Photo: Paramount Network

Paramount Network is premiering an brand-new LGBTQ+ Christmas movie from MTV Studios this December, and it stars some very familiar faces!

In “Dashing in December”, Peter Porte stars as Wyatt, a New York City financier hoping to convince his mother (Andie MacDowell) to sell their family ranch and its accompanying Winter Wonderland attraction. When he returns home to push forward in his efforts to sell, Wyatt meets an a charming ranch hand named Heath, played by Juan Pablo Di Pace. Could Heath be the person who helps Wyatt find a new appreciation for the magic of the holiday season?

“Dashing in December” premieres on Sunday, December 13th on the Paramount Network.

Watch the trailer below!

Photos: NBC

Despite the very different holiday season we’ll be having this year, you can count on NBC to bring some of your most cherished traditions right into your homes with their nostalgic-filled lineup of seasonal programming, which was officially announced today.

Among the network’s holiday offering is the annual “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”, the tree lighting ceremony for “Christmas at Rockefeller Center” and a viewing of the iconic show, the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular”.  NBC will also premiere “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical!” starring Matthew Morrison, “The Voice Holiday Celebration”, the “Saturday Night Live” Thanksgiving and Christmas specials, and of course a few family-fun movies, including Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (both the 1966 animation and the 2000 feature film) and the classic “It’s A Wonderful Life”.

Check out the full festive lineup below!

Photo: Disney

Isla Fisher and Jillian Bell‘s upcoming Disney+ movie, “Godmothered”, is set to premiere on the streaming service on December 4th, just in time for the holidays!

Here’s a little bit about the story:

Set at Christmas time, Godmothered is a comedy about Eleanor, a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training (Bell) who upon hearing that her chosen profession is facing extinction, decides to show the world that people still need fairy godmothers. Finding a mislaid letter from a 12-year-old girl in distress, Eleanor tracks her down and discovers that the girl, Mackenzie, is now a 40-year-old single mom (Fisher) working at a news station in Boston. Having lost her husband several years earlier, Mackenzie has all but given up on the idea of “Happily Ever After,” but Eleanor is bound and determined to give Mackenzie a happiness makeover, whether she likes it or not.

“Godmothered” also stars June Squibb, Santiago Cabrera, Jane Curtin, and Erica Parks as young Mackenzie.  I will update this post as soon as an official movie trailer is released!

Stay merry!

Photo: CBS

If you’ve been bopping along to Dolly Parton‘s latest holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, you’re going to love this news… Dolly is getting a Christmas television special this year!

The country music superstar (and GLOBAL ICON), will share in the spirit of the season with a one-hour holiday special, “A Holly Dolly Christmas”! The special is set to broadcast on Sunday, December 6th at 8:30 pm (8:30-9:30 PM, ET/8:00-9:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

“I am so proud to be a part of the CBS family this holiday season with my new Christmas special,” the singer said in a press statement.

“When Dolly Parton calls and tells you she wants to do a Christmas show, you don’t hesitate,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music & Live Events/Alternative & Reality for CBS. “A special with the multi-Grammy Award-winning, prolific song-writing, epic live performer of all time? She had us at hello. There’s only one Dolly Parton, and we are so excited to be bringing her to viewers this holiday season.”

No word yet on whether or not any of the singers she collaborated with on the album, such as Michael Bublé, Miley Cyrus and Willie Nelson, will be a part of it. Although, I imagine they will find a way to make it happen.

“A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS” is produced by Sandollar Productions and NOZ Entertainment. Executive producers are Dolly Parton and Danny Nozell.

Stay merry!

Photo: NBC

For many, we’re already well into the holiday season, but for some Americans… it’s Thanksgiving that really sets their festive plans in motion, so today I bring you news on the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®… and it’s going to look a lot different this year.

Given the state of the world right now, it should come at no surprise that many precautions are being taken to ensure safety during the iconic Thanksgiving Day celebration this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to a tradition that so many hold dear.

So, how is this all moving forward? According to an official website statement:  On Thanksgiving Day, we will showcase our annual celebration’s signature balloons, floats, performances and herald the arrival of Santa Claus, in front of Macy’s famed flagship store on 34th Street for our national television special on NBC. To ensure a safe experience for all involved, we are not marching down the streets of Manhattan this year and instead will bring all the magic of this American tradition to you on television and online. In preparation for this one-of-a-kind celebration, the Macy’s team meticulously reviewed every area of the Parade playbook to put in place enhanced health and safety practices that align with CDC guidelines, as well as local and state government protocols.

The New York Times reports that in addition to traveling just one city block down 34th Street, as opposed to their two-and-a-half-mile route starting at West 77th Street, the streets surrounding the route will be closed off and the floats will be driven by utility vehicles, rather than the usual uniformed handlers, to limit the number of people involved.

There will be many pretaped performances, including Broadway entertainment, and an appearance from a ballerina from the New York City Ballet who will dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy from George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,“ which was canceled this season.

(Top: “Disney Holiday Magic Quest”; Bottom L-R: “Challenge Accepted!” and “Holiday House Party”) Photos: Disney Channel

Disney Channel has officially unwrapped the news about their upcoming holiday lineup of specials that are set to air in December.  The ‘house of mouse’ has dedicated its Christmas television lineup to bringing cheer to families all over with a fun slate of shows, including an adventure show hosted at Walt Disney World, a holiday-themed challenge special, and holiday house party hosted remotely by network stars with a holiday sketch comedy angle.  Get the scoop on all three shows below!

(Updated: 11/29/20) — Added the “Disney Fan Jam” holiday episode info!

(Top L-R: Estevez, Lopez, Carra and Sunjata) Photos: Disney Channel

Have you ever dreamed of Christmas being every day?  That’s about to come “true” for a character in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie, “Christmas Again”!

This heartwarming holiday comedy, with production underway in Chicago, centers on Rowena “Ro” (Scarlett Estevez, “BUNK’D”), a high-spirited 11-year-old girl experiencing a lackluster Christmas. Ro isn’t handling her parents’, played by Daniel Sunjata (“Manifest”, “Rescue Me”, “Graceland”) and Alexis Carra (“Fosse/Verdon”), divorce well because she wants her life back the way it was—her parents back together, her dad’s new girlfriend (Beth Lacke, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”) and son out of the picture, and their family traditions to remain the same.

After a disappointing holiday celebration with her family, including sister Gabriela “Gabby” (Ashlyn Jade Lopez), Abuela Sofia (Priscilla Lopez, Broadway’s “A Chorus Line”), and Abuelo Hector (Tony Amendola, “Annabelle”), Ro makes a Christmas wish to a mall Santa Claus (Gary Anthony Williams, “Star Wars Resistance”) for a “do-over,” and unexpectedly finds herself reliving Christmas day over and over … and over again.  In order to break the strange magical loop, Ro must learn to love her modern blended family as it is, as well as the true meaning of Christmas.

“Christmas Again” is written by Doan La (“Keep Hope Alive”).  Andy Fickman (“Race to Witch Mountain”) is directing and will serve as an executive producer with long-time producing partner Betsy Sullenger, reuniting the successful team behind the Disney Channel hit series “Liv & Maddie.”

A release date has not been announced, but when I know, you will too!

Stay merry!

Photos by David Cotter/NBC

If “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is part of your annual Christmas traditions, then you’ll be thrilled to know that NBC has announced that the network will be bringing the classic Dr. Seuss story to life this holiday season with a two-hour production of “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical!“

This musical version, with book and lyrics by Tim Mason and music by Mel Marvin, will feature the hit songs “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” (by Albert Hague & Dr. Seuss).

Broadway and television veteran Matthew Morrison, famously known for his role on “Glee”, will take on the lead role as the curmudgeonly Grinch. “In what has been an extremely challenging year for us all, it is an honor to bring some holiday cheer into viewers’ homes this December,” Morrison said in a press statement. “My wish is to bring some Who-ville magic to this holiday season and, while the pandemic presents some challenges in bringing a stage production to life, we are excited to present a unique version of this seasonal favorite in a new creative and imaginative way.”

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!

Photos: CBS

So much has changed this year, but there are a few things that stay merrily the same… and CBS is doing their part to keep tradition alive in our homes this holiday season!   Their beloved lineup returns with the “CBS Thanksgiving Day Celebration” highlighting Thanksgiving parades past, and you can count on the following weekend to be filled with your favorite animated classics like “Frosty the Snowman”, “The Story of Santa Claus” and “Robbie the Reindeer”.  The network will also premiere a brand-new holiday special from country music icon Dolly Parton.

Missing from the lineup? The annual “Home for the Holidays” special, which doesn’t seem to be airing due to the pandemic, and I don’t recall a mention of there being a virtual angle for it this year.

Additionally, there was no mention of the treasured “I Love Lucy Christmas” special this year, but I’ll keep you posted should it get added to the schedule.

Find out what’s airing below!