TV best bets for Christmas week
Rodney Ho finds shows to watch despite reruns and more reruns
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, December 19, 2008
It’s Christmas week so that means repeats, more repeats, and a classic holiday film here and there sprinkled in for kicks.
Disney World
Costumed wooden soldiers play their own instruments live while marching in a holiday parade at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
AP Photo/Warner Bros.
The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who make their annual return this week.
Robert Voets/CBS
Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as Melinda Gordon in ‘Ghost Whisperer’ on the CBS Television Network.
Twentieth Century Fox
‘The Sound of Music’ airs as a presentation of ‘The Wonderful World of Disney’ on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27 (8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
MONDAY
• “Greatest Holiday Moments: Hilarious Home Video Countdown” 8 p.m., NBC — Because when you’re NBC and groping for content, you end up with this.
• “Prison Break” 9 p.m., Fox — Good news! Not a repeat! Fox teases that one of these four will die: Lincoln (no way!), Self (possible), Gretchen (likely) or T-Bag (are you kidding?).
• “Momma’s Boys” 9 p.m., NBC — This show bombed out last week in its debut, even with heinous racist mom in tow.
• “The Life a House Built” 9 p.m., GPB — An hour-long documentary about Jimmy Carter and Habitat for Humanity, followed at 10 p.m. by a conversation with the Carters hosted by Gwen Ifill and shot at the Carter Center in October.
TUESDAY
• “A Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill” 8 p.m., CBS — Her annual concert to benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Children’s Action Network.
• “Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2008” 9 p.m. TBS — Kevin Nealon cracks wise about the most memorable commercials of the year seen by folks who don’t use a DVR.
• “The List” 10 p.m., ABC — ABC imports Australian TV personality Rove McManus to count down this year’s top pop culture moments.
• “Leverage” 10 p.m., TNT — The team saves an inner-city church from the wrecking ball.
• “Frank TV” 11 p.m. TBS (season finale) — Yoda and his buds try to get through airport security.
WEDNESDAY
• “A Christmas Story” marathon 8 p.m., TBS — This annual rite means luxuriating over that sexy leg lamp again and again.
• “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” 8 p.m., GPB — Among the songs sung this year include “Deck the Halls” and “The First Noel.”
• “It’s a Wonderful Life” 8 p.m. NBC — Need a break from Ralphie on TBS? Jimmy Stewart is here to oblige.
• “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” 8 p.m., ABC Family — The original 30-minute animated special is far better, but if you need your Jim-Carrey-in-Grinch-makeup fix, take it in.
• “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with …” 9p.m. Sundance — Need a break from anything Christmas? Check out James Taylor gabbing with Costello.
THURSDAY
• “The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade” 10 a.m., ABC — “Idol” winner David Cook said he’s taking Christmas off so it’s fairly obvious this was taped weeks ago.
• “Hot Ice, Cool Sounds” 3 p.m., NBC — Brian Boitano and Sasha Cohen are the hot part of this special while the Cleveland Pops Orchestra provides the “cool.”
• “Celtics vs. Lakers” 5 p.m. ABC — The Celtics are red-hot this year but so are the Lakers, so expect a good game.
• “Deal or No Deal” 8 p.m., NBC — A special Christmas Day edition featuring a Purple Heart recipient and a father with 13 kids. His boys can swim! Can he get them the dough?
• “Hallmark Heroes” 8 p.m., Hallmark — The ubiquitous Regis Philbin hosts a show about everyday people who make the world better.
FRIDAY
• “Wife Swap” 8 p.m., ABC — Despite efforts to find programming that isn’t repeats, there is so little new content tonight, I have to do an all-repeat tips for this day after Christmas. This “Swap’ from October features a wife who barely lifts a finger to do housework and a power-lifting wife.
• “Ghost Whisperer” 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., CBS — A double-shot of Melinda, with the first a Christmas-themed ep and the second featuring an Iraqi soldier.
• “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader”/”Don’t Forget the Lyrics” 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., Fox — A lucky contestant gets to compete on both shows.
• “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” 8 p.m., VH1 — In case you missed it the first time, wish Jeff Conaway & Co. off this time around.
WEEKEND
• “30 Minute Meals” 10 a.m., Saturday, Food Network — Rachael Ray’s New Year’s Eve menu includes steak house sliders and mini steak fries. No salad this time around.
• “Crusoe” 8 p.m., Saturday, NBC — Crusoe’s lady love Susannah shows up.
• “A Kiss at Midnight” 9 p.m., Saturday, Hallmark — Faith Ford (“Murphy Brown”) and Cameron Daddo are both matchmakers and (shocking!) they fall in love.
• “The Sound of Music” 7 p.m. Sunday, ABC — The hills are still alive after 43 years.
• “Dog Whisperer” 8 p.m. Sunday, National Geographic — Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz try to prep their dog for a baby.
• “Summer Heights High” 10:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO (season finale) — Mr. G’s musical finally opens and Ja’Mie’s stay at the high school comes to an end.
