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

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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, October 13

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the new Normals" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Johnsons and Butlers face big changes and unexpected challenges as Tina discovers a new passion, Malcolm navigates work and family boundaries and Courtney takes a major step with Marty. Meanwhile, Dave’s tech experiment backfires and Gemma’s parenting plan goes awry.

DMV - "Pilot" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
East Hollywood Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving examiner Colette pines for her coworker Noa while enduring teasing from colleagues Gregg, Vic and Ceci. Also, new manager Barb rallies the crew to save their branch from government shutdown.

TV We Love - "I Love Lucy" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A deep dive into "I Love Lucy," widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time; exploring the groundbreaking partnership of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, whose comedic brilliance and bold business moves forever changed television.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 13)

Monday, October 13

  • Kat Dennings (Shifting Gears/Dollface/2 Broke Girls/Raising Dad) - Watch Kat on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Steve, Martin and Selena are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu and Alex Winter are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Jason appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Laverne Cox (Clean Slate) - Andy Cohen intervews Laverne on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
  • Patricia Arquette (High Desert) - Patricia talks about Murdaugh: Death in the Family on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Trophy Wife) - Bradley talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin chats with the hosts about John Candy: I Like Me on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael discusses his new book Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ayo Edebiri (Big Mouth/The Bear) - Co-host Gayle King sits down with Ayo and Julia Roberts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Tim Meadows (DMV/Schooled/No Activity/Son of Zorn/Mr. Box Office/The Bill Engvall Show) - Tim talks about DMV on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
  • Brian Baumgartner (The Office) - Brian talks about the We Need A Fourth podcast on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri talks about The Sunshine Queens on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel joins Sherri to talk about the new season of his hit game show Flip Side on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa and Nick Lachey talk about Netflix's Love is Blind on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Netflix's Stay Classy on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is showing Drew how to make the perfect pumpkin spice meatballs on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
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09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
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09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
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