Saturday, November 30, 2024

2024 Christmas Calendar

Happy Iron Bowl Saturday!!!!! So no matter who wins today we are all winners cause we can start planning our holiday watch lists as Dec. 1st is literally tomorrow. How on Earth does that happen every year like literal clockwork but still sneak up on me?! Sigh. I am ahead of the game tho cause I’ve bought several presents already ….. none are wrapped oh no that’s future Marcy’s problem but they are at least purchased and in the house. So go past Marcy !

I may have re-found my mojo … or at least my typical websites that I check were more on the ball this year than last year. Maybe I was in a better mood … or maybe I started it earlier than last year .. who knows…I totes started it earlier than I did last year but the procrastinator in me refuses to believe that was helpful. I’ll be honest. This time last year I didn’t think I’d still be doing this calendar, but it lives, and you know this cause you are reading these words! It was harder this year to find the new stuff that these networks are showing, but I think I captured most if not all of them. It was weird like if they premiered in November they didn’t want to talk about them airing again in December like it was some big secret on when it would air again. It’s not that deep Hallmark why you gotta make everything so difficult, looking at you too Lifetime don’t think you are getting off easy on this one!

This calendar is crammed tight with nostalgia, new offerings, and remixes of old fun family favorites told in what they hope is a new and “interesting” way…spoiler alert it’s usually not. Speaking of “interesting way” if you haven’t seen Red One rush to the theater, grab some popcorn and sit back for a very enjoyable time. I’m not sure it’s child friendly (cause language), but it is a good time and at least it’s an “original” idea for the holidays. Oh, and there’s snarky Chris Evans and The Rock, who is beyond done with the Snarky Chris Evans, which makes for a fun and enjoyable time even without the Crimmus theme. By the way … THAT … is how holiday fun should be, not a shot by shot remake or a word by word remake…. Yeah I’m looking at you Grinch… oh and don’t give the main character a new backstory that’s just lazy.

To prove my point, I present you with this …. there’s Hallmark Channels 2024 “Countdown to Christmas” which I believe started a few days after New Years and is replacing their regular line up of, and I kid you not, Christmas in July or some jazz like that (honestly I can’t make this stuff up guys) …. Then there’s UPtv’s “Uplifting Christmas” with over 600 hours of holiday cheer (yet oddly didn’t really make my calendar cause I don’t get that channel anymore *sad face* and as I have said on numerous occasions this is all about me and I’m just sharing the fun (I think even Hallmark said sit down UPtv that’s too much) …. Then there’s “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” on well…Lifetime (but ironically they aren’t showing It’s A Wonderful Life .. which is a missed opportunity IMO. I guess NBC said nah but E! and you USA … go nuts! …rolls eyes so hard) …. you can also find the “The Best Christmas Ever” on AMC with an amazing nod to “adultier” holiday fun, “Nickmas” is on Nickelodeon and of course “25 Days of Christmas” on Freeform …the OG of Holiday fun. Not to mention all the streaming stuff cause well you have all heard my rant about that and I don’t think any of us have the energy to go through that again!

So, my point is the calendar is full … but there are days where it’s kind of light on offerings and those are the days you should go look at Crimmus Lights or wrap gifts or put up your tree, hek spend time with your family… maybe meet friends for dinner after work to catch up … I mean I can’t entertain you guys all month … you gotta bring something to the holiday table too. You might need a magnifying glass to read it but that’s why God invented the guy who created ZOOM. Am I right?! Of course I am. I tried to include as many new offerings as I could and yes sometimes a beloved had to go. Sorry Clark, but I mean there are plenty of other opportunities to watch Clark light up the house or read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas as Cousin Eddie comes up the walk with Clark’s boss so that Clark can tell him off for not giving him a Bonus. Really the only time in that movie that I get upset … Clark it’s a bonus not a guarantee it’s not your bosses fault that you overspent on crimmus! Geeze enjoy your fruit of the month and be happy you still have a job!  I always get a little angry when the guy gives in instead of firing him on the spot. Sorry but it’s true.

A few items of note because I don’t want you to miss these and that is the purpose after all…

·       CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute will air on Dec. 8th  at 7. It’s always a great reminder that in the doom and gloom of the world there are people attempting to make things better for us and good for them. I’ve always enjoyed this special cause it does seem to reach out to so many different types of people in so many different places just trying to use their time on Earth in a good way. 

·       Kennedy Center Honors will air on CBS Dec. 22nd at 7:30 it’s another good program to remind you that there are very good humans in this world but this one leans more to the celebrity side while CNN’s version is more for the everyday man. This year’s honorees include Francis Ford Coppola, the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, and The Appollo (that’s right even buildings get love at the Kennedy Center Honors) and will be hosted by my Queen …. Dana Owens.

·       CBS is airing the “Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas” on Dec 19th at 8 (central). They will also air a Josh Groban and Friends go home for the Holidays on Dec. 20th at 8 (central), right after the National Tree Lighting special (is it not a little late for that CBS?!). Of Course these are all on CBS. Both of which have really stupid long names and thus they didn’t make the calendar but something you all might be interested in…if not keep walking.

·       NEW Shows for the Win! As stated, there are several new items on the calendar, I haven’t watched them, but I am interested in many of them cause well at least they are new. I like new. I like original. Do some research before you put Billy in front of the TV with popcorn or plop little Bailey down in your lap for something that you then decide is inappropriate …that’s not my mess. Take it up with your facebook friends on how horrible it is so they can justify themselves as well by sharing in your fake outrage. Or just take it for what it is .. a lesson learned for both you and your offspring crank up Disney+ and move on with your life. You are welcome!

·       TBS, Hallmark, and TNT started their holiday playlist in November. However, they do have enough classics in their lineups to calm me down some so I’ll let it go and not blacklist them like that other network. I would hate to interrupt their nightly Big Bang Theory marathons for something as silly as Crimmus, no seriously we all need to watch Sheldon explain his spot one more time please and thank you. Don’t worry tho the Christmas Day Marathon of A Christmas Story is still on the schedule for TBS so all is not lost, and as long as they keep doing that I’ll keep a soft spot in my heart for them. But I’m side eyeing them real hard.

·       As always if you are looking for something to throw the littles in front of while you wrap gifts, bake, shop online, drink a glass or three of wine, scroll on your phone, or just need a minute … Freeform is the place for you. Their love for Claymation is admirable and while not all the offerings are eyeball worthy they do have a very impressive lineup again this year. May we all bow to the awesome that is Freeform.

·       I’d like to point out the purpose of this calendar …. Jimmy Fallon’s “5 More Sleeps ‘Til X-mas” no longer comes on … or I couldn’t find it anywhere and I’m real good at this Calendar so I am going to say it’s not coming on. I think it aired what 2 maybe 3 years then poof it was gone! That’s how quick a beloved special goes from must watch TV (cause we are trying to help our Host sell books) to wait what was that? I am not a Jimmy Fallon fan but that was a cute special. Wish it had stuck around. While I’m at it what about Yes Virginia ….. I still can’t believe they took that one down …….. silly CBS….silly ABC…..silly NBC it’s like they just don’t care about Crimmus. I’m sure it’s on a streaming service somewhere….but again we won’t rant about that …again. This is how we save these specials tho by watching when they air. YES most of us have the DVDs and some even still have the DVD players but hit that DVR up when it comes on and let em know we want to see them. As long as we watch they will keep showing them.

·       Incase anyone is keeping score I’m still mad at Food Network so they can keep their holiday specials safely in November cause I’m not participating! PS I love Christmas Cookie Challenge or whatever it is called and it’s on repeat about 97,463,049,730,497,630,943,706 times a day so totally check it out between that and Diners Drive in and Dives. It’s madness what’s going on over there … madness … I tell you …. madness!

Now for …the rules. If you are an OG user of this calendar, feel free to skip ahead. If you are new to the party …. Well, you want to read on or face my wrath. Don’t make me hulk smash you cause I’ve been wanting to Hulk Smash something all year so I’m ready don’t come at me bro!

·       NO E-MAILS about taking Christ out of Christmas, it’s just a really long word and using X-Mas allows for more shows on the already full calendar.

§  Thanks for your understanding.

§  For those that don’t understand I’ll be glad to remove you from the list, just let me know.

·       I live in the central time zone, the times on this calendar reflect that, adjust accordingly.

§  That said unless otherwise stated the times are PM

·       Late Hour Focus, but hour round fun. For you work from home people, stay at home mom’s, or employers who have access to good wifi ….  they run these specials all day long, and while my calendar focuses mainly on the after-work hour times since that is when I can watch (again see note about this being about me and my schedule not yours), fire it up as background noise for that meeting that you are totes paying attention to while you are on mute, or while you edit that really long annoying document that you have already edited several other times but it’s fine you’ll do it again. I also don’t list things if they are on at like 3am…. You insomniacs are on your own.

Much like the Halloween one ….. I have been doing this one for over 15 years now …. The goal is to set aside some time for the holiday cheer to enter your soul …. for those shows and stories we all grew up with to fill your heart with happiness … and most importantly to stop…breathe…take a minute … then jump back out there into the madness that is the holiday season. Teach the new generation that our generation was way better by making them watch the hour long Rudolph or watch them spaz out when Ralphie well you know. Then casually say, “hey isn’t that the guy from the Iron Man movies and watch them again think of what a smart person you are for recognizing him. IYKYK.




Merry Christmas to you all …. and I hope you each have a wonderful and safe New Years. Here’s to a fantastic 2025 for us all !

Marcy

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