PBS Announces Its 2013 Holiday Season Schedule

'The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas!'
'The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas!' (Image credit: Copyright 2013, CITH Holiday Productions Inc. and Red Hat Animation 2 Limited)

PBS’s winter holiday schedule includes the return of The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas!, an Elmo Christmas special, and new episodes of Thomas & Friends and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS! – Airs on November 27, 28, 29, 30 and December 1, 13 and 24

A PBS KIDS holiday tradition, this adventure finds the Cat in the Hat, Nick and Sally on a journey around the world to help a lost reindeer find his way home to Freezeyourknees Snowland in time for Christmas. On the way, the Thinga-ma-jigger breaks down, and they depend on a variety of animals – from African bush elephants to bottlenose dolphins to red crabs – and their remarkable abilities to help them make an amazing journey home. With gorgeous animation and pull-out-all-the-stops musical numbers, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas! will have families singing and celebrating all season long.

PBS KIDS Holiday Week – December 9-13

This December, PBS Kids will air a week of holiday and winter-themed programming from favorite series across the schedule. “Holiday Week” features two episode premieres, both from Thomas & Friends: “Snow Stops Play” and “Tinsel & Trains.” Holiday Week also includes encore presentations of holiday-themed episodes from favorite PBS Kids series and holiday favorites Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas and Arthur’s Perfect Christmas.

CURIOUS GEORGE: A Very Monkey Christmas – Airs on December 9, 14, and 25

Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There’s only one dilemma – neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.

ARTHUR’S PERFECT CHRISTMAS – Airs on December 10 and 25

Everyone’s favorite aardvark gives kids a new spin on seasonal traditions in his first one-hour primetime special, showing children many ways to celebrate “the holidays.” Plans are underway in Elwood City for the best holidays ever as Arthur, D.W., their family and friends make preparations for perfect gifts, perfect parties and perfect family traditions for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even “Baxter Day” (Buster and his mom’s special celebration). The only problem is, just like real life, perfection is hard to attain and things start to fall apart.

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD

Snowflake Day! – Premieres on November 25

In this thirty-minute holiday musical episode, the Neighborhood is celebrating Snowflake Day! Daniel has a very important role as the snowflake in the Neighborhood’s Snowflake Day Show and he can’t wait to say his lines! The Enchanted Garden is full of excitement and winter cheer as everyone pitches in to make the celebration a true Neighborhood success!

A Snowy Day – Premieres on December 2

It’s snowing in the Neighborhood! Miss Elaina is coming over to Daniel’s house to play in the snow. When it’s time to go outside, Mom Tiger helps Daniel change out of his pajamas into clothes that will keep him warm and he learns how important it is to choose the proper clothes.

Elmo’s Christmas Countdown – Premieres on November 27, repeats on December 11 and 25

There’s a miracle on Sesame Street in this special holiday tale. Elmo, Abby Cadabby and their new friend Stiller the Elf (voice of Ben Stiller) are going to count down to Christmas with the Christmas Counter-Downer. But all the counting boxes have gone missing and Christmas may never come again! Can Elmo, Abby and Stiller the Elf save Christmas? With the help of very special guests Sheryl Crow, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Ty Pennington, Steve Schirripa, Tony Sirico and Kevin James (as Santa Claus), Elmo and friends learn to believe in Christmas miracles.

SHALOM SESAME – Chanukah: The Missing Menorah – Check local listings for air dates

Moishe Oofnik is selling 2,000 year old sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts traditionally eaten on Chanukah), and Anneliese is bringing her family’s menorah to light at Shoshana’s in celebration of the first night of Chanukah. Grover the waiter is serving levivot (potato pancakes or latkes), when he and Anneliese are both startled by Brosh and a chicken. Anneliese’s menorah (a nine-branched candelabrum) goes flying. Anneliese can’t find her menorah anywhere, so everyone helps her look. The pressure is on to find it before sunset, and everyone sings a song about the search. Finally, Avigail finds it and everyone heads inside to light the candles. In the end, the Sumsum crew lights the menorah together and sings a song.