Images: Crown Media

Christmas movies begin premiering on Hallmark next weekend so, naturally, there are some key art/posters coming out to promote the new original movies coming to Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas this year.  So far, we have four posters debuted, which is actually kind of a small amount compared to what we usually have this close to kick-off.

Photos: UPtv

There is a lot to look forward to as the holiday season quickly approaches, and that includes all of the merriment we’ll enjoy when it comes to movies and holiday specials!

UPtv has announced their joyous lineup for the annual Merry Movie Christmas programming event, which will include holiday romance tales, a sequel to a festive favorite, and the return of the “GilMORE the Merrier” binge-a-thon where viewers can watch around-the-clock episodes of the hit television show Gilmore Girls all Thanksgiving week-long!

This year’s event will feature nine world television movie premieres and two cable premieres amongst more than 500 hours of Christmas programming filled with cheer for the entire family, and it all kicks off on Saturday, November 6th!  Another fun element to the network’s offering this season is that each weekend will have a theme starting with a “Royal Christmas Weekend” celebration that includes the premiere of the third movie in the Christmas with a Prince franchise.

UPtv will also premiere a brand new reality series called Small Town Christmas, hosted by Megan Alexander, that will spotlight a different small town around the country to show how they ring in the Christmas season.

Read all about UPtv’s merry schedule below!

Graphic by LollyChristmas.com

🇨🇦🍁 Happy Thanksgiving, Canada! 🍁🇨🇦

Wishing our Canadian friends a very Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 with your loved ones! We hope your holiday is safe and filled with love, food, laughter and good health this year. 🍽

Stay merry!

Photos: Atlantic Records

Rob Thomas is the latest musician to announce an upcoming Christmas album this year. The Matchbox Twenty singer is no stranger to holiday releases; Thomas recorded “I Believe in Santa Claus” last year and had a festive hit on his hands back in 2005 with “New York City Christmas”.

This month Thomas will drop Something About Christmas Time, which is currently available for pre-order, and will feature classic holiday covers originally sung by Bryan Adams and Ray Charles as well as original songs, and guest appearances from other talented singers—including: Ingrid Michaelson, Brad Paisley, and gospel singer Bebe Winans.

Photos: Blue Note Records/Capitol

When I think of voices that are built for the warmth of the holiday season, Norah Jones is definitely a singer that comes to mind, which is what makes it all that more sweeter than the 9-time GRAMMY-winning singer, songwriter, and pianist is releasing her first holiday album, I Dream Of Christmas.

“I’ve always loved Christmas music but never had the inclination to make a holiday album until now,” Norah said in an official statement. “Last year I found myself listening to James Brown’s Funky Christmas and Elvis’s Christmas Album on Sunday’s during lockdown for a sense of comfort. In January 2021, I started thinking about making a Christmas album of my own. It gave me something fun to work on and look forward to.”

The comforting collection of holiday songs include the opening track, which is also an original song, “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)”.

Photos: AppleTV+

It was headline news last year when word broke out that the holiday specials featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang, which typically air between October and December, would not air on network television but instead would stream on AppleTV+.  In November, PBS announced that the network would air “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” which was great news for non-subscribers of Apple’s streaming service.

According to USAToday, it seems that PBS will continue in airing the holiday specials this year in addition to AppleTV+ streaming of all Peanuts specials—despite the initial exclusive streaming deal.

Check out the broadcast dates and times below!

• “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” | Sunday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET (PBS and PBS Kids)
• “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” | Sunday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET (PBS and PBS Kids)
• “A Charlie Brown Christmas” | Sunday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET (PBS and PBS Kids)

Stay Merry,

(left) Rockefeller Center in NYC; (right) Kelly Clarkson | Photos: NBC

NBC 4 New York/WNBC is offering a very exciting opportunity to a local youth choir this holiday season. Starting this week, and running until Saturday, October 23rd, local choirs can enter for the chance to sing at the annual Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting this year.

“WNBC has created a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the youth of our community. Performing on the world’s holiday stage during our ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ is an experience unlike any other and we are excited to offer this to one lucky youth singing group from our area,” said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York.

Competition entries will be accepted at nbcnewyork.com/choir — and the winning choir will be announced in November on NBC’s “The Kelly Clarkson Show”.

Specific holiday singing competition rules include:

• The contest is restricted to participants residing within WNBC’s viewing areas in New York, New Jersey, Fairfield County, Connecticut and Pike County, Pennsylvania.
• Singing groups must have a minimum of 10 members and a maximum of 35 members.
• All entrants must be between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age.
• Entrants can submit a video performance of any holiday-themed song, up to 3 minutes long.

Entrants chosen for a second round:

• Will be required to submit formal parental consent to proceed in the process.
• Will be asked to perform and submit an original, :90 second performance of “Silent Night”, “Joy to the World” or “Up on a Housetop.”
• The winning choir will be required to comply with all current COVID-19 protocols.

Stay Merry,

Photos: Universal Music Group

There is a lot of holiday music coming out in the coming weeks, but a highly-anticipated album dropped on Friday… the first Christmas album from Darren Criss!

The singer/actor, best known for a breakout role on the musical FOX series Glee, has released his first full-length venture into holiday music, and we think it was long overdue. Darren’s beautiful voice is perfect for the Christmas season, so we suggest checking out his album, A Very Darren Crissmas!

On the record, you’ll find traditional holiday tracks like “The Christmas Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as well as more modern covers like Criss’ rendition of John Mayer‘s “St. Patrick’s Day” and Regina Spektor‘s “New Year”.  He also teams up with actress Evan Rachel Wood on “Somewhere In My Memory”, from the Home Alone soundtrack, and with former Glee co-star Adam Lambert for “(Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag”.

Key Art: Warner Bros.

There will be another new holiday movie hitting theaters this Christmas season, and the trailer for it was just released.  Inspired by writer, director, and star Aml Ameen‘s life comes “Boxing Day,“ the holiday romantic comedy of the year!

In “Boxing Day,” Melvin (Ameen), a British author living in America, returns home to London for Christmas to introduce his American fiancée, Lisa (Aja Naomi King, How to Get Away with Murder), to his eccentric British-Caribbean family. Their relationship is put to the test as she discovers the world her fiancée has left behind.  Leigh-Anne Pinnock of the popular British music group Little Mix will star as Melvin’s ex, Georgia.  Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Stephen Dillan also star.

“Boxing Day” hits theaters on December 3rd. Watch the trailer below!

(Left to Right) Matt Sallee, Kirstin Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Kevin Olusola and Mitch Grassi. (Photo: RCA Records)

Pentatonix is releasing their sixth Christmas album!  That’s right, three-time GRAMMY award-winning quintet have made releasing Christmas music somewhat of a holiday tradition at this point.

We’re here for that type of spirit.

The album, Evergreen, will release on October 29th and will feature 14-tracks, including PTX’s rendition of the 1945 big band-era song,”It’s Been A Long, Long Time”. The song is written from the perspective of welcoming home a loved on from war, so it feels fitting to include it as so many are reuniting with loved ones this Christmas.

The a cappella group played upon those feelings of yearning to hear from a loved one by covering Stevie Wonder’s 1984 classic, “I Just Called To Say I Love You”.