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Holiday TV Programming Begins In Earnest

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

TAMPA - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on television as the onslaught of holiday programming gets under way in earnest this week with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, "Miracle on 34th Street" and "White Christmas."

ABC Family hasn't launched its annual "25 Days of Christmas" yet, but the "Countdown to the 25 Days of Christmas" has started so there's something every night on this network.

Tonight for example, ABC Family is showing "Sons of Mistletoe" at 7 p.m., a 2001 holiday film starring Roma Downey as a cold-hearted woman who plans to shutdown a boy's home at Christmas. Following at 9 p.m. is "Christmas List," a 1997 movie with Mimi Rogers as a lonely perfume saleswoman whose "wish list" starts coming true.

The 82 annual Macy's parade gets under way at 9 a.m. Thursday on NBC with Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira and Al Roker calling the action (look for the Awesome Second Time Arounders marching band from St. Petersburg).

At 2 p.m. Thursday, kick back and let the turkey digest while watching NBC's annual showing of the original 1947 "Miracle on 34th Street," with Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara.

The 1954 Bing Crosby classic "White Christmas" plays at 9 p.m. Saturday on Lifetime. Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen co-star.

A new Christmas movie, "Midnight and Mistletoe," debuts at 9 p.m. Saturday on Hallmark. Tom Arnold stars as the owner of Santaville, a holiday-themed attraction struggling to stay open.

"The Santa Clause," the 1995 Tim Allen comedy, is set for 7:15 p.m. Saturday on TBS. And that's just a smattering of the TV offerings this season.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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