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

Sunday, October 13

The Simpsons - "Treehouse of Horror XXIX" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Homer wins an oyster-eating contest against the mythical Cthulhu; Springfield is overrun by plant body-snatchers; Lisa finally snaps; Mr. Burns opens a retirement home with some Jurassic upgrades.

Bob's Burgers - "The Gene Mile" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the kids have to run a mandatory mile for school on free-ice-cream day, they hatch an elaborate plot to sneak away; Bob and Linda frantically try to secure discount tickets to a show at the Wharf Arts Center.

The Simpsons - "The Fat Blue Line" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
During the San Castellanta street festival, much of the town finds their wallets have been pickpocketed; after the state investigator puts the wrong man in jail, Chief Wiggum sets out to catch the real criminal and show he's still up for police work.

Bless the Harts - "Jenny Unfiltered" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When the town has split opinions over a controversial statue, Jenny learns to play both sides to appease her customers and make some extra money; Violet accompanies Betty to visit a blast from the past that does not go as planned.

Bob's Burgers - "Motor, She Boat" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Tina and Bob participate in the Thundergirls father-daughter cardboard boat race; Tina tries to hide her feelings about Bob's terrible boat-building skills; Linda drags Louise and Gene to a fire station open house and overstays her welcome.

Family Guy - "Absolutely Babulous" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Stewie receives a participation medal in his school's toddler games, he begins to question everything he has ever won; Peter causes a fight between Lois' parents and must repair the damage he caused.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 7)

Friday, October 11

The Cast of The Brady Bunch) - Watch Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Mike Lookinland and Susan Olsen on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Judy Greer (Kidding/Married/Mad Love/Miss Guided) - Judy appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tisha Campbell (Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha guest co-hosts The Real, so check your local listings.
Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso visits The Real, so check your local listings.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke plays a round of “Guess Our Guests” with Rach on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Julie Andrews (Julie) - Julie will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Penelope Ann Miller (A Minute with Stan Hooper/The Popcorn Kid) - Penelope talks about Lifeitme's The College Admissions Scandal on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
Liza Koshy (Liza on Demand) - Liza guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.