Photos: PBS

The PBS network has announced their lineup of holiday specials, including Christmas-themed episodes of the original series “Nature” and “Call the Midwife”.  Additionally, Vanessa Williams will perform classic Ella Fitzgerald hits during the “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas” musical event while Kelli O’Hara and Richard Thomas will take the stage for the “Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir” event.  Check out the full schedule below!

All-New Presentations

Nature “Santa’s Wild Home”
Premiere: Wednesday, November 25 (8-9 p.m. ET)

Get an intimate look into life in Lapland, fabled land of Santa Claus and actual home of tenacious wildlife such as reindeer, wolverines, Brown bears and more.

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Kelli O’Hara and Richard Thomas
Premiere: Monday, December 14 (9-10 p.m. ET)
Encore: Thursday, December 24 (9-10 p.m. ET)

The 17th annual “Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir” holiday special features Tony Award winner and Emmy and Grammy nominee Kelli O’Hara, Emmy Award-winning television, film and stage actor Richard Thomas, and the Emmy Award-winning Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square along with Orchestra at Temple Square and Bells at Temple Square in an Americana-themed program that exudes the warmth and peace the season can bring.

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams
Premiere: Tuesday, December 15 (8-9 p.m. ET)
Encores: Friday, December 18 (9-10 p.m. ET) | Friday, December 25 (10:30-11:30 p.m. ET)

In collaboration with the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation, the American Pops Orchestra presents an evening celebrating the entire iconic album of holiday classics. This 60-minute performance stars host and vocalist Vanessa Williams with appearances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Norm Lewis, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Nova Payton, Dave Detwiler and Morgan James.

Call the Midwife Holiday Special (2020)
Premiere: Friday, December 25 (9-10:30 p.m. ET)

It is December 1965. Everyone at Nonnatus House is looking forward to traditional celebrations with all the trimmings, but nothing goes quite to plan. Sister Monica Joan is rushed to hospital, and Trixie is incensed to receive a subscription to a Marriage Bureau as a Christmas gift. Meanwhile, a surprise reunion for Shelagh involves her in a deeply moving birth, and the Circus arrives in Poplar, bringing new friendships, new experiences and an exciting adventure for Nurse Crane!

United in Song: A Celebration of America’s Resilience
Premiere: Thursday, December 31 (8-9:30 p.m. ET)
Encore: Thursday, December 31 (9:30-11 p.m. ET)

As part of a national PBS broadcast for New Year’s Eve, these performances, filmed at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon as well as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, encourage our nation to come together and celebrate our irrepressible strength as Americans. From the enormity of COVID-19 to the significant presence of social injustice, this special evening brings us together in the ever-present pursuit of our uniting as one America.

Encore Presentations

Great Performances: “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn – The Broadway Musical”
Airing: Friday, November 20, 9-11:30 p.m. ET

Enjoy the hit Broadway adaptation of the classic 1942 movie musical, showcasing an Irving Berlin score including the Oscar-winning “White Christmas” with big dance numbers, comedy and a hit parade of the great songwriter’s famous tunes.

Call the Midwife Holiday Special (2018)
Airing: Sunday, December 6, 8-9:30 p.m. ET

See what happens when a new nun and four Chinese orphans arrive unexpectedly at Nonnatus House, causing both joy and chaos for the midwives. Meanwhile, Mother Superior falls ill, and it’s time for a new spiritual leader to be elected.

Call the Midwife Holiday Special (2019)
Airing: Sunday, December 6, 9:30-11 p.m. ET

Mother Mildred and the Nonnatus House team go to the Outer Hebrides in response to a nursing shortage. Navigating the terrain, they strive to keep up with the needs of the locals.

Christmas at the Belmont (2019)
Airing: Tuesday, December 15, 9-10 p.m. ET

Christmas at Belmont 2019 features Belmont University students along with Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans and the Nashville Children’s Choir. Taped in Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the show includes classic holiday songs and festive tunes.

Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas
Airing: Friday, December 18, 10-11 p.m. ET | Sunday, December 27, 10-11 p.m. ET

Join Lucy Worsley on a 12-day extravaganza as she discovers that much of what we enjoy in contemporary Christmas — from carols to turkey, gift-giving to mistletoe and mulled wine — has surprising Tudor origins, rooted in devotion and charity.

PBS VIDEO APP/PBS.ORG (FVOD)

60TH ANNUAL L.A. COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Appraisal: 20th Century German Silver Hanukkah Menorah”
STORIES FROM THE STAGE “Holidays: The Good, The Bad”
STORIES FROM THE STAGE “Holidays: Cheers, Tears and Fears”
CRAFT IN AMERICA “CELEBRATION episode”

PBS DIGITAL STUDIOS/PBS.ORG (FVOD)

BRAINCRAFT “Food Nostalgia”
BRAINCRAFT “The Perfect Christmas Gift” (According to Science)
GROSS SCIENCE “The Real Rudolph Has Bloody Antlers and Super Vision”
INDIE ALASKA “I Am The Gingerbread Village Builder”
INDIE ALASKA “I Am Star The Reindeer”
IDEA CHANNEL “What Do Santa and Wrestling Have in Common?”
IT’S OKAY TO BE SMART “Is Santa Real? A Scientific Analysis”
IT’S OKAY TO BE SMART “The Dinosaur on Your Thanksgiving Table”
IT’S OKAY TO BE SMART “The Science of Snowflakes”
IT’S OKAY TO BE SMART “The Surprising Origin of Thanksgiving Foods”
IT’S OKAY TO BE SMART “Try A Thanksgiving Feast Made from Bugs”
ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING “How Did Edison Invent the Christmas Lights?”
ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING “What Was Jesus’ Real Name?”
ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING “Why Does Santa Wear Red?”
PHYSICS GIRL “Five Physics Experiments for the Holidays”
REACTIONS “How to Fry a Thanksgiving Turkey Without Burning Your House”
REACTIONS “How Do Snowflakes Form?”
REACTIONS “How to Make the Best Cheap Hot Cocoa Possible”
REACTIONS “Should Santa Wear a Flame Retardant Suit?”
TWO CENTS “The History of Christmas Shopping!”

PBS PASSPORT (MVOD/SVOD)

A CHEF’S LIFE “The Holiday Special”(expires 12/4/20)
CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR WITH KRISTIN CHENOWETH
LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: A HEARTLAND HOLIDAY FEAST
LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: HOLIDAY FOR HEROES (expires 12/16/20)

Stay merry!