John Kiesewetter’s 2018 Holiday Program Guide Brought to you by Cincinnati Public Radio Also look for John Kiesewetter’s Media Beat blog at wvxu.org (This list is limited mostly to network prime-time shows available throughout the US. Many repeat during the day or overnight. I can’t list ALL channels, so check on-screen/online guides for shows not making my list; daytime or afternoon repeats; or last-minute schedule changes.) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Herd for the Holidays (3 p.m., Ch 19 Fox): Colin Cowherd looks at the year in sports. The Christmas Wish (4 p.m., Ch 25.3 Get TV): A man (Neil Patrick Harris) searches for the woman named in his grandfather’s diary. With Debbie Reynolds. The Santa Clause (4:50 p.m., Freeform): A divorced dad (Tim Allen) becomes Santa. Holiday Greetings from the Ed Sullivan Show (6 p.m., Ch 5.2 MeTV): With Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis, Bob Newhart, Kermit the Frog, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 1992. A Christmas Story The Kid Who Loved Christmas Too Much (6 p.m., Ch 25.3 Get TV): An orphan wants to spend Christmas with his adopted father. With Cicely Tyson, Michael Warren, Sammy Davis Jr. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (6:55 p.m., Freeform): Jack Frost (Martin Short) tries to prevent Christmas. A Shoe Addict’s Christmas (8 p.m., Hallmark): NEW. A grumpy employee (Candace Cameron Bure, Fuller House, A Christmas Detour) gets locked in a department store on Christmas Eve, where her guardian angel shows her ghosts of Christmases past, present and future. With Jean Smart. Love, Actually (8 p.m., TNT): Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson star as London residents search for love weeks before Christmas. Mrs. Scrooge (8.m., Ch 25.3 Get TV): Cicely Tyson as a modern Scrooge in 1997. The Truth About Christmas (9 p.m., Freeform): After meeting a toy store Santa, a political consultant (Kali Hawk, New Girl) can’t stop from boldly speaking the truth, which creates fiction with her boyfriend (Damon Dayoub,Stitchers ) a candidate for mayor. Holiday Inn (10 p.m., TCM): The 1942 movie about a song-and-dance man running a country inn, in which Bing Crosby first sang “White Christmas.” Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (11 p.m., Ch 25.3 Get TV): Christmas episode. Andy Williams Show (midnight, Ch 25.3 Get TV): Christmas episode. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26 Elf (7 p.m., AMC): An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family. The Nightmare Before Christmas (7:15 p.m., Freeform): The Pumpkin King (Danny Elfman) doesn’t understand Christmas. The Great Christmas Light Fight (8 p.m., Ch 9 ABC): NEW. Sixth season premiere for the holiday display competition judged by designers Carter Oosterhouse and Taniya Nayak. Christmastime In New Orleans (8 p.m., Ch 14): NEW. A festive holiday special showcases the music, sights and cuisine of New Orleans. Elf (9 p.m., AMC): An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family. Miracle on 34th Street (11 p.m., AMC): A girl (Natalie Wood) believes in Macy’s Santa (Edmund Gwenn) in 1947. White Christmas (1:15 a.m., AMC): Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye organize a World War II reunion and woo Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen in 1954. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 M*A*S*H (9 a.m., AMC): Hawkeye’s Christmas letter to his dad. Christmas in Connecticut (9:30 a.m., AMC): A writer (Barbara Stanwyck) arranges a fake family for herself in 1945. White Christmas (12 p.m., AMC): Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye organize a World War II reunion and woo Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen in 1954. Miracle on 34th Street (2:45 p.m., AMC): A girl (Natalie Wood) believes in Macy’s Santa (Edmund Gwenn) in 1947. The Nightmare Before Christmas (5:05 p.m., Freeform): The Pumpkin King (Danny Elfman) doesn’t understand Christmas. Paddington (6:45 p.m., Freeform): 2014 animated film about a young bear searching for a home in London. The Santa Clause 2 (7 p.m., AMC): Santa (Tim Allen) needs a bride. Mingle All The Way Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (8 p.m., Ch 12 CBS): Rudolph guides Santa’s sleigh after Hermey the elf and Yukon Cornelius tame the Abominable Snowman, help the Misfit Toys, and sing some classic songs in 1964 with the help of narrator Burl Ives. Despicable Me (8:50 p.m., Freeform): 2010 animated film about a villain who adopts three girls from an orphanage. The Santa Clause 2 (9:30 p.m., AMC): Santa (Tim Allen) needs a bride. Eight Crazy Nights (midnight, Freeform): Adam Sandler’s 2002 animated Hanukkah film about an alcoholic criminal ordered to do community service for an elderly basketball referee. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 The Nuttiest Nutcracker (9 a.m., AMC): The Nutcracker story told by vegetables voiced by Jim Belushi, Cheech Marin, Phyllis Diller. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (7 p.m., AMC): A Griswold family (Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo) Christmas. Christmas in Rockefeller Center (8 p.m., Ch 5 NBC): Live from New York City with Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (9:15 p.m., AMC): A Griswold family (Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo) Christmas. Disney’s A Christmas Carol (8:50 p.m., Freeform): 2009 animated film with voices by Jim Carrey, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes and Bob Hoskins. A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy (10 p.m., Ch 5 NBC): NEW. John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen star in their first holiday TV special featuring Legend, the Grammy winner from Springfield OH, performing songs from his new Christmas album. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Ice Age: The Meltdown (5 p.m., AMC): Manny, Sid and Diego head to higher ground. Disney’s A Christmas Carol (6:40 p.m., Freeform): 2009 animated film with voices by Jim Carrey, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes and Bob Hoskins. The Polar Express (7 p.m., AMC): A train conductor takes a boy to the North Pole. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (8 p.m., Ch 9 ABC): Olaf (voice of Josh Gad) suggests Christmas traditions for Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel). Christmastime In New Orleans (8 p.m., Ch 48): NEW. A festive holiday special showcases the music, sights and cuisine of New Orleans. Toy Story That Time Forgot (8:30 p.m., Ch 9 ABC): The toys fear new dinosaur toys. With voices by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles. The Santa Clause (8:50 p.m., Freeform): A divorced dad (Tim Allen) becomes Santa. The Polar Express (9 p.m., AMC): A train conductor takes a boy to the North Pole. Jingle All the Way 2 (midnight, Freeform): Larry the Cable Guy plans a redneck Christmas. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30 M*A*S*H (9 a.m., AMC): Father Mulcahy writes a Christmas letter to his sister, a nun, about his frustrations. M*A*S*H (9:30 a.m., AMC): Winchester fulfills a family Christmas tradition. Joyful Noise (2 p.m., AMC): Choir members (Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton) clash preparing for national competition in 2012. Christmas With the Kranks (4:35 p.m., Freeform): Elf A couple (Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis) celebrate Christmas at the last minute. The Santa Clause (6:40 p.m., Freeform): A divorced dad (Tim Allen) becomes Santa. Jingle All the Way (7 p.m., AMC): Dads (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad) fight over a Turbo Man toy. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (8:50 p.m., Freeform): Jack Frost (Martin Short) tries to prevent Christmas. Jingle All the Way (9 p.m., AMC): Dads (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad) fight over a Turbo Man toy. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (8:30 a.m., AMC): Frosty saves Rudolph from an evil wizard. Little Drummer Boy Book II (11 a.m., AMC): An orphaned drummer boy helps a man ring silver bells. Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1:45 p.m., AMC): A donkey leads the way to Bethlehem. Jack Frost (2:15 p.m., AMC): A dead man (Michael Keaton) returns as a snowman. Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (3:30 p.m., AMC): Frosty marries. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (4 p.m., AMC): Joel Grey narrates an animated version of Clement Moore’s poem. Love, Actually (5 p.m., TBS): Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson star as London residents search for love weeks before Christmas. The Year Without a Santa Claus (5:45 p.m., AMC): Disgusted Santa takes the year off. A Shoe Addict’s Christmas (6 p.m., Hallmark): A grumpy employee (Candace Cameron Bure, Fuller House, Journey Back To Christmas) gets locked in a department store on Christmas Eve, where her guardian angel shows her ghosts of Christmases past, present and future. With Jean Smart. NEW for 2018. Elf (7 p.m., AMC): An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family. Mingle All the Way (8 p.m., Hallmark): NEW. When the founder of a new networking app (Jen Lilley, Harvest Love, A Dash of Love, Days of Our Lives) to pair busy professionals together for events without any long-term romance tests her app, she starts falling in love with her match (Mason native Brant Daughtery, Pretty Little Liars, Dancing with the Stars). Disney Parks Presents A 25 Days Of Christmas Holiday Party (8 p.m., Ch 9 ABC): Jordan Fisher, Ruby Rose Turner and Dakota Lotus host musical performances by Gwen Stefani, Asher Angel and Meg Donnelly, and appearances by Disney Channel stars Booboo Stewart, Kylee Russell, Sadie Stanley and Sean Giambrone.