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Home , Alessandra Ambrosio, BBQ Blitz, Cupcake Wars, Duff Goldman, Eddie Jackson (chef), Food Network Star

CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHTS EDEN SHER TAREK EL MOUSSA HILARIE BURTON THE STORY! ‘Colors’ the holidays WHAT'S FOR Alyvia Alyn Lind stars in DINNER Thursday’s new NBC movie “Dolly Parton’s Featuring: Coat of Many Colors.” Lidia Bastianich FEATURED STORIES “Sinatra 100 — An All-Star Grammy Concert” EXCLUSIVE! “Becoming Santa” PROFILED “Michael Bublé’s Christmas in TEAM Hollywood” ARMY-NAVY MOVIES TO WATCH And so much more! ConnectFOLIO to these shows within this magazine! Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 What’s C HOT this Week! Click to jump to these contents featured sections! YOURTVLINK CELEBRITY “SINATRA 100 — AN 4 EDEN SHER ALL-STAR GRAMMY Eden comfortable in Sue’s CONCERT” skin. Time is a friend to Frank Sinatra. 5 TAREK EL MOUSSA Still watching the bottom line on “Flip or Flop.”

6 HILARIE BURTON Reindeer make “neat” co-stars in actress’ holiday movie.

8 TAYLOR HILL New Victoria’s Secret “MICHAEL BUBLÉ’S “Angel” gets her Fashion CHRISTMAS IN Show wings. HOLLYWOOD” Jammin’ with Bublé. 9 DUFF GOLDMAN Featured from “Holiday Baking Championship.” “BECOMING SANTA” Michael Gross would love to keep his ‘Santa’ role a secret. 17 FOOD 7 LIDIA BASTIANICH Christmas dinner with celebs.

THE STORY! SPORTS 18-19 The 116th annual “DOLLY PARTON’S COAT ARMY-NAVY GAME airs OF MANY COLORS” Saturday on CBS. Country icon turns song into a TV movie. REALITY MOVIES IN EVERY ISSUE 16 “THE GREAT 20-21 Featuring: Theatrical 22-23 Featuring: Our top CHRISTMAS LIGHT FIGHT” Review, Our top DVD pick, suggested programs to watch Lighting up the and Coming Soon on DVD. this week! neighborhood.

Page 2 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 Editor's choice STORY S Dolly Parton brings her ‘Coat of Many Colors’ to NBC

Pictured: (left), Alyvia Alyn Lind and Ricky Schroder

BY JAY BOBBIN Young actress Lind clearly is thrilled to be playing Parton, Dolly Parton hopes a story – and a song – with great especially since she cites “9 to 5” as her “favorite movie. meaning for her will have that for many viewers this holiday I knew a lot about her before this, and I know even more season, too. about her now. I just knew for sure when we met. I felt so warm with her, and when our eyes met, I felt I definitely The country-music icon’s “Coat of Many Colors” becomes saw myself in her. I feel like she doesn’t really have to a TV movie Thursday, Dec. 10, as her new deal to supply speak to give a really great lesson, because she’s so programming to NBC begins. The true tale actually is wonderful, she’s so caring and she’s so nice.” about the young Dolly – played by Alyvia Alyn Lind – and her relationships with her parents (fellow country star Parton also is developing her entire life story as a Jennifer Nettles and Ricky Schroder) and grandfather Broadway musical, and Nettles – the veteran (Gerald McRaney) in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains who’s beginning an acting career, having made her in the 1950s. A very special garment and voiceovers by Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in “” earlier the present-day Parton, an executive producer of the film, this year – forecasts that viewers “will get why it is this provide the framework. concentrated amount of time” that “Coat of Many Colors” deals with. “It is a great anti-bullying song,” Parton says of the “Coat of Many Colors” tune, “and that’s one of the reasons I thought “As we all know, within a family’s story and a family’s it would also be great to play it on television for families. trajectory, points within those families are milestones,” I had the ‘Coat of Many Colors’ song illustrated into a Nettles reflects. “There are a couple of turning points in this children’s book a few years ago, and they actually teach story that are so rich and so deep and partially so tragic, out of it in some of the schools around the country ... and you don’t need more than that amount of time because it’s it’s to say that we should celebrate the difference in one such a rich story in and of itself. When you see it, the nine another.” months (covered) is a very full and rich nine months.”

Parton adds that hers was “not the poorest family” in her Parton notes that “Coat of Many Colors” remains “a very area as she grew up, “and certainly, there were many emotional song for me. During the time my mom was sick people around us that were poor. But in this particular and especially after my mama passed, it was really, really case, it just shows a certain type of children that make fun hard for me to sing this song without just kind of breaking of the others. I’ve had so many people tell me through the down or just really having to contain it ... but that little coat years that the song itself has had a healing effect on them, is just a symbol. Now that I’m older, I see all those colors whether it was about their race, their nationality, whether and it’s kind of like the girl of many colors, like a life of they’re overweight or whether they were (disabled), many colors. It kind of symbolizes all that.” whatever. It’s just that people identify with it. When people make you feel less about yourself than you should, it’s a Click or tap here for more! hard thing.”

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 3 C CELEBRITY GEORGE DICKIE’S Q&A EDEN SHER ‘The Middle’ Wednesday on ABC

How are things going with your character Sue Heck on ABC’s “The Middle” this year? Things are going. Actually, things are going pretty well. Things are happening. Things are moving and shaking. I think there are new prospects on the horizon, boywise and friendwise. Yeah, college has been treating Sue OK, which is natural, which is kind of like how it would go in real life. ...

How has the character changed from your standpoint over the years? I guess in the way that I felt I’ve grown more comfortable playing Sue, I feel like it’s sort of translated into Sue being more comfortable being Sue. It’s kind of like you can be a certain way and still be confident without being necessarily super comfortable with yourself. I feel like ... people who were just comfortable with themselves forever or were not awkward when they were anywhere from like 13 to 18, no, I cannot relate to you as a human. I, like a lot of people, have like a general discomfort with (myself). And it sounds so cliché but ... with Sue, she doesn’t really change but in just kind of understanding and being more OK with (her) ... reactions to things and knowing more how (she is) going to react ... (she) can make more decisions based on that. So it’s as if (she has) made more life decisions based on understanding (herself) a little more.

You recently did an episode of co-star Patricia Heaton’s Food Channel series “Patricia Heaton Parties.” How did that go? It was great. It was super super fun. ... It’s so different when you’re doing something (other than our show and) what a groove we’ve all gotten in and our set and our dynamic, it’s just like a well-oiled machine. And so when you are working on something that’s sort of finding its groove ... it’s work to do that. And so doing that was like ... having a best friend at summer camp and Click or tap here for more! then having them go to your hometown or something and it’s a FOLIO totally different experience. Really good but totally different.

Page 4 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 CELEBRITY C JAY BOBBIN’S Q&A TAREK EL MOUSSA of ‘Flip or Flop’ Thursday on HGTV

Since you’re now in your fourth season of “Flip or Flop,” are you still conscious of the cameras being around you while you film? We don’t even notice they’re there anymore. We just kind of do our thing and that’s it.

As you currently film Season 6 of the show, do you and your wife Christina foresee it continuing for a long while beyond that? Absolutely. Going into this thing, we never knew what to expect. How do you manage to stay focused on your We never looked at ourselves as TV personalities, we looked at real-estate business while also filming “Flip or Flop”? ourselves as realty investors who It’s still business as usual. We have 40 employees, we’re managing our properties were on TV. And now, it’s kind of and our rentals and our commercial ventures. We’re doing a lot of stuff. One thing morphed into the fact that we’re for people to understand is that this isn’t a design show; it’s a flip show that’s kind both realty investors and TV of morphed into a design show, too. personalities. We’ve been doing We could step up and put more into the houses, but because we’re on it as a this for a few years now, and I business, it prevents us from spending too much money. It’s always a cat-and- think we’re going to be doing it mouse game where you spend the perfect amount to get your return. You for the next few years as well. don’t want to spend too little and you don’t want to spend too much. Click or tap here for more!

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 5 C CELEBRITY JAY BOBBIN’S Q&A

HILARIE BURTON OF ‘LAST CHANCE FOR CHRISTMAS’ SUNDAY ON LIFETIME

Click or tap here for more!

“Last Chance for Christmas” maintains your Had you ever dealt with live tradition of doing holiday movies that have reindeer before making this new realism while also being somewhat fantastical. movie? Do you look for that combination when you read No, and they’re so neat! Here’s my favorite seasonal scripts? thing about reindeer: They’re constantly clicking. Apparently, the tendons in their I’ve been very lucky in that the ones I’ve gotten to do have all had joints click, so in a whiteout, they can hear a spark of something that really interests me. The very first one I each other and find one another. The whole did, “Naughty or Nice,” I did on a dare from the Rudds (actor friend time I was working with them, there was Paul Rudd and his wife). We were all out at dinner and I got the this snapping sound, and it was just the offer, and they were like, “Dude, you have to do it!” and I was like, strangest thing. “Yeah, all right, whatever.” And then, I loved it! I’d always done jobs where I played such sad people with so much gloom and doom and drama, and here was this Christmas movie, How has it been around your and my kid got to see Santa and I got to wear an elf costume ... household since the news and it was funny, and the people I worked with were awesome. broke that your husband will be Then, the next one took place in , which is a place I love – and I got to work with Tyler Hilton, who’s one of my best friends. joining “The Walking Dead” as And with this one, Jeff (actor husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and villain Negan? I are obsessed with Alaska, and I asked him, “Should I go play an Our son knows that his dad is a bad man Alaskan reindeer farmer?” He said, “One-hundred percent.” (on screen)! We all think it’s real cool.

Page 6 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 FOOD GEORGE DICKIE’S WHAT'S FOR DINNER F DIVERSE GUESTS Lidia’s holiday table on PBS

In a unique special this week, renowned Lidia Bastianich cooks up an international Christmas feast for a diverse group of celebrity guests.

In “Lidia Celebrates America: Home for the Holidays,” airing Friday, Dec. 11, on PBS (check local listings), the Emmy-winning host of “Lidia’s Italy” invites Oscar-winning actors Christopher Walken and Rita Moreno, former “Today” co-host Ann Curry, “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and composer Carlo Ponti Jr. to her Queens, N.Y., home to dine on dishes inspired by each of their homelands.

“It was interesting to bring friends of different ethnicities because that was the point (of the special),” she says. “I know that I always revert at my house to (my) roots, to the flavors that you remember from your grandma. So I was wondering what all my friends were doing. Were they doing the same – all of these prominent American figures by now?”

The hourlong show tells the deeply personal stories of each guest, be it Click or tap here for more! Walken’s upbringing in the Astoria section of Queens (where he knew Bastianich), Lakshmi’s culinary traditions of her homeland of India or Moreno’s experiences as a young Latina in mid-20th century .

Moreno, the only one of the six guests Bastianich did not previously know, provided Bastianich will particular inspiration growing up.

“When I was a young immigrant,” says Bastianich, who was born in a northeastern Italy town that eventually became part of Croatia. “ ‘West Side Story’ was kind of all over the place and I related so much. You know, I used to admire her and her dancing. As a young girl you look at her and say ’ Gee, could that be me?’ And so I related to her very much from that period of my life.... so there were a lot of similarities.”

What book are you What did you have for What is your next project? When was the last currently reading? dinner last night? “My latest book (“Lidia’s Mastering vacation you took, “I just finished reading “I had dinner with two friends the Art of Italian Cuisine”) was where and why? (New York City and I had dinner at (Bastianich’s released ... So I am in the process “The last vacation Police) Commissioner New York ) Felidia. of actually going around the country. was this summer (Raymond) Kelly’s And we were kind of in almost ... In theaters, we have this intimate and we had all of the book (‘Vigilance: My a celebratory for mood. But I conversation with Lydia, and I tell kids at the Bastianich Life Serving America had skate for dinner. Yeah, I did. them about what they usually want winery (in Italy). ...” and Protecting Its I had a fish soup with a little to know, about my life, how I came, Empire City’) because pasta as an opener, And then I how I got into cooking, how I got into I know him as a had skate.... it was different. The television and so on. And then we person. I’ve known chef made it with chestnuts... open it up for questions and then I him for quite a few and then chicory. ...” do a book signing.” years. ...”

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 7 CELEBRITY C JAY BOBBIN’S CELEBRITY SCOOP TAYLOR HILL Some new Angels show their wings on “The Victoria’s Secret ” runway this holiday season, and Taylor Hill is one of them.

Formerly a for the company’s junior line , she also was in last year’s edition from ... but she allows it’s different to join the official Angel ranks alongside , , (who wears the jewel-encrusted $2 million Fantasy Bra) and others as the event returns to New York’s Lexington Avenue Armory for its annual CBS telecast Tuesday, Dec. 8. and also participate – and since the special always combines modeling with music, , Ellie Goulding and The Weeknd take the stage, too.

“It’s a very, very big deal,” the friendly Hill says of the 20th “Fashion Show,” “and it’s very exciting. I had the jitters On how her coming into it, because I get wings and I get officially family is with crowned as an Angel. But you forget (about that on the her modeling runway); you try to focus on taking one step at a time, fame: “My putting one foot in front of the other, and it all comes parents are my together. If you embrace it, it’s not as hard. Don’t think too number-one much about it.” fans, and I have two sisters and a brother Now in her late teens, Hill is glad others including Elsa and they’re Hosk, and also are among all extremely the 2015 inductees as Victoria’s Secret Angels. “It’s so supportive. great to be with them,” Hill notes. “We’re all really good They love that friends, we all hang out and we have dinners together, I get to do this, and we talk about everything. It’s an incredible experience and they know to be able to go through this with somebody else ... and it’s my dream. not even one other person but nine, who know exactly They’re proud what you’re going through. There’s always somebody to of me, and it talk to.” feels really good to know that I have That also includes the veteran Angels, whom Hill deems people like that “amazing. They’re so supportive. If you have a question in my life.” or are nervous about something, you can just check with them and they’ll be like, ‘Oh, girl, don’t worry. This is what happened to me ... .’ To have people who you can look up to, and who are there to watch your back, it’s incredible.” Click or tap here for more!

Page 8 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 CELEBRITY CELEBRITY PROFILE C DUFFGOLDMAN - Born Jeffrey Adam Goldman on December 17, 1974 in , MI.

- He has been cooking since the age of 4, when his mom caught him in swinging a meat cleaver while watching Chef Tell on TV.

- His great-grandmother came to the U.S. from the Ukraine and became a baker and cook. Her daughter, his grandmother, was a professional artist whose work includes painting, printmaking and silversmithing. His mother, Jackie, is also an artist.

- He started working professionally when he was 14 at a bagel shop.

- After graduating from the University of Maryland with degrees in history and philosophy, he went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif. Duff Goldman is a TV personality, celebrity pastry chef and superstar baker, among other talents, who can currently be seen on “Holiday Baking Championship” on .

- In 2002, he opened Charm City Cakes...in his apartment. - He was also named Culinary Ambassador by the White A growing client list helped propel him into an even bigger House, and created the cake for President Obama’s location: an old church he retrofitted into his current modern Commander-in-Chief Ball. bakery. - He is the best selling author of “: Inside the - Following several appearances on its cake competition World of Charm City Cakes,” and his newest book “Duff Challenge series, Food Network tapped him and his fellow Bakes: Think and Bake Like a Pro at Home” was released in cake baking artists at Charm City Cakes to star in “Ace of November. Cakes.” After 10 seasons on the Food Network, the show wrapped as one of the longest running reality shows in - Among his charitable causes are police officers, firefighters, history to feature the same cast. teachers, the Make a Wish Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity. - He has appeared on numerous shows including “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” “,” “Chopped,” - He is in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for baking “,” and “Best Thing I Ever Ate.” the world’s largest cupcake.

- In 2009, he paired up with the team at Gartner Studios in - He is also a graffiti artist, metal sculptor and a musician Stillwater, Minnesota to design and launch the Duff Goldman who plays bass in the Elvis tribute band, Danger Ace, and by Gartner Studios line of cake baking and decorating the indie band, Sand Ox. products. - A regular Food Network presence, he is currently acting as - In 2012, his horizons continued to expand as he opened a judge on “Holiday Baking Championship.” Charm City Cakes West in and Duff’s Cake mix, a do-it-yourself cake decorating shop. Click or tap here for more! December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 9 C CELEBRITY

“This felt like an opportunity for people to … if they accept me as someone who functions in this world, then maybe they’ll let me wear the markings of a different person and be accepting of that, too. I guess it felt like a perfect opportunity to reintroduce myself as an actress.” – Jennifer Carpenter of “Limitless” on CBS, about doing her first series role since “Dexter”

“Some people think it’s a bit intense, but of course it is, with that part of the world and the state of the politics there now. I’m constantly impressed with how (the writers and producers) bravely ride the line between telling those stories and “I have to admit, the first day in the makeup giving those people a chair, I was shaking next to her. All my scenes voice as well” – Jennifer are with her and Max Greenfield, and it was Finnigan, seen recently everything I could have wanted it to be. I feel in “Angel of Christmas” like my game rose a thousand percent acting on Hallmark Channel, opposite her.” – Beth Behrs of “2 Broke Girls” about her FX series on CBS, about working recently with Sally “Tyrant” (returning for Field on the forthcoming movie “Hello, My Season 3 next year) Name Is Doris”

Page 10 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 CELEBRITY S

ON DVRs

Poppy Montgomery of “Unforgettable” on A&E Network “ ‘The Affair’ is absolutely No. 1 – and, shockingly and embarrassingly, I have not seen ‘The Sopranos.’ Not even the pilot. I have progressed to the point where I am going to watch all of it while I’m on hiatus. That’s one of my goals.”

Vincent Savannah Kartheiser Guthrie of of “Saints & “Today” on Strangers” NBC on National “I record Geographic ‘Homeland’ Channel and ‘Project “I guess Runway.’ ” sports, mostly. Comedy stuff.”

Eddie Jackson of “BBQ Blitz” on Food Network “You could find everything on my DVR from ‘Housewives of Orange County’ to ‘Empire’ and also ‘’ is on there, too.”

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 11 S STORY

Tony Bennett performs on “Sinatra 100 — An All-Star Grammy Concert” Sunday on CBS. Story on next page

Page 12 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 STORY S GRAMMY WINNERS SALUTE ‘The Voice’ on CBS’ ‘Sinatra 100’ BY GEORGE DICKIE

Two singers, one a native New Yorker and member of the Greatest Generation; the other a Baby Boomer from Oklahoma.

Though they have dissimilar backgrounds and upbringings, Tony Bennett and Garth Brooks have at least one thing in common: a deep and abiding admiration for Frank Sinatra.

And they’ll both be performing on the occasion of the centennial of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ birth on “Sinatra 100 – An All- Star Grammy Concert,” airing Sunday, Dec. 6. Pictured: Garth Brooks

The two-hour special, made in partnership with the Sinatra family and taped Dec. 2 at Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore “It’s phrasing,” he says. “He had a way of just phrasing. Theatre, features a bevy of Grammy winners performing He made this statement, he said, ‘I must tell you that no songs made famous by “The Voice,” among them Brooks, matter what I do in my life, that when I sing, I believe it’s Bennett, Alicia Keys, , Adam Levine, Carrie completely honest.’ And that was a very profound attitude Underwood and Usher. to have as a performer and as a singer. But I also knew, when you knew him up close and on an intimate basis, he just knew how to perform on the stage. He had a Bennett, who will be performing “I’ve Got the World on a wonderful attitude about how to perform onstage.” String” on the special, calls Sinatra “my best friend” and recalls some career-changing advice the Chairman of the Board once gave him as a young, nervous performer Brooks, a 53-year-old two-time Grammy winner who headlining his first TV show, “The Tony Bennett Show,” in never met Sinatra, marvels at the range of his voice, his 1956. ability to “make you hurt for him” in his performances and his sheer longevity. He’ll be performing “The Lady Is a Tramp” on the show. “He said, ‘Just know that the public loves you, and if you’re nervous ... they’ll come even closer to you,’ ” the 89-year- old, 17-time Grammy winner says. “And he taught me that “You look behind him,” he says, “there’s a swath a mile the audience is a friend, don’t look at them like they’re wide, like a tornado, in the business. Well hell, that’s a enemies. They came in to see you, they did all kinds of hell of a mark. Because in this business, you’re not just things just to come in to see you and they’re your fans. competing with your peers, the people around you; you’re And he changed my whole career by just entertaining the competing with a past and you’re competing with a future. people. now in my life is to try and make And this cat held his own against the past, his present people happy when they come to see me.” and, come on – we’re having a birthday celebration to him now? And we’ll have one when he’s 200, so that’s a hell of a mark. ... They say that time is a friend to all When people talk about what set Sinatra apart from other things good and that was definitely him.” singers, they often cite his breathing. But Bennett thinks it’s something else. Click or tap here for more! December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 13 S STORY

BUBLÉ embraces improv on NBC Christmas special

“Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood” airs Thursday on NBC. Story on next page

Page 14 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 STORY S BUBLÉ embraces improv on NBC Christmas special

BY GEORGE DICKIE

Like many of today’s performers, Michael Bublé has a strong presence on social media, counting pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram among his accounts.

But when he took to Instagram recently to solicit fan requests for songs for him to perform on his upcoming NBC special “Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood,” airing

Thursday, Dec. 10, he was a little perplexed by the first Pictured: Michael Bublé response. you know what the thing is? I’ll say to them all the time, “I did a video and I said, ‘Alright you guys, challenge me. ‘Boys, it’s not live. It’s not live. Hey, if you mess it up and Ask me for songs that are a little off the Christmas radar it’s that terrible, let’s do it again.’ here,’ ” the Vancouver, British Columbia, native recalls with a laugh. “And the very first thing that I read, the very first “But I think for me, personally, when I go and person wrote in and said, ‘’s “Shake It Off.” ’ see a show, what makes it special to me are the And my mom and dad were sitting with me and I looked imperfections,” he continues. “It’s the fact that I’m and I went, ‘This is not a Christmas song. I just explained actually seeing something that’s real and not completely it to people. It’s a Christmas song. You know, request a canned and rehearsed. To me, it’s the imperfections that Christmas song.’ And the first request was Taylor Swift’s make it so much fun and so beautiful. And we kicked “Shake It Off.” So I didn’t do that, obviously. Yes, they were ass. My guys kicked ass. They were perfect.” really listening to me on social media.” And as promised, at least one selection was off the Bublé’s fifth Christmas special takes him to the land of palm beaten Christmas music path. trees, sunshine and show business to celebrate the holiday and perform Christmas selections with fellow Canadian “We did the Chipmunks song, ‘Christmas Don’t Be singer Celine Dion, funk band Sharon Jones & the Dap- Late,’ ” Bublé says. “And I looked at my boys, who are Kings and pop singer Tori Kelly. Additionally, there will be great musicians, probably not – they wouldn’t think of cameo appearances by celebrities in comedy bits, and themselves as singers – and I said, ‘You know what Bublé’s trademark “unplugged” session, in which he and his we’re going to do? We’re going to sing this, the five of us band perform audience requests – often unrehearsed. and we’re just going to sing it a cappella. Let’s go.’ So it was good. It turned out good, I think.” “That’s probably my favorite part of the show and my musicians’ least favorite part of the show,” he says. “And Click or tap here for more!

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 15 S STORY

Neighbors bring their love of Christmas to light on ‘Great Christmas Light Fight’ BY GEORGE DICKIE

Click or tap on icon for more! Pictured: Taniya Nayak and Carter Oosterhouse Every neighborhood has one – that neighbor whose love Still, a lot of work – and more importantly – money go into of Christmas, lights and electronic gadgetry coalesce to these arrangements, leaving one to wonder how they pull if produce a holiday display that can be seen from space. off.

And for the next six weeks, those folks are front and “I always thought going into it, ‘Man, these people spend center of the limited holiday competition series “The a fortune.’ And they do,” Nayak says. “I think it’s an Great Christmas Light Fight,” which opens its third season accumulation of hundreds of thousands of dollars when Monday, Dec. 7, on ABC. everything is all said and done – but it’s an accumulation. A lot of them have been doing it for 25, 30 years and so you “It’s just a whole world of happiness,” says Taniya Nayak can just tell that they just build and build. And a lot of them (“Restaurant: Impossible”), who joins the series this will tell you they started with one strand of lights and then season as a judge alongside Carter Oosterhouse (“Million over the years it turned into this, like, this craziness.” Dollar Rooms”). “Everybody’s smiling, it’s Christmas, it’s the holidays ... . Every time I watch it, I would either be Living next to one of these home-fashioned light laughing or crying. For some reason, they manage to get extravaganzas has to come with its own challenges. Which Christmas lights to become a very emotional thing, and it is raises the question: How do the neighbors feel about all this? for some reason.” “I feel like a lot of the neighbors are very accepting,” Nayak In the six hourlong episodes, families and neighborhoods says. “And you have to remember, these people have on a chosen through a nationwide search pull out all the stops yearly basis hundreds to thousands of cars that will drive to create over-the-top outdoor holiday displays on and through in their neighborhood to come and watch the light around their homes. The one judged the best receives a display. So luckily, I think they have great relationships with $50,000 per-episode grand prize. their neighbors.

Some of these displays can be quite extravagant “I have seen a few people where they’d have a couple of – featuring audio, computer-controlled lights and even lights that might have said ‘Ditto’ with an arrow in lights choreography – and many have switched over to LED pointing to the house next door,” she says, laughing. “I think lights, which has significantly slashed their electric bills. people have fun with it.” Page 16 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 STORY S bring of Michael to eat Gross Christmas is ‘Becoming Santa’ in new Lifetime movie Would you think of the tall, slender dad from “Family Ties” “We had not spent this much time together since ‘Family as Santa Claus? Ties’ (which also starred Michael J. Fox) ended in 1989. We had worked together since, but it was in Los Angeles, He couldn’t, at least initially. Michael Gross admits it took so we’d both go to our own cars and homes every night. a leap of faith and a lot of makeup for him to believe he Here, we were on location (in Vancouver, British Columbia) could make a convincing Kris Kringle in “Becoming Santa,” and in the same hotel for three weeks, right across the hall Lifetime’s new Saturday, Dec. 12, movie that reunites him from each other. We drove to the set together and really with his “wife” from the 1980s sitcom, Meredith Baxter. caught up in a way we had not in over 25 years, so we had She plays Mrs. Claus to his Father Christmas, with Laura so many laughs and so many heart-to-hearts. It was just Bell Bundy (“Hart of Dixie”) as their daughter, who brings great.” her unsuspecting beau (Jesse Hutch) to the North Pole to meet the parents. Overall, Gross has been staying quite active professionally ... continuing the “Tremors” horror-movie franchise as “ “I’m 6 feet, 3 inches and 180 pounds, so I thought, ‘This survivalist Burt Gummer in direct-to-video sequels, guest- does not make sense,’ ” the amiable Gross allows of his starring with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin on ’s “Grace casting in the film. “Obviously, I knew it was ‘gimmick’ and Frankie,” playing a recurring part on the Canadian casting – so to speak – with Meredith and myself, and that show “The Stanley Dynamic,” and co-producing and was a good place to begin. I could see her as Mrs. Claus, appearing in the Internet series “Carbon Dating” (all of but not so much me as Mr. Claus. I didn’t get it, but I read it which he reports on regularly on his Facebook page). and saw it was sort of a straightforward Santa Claus, then I talked with the producers and realized they were going to As familiar as he is to viewers, Gross had hoped to go with the full-on body padding and so forth.” surprise them in his new turn as Santa: “At one point, I said, ‘I kind of wish you wouldn’t put my name at the Gross particularly appreciated having “a beautiful beginning.’ I would love for people to say, ‘Who is that?’ But mustache and beard, and they spared no expense on deals are made, and now it’s done. I thought it would be that. It really helps to make this work, I think.” So does the far more fun if you didn’t see it in the opening titles. I love existing spirit between Gross and Baxter, who have made teasing people.” other holiday movies together (and also share the same birthdate, June 21), and he says the time they spent on “Becoming Santa” was “an absolute delight for me. Click or tap on icon for more! December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 17 S SPORTS

ARMY-NAVY Army-Navy game decides winner of Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy

STORY ON NEXT PAGE FULL NAME: Commander-in-Chief’s HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 2 feet, PRESENTED BY: President Barack Trophy 5 inches/170-pounds Obama

BORN: 1972 RIVALRY TEAMS: Air Force Falcons, 2014 WINNER: Air Force Army Black Knights and Navy BIRTHPLACE: Washington, D.C. Midshipmen NUMBER OF WINS: Air Force, 20; Navy, 17; Army, 6

Page 18 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 SPORTS S

BY DAN LADD When it comes to the annual Army-Navy game, it’s not always about the players as much as it is about nostalgia, patriotism and quite often, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. The Navy Midshipmen have a shot to reclaim the coveted trophy when they and the Army Black Knights meet for the 116th time in on Saturday, Dec. 12, on CBS.

Certainly, there will be some attention paid to Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, and the likely bowl-game bound Midshipmen who are enjoying a 13-year winning streak in the annual contest. Navy has the upper hand in this season’s three-way military academy competition, having handily beaten Air Force. A victory over Army will land the trophy back in their possession.

The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy was first presented by President Richard Nixon in 1972 when the three-team rivalry was established between Army, Navy and the Air Force Falcons. Historically, however, it has been the Army-Navy game that captures America’s attention and remains one of the biggest rivalries in sports.

One of the most memorable games was prior to the creation of the trophy and helped America begin the healing process after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. That year it was rescheduled and was eventually played on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day.

In that historic game, quarterback Roger Staubach and Navy held on for a 21-15 victory. The Midshipmen finished that season No. 2 overall. Staubach won the Heisman Trophy that season, and eventually served with the Navy in Vietnam, and of course, went on to a storied NFL career.

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 19 MOVIES M JAY BOBBIN'S THEATRICAL MOVIE REVIEW REVIEW

DANIEL CRAIG’S JAMES BOND MEETS ‘SPECTRE’

The best thing about “SPECTRE”? Daniel Craig is still James Bond. And it’s a delight that such new series regulars as Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw (alias M and Q, respectively) The worst thing about “SPECTRE”? It spends a little too have sufficient screen time. Sadly, however, Naomie much time looking backward than forward, as “Skyfall” Harris gets less to do than in “Skyfall” as the resourceful did. Moneypenny.

Longtime Bond fans (such as yours truly) may be a little Director Sam Mendes also is back from “Skyfall,” and he too critical of these movies, but too often, “SPECTRE” again furnishes solid action sequences starting with a goes by the numbers: a vicious train fight here, an whopper in and above Mexico City. A frantic car chase Aston-Martin car there. Still, great pleasure remains through the (surprisingly) empty streets of Rome, pitting in seeing Craig embody Bond, now pursuing the Bond against a vicious and silent killer (Dave Bautista), enemy organization that the star’s rebooted Agent 007 also is a highlight. Kudos, too, to Thomas Newman for encounters for the first time. another excellent music score that partially draws upon past Bond themes, some of them his own from the It’s run by Christoph Waltz’s character, who shares a preceding film. In fact, there are quite a few references past with Bond that has made them brothers of sorts. overall to earlier 007 capers. Ultimately, though, the central bad guy turns out to be someone the 007 faithful have known very well for a long At nearly 2-1/2 hours, “SPECTRE” certainly pours on time. a lot ... maybe more than necessary, which is a feeling generated only when the result doesn’t jell completely. The main women Bond gets involved with in “SPECTRE” All the expected pieces are here, it’s just a matter of how have ties to his enemies: Lea Seydoux plays the smoothly they are (or aren’t) assembled. daughter of his reappearing foe Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) and is the main love interest, and Monica Just about any James Bond movie is reason for devotees Bellucci – notably a more mature fling for our hero – to celebrate, but after the heights of “Skyfall,” “SPECTRE” plays, albeit briefly, a criminal’s widow. may well leave them only moderately shaken and stirred.

Page 20 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 MOVIES JAY BOBBIN'S MOVIE REVIEW M MOVIES TO WATCH

“ANT-MAN” One of the more entertaining adventures to come out of the Marvel universe lately, this tale has the bounty of special effects one would expect, but also an extremely likable performance by Paul Rudd) as a ne’er- do-well thief who unwittingly steals a suit designed by a scientist (Michael Douglas) ... which shrinks the crook down to the size of a you-know-what. He then uses it to oppose an enemy (Corey Stoll, “House of Cards”) who’s applying the technology for his own sinister purposes. Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”), Bobby Cannavale and Michael Pena also star for director Peyton Reed (“Bring It On”) and make their own marks amid the impressively fantastical visuals. DVD extra: deleted scene. DVD ››› (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and Top Pick On Demand)

Pictured: Paul Rudd

UPCOMING DVD RELEASES Coming Soon on DVD...

“MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH “TED 2” (Dec. 15): The talking TRIALS” (Dec. 15): In the sequel, teddy bear (voiced by Seth the Gladers find new hurdles in MacFarlane) runs into trouble in opposing the organization WCKD; becoming an adoptive parent; star Dylan O’Brien returns. Mark Wahlberg also returns. (PG-13: AS, P, V) (R and unrated versions: AS, P)

“FANTASTIC FOUR” (Dec. 15): “THE PERFECT GUY” (Dec. Miles Teller and Kate Mara are 29): A woman (Sanaa Lathan) among those playing the latest comes to regret getting involved screen incarnations of the Marvel with a stranger (Michael Ealy) Comics characters. (PG-13: P, V) who begins stalking her; Morris Chestnut also stars. (PG-13: AS, P, V) “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION” (Dec. 15): Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is an “A WALK IN THE WOODS” agent without an agency after the (Dec. 29): A travel writer (Robert CIA shuts down his team. (PG-13: Redford) tackles the Appalachian AS, P, V) Trail with a very dissimilar friend (Nick Nolte). (R: AS, P) Pictured: Dylan O’Brien

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 21 S FAVORITE SHOWS

Lily Aldridge in “The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show”

Neil Patrick Harris in Eva Longoria stars in Gabe Rygaard in “Mat Franco’s Got “Ax Men” “Telenovela” Magic”

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 9 p.m. on HISTORY 10 p.m. on NBC 10 p.m. on CBS Ax Men Telenovela The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show In a new episode called “Life & Eva Longoria spoofs a whole genre Sure, Santa is a sign of the season Limb,” Gabe Rygaard takes on the of television — and, in some ways, ... but so is this yearly event that toughest challenge of his career her own former show “Desperate combines models and music. After as he struggles to keep his family Housewives” — by returning to series traveling to London last year, the operation afloat without Craig, his work with this new sitcom, getting special returns stateside to New York, dad. Papac Alaska goes to a remote, a two-episode preview here before where veterans Lily Aldridge and mountainous island to tackle the its official premiere in January. The Adriana Lima are among those joining biggest job in the company’s history, actress plays ... well, an actress on a new “Angels” such as Taylor Hill and while Greg Chapman seeks funding to Spanish-language soap opera, and Martha Hunt in styling on the runway start on a quest to find a lost logging the complications she faces include and offering comments on the “pink train. The Swampman finds himself in her ex-husband (Jencarlos Canela), carpet.” As for the tunes this time, over his head as a tackles a daunting newly hired as her on-camera love Ellie Goulding, Selena Gomez and job for a client with very deep pockets. interest. Amaury Nolasco also stars. The Weeknd are the performers. New New New continued on next page

Page 22 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote December 6 - 12, 2015 FAVORITE SHOWS S WEDNESDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 8 p.m. on NBC 8:31 p.m. on ABC 9 p.m. on CBS Mat Franco’s Got Magic Dr. Ken Movie: The Flight Before Christmas The Season 9 winner of Allison (Suzy Nakamura) is thrilled to A flying squirrel shows a young “America’s Got Talent” is seen be going to Hawaii for the holidays, reindeer — who believes his long-lost readying his Las Vegas act, with but there’s one problem: Ken (Ken father was part of Santa’s airborne encouragement from a bounty of Jeong) neglected to request those sleigh team — how to soar into the sky celebrities, in this two-hour special. vacation days. Without letting on to in this surprisingly dark, emotionally Neil Patrick Harris, , that, he decides to turn to “The Master complex animated special from Finland. music’s Jason Mraz, the New Scheduler” — also the title of this new The voice cast includes Emma Roberts England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski episode — at the office to help him out. (“Scream Queens”) and “Saturday Night and fellow magicians Penn & Teller No one ever has seen that individual, Live” alum Norm Macdonald. make appearances as Franco so Ken only can hope he’s appealing to stops in various locales while the right person. Tisha Campbell-Martin trekking from his Rhode Island and Dave Foley also star. New home to Vegas.

10 p.m. on FOOD Celebrity Food Fight Celebrity foodies and chefs pair up and face off in a series of fast- paced food games in this funny and spirited holiday special hosted by Andy Richter. Each dinner course involves a new round of competition, with challenges ranging from blind taste-testing to recipes from both real and fictional celebrity cookbooks. They’re all designed to test the skills and knowledge of all the participants. Series Premiere New

THURSDAY 8 p.m. on FOX Bones The mystery series’ fall finale Suzy Nakamura stars in “The Flight Before combines two new episodes, “Dr. Ken” Christmas” starting with “The Cowboy in the Contest,” which takes Brennan and Booth (Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz) to a Western- themed shooting contest to solve a murder. Then, the slaying of a police officer teams Booth with a behavioral analyst (guest star Sara Rue) for the consequent probe in “The Doom in the Boom.” Guest stars also include Eddie Shin and Pej Vahdat. TJ Thyne and Michaela Conlin also star. New

“Bones”

December 6 - 12, 2015 YOUR TV LINK Courtesy of Gracenote Page 23