Programming Notes

Game of Thrones Season 7 premiere date announced through a prolonged Facebook Live stunt. Guess what? A bunch of people watched it too.

HBO held a Facebook Live publicity stunt today at 2pm ET for Game of Thrones Season 7. Sure, I love the show as much as anyone. However, I’d have called you damned foot if you’d told me yesterday that I’d be watching a block of ice melt today. For the announcement of a date. A date that I could peg with my eyes closed most likely. And, yet, there I was.

The event started in a stone room decorated in the Game of Thrones style. A block of ice sat on a small platform surrounded by those fire-bearing urns – the kind that Daenerys was so fond of knocking over. A blowtorch appeared just off the screen. Encased in the ice was the date no one knew we really needed all that badly. HBO instructed viewers to type “FIRE” to urge the fire along. Over the course of an hour, the event faded in and out. Many speculated that the production team freaked out over the duration of time. Who knew it would take that long to melt ice?

Cast members appeared and gave additional instructions. I left and rejoined, amazed at how long it took to actually melt ice. Amazed at the fact I was watching someone melt ice on Facebook Live. With cries of “DRACARYS,” another torch emerged, hopefully speeding the effect. All in all, it took around 1 hour 15 minutes to reveal the date: July 16, 2017.

You have to hand it to HBO, though. They know how to stoke publicity for their shows. At one point, 150,000 people were simultaneously watching, chanting, laughing, and bemoaning their lost time. Still, they watched, and so did I.

Here’s the official Game of Thrones Season 7 teaser courtesy of HBO via Facebook.

FX release dates

FX is giving HBO a run for its money these last few seasons, so any announcement about the network is sure to gain attention. On Thursday afternoon, the network announced some key release dates for some Ryan Murphy properties as well as some new favorites at their Winter Television Critics Association (TCA) presentation. Will this crop of shows continue FX’s awards presence in the next year?

  • The Americans. now in its fifth season, will debut on March 7. The drama finally gained major awards contention this year at the Emmys and Golden Globes, but will all this scary political news turn people off? Surely, the rabid fans are dying for its return.
  • One of the networks’ most popular series, American Horror Story, has been renewed for 2 more years. Creator Ryan Murphy detailed that he wanted to do a crossover of seasons 1 and 3 (Murder House and Coven), but who knows how that will even work. Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters are set to return, but there are no details yet–of course.
  • In other Ryan Murphy news, American Crime Story: Katrina will not premiere until 2018. That delay backs it into the third planned season dedicated to the death of Gianni Versace. In other news, Lady Gaga will definitely not be playing Donatella.
  • Archer, FX’s Emmy-winning animated series, is switching to FXX for the eighth season, and it will premiere on April 5. The show was renewed for 3 more seasons, so it’s not going anywhere.
  • Fans of Atlanta will be disappointed to learn that Donald Glover’s Atlanta will not be returning until 2018. Creator and star Donald Glover, who picked up a Golden Globe this past weekend, will be too busy filming a small independent Han Solo spin-off. Netflix’s Master of None won big at the Globes last year, and they took a year off after the first season. At least they are doing it right.
  • By far the most exciting news that came out was the release date for Murphy’s camp-tastic Hollywood limited series, Feud: Bette and Joan. The gaygasm will debut on March 5, and I’m pretty sure the world is dying for a trailer. The series stars Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Sarah Paulson (natch), Kathy Bates, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alfred Molina, and Jackie Hoffman.Your move HBO.

Game of Thrones return

Winter isn’t coming quite as soon as everyone thought. It’s looking more like summer for the seventh season of HBO’s epic drama Game of Thrones. HBO announced on Monday that Game of Thrones won’t return until the summer of 2017. Let’s hope that the news of 23 Emmy nominations will satiate fans for an entire calendar year. Not only with it take a while to get here, but the final 2 seasons will be broken up into two 7-episode sessions. Surely this is more devastating than The Red Wedding.

Casey Bloys, president of HBO programming, explained that the release date shift (pushed back from the usual April) is because of the shooting schedule:

“Now that winter has arrived on Game of Thrones, executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss felt that the storylines of the next season would be better served by starting production a little later than usual, when the weather is changing. Instead of the show’s traditional spring debut, we’re moving the debut to summer to accommodate the shooting schedule.”

Game of Thrones usually wins Emmys by the boatload, but this new season will miss out on the eligibility window for next year. The current rules state that a show needs to have aired by May 31 in order to be in contention. Does this mean that something that’s been in the Thrones shadow will be able to celebrate for one year? Attention Better Call Saul lovers and The Americans fanatics! Your time is now!

Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men did something similar for its final few seasons. The final seventh season was broken up into two 7-episode blocks, but, unlike Thrones, Mad Men debuted both parts in April.

How does this change make you feel? Are you going to re-binge all the episodes in mourning of the pushed back premiere date? Does it give Thrones agnostics (like myself) finally a chance to catch up on a series on its way out?

Renewals and fall premieres

Here are a few notes on upcoming renewals and fall premieres for some high profile and Emmy-nominated Showtime and Starz! series. The biggest news thus far is the confirmation that Homeland will indeed sit out the 2016 television season. Needing additional time in the conceptual stage, Showtime’s former Drama Series Emmy winner will debut in January 2107. The sixth season will reportedly focus on the aftermath of a U.S. Presidential election. It will also be renewed for a seventh and eighth season under show runner Alex Gansa and star Claire Danes.

Also in the renewals and fall premieres category are the premiere dates for Showtime’s big fall tv series. Masters of Sex season four will debut September 11. Shameless season seven will premiere October 2. Finally, The Affair will return for a third season on November 20 after Masters of Sex wraps up.

Over on Starz!, the beloved costume drama Outlander has been renewed for seasons three and four. Season two aired this spring and was broadly embraced by critics, receiving a 98% percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Season three will center around Diana Gabaldon’s Voyager with season four based on Drums of Autumn.

Stay tuned to AwardsDaily TV for more announcements on renewals and fall premieres!

Supergirl

Supergirl moves to The CW and other big Fall moves

Update: Additional series cancellations and orders included below…

Let’s hope that Supergirl Kara Danvers can find some friends to help her move.

Even though many people vocalized that CBS’ Supergirl felt more like a show for The CW (I believe Megan mentioned that a few times on the podcast), I’m not sure how many people actually thought it would move there! Cancellation seemed a lot more possible for the struggling superhero drama (ratings dropped considerably after it debuted last fall), but Entertainment Weekly and other outlets are confirming Supergirl‘s move to a more tween-friendly network. Will this harm the show’s cred even further?

Even though Supergirl is hiring a U-Haul, the show is getting a second season! The highly-publicized crossover with The Flash probably solidified its move, and the show might be moving its production to Vancouver (where the other shows are filmed). This last bit has yet to be confirmed, however.

Will this change the number of episodes in the sophomore season? How will the visual effects look? What’s going to happen to Calista Flockhart?!?!

Aside from Supergirl, here are some other major developments announced today:

  • ABC’s Castle is finally cancelled after lead Stana Katic left the show at the end of season eight. Initial rumors had Nathan Fillion returning without his co-star. Honestly, this felt wrong to even casual fans of the series. Here’s hoping the two stars are moving to bigger and better things.
  • ABC cancelled Marvel’s Agent Carter starring Hayley Atwell. This is hardly a surprise given the struggling ratings for the period niche show. The good news is that Atwell’s new series, Conviction in which she stars as a lawyer and former First Daughter, has been greenlit.
  • ABC dumped two more struggling dramas and surprisingly renewed a few others. Nashville and The Family are headed for the trash heap while The Catch (Megan can rejoice and sharpen her hate-watching skills), the Emmy-winning American Crime, and comedy The Real O’Neals will all return. It will also produce another Shondaland project called Still Star-Crossed which marks Shonda Rhimes’s first foray into period drama. Update: Apparently Lionsgate is shopping Nashville around after the shocking ABC cancellation. Hulu and CMT are the most frequently mentioned options. Can we just start the “Free Connie Britton” campaign right now?
  • CSI: Cyber, the unfortunate source of a steady paycheck for brilliant Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette, has been cancelled. The cancellation also marks the end of the entire CSI series, a billion-dollar property for the Eye.
  • Fans of The Good Wife have some cheering to do. Emmy-winner Christine Baranski is in negotiation to return in a spin-off focusing on her character Diane Lockhart. Apparently, this new series will air on CBS All Access rather than the traditional network. If approved, it would join another Star Trek iteration previously announced.
  • FOX has cancelled two of its more promising comedies: The Grinder and GrandfatheredThe Grinder is especially surprising given some recent awards heat that stars Rob Lowe and Fred Savage garnered.
  • The ABC bloodbath continues with The Muppets, cancelled after a single season. The troubled series saw a change in show runner midseason, but that didn’t help. Cue Miss Piggy giving ABC brass a karate slap.
  • NBC has cancelled a slew of newer shows including Game of Silence, HeartbeatCrowded, and Eva Longoria’s Telenovela. It is, however, picking up two new comedies: Great News from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock and Marlon from Marlon Wayans. No doubt NBC is still smarting over turning down Fey/Carlock’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt a few years ago.
  • Netflix is apparently moving forward with a second season of its Will Arnett dramedy Flaked. That’s all I have to say about that.
  • CBS is moving forward with series orders for a host of new dramas and comedies. The new dramatic properties include a TV version of Training DayBull (inspired by Dr. Phil), Pure Genius, and a MacGyver reboot. The comedies include Matt LeBlanc’s Man with a Plan, the workplace comedy The Great Indoors, and Kevin Can Wait, a return to television for Kevin James.

John Williams

Oscar-winning composer John Williams will receive the 44th AFI Life Achievement Award

Imagine that infamous scrolling Star Wars opening text displaying silently. Think of Superman taking flight without that tell-tale march. Consider Indiana Jones fighting Nazis to the expertly choreographed sounds of whip cracks and gunshots. Try and reimagine Close Encounters of the Third Kind without its nearly unparalleled blend of visual and soundtrack. Or even Hedwig flying through Hogwarts with only the wind to accompany her.

And perhaps, most famously, try and imagine that iconic Jaws fin without the six basses, eight celli, four trombones, and tuba.

These film soundtracks, among dozens of others, help construct the very fiber of great, timeless cinema, and we have Oscar-winning composer John Williams to thank for them. In recognition of his extreme talent, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that Steven Spielberg will present Williams with the 44th AFI Life Achievement Award. To continue the honor, TNT will present the AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to John Williams, an hour-long special featuring clips from his most famous scores as well as presentations from the private tribute scheduled for the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on June 9.

The special comes at a strange time for me as I’ve recently started revisiting the 84-year-old Williams’s work, rediscovering not only the famous scores but also the lesser known but equally great work like The Sugarland Express. I’d come to a strange realization – that I have physical anxiety over his mortality. I can’t imagine entering another movie theater with the knowledge that I would no longer hear a new score of his. The thought has caused me some serious heartache.

So now is the perfect time to celebrate his work as the AFI recognizes its first (and long overdue) composer. I mean how is it possible that a man with 50 Oscar nominations (five wins), six Emmy nominations (three wins), 25 Golden Globe nominations (four wins), 65 Grammy nominations (22 wins), and seven BAFTAs could possibly feel under appreciated?

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to John Williams airs on June 15 at 10pm ET on TNT.

The Night Of

Buzz is high on HBO’s new miniseries The Night Of starring John Turturro

With its Show Me a Hero sure to feature heavily in the 2016 Limited Series Emmy race, here comes HBO with yet another high pedigree mini series. The network’s The Night Of will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 22 in the festival’s new Tribeca Tune In series. The screening will be followed by post-screening Q&A featuring creators and stars.

The Night Of is the brainchild of writer Richard Price (ClockersFreedomland, five episodes of The Wire) and Oscar-winner Steve Zaillian, writer of Schindler’s List and Gangs of New York. The mini series stars John Turturro (Barton Fink) and Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler). It deals with a complex New York City murder case that has significant cultural and political overtones. Following the inspiration of such true-crime hits as The JinxMaking a Murderer and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime StoryThe Night Of will follow police investigations, the legal process, and imprisonment at Rikers Island.

The cast also includes Michael Kenneth Williams, Bill Camp, Glenne Headly, Ben Shenkman, Chip Zien, and Max Casella among others.

The Tribeca Tune In program is the festival’s response to the growing popularity of television-specific programming airing in major film festivals. Both South By Southwest and the Toronto International Film Festival have already established sections for television programming to much success. SXSW was the launch platform for HBO’s Girls thanks to its close relationship with star Lena Dunham. Check the Tribeca  Film Festival official site for a complete list of the television content showing at the festival.

The Night Of will premiere this summer on HBO. It is unlikely to air in the 2016 eligibility window as that would put it in direct competition with HBO’s own Show Me a Hero and dozens of other similarly high profile programs.

Here is the schedule for ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas, starting (naturally) on December 1. Highlights include Rankin-Bass favorites like The Year Without a Santa Claus and Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July as well as newer time-honored traditions like Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band ChristmasMickey’s Christmas Carol, and Elf. Things to miss include Fred ClausDesperately Seeking Santa (because I have no idea), and the horrid Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas live-action remake.

Behold, The Christmas goodness!

Dec. 1

7:00 a.m. — The Preacher’s Wife
11:00 a.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
1:00 p.m. — Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
2:30 p.m. — The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
3:30 p.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
4:00 p.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
6:00 p.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
7:00 p.m. — The Polar Express
9:00 p.m. — Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
12:00 a.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
1:00 a.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year

 

Dec. 2
7:00 a.m. — The Christmas Shoes
9:00 a.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
11:00 a.m. — Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
12:30 p.m. — A Miser Brothers’ Christmas
1:30 p.m. — Jack Frost
2:30 p.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
3:30 p.m. — Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
6:00 p.m. — Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
8:45 p.m. — The Santa Clause
12:00 a.m. — Snow

 

Dec. 3
7:00 a.m. — Christmas in Boston
9:00 a.m. — Mickey’s Christmas Carol
11:00 a.m. — Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
1:45 p.m. — I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
4:00 p.m. — Jack Frost
6:00 p.m. — The Santa Clause
8:15 p.m. — Fred Claus
12:00 a.m. — Snow 2: Brain Freeze

 

Dec. 4
7:00 a.m. — Meet the Santas
9:00 a.m. — The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow
11:00 a.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
12:00 p.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
2:00 p.m. — Jack Frost
4:00 p.m. — I’ll Be Home For Christmas
6:00 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
7:00 p.m. — Fred Claus
9:30 p.m. — Elf
11:50 p.m. — Prancer

 

Dec. 5
7:00 a.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
8:00 a.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
10:00 a.m. — I’ll Be Home For Christmas
12:15 p.m. — Prancer
3:00 p.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
4:00 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
5:00 p.m. — The Polar Express
7:15 p.m. — Elf
9:30 p.m. — Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
12:30 a.m. — Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

 

Dec. 6
7:00 a.m. — A Very Brady Christmas
9:00 a.m. — Home Alone: The Holiday Heist
11:00 a.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
12:00 p.m. — The Little Drummer Boy
12:30 p.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
4:45 p.m. — Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
6:30 p.m. — Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
10:00 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

 

Dec. 7
7:00 a.m. — Home Alone: The Holiday Heist
9:00 a.m. — The Little Drummer Boy
11:00 a.m. — Three Days
1:00 p.m. — Love Actually
4:00 p.m. — Fred Claus
6:30 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
8:45 p.m. — The Santa Clause
12:00 a.m. — The Mistle-Tones

 

Dec. 8
7:00 a.m. — Fred Claus
11:00 a.m. — Secret Santa
1:00 p.m. — The Mistle-Tones
3:00 p.m. — Pinocchio’s Christmas
4:00 p.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
6:00 p.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
6:30 p.m. — The Santa Clause
8:45 p.m. — The Polar Express
12:00 a.m. — Snowglobe

 

Dec. 9
7:00 a.m. — 12 Dates of Christmas
9:00 a.m. — The Little Drummer Boy Book II
11:00 a.m. — Pinocchio’s Christmas
12:10 p.m. — Prancer
2:20 p.m. — Snowglobe
4:30 p.m. — Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
11:00 a.m. — Mickey’s Christmas Carol
6:30 p.m. — The Polar Express
8:45 p.m. — Elf
12:00 a.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
1:00 a.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year

 

Dec. 10
7:00 a.m. — Prancer
11:00 a.m. — Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
11:30 a.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
12:00 p.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
2:00 p.m. — Mickey’s Christmas Carol
2:30 p.m. — Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
4:00 p.m. — The Little Drummer Boy
4:30 p.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
5:30 p.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
6:30 p.m. — Elf
8:45 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
12:00 a.m. — Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe

 

Dec. 11
7:00 a.m. — Desperately Seeking Santa
9:00 a.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
11:00 a.m. — Holiday in Handcuffs
1:00 p.m. — The Family Man
4:00 p.m. — Fred Claus
6:45 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
9:00 p.m. — Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
12:00 a.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
1:00 a.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus

 

Dec. 12
7:00 a.m. — Jack Frost
8:00 a.m. — Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
9:45 a.m. — Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
11:30 a.m. — The Bells of Fraggle Rock
12:15 p.m. — Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
1:20 p.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
2:30 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
3:30 p.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
4:00 p.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
6:00 p.m. — Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
9:00 p.m. — Elf
11:15 p.m. — Fred Claus

 

Dec. 13
7:00 a.m. — Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
8:45 a.m. — Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
10:25 a.m. — The Bells of Fraggle Rock
11:05 p.m. — Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
2:15 p.m. — Elf
4:30 p.m. — Toy Story
6:45 p.m. — Toy Story 2
9:00 p.m. — Toy Story That Time Forgot
9:30 p.m. — Toy Story 3

 

Dec. 14
7:00 a.m. — Mr. Saint Nick
9:00 a.m. — ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
11:00 a.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
11:30 a.m. — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2:00 p.m. — Toy Story
4:00 p.m. — Toy Story 2
6:00 p.m. — Toy Story That Time Forgot
6:30 p.m. — Toy Story 3
8:45 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12:00 a.m. — Snow

 

Dec. 15
7:00 a.m. — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
11:00 a.m. — Desperately Seeking Santa
1:00 p.m. — Santa Baby
3:00 p.m. — Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
5:00 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
6:00 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
8:15 p.m. — Elf
10:30 p.m. — The Little Drummer Boy
12:00 a.m. — Snow 2: Brain Freeze

 

Dec. 16
7:00 a.m. — Three Days
9:00 a.m. — The Little Drummer Boy
11:00 a.m. — The Family Man
2:00 p.m. — Christmas in Boston
4:00 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
5:00 p.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
6:00 p.m. — Elf
8:15 p.m. — The Polar Express
10:30 p.m. — Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
12:00 a.m. — Desperately Seeking Santa

 

Dec. 17
7:00 a.m. — The Family Man
10:15 a.m. — Love Actually
1:30 p.m. — The Preacher’s Wife
4:15 p.m. — Snow
6:30 p.m. — The Polar Express
8:45 p.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
12:00 a.m. — Holiday

 

Dec. 18
7:00 a.m. — The Preacher’s Wife
9:45 a.m. — Christmas Cupid
12:00 p.m. — The Mistle-Tones
2:00 p.m. — Snow 2: Brain Freeze
4:15 p.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
6:30 p.m. — Disney’s Prep & Landing
7:00 p.m. — Disney’s Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
7:30 p.m. — The Santa Clause
9:45 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12:00 a.m. — Three Days

 

Dec. 19
7:00 a.m. — Prancer
9:30 a.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
10:30 a.m. — Jack Frost
12:30 p.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
2:30 p.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
3:00 p.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
4:05 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
5:15 p.m. — The Santa Clause
7:30 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
9:45 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
12:00 a.m. — Holiday in Handcuffs

 

Dec. 20
7:00 a.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
8:00 a.m. — Jack Frost
10:00 a.m. — Prancer
12:45 p.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
3:00 p.m. — Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:45 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
7:00 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
9:15 p.m. — Elf
11:30 p.m. — Mickey’s Christmas Carol

 

Dec. 21
7:00 a.m. — Prancer
9:00 a.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
11:15 a.m. — Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
1:00 p.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
2:00 p.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
2:30 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
4:30 p.m. — Snowglobe
6:30 p.m. — Elf
8:45 p.m. — The Santa Clause
12:00 a.m. — Jack Frost

 

Dec. 22
7:00 a.m. — Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
8:00 a.m. — 12 Dates of Christmas
10:00 a.m. — Holidaze
12:00 p.m. — Christmas Cupid
2:15 p.m. — Jack Frost
4:30 p.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus
5:30 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
6:30 p.m. — The Santa Clause
8:45 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
12:00 a.m. — Holiday in Handcuffs

 

Dec. 23
7:00 a.m. — The Mistle-Tones
9:00 a.m. — Holiday in Handcuffs
11:00 a.m. — Santa Baby
1:00 p.m. — Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
3:15 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
4:15 p.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
6:30 p.m. — Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
7:00 p.m. — Mickey’s Christmas Carol
7:30 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
9:45 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
12:00 a.m. — Home Alone: The Holiday Heist

 

Dec. 24
7:00 a.m. — Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
9:00 a.m. — The Little Drummer Boy
11:00 a.m. — Home Alone: The Holiday Heist
1:00 p.m. — Prancer
3:15 p.m. — Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
5:00 p.m. — Disney’s A Christmas Carol
5:30 p.m. — Disney’s Prep & Landing
6:00 p.m. — Toy Story That Time Forgot
6:30 p.m. — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
8:45 p.m. — Elf
12:00 a.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

 

Dec. 25
7:00 a.m. — Prancer
11:00 a.m. — Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
11:30 a.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
12:30 p.m. — Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
2:15 p.m. — The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
4:30 p.m. — Toy Story That Time Forgot
5:00 p.m. — Elf
7:15 p.m. — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
12:00 a.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
1:00 a.m. — The Year Without a Santa Claus

 

‘Tis the season for the network axeman to come a callin’…

While there haven’t seen any significant flame-outs this season, the crop of new Fall television has been exceedingly lackluster. This week, the three big networks – ABC, NBC, and CBS – made some moves toward series orders and cancellations that will potentially foretell what shows, if any, will be around this time next year.

But first, the good news.

CBS’s Limitless, based on the Bradley Cooper film, was picked up for a full-season order, making the network’s first major move of the Fall season. It was joined by Code Black‘s six additional script order to show a sign of longevity for the freshmen series. Limitless is the second highest-rated freshman show, averaging 11.4 million viewers.

Joining those positive notes is ABC’s additional episode orders for Quantico and, surprisingly, Dr. Ken. ABC did hand a certain death notice to its Sunday night drama Blood & Oil, which was seen as too sudsy for its own good by ADTV’s Megan McLachlan. The series’ order was reduced from 13 to 10 episodes after it underwent a showrunner change shortly before the publicity machine kicked off. Ratings for the series have never been strong. It premiered to 6.3 million viewers and dropped to 3.5 million in its latest outing.

I hear a scythe swinging in the distance.

Blood & Oil joins Fox’s Minority Report and NBC’s The Player as freshman series whose initial 13-episode seasons have been cut by their networks. Report will finish with 10 episodes, and The Player will quit playing with only 9 games. That’s hardly the stuff of television cancellation legend, but it still smarts for these high-profile series.

Wrapping up the series orders are Fox’s Rosewood and NBC’s Blindspot both of which received full-season pick ups.

In the two week run up until Halloween, TV programmers are cranking out as much Halloween-themed entertainment as they can possibly air within a 24-hour period. Channel surf, and  you’ll find everything from children’s classics (It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown anyone?) to modern classics (“Treehouse of Horror 26”) to traditional horror favorites (all the Friday the 13th and Halloween flicks).

To help you through your Halloween television bingeing, here’s a list of the more prominent fixtures, although it is by no means a complete listing. That would be a frightfully terrifying task to undertake…

  • “Halloween of Horror” – The Simpsons first Halloween-themed episode outside of the “Treehouse” series airing Sunday, October 18, at 8pm on FOX
  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie BrownToy Story of Terror – Tuesday, October 20, at 8pm on ABC
  • Fear Fest 2015 – AMC’s annual marathon of horror-themed programming kicks off on Sunday, October 18, and runs through Halloween night. Check listings for offerings.
  • 13 Nights of Halloween – ABC Family’s supposedly family-friendly take on Fear Fest starts Monday, October 19, and runs through Halloween. It includes such timeless family classics as Hocus PocusMonster’s University, and Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (one of these things is not like the other).
  • “Treehouse of Horror XXVI” – The Simpsons annual Halloween treat airs Sunday, October 25, on FOX. Rumor has it that Sideshow Bob finally kills Bart Simpson.
  • Stephen King Thriller Week – Sundance TV will air a week-long marathon of films based on Stephen King’s classic works beginning Sunday, October 25. This includes the 35th anniversary print of The Shining.
  • The following notable series will have specific Halloween programming in the week leading up to Halloween:
    • Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Sunday, October 25 on FOX
    • Family Guy – Sunday, October 25 on FOX
    • Dancing with the Stars – Monday, October 26 on ABC
    • Fresh Off the Boat – Tuesday, October 27 on ABC
    • The Middle – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
    • The Goldbergs – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
    • Modern Family – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
    • Ghost Hunters – Wednesday, October 28 on Syfy
    • black-ish – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
  • Treasures from the Disney Vault – TCM airs older Disney classics like The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad on Wednesday, October 28.
  • Exorcism: Live! – The months-in-the-making special finally airs on Destination: America on Friday, October 30, at 9pm. Rather than focusing on a possessed individual, the episode reportedly will feature a live exorcism of the house that inspired the novel The Exorcist.
  • Ash vs. Evil Dead – Cult audiences everywhere are foaming at the mouth for Sam Raimi and Bruce Campell to return to their horror classic films in this 10-episode series starting Halloween night at 9pm on Starz.

its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown

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