SoCal TV, Dec. 22-28: ‘A Christmas Story,’ ‘Doctor Who,’ ‘Call the Midwife,’ the NFL on Netflix and more
TV shows, movies, sports and specials on broadcast, cable and streaming this coming week
Welcome to an all-new TV or Not TV roundup of new and noteworthy programming on broadcast, cable and streaming this coming week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Sunday — Dec. 22
A former ballerina helps stage a production of “The Nutcracker” and hooks up with a handsome prince in the process in the new TV movie “A Royal Christmas Ballet.” With Brittany Underwood. 5 p.m. GAF
Seldom is the question asked, “What If...?” The hypothetical animated anthology set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe launches its third and final season. 6 p.m. Disney+
Turner Classic Movies’ “Classic Christmas Marathon” continues and includes Barbara Stanwyck opposite her future “Double Indemnity” co-star Fred MacMurray in the 1940 holiday fable “Remember the Night.” 7 p.m. TCM
What a long, strange trip… The surviving members of the Grateful Dead join filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, et al. as honorees at “The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors” hosted by Queen Latifah. 8 p.m. CBS
A jilted woman writes to an advice columnist who uses the pen name “Dear Adora” — but guess what?! — in the new TV movie “Engaged by Christmas.” With Brittany Bristow. 8 p.m. Lifetime
Done and dusted: “Dune: Prophecy,” the sci-fi drama inspired by the writings of Frank Herbert, ends its first season with an expanded episode. Emily Watson, Olivia Williams and Travis Fimmel star. 9 p.m. HBO
Monday — Dec. 23
Hindsight is 2024: The star-studded special “2024 Back That Year Up with Kevin Hart & Kenan Thompson” has the stand-up comic and the “SNL” veteran reuniting to riff in remembrance of things past. Anytime, Peacock
The new special “Christmas on the Farm with Jill Wagner & Family” finds the actress, her husband and kids opening up their home to a family who lost all of their worldly possessions to Hurricane Helene last September. 5 p.m. GAF
Speaking of “SNL,” you’ll be haunted by the ghosts of holiday sketches past in the encore special “A Saturday Night Live Christmas.” 9 p.m. NBC
Tuesday — Dec. 24
The bizarre tale of a fanatical football fan who had a sideline robbing banks is told in new documentary “ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chiefs Clothing.” Anytime, Prime Video
The new standup special “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze” captures the amiable comic cracking wise about marriage, dog ownership and other domestic matters. Anytime, Netflix
“SNL’s” Melissa Villaseñor is your hostess with the mostest as scores of local arts groups take the stage for the “65th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration” broadcast live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown L.A. 3 p.m. KOCE; replays at 7 p.m.
The inspiring tale of a former NFL quarterback’s years-long effort to help find a cure for the deadly disease afflicting his son is told in “Second Wind: The Boomer and Gunnar Esiason Story” on a new “E60.” 4 p.m. ESPN
“Christmas With Andrea Bocelli and Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special” sees the blind Italian tenor sharing stage with the likes of Dua Lipa, Josh Groban, Sofia Carson and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson. 8 p.m. CBS
A demoralized family man (James Stewart) gets a bit of divine intervention just when he needs it most in Frank Capra’s beloved 1946 holiday fable “It's a Wonderful Life.” 8 p.m. NBC
It just wouldn’t be Christmas without the annual 24-hour marathons of the nostalgic 1983 comedy “A Christmas Story.” With Peter Billingsley. 8 p.m. TBS, 9 p.m. TNT, with showings every two hours
Pope Francis officiates Christmas Eve Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in this annual special. 11:34 p.m. NBC
Wednesday — Dec. 25
A new bride must forgo her honeymoon to help look after her husband’s ailing ex-wife and their kids in the new TV movie “Blended Christmas.” With Jennifer Freeman. Anytime, BET+
Images of a blazing hearth are accompanied by seasonal favorites in this year’s edition of the “KTLA Yule Log.” 4 a.m. KTLA
Music legend Elton John, “The Princess and the Frog’s” Anika Noni Rose and the seasonally ubiquitous a cappella group Pentatonix are among the performers for this year’s “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.” 5 a.m. ABC; 8 a.m. Disney+
A woman named Joy (“Bridgerton’s” Nicola Coughlan) joins our titular Time Lord (Ncuti Gatwa) on his latest cosmic adventure when the venerable British sci-fi drama “Doctor Who” presents its annual Christmas special. 9:10 a.m. Disney+
You can’t spell Netflix without NFL: The streamer gets in on the action with a Christmas Day double-header that kicks off with the Chiefs at the Steelers followed by the Ravens at the Texans. Mariah Carey performs at the former, Beyoncé rocks the half-time show for the latter. 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Netflix
A Christmas stocking stuffed full of NBA match-ups includes your Los Angeles Lakers versus the Golden State Warriors. 5 p.m. ABC, ESPN, Disney+
Bah, humbug! An influenza outbreak casts a pall over the Christmas season at Nonnatus House in this year’s “Call the Midwife Holiday Special.” 8 p.m. KOCE
Thursday — Dec. 26
Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men? As if! The dark, disturbing and dystopian Korean-made drama “Squid Game,” wherein folks in dire financial straits take part in a series of deadly competitions, is back for a second season. Anytime, Netflix
“GMA’s” Robin Roberts and company reflect on the past 12 months in politics, pop culture, etc. in “The Year 2024.” With astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher, the aforementioned Elton John, et al. 9 p.m. ABC
Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa — a.k.a. “The Flipping El Moussas” — are back in a second season of their home renovation show. 9 and 10 p.m. HGTV
Friday — Dec. 27
“In With the Old” and out with the new! This home renovation series focused on historic structures in cities and towns around the country returns with new episodes. Anytime, Max
Amy Adams lets the dog out as a stressed-out stay-at-home mom who hears the call of the wild — and then answers it! — in the darkly comic 2024 horror fable “Nightbitch.” Anytime, Hulu
Comic Jeff Ross and a rogue’s gallery of funny folk make a mockery of the past 12 months’ most memorable moments in the new special “Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year.” Anytime, Netflix
Your USC Trojans take on the Aggies of Texas A&M in this year’s Las Vegas Bowl. 7:30 p.m. ESPN
Warm your heart and your hearth at the same time with this year’s holiday edition of “The Greatest @Home Videos” hosted by Cedric the Entertainer. 8 p.m. CBS
Sting, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald and Bonnie Raitt are among the music stars revisiting some of their biggest hits in the new special “Grammy Greats: The Stories Behind the Songs.” 9 p.m. CBS
It’s make or break time as the arts series “Craft in America” returns for a 16th season with two new episodes. 9 and 10 p.m. KOCE
Saturday — Dec. 28
A young corporate striver makes a potentially fatal error by befriending her office’s elderly cleaning lady in the new thriller “The Last Thing She Said.” With Kylee Bush. 8 p.m. Lifetime
(All times Pacific; programming subject to change without notice)