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

Wednesday, December 11

The Goldbergs - "It's a Wonderful Life" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Hoping to outdo the Kremp family, Beverly decides the Goldbergs must do an even better family holiday card, but Geoff is surprised he is not invited to be in the photo. Meanwhile, a pranking war with Barry and JTP quickly spirals out of control.

Schooled - "Beanie Babies" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CB hopes getting Lainey a Beanie Baby for Christmas will show his true feelings for her, but it doesn’t go as planned. Meanwhile, Principal Glascott tries to convince Felicia that she needs to participate and sing a song in a Kwanza play he has written for the students.

Modern Family - "The Last Christmas" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Cameron is hoping to keep everyone happy for their annual Christmas dinner as he hides and prepares for his big interview for a head coaching position out of state. Meanwhile, Haley is excited to finally be reunited with wine; and Mitchell is suspicious of Cam’s holiday trip to visit his family in Missouri.

Single Parents - "Good Holidays to You" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Graham writes a letter to Santa asking for either a white Christmas or to meet his father, Angie goes on a mission to find snow in Southern California with the help of Will and Sophie. Meanwhile, after Rory, Emma and Amy find out that Poppy and Douglas are romantically involved, the kids use this knowledge to their advantage to guilt their parents into buying them more Christmas presents…

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 9)

Wednesday, December 11

Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Watch Kevin on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Keri Russell (Running Wilde) - Keri stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Nick visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation/The Office) - Rashida is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Guys with Kids/Entourage) - Jamie-Lynn is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer talks about his role on NCIS on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Robin Givens (Head of the Class) - Robin talks about OWN's Ambitions on Access Live, so check your local listings.
Andrea Barber (Fuller House/Full House) - Andrea reveals her struggles with anxiety and depression while playing D.J. Tanner’s best friend, Kimmy, on Full House on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Patti shares her comfort food secrets and how to entertain without breaking a sweat on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.