2012 Network TV Holiday Specials; CBS Cancels Partners, ABC Cancels 666 Park Avenue and Last Resort

Monday, November 19, 2012

2012 Network TV Holiday Specials; CBS Cancels Partners, ABC Cancels 666 Park Avenue and Last Resort

Can you believe the holiday season is nearing? Thanksgiving is this week, which means Christmas is right around the corner! And then it will be 2013 already a week after Christmas. Time flies! Anyway as I mentioned, I have put together our annual network television (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, The CW) holiday specials list that we all like to watch every year like Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas, new classics like Shrek the Halls and Disney Prep & Landing 2: Naughty Vs. Nice and we even get some all-new specials like It's a SpongeBob Christmas. Sure the network holiday line-ups are not as detailed as some cable networks like ABC Family, but the main holiday specials are still on network television! These are just actual holiday related specials and movies, not movies or specials airing during the holiday season on broadcast network television, kicking it off Wednesday with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on ABC:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: Christmas with Holly

Hallmark Hall of Fame: Christmas with Holly

ABC
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/This is America Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers
Thursday, Nov. 22, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/This is America Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers ENCORE
Tuesday, Nov. 27, 8-9pm: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated) and Shrek the Halls
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas/Charlie Brown Christmas Tales plus seven-minute short from Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa
Saturday, Dec. 8, 8-10pm ET: ABC Movie of the Week: The Borrowers (NEW!)
Sunday, Dec. 9, 8-9pm: Disney Prep & Landing and Disney Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice
Sunday, Dec. 9, 9-11pm: Hallmark Hall of Fame: Christmas with Holly (NEW!)
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 8-9pm: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Sunday, Dec. 16, 7-8pm: America's Funniest Home Videos Christmas Spectacular
Sunday, Dec. 16, 8-9pm: Winter Wipeout: Deck the Balls
Tuesday, Dec. 18, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas/Charlie Brown Christmas Tales plus seven-minute short from Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa ENCORE
Thursday, Dec. 20, 8-9pm: I Want A Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
Thursday, Dec. 20, 9-11pm: CMA Country Christmas (NEW!)
Saturday, Dec. 22, 8-9pm: Disney Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice ENCORE/A Chipmunk Christmas
Saturday, Dec. 22, 9-11pm: CMA Country Christmas ENCORE
Sunday, Dec. 23, 4-6pm ET/2-4pm PT: CMA Country Christmas ENCORE
Sunday, Dec. 23, 7-11pm: ABC Sunday Movie of the Week: The Sound of Music
Monday, Dec. 24, 8-9pm: Disney Prep & Landing and Shrek the Halls ENCORES
Monday, Dec. 24, 9-11pm: TBD
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 8pm: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated) ENCORE
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 8:30-11pm: ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week: Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Thursday, Dec. 27, 8-9pm: Happy New Year, Charlie Brown/She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown
Sunday, Dec. 30, 4-5pm ET/2-4pm PT: Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Monday, Dec. 31, 8-10pm New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark (NEW!)
Monday, Dec. 31, 10-11pm Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013 (NEW!)
Monday, Dec. 31, 11:35pm-2:12am Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Parts 1 and 2 (NEW!)
For other non-holiday related movies and specials airing during the holiday season on ABC, view our schedule.

CBS:
Friday, Nov. 23, 8-9pm: Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns
Friday, Nov. 23, 9-10pm: Hoops & Yo-Yo Ruin Christmas and It's a SpongeBob Christmas (NEW!)
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 8-9pm: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Saturday, Dec. 8, 8-9pm: Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns ENCORES
Saturday, Dec. 8, 9-10pm: The Flight Before Christmas
Friday, Dec. 14, 8-9pm: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ENCORE
Friday, Dec. 14, 9-10pm: Yes, Virginia There Is A Santa Claus and Elf on a Shelf: An Elf's Story
Saturday, Dec. 15, 8-10pm: CBS Movie: Elf
For other non-holiday related movies and specials airing during the holiday season on CBS, view our schedule.

NBC:
Friday, Nov. 23, 8-10pm: The National Dog Show Presented by Purina (NEW!)
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 8-9pm: Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NEW!)
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 9-11pm: SNL Christmas (NEW!)
Friday, Nov. 30, 8-9pm: Christmas in Rockefeller Center ENCORE
Saturday, Dec. 1, 8-11pm: NBC Movie of the Week: It's a Wonderful Life
Monday, Dec. 3, 10-11pm: Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas (NEW!)
Friday, Dec. 7, 8-10pm: SNL Christmas ENCORE
Monday, Dec. 10, 10-11pm: Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays (NEW!)
Friday, Dec. 14, 8-9pm: Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas ENCORE
Thursday, Dec. 20, 8-9pm: A White House Christmas: First Families Remember (NEW!)
Friday, Dec. 21, 8-9pm: Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays ENCORE
Friday, Dec. 21, 9-10pm: Christmas in the White House ENCORE
Saturday, Dec. 22, 8-9pm Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (50th anniversary airing)
Saturday, Dec. 22, 9-10pm WWE Tribute to the Troops (NEW!)
Monday, Dec. 24, 8-11pm: NBC Movie of the Week: It's a Wonderful Life ENCORE
Monday, Dec. 31, 10-11pm: NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly - Primetime (NEW!)
Monday, Dec. 31, 11:30pm-2am: NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly (NEW!)
For other non-holiday related movies and specials airing during the holiday season on NBC, view our schedule.

Fox:
Friday, Nov. 23 8-9pm: Happiness is Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown
Monday, Dec. 17 8-9pm: Dreamworks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (NEW!) and Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas
Monday, Dec. 17 9-10pm: Happiness is Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown ENCORE
Friday, Dec. 28, 8-9pm: Dreamworks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury and Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas ENCORES
Monday, Dec. 31, 11pm: Fox New Year's Eve Live (NEW!)
For other non-holiday related movies and specials airing during the holiday season on Fox, view our schedule.

The CW:
Friday, Nov. 23 8-10pm: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer and The Happy Elf (NEW! to The CW)
Tuesday, Dec. 11 9-10pm: A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa
Friday, Dec. 14 8-10pm: CW Movie: Prancer Returns (NEW! to The CW)
Tuesday, Dec. 18 8-10pm: CW Movie: It's a Very Muppet Christmas (NEW! to The CW)
Wednesday, Dec. 19 8-10pm: CW Movie: Noel (NEW! to The CW)
Friday, Dec. 21 8-10pm: The Happy Elf and Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer ENCORES
Monday, Dec. 24 8-9:30pm: Christmas Is Here Again (NEW! to The CW)
Monday, Dec. 24 9:30-10pm: Second Star to the Left: A Christmas Tale (NEW! to The CW)
For other non-holiday related movies and specials airing during the holiday season on The CW, view our schedule.

Partners

Three freshman series received the pink slip on Friday. First up, new CBS comedy Partners has been given the ax after 6 episodes. It will be replaced by comedy repeats effective immediately. No word on when the remaining 7 episodes will air, if ever. View the encore schedule in the time period through Dec. 31. It is expected a new series will take over on Jan. 7 whether it is veteran Rules of Engagement or new mid-season comedy Friend Me. Anyway, Partners was about two life-long best friends and business partners whose "bromance" is tested when one of them is engaged to be married.
Meanwhile, also given the cancelation notice on Friday were two ABC drama series--666 Park Avenue and Last Resort. Both series struggled in the ratings, despite critical acclaim for Shawn Ryan's Last Resort and fan support for 666 Park Avenue starring Terry O'Quinn. The good news is that ABC, as of now, plans on airing all 13 episodes for both series. 6 episodes for both series are left to air and ABC plans on airing new episodes of both after the Thanksgiving break is over. Episode 8 of 666 Park Avenue airs Sunday, Nov. 25 and episode 8 of Last Resort airs Thursday, Nov. 29. View our ABC day by day schedule to see all the episode details.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Saturday, August 17

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons' (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Hosted by television icon Norman Lear and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, directed by 10-time Emmy® winner James Burrows and produced by Sony Pictures Television, the special takes viewers down memory lane, recreating an original episode from each of the Emmy Award-winning series. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 5/22/19)

Star power includes Woody Harrelson (Archie Bunker), Marisa Tomei (Edith Bunker), Jamie Foxx (George Jefferson), Wanda Sykes (Louise Jefferson), Kerry Washington (Helen Willis), Ellie Kemper (Gloria Stivic), Will Ferrell (Tom Willis), Marla Gibbs reprising her original role (Florence Johnston), Ike Barinholtz (Meathead), Sean Hayes (Mr. Lorenzo), Amber Stevens West (Jenny Willis Jefferson), Jovan Adepo (Lionel Jefferson), Anthony Anderson (Uncle Henry), Stephen Tobolowsky (Mr. Bentley), Jackée Harry (Diane Stockwell), Fran Bennett (Mother Jefferson) and a musical performance by Jennifer Hudson.

All About "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After the star-studded sitcom special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons,’” “Nightline” will take a special look at the cultural and historical significance of the two iconic series. Participants in the sitcom special along with modern-day comedians, television stars and journalists reminisce about each show’s groundbreaking impact and legacy.

The prime-time special features interviews with “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons” creator Norman Lear; host and executive producer Jimmy Kimmel and stars Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Jackée Harry, Ellie Kemper and Kerry Washington; comedians and actors Raven-Symoné, David Alan Grier, Lil’ Rel and John Amos; original “The Jeffersons” cast member Marla Gibbs; and journalists Deborah Roberts, Chris Connelly, Marc Lamont Hill and Joe Levy.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 12)

Friday, August 16

Lenny Clarke (Are You There, Chelsea?/It's All Relative/The Job/The John Larroquette Show/Lenny) - Watch Lenny on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Billy Eichner (Difficult People) - Billy appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Mark Hamill (The Texas Wheelers) - Mark is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Happyish/Trophy Wife) - Bradley appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Niecy Nash (Getting On/The Soul Man/Reno 911!) - Niecy talks about When They See Us on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Tate Donovan (Partners) - Tate appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Christopher Abbott (Girls) - Christopher is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri appears on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette guest co-hosts a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Loretta Devine (Family Reunion/The Carmichael Show) - Loretta talks about Family Reunion on Couch Surfing at 8am.
Leah Remini (Kevin Can Wait/The Exes/Family Tools/The King of Queens) - Leah will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon talks about Sextuplets on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace prepares a warm, zesty zoodle salad on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
Marilu Henner (Evening Shade/Taxi) - Marilu appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.