Network Holiday Programming: FOX

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Continuing our holiday programming look at the networks, we look at FOX today.

FOX starts it all off with a reality special titled Dear Santa.
With Special Guest Appearances by Clay Aiken & Raven Simone, Dear Santa is a one-hour unscripted holiday special featuring the dramatic and heartwarming stories of children whose letters to Santa will be answered with the help of some very special guests. The U.S. Postal Service teams up with some of today's hottest stars to share some dramatic stories including a girl who wants to make the holidays special for needy children, a young boy who dreams of a safe place to skate, a little girl who hopes her dad will come home for the holidays from his military duties abroad and a girl who wants to further her education on Dear Santa airing Friday, Dec. 9 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT).

Malcolm in the Middle Holiday Classic: In an encore holiday episode, Broke, Hal and Lois decide that all the Christmas gifts must be homemade. When Hal realizes Lois and the boys have made bigger and better gifts, he fibs about the fabulous present he has in store for them and takes the family on a wild goose chase. Meanwhile, Malcolm feels like his brothers are alienating him and Francis returns home with startling news on the episode "Hal's Christmas Gift" Sunday, Dec. 9 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT). And for those in the west coast ONLY, a special airing again on Sunday, Dec. 18 (7:00-7:30 p.m. PT).

Bones Christmas: Construction workers find a skeleton in an old fallout shelter from the 1950s and the Jeffersonian is brought in to help identify the remains. When Zack cuts into the bone, he accidentally releases spores of the deadly fungus Valley Fever, causing the team to be quarantined in the lab over Christmas. While everyone tries to maintain the holiday spirit, Brennan buckles down to solve the mystery of the fallout shelter. Booth and Brennan’s team are reminded that this is a rough time of year for Brennan, since her parents went missing right before Christmas when she was a kid. As Brennan works to bring closure to the family of the missing man – something she has yet to receive about her own parents – the time spent together in the lab provides the catalyst for revealing information about all of them in “The Man in the Fallout Shelter” airing Tuesday, Dec. 13 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

The O.C. Holiday Episode: After the gang spends hours picking out the perfect Christmas trees, they devise a special plan to help a friend in need. Meanwhile, the holidays bring out a somber Summer who misses her mom, and Johnny's sudden misfortune forces him to take matters into his own hands. Kirsten, meanwhile, puts the past behind her and reaches out to Julie Cooper. And when a reminiscing Seth vows to put a little "mukkah" into Ryan’s "chris," Ryan gets Bar-Mitz-vahkkahed on the third annual O.C. "Chrismukkah" episode, "The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-vahkkah," airing Thursday, Dec. 15 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Cops Go Ho Ho Ho!: When Detective Jason Lando of the Pittsburgh, PA, Bureau of Police investigates suspicious activity in a parking lot frequented by drug users and prostitutes, the parked driver claims to be waiting for her daughter. As the investigation continues, officers recognize the driver’s daughter as someone they encounter frequently. The shaky young girl is found with drug paraphernalia and the situation becomes very emotional as she is detained in front of her mother. On the other side of the country, Sgt. Tom Jenkins of the Las Vegas, NV, Metropolitan Police Department stops a young female behaving suspiciously on the legendary Las Vegas strip. After the female suspect lies to Sgt. Jenkins, she eventually breaks down and admits to working the streets. Another segment features Officer Derek Bishop of the Spokane, WA, Police Department, responding to a call where a female suspect claims to be hitchhiking. Although she was ticketed several weeks before for prostitution, she maintains her innocence. When officers begin to question her credibility, some arresting surprises surface and the suspect attempts to bargain with officers on COPS: HO HO HO! SPECIAL EDITION #3 airing Saturday, Dec. 17 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT). Last season's Ho Ho Ho! Special Edition #2 follows at 8:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

MADtv is in the Holiday Spirit: Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) plays the new boss when “Sean Gidcomb” (Michael McDonald) decides to leave the office on an all-new holiday episode of MADtv airing Saturday, Dec. 17 (11:00 p.m.-Midnight ET/PT)

King of the Hill Christmas: When an elderly stranger, Ms. Wakefield (Marion Ross), visits the Hill residence during Christmas, Hank is thrilled to show her his house since it was also her childhood home. However, when Ms. Wakefield announces that she wants to die in their house, Hank and Peggy want nothing more than for her to leave. Ms. Wakefield proves to be more difficult to put off in the ”Ms. Wakefield” airing Sunday, Dec. 18 (7:30-8:00 p.m. PT) -- Note West Coast ONLY.

The Simpsons Christmas Episode: The Simpsons deliver holiday cheer in this Christmas-themed trilogy. In “The First (Annoyed Grunt) – El,” when Reverend Lovejoy’s car breaks down en route to Christmas mass, Homer takes over the sermon and delivers his version of the birth of Christ (Bart) to his parents Joseph (Homer) and Mary (Marge). “I Saw Grampa Cussing Santa Claus” finds Grampa reminiscing about his daredevil days as a WWII fighter pilot, when he was stranded on an island alongside his gunner, Burns. Grampa recalls mistaking Santa Claus for an enemy aircraft and gunning him down from the sky. Realizing their mistake, Grampa helps Jolly Ol’ St. Nick to safety, only to have Burns steal the sleigh and escape the island – leaving Grampa stranded again. The final installment, “The Nutcracker … Sweet,” which finds the townspeople of Springfield preparing for Christmas Day, is set to the tune of the famed “Nutcracker” ballet on “Simpsons Christmas Stories” Sunday, Dec. 18 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT).

FOX has only released information thru 12/18. If they have anything else special, we will post it here. Stay tuned!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, September 18

The Goldbergs - "Breakin'" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Adam unintentionally lets it slip that Barry never completed his community service requirement, the brothers join together to throw the greatest breakdancing battle in the history of William Penn. Geoff’s stress levels are at an all-time high, so Erica makes an adult decision and plans for them to follow the Grateful Dead all summer. Finally, it’s the end of an era when the JTP graduates from high school.

Schooled - "Dr. Barry" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After initially trying to sabotage him, CB works with Barry and the JTP to help him win back Lainey’s heart. Meanwhile, Glascott faces removal as principal after a prank damages William Penn Academy.

Modern Family - "A Year of Birthdays" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
As the birth of Haley and Dylan’s twins approaches, we take a look back at how each family member celebrated their birthdays this past year.

Single Parents - "Ketchup" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After learning that Angie’s ex Derek (played by Adam Brody) lives near Space Camp, Will convinces Angie to confront him about leaving her when she was pregnant, which results in a rowdy and awkward encounter between the three of them. Meanwhile, Poppy internally struggles with who she truly has romantic feelings.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 16)

Wednesday, September 18

Zach Galifianakis (Baskets) - Watch Zach on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lake Bell (Bless This Mess/Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp/How to Make It in America) - Lake drops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nick Kroll (The League/Cavemen) - Nick is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Roseanne/Bad Teacher/Twins) - Sara is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about The Conners on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9m, on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan (check your listings), on the BUILD Series at 11:15am and on ABC's Strahan, Sara & Keke at 1pm.
Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee stops by A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC. She will also be on The Real, so check your local listings.
Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/Welcome to New York) and Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever) - Jim and Fred are panelists on Lights Out with David Spade at 11:30pm on Comedy Central.
Billy Gardell (Bob Hearts Abishola/Mike & Molly) and Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Hearts Abishola) - Billy and Folake are guests on People Now at 12pm.
Sophia Bush (Partners) - Sophia talks about the and especially you podcast on Access Live, so check your local listings.
Sarah Jessica Parker (Divorce/Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love) - Jamie Lee and the cast of Knives Out are guests on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.