, Bebe Winans and Jordin Sparks. An 11-piece live band will accompany the performances.
“O C’mon All Ye Faithful”: A new double-episode Christmas edition of “The Simpsons” called “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” streams on Disney+ on Dec. 17. A famous mentalist arrives in Springfield and uses his mind tricks to boost holiday spirits. When Homer gets hypnotized and believes he’s Santa Clause, it causes the rest of the town to question their own Christmas beliefs and the meaning of the word miracle. The special also has music from Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix.
NFL Games: Netflix will stream two NFL games on Christmas Day. First, Super Bowl LVII champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers followed by the Baltimore Ravens facing the Houston Texans. The streamer is gifting the beyhive with Beyoncé this holiday season – as the superstar will perform at halftime during the game featuring her hometown team, the Texans. The Netflix Christmas Day games will also be available on broadcast TV in the competing team cities.
Pictured at top: Lindsay Lohan in a scene from “Our Little Secret.” (Chuck Zlotnick | Netflix via AP)
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