Posted on: Monday, November 20, 2006
Thanksgiving holiday stuffed with TV shows
By MIKE HUGHES
Gannett News Service
The basics of Thanksgiving — food, family, friends — are fine for a while.
Still, this is an all-day event, a four-day one for some people. That leaves a lot of extra time.
And for that, of course, we have television.
The networks shovel in parades and football and more. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" has its usual epic size. That includes 1,200 cheerleaders or dancers, 800 clowns, 48 giant decorative balloons, 33 floats and a dozen character balloons. It also includes performers. Riding those floats are Sarah McLachlan, Gloria Estefan, Barry Manilow, Hall & Oates, Chris Brown, Ciara, Cheyenne, Miley Cyrus and more, including the cast of the Disney Channel's "High School Musical." It airs Thursday morning on NBC, with Meredith Vieira as co-host for the first time with Matt Lauer and Al Roker. On CBS: Hannah Storm and Dave Price co-host.
Here are some highlights. We'll focus on Thanksgiving, but include key events on either side. Keep in mind air dates are subject to change, and check daily listings for TV air times:
MUSIC
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic" has songs richly filmed by "Chicago" director Rob Marshall. That includes Bennett's duets with Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Michael Buble, Diana Krall and more. (airs 7 p.m. tomorrow, NBC)
"Madonna: The True Confessions Tour — Live from London" is a big-scale concert that was filmed in London's Wembley Stadium. (7 p.m. Wednesday, NBC)
"Bono and the Edge: Off the Record" has the U2 leaders talking to Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. (Friday, HBO)
MARATHONS
"JoJo's Circus" cartoons. (Thursday, Disney Channel)
"The Closer," the intense detective show, reruns its season. (Thursday, TNT)
"Forensic Files," the nonfiction crime-solver show. (Thursday; continues for most of Thursday and Friday, Court TV)
"Eureka" starts and ends with its witty, two-hour pilot film. In between, it reruns the whole season. (Thursday, Sci Fi Channel)
"Monk," the clever detective show. (Sunday, USA Network)
NEW MOVIES
"March of the Penguins," the 2005 film that won the Academy Award for best documentary feature, has its TV debut along with a new short. (Saturday, Hallmark Channel)
"Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front" is the third film in the "American Girl" series. Maya Ritter, a 13-year-old Canadian, plays a girl whose dad has gone to World War II. Molly Ringwald plays her mom. (Sunday, Disney Channel)
"Candles on Bay Street" is the latest "Hallmark Hall of Fame" film. Alicia Silverstone gives a glowing performance as a young mom returning to her hometown. (8 p.m. Sunday, CBS)
MORE MOVIES
Several family-type films air Wednesday. They are:
"Cheaper By the Dozen" (2003), 7 p.m. on Fox.
"Garfield: The Movie" (2004) on FX.
"Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993) on ABC Family.
"Beethoven's 4th" (2001), Disney Channel.
On Thursday:
"Babe" (1995) is a family delight about a pig determined to herd sheep, 7 p.m. on NBC.
More family films Friday:
"The Family Man" (2000), 7 p.m. on NBC.
"Shrek 2" (2004), 7 p.m. on ABC.
"Bruce Almighty" (2003), 7 p.m. on Fox.
"Kangaroo Jack" (2003) on Nickelodeon.
"The Christmas List" (1997) on ABC Family.
"High School Musical" on the Disney Channel.
OTHER
"The National Dog Show." John O'Hurley again hosts. (Thursday, NBC)
"Deal or No Deal" has a two-hour special, complete with turkeys and models bearing pumpkin pies. (7 p.m. Thursday, NBC)
"The Real Match Game Story: Behind the Blanks" includes interviews with Richard Dawson, Betty White, the late Gene Rayburn and more. (Sunday, Game Show Network)
| | |
|
|
