Nickelodeon and Sony Music Entertainment’s (SME) are celebrating the holidays a bit early with the release of the It’s a SpongeBob Christmas! album. They’ll also be airing the It’s A SpongeBob Christmas half-hour stop-motion special on December 9th at 7:30pm with four songs off the album featured on the holiday special.
The 11-track album features seven new songs co-written by Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob) and Andy Paley.
It’s a SpongeBob Christmas! Album Track List:
1. It’s A SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas!
2. Don’t Be A Jerk (It’s Christmas)
3. Christmas Eve Jitters
4. Santa Won’t Let You Down
5. Snowflakes
6. Pretty Ribbons And Bows
7. Wet, Wet Christmas
8. Ho, Ho Hoedown
9. Christmas Is Mine
10. Hot Fruitcake
11. Santa Has His Eye On Me
12. A Holiday Message From SpongeBob SquarePants
More on It’s a SpongeBob Christmas! Special:
It’s A SpongeBob Christmas! premieres on Nickelodeon Sunday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) featuring John Goodman as Santa Claus. In the stop-motion special, inspired by the Rankin/Bass specials (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town), Plankton turns everyone in Bikini Bottom from nice to naughty by feeding them his special jerktonium-laced fruitcake – all in an effort to get his Christmas wish, the Krabby Patty formula.
Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne will be out on the road in 2013 performing a series of concerts which kick off on January 19th in Portland, Oregon. The 2013 Acoustic Tour will find Jackson performing songs from his vast body of work, changing up each night of the show with varying set lists.
Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and entered the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2007. In addition to his passion for music, Browne’s a co-founder of Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE), Nukefree.org, and the Success Through the Arts Foundation. Success Through the Arts Foundation “provides education opportunities for students in South Los Angeles.”
Jackson Browne 2013 Acoustic Tour Dates:
1/19/13 Portland, OR Keller Auditorium
1/20/13 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall
1/22/13 San Jose, CA San Jose Civic Auditorium
1/26/13 San Diego, CA Copley Symphony Hall
1/28/13 Thousand Oaks, CA Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center
1/29/13 Long Beach, CA Long Beach Terrace Theatre
1/31/13 Bakersfield, CA Majestic Fox Theatre
2/1/13 Temecula, CA Pechanga Resort & Casino
2/2/13 Santa Cruz, CA Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
2/4/13 San Luis Obispo, CA Performing Arts Center
2/6/13 San Francisco, CA Nob Hill Masonic Center
2/12/13 Albuquerque, NM Popejoy Hall
2/13/13 Phoenix, AZ Orpheum Theatre
2/15/13 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl Theater
2/16/13 Reno, NV Silver Legacy Casino
“007 reporting for duty,” says secret agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) to his boss, M (Judi Dench), after laying low for a few months and playing dead following a mission that went bad in the action film, Skyfall.
After failing to retrieve a stolen computer disc containing a list of British secret agents and almost getting killed in the process, 007 has been brooding and laying low feeling betrayed by M who ordered his assistant, Eve (Naomie Harris), to “Take the shot” which was meant for the thief and ended up hitting Bond. A few months later while M is under scrutiny from the British government for losing the list and being encouraged to take early retirement, M1-6 headquarters is rocked by a devastating explosion. Seconds after witnessing the attack, M receives an anonymous message on her computer saying, “Think on your sins.”
Once 007 learns of the attack, he returns to Her Majesty’s Secret Service to pass both the physical and mental tests necessary to be returned to duty and required if he’s to go after the terrorist who has obtained the list and is threating to expose all the agents on it. Bond’s search leads him to a man from M’s past named Silva (Javier Bardem) who seems to have a personnel vendetta to settle with her.
Action-packed and thrilling, Skyfall is the first Bond film starring Daniel Craig to finally start to get back to the classic 007 formula that made the Bond movie series the great, entertaining franchise it has been. Finally there are a few gadgets, the classic Aston Martin car, and a master villain who always seems to be a few steps ahead of Bond.
Javier Bardem gives an over-the top but highly entertaining performance as Silva the terrorist who has a real ax to grind with M and fancies himself Bond’s equal. It’s reminiscent of a few of the villains in past 007 films. Dame Judi Dench gives another strong performance as M, Bond’s boss who knows just how invaluable he is to King and Country and has no doubt he’s the only agent who can find Silva and bring him to justice.
Daniel Craig seems to finally have made the role of Bond his own, portraying him as a cold, ruthless, determined killer who doesn’t hesitate to do what’s necessary to finish the job. The one element still missing, however, in his performance is the charm and grace that actors Sean Connery (the best Bond of all), Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan brought to the spy role. Craig is still playing the character too roughed up and needs to add a little panache to the role. Here’s hoping in his fourth adventure as Bond he nails it.
Directed by Sam Mendes, the opening action sequence with Bond chasing the thief through the streets and fighting with him on top of a train is both riveting and breathtaking. Unfortunately, some of the action scenes in the second half of the film – including the final shoot out – are far too similar to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight films, in particular Batman Begins.
Still, with an interesting story, a memorable villain, and some beautiful locations, Skyfall is a fun, worthy addition to the Bond franchise that will have 007 fans eagerly anticipating the next installment and satisfying their hunger for more Bond adventures by watching some of the older and better classic Bond films such as Goldfinger and From Russia with Love.
GRADE: B-
Skyfall hits theaters on November 9, 2012 and is rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking.
One of the most buzzed about indie drama/comedies of the fall is Silver Linings Playbook starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro, and Sony’s released the details on the film’s catchy soundtrack which features tunes by Jessie J, Diane Warren, Stevie Wonder, Danny Elfman, and Alabama Shakes. Silver Linings Playbook soundtrack will be released on November 19, 2012 and is highlighted by the single “Silver Lining (Crazy ‘Bout You)” written by Diane Warren, sung by Jessie J, and inspired by the characters played by Cooper and Lawrence.
Says Warren: “I’m ecstatic about this song and this movie. I couldn’t think of a better person to record [the song] than Jessie. She’s not just one of the greatest singers of her time but one of the greatest singers I’ve ever worked with. I can’t wait until people hear her amazing vocal.”
“To be given the opportunity to work with such inspirational people such as Diane Warren and David O. Russell is a dream for any artist. I was humbled and honoured when asked to sing the soundtrack song for Silver Linings Playbook – something I have never done before and a treat for my fans while they are waiting for my second album. It’s a beautiful movie and I’m very blessed to be a part of it,” she said.
Silver Linings Playbook Soundtrack Track List:
1. Silver Lining Titles – Danny Elfman
2. My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
3. Always Alright – Alabama Shakes
4. Unsquare Dance (Album Version) – The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5. Buffalo – Alt-J featuring Mountain Man
6. The Moon Of Manakoora – Les Paul & Mary Ford
7. Monster Mash – CrabCorps
8. Goodnight Moon – Ambrosia Parsley & The Elegant Too
9. Now I’m A Fool – Eagles Of Death Metal
10. Walking Home – Danny Elfman
11. Girl From The North Country (Album Version) – Bob Dylan with Johnny Cash
12. Silver Lining – Jessie J
13. Hey Big Brother – Rare Earth
14. Maria (Album Version) – The Dave Brubeck Quartet
The Plot:
This comedy drama won the People’s Choice Award when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is hotly tipped by critics for further awards. The movie is about a former high-school teacher (Bradley Cooper) who returns to his family home after months in a mental institution and tries to get his life back on track. He finds a new relationship with Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) to be full of pitfalls, as neither has broken free from a previous partner. Silver Linings Playbook has been especially praised for its sharp humour and outstanding performances from the leading actors Cooper (Hangover, Limitless) and Lawrence (The Hunger Games). The film also features a strong supporting cast, including Robert De Niro and the Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher.
Silver Linings Playbook is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Matthew Quick and was directed by David O. Russell, best known for The Fighter (2010) which gained him an Academy Award nomination as Best Director.
There’s appears to be no stopping “Gangnam Style” as Psy’s massive international hit has just been certified double-platinum. With digital sales over 2 million, “Gangnam Style” and its totally addictive music video have taken over YouTube, setting a new record as the most-liked video in the site’s history with over 4.6 million likes.
The “Gangnam Style” video is also the second most viewed video on YouTube, pushing Justin Bieber’s “Baby” into third place.
And for Psy fans who want to see more of him on TV, you’re in luck. He’ll be performing on the MTV European Music Awards, Dancing with the Stars, and the American Music Awards. He’s also scheduled to be a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thanksgiving night.
It’s a one-night only event for Bon Jovi fans when Bon Jovi – Inside Out hits theaters on November 27, 2012 at 8pm ET/ 7pm MT/8pm PT (tape-delayed). The film features concert footage picked specifically for the fans by the band and recorded at three venues: London’s The O2, New Meadowlands Stadium and Madison Square Garden. The November 27th event will also include a live broadcast from Times Square with the band talking about their 2013 world tour and the release of their next album (due next spring). There will even be an interactive Q&A session.
Tickets are on sale at the 600 theaters screening the film and via www.FathomEvents.com.
“Fans have never seen the band perform like this as the split-screen footage from New Meadowlands, MSG and O2 concerts allow movie theater audiences to experience each song differently,” stated Dan Diamond, senior vice president of Business Development for Fathom Events. “Although Bon Jovi’s performances may vary from concert to concert, the music continues to rock arenas and on Nov. 27, movie theaters across the country.”
Bon Jovi will be on the road in 2013 with their “BON JOVI Because We Can – The Tour” with stops in North America, Europe, the Far East, Africa, Latin America and Australia.
Those who have been reading my reviews consistently over the years know that I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Daniel Craig era when it comes to James Bond. And sure, everyone hates Quantum of Solace but I was that rare bird who also found a lot to dislike in Casino Royale.
The problem isn’t so much with Daniel Craig himself but with the direction in which the franchise has decided to go up to this point. In the movies, Bond has always been primarily about seduction and wit; he outthought his opponents far more than he physically overpowered them. Craig’s Bond has been basically a battering ram with sociopathic underpinnings, and for his first two films they worked really hard to extricate themselves from the character’s cinematic legacy. The series was still rooted in espionage, but the only threads connecting this Bond to his forebearers were character names and that he worked for MI-6. Aside from that, you might as well have called him James Bourne.
Now Craig’s third Bond film, Skyfall, is hitting theaters (already making a ton of cash overseas in earlier release) and this might surprise you, but I liked it. All of the distancing that Craig’s Bond has been doing in the last two films is gone, and this has been put together with fans of the earlier works in the series very much in mind.
Screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have now written the last five Bond movies, stretching back to the holiday classic, The World is Not Enough (Denise Richards as nuclear physicist Dr. Christmas Jones? Hilarious). Although I envy their paycheck, I wouldn’t want my name associated with any of the recent Bonds.
Maybe it’s the influence of director Sam Mendes, but with Skyfall, there was a little bit more strategy to Bond’s actions, the villain (Javier Bardem) was written to be far more like some the iconic ones from years past, we see the reintroduction of Q (Ben Whishaw), and there is a certain character and a certain vehicle that should make most Bond enthusiasts excited (though the character gets officially introduced in a rather clunky and obvious manner).
The action continues to be well-handled, with multiple chase scenes involving tons of physicality which lend themselves well to the slightly meathead persona that Craig’s Bond has developed. However, as thrilling as some may find these scenes, the true joy to be found is in Bardem’s portrayal of the bad guy. This is a villain Bond fans will remember, ruthless in his actions but so willing to verbally spar with both Bond and M (played again by Judi Dench). The best scenes in the movie all belong to ones with Bardem in them, and it was so delightful to see how over-the-top he played the character.
Before anyone thinks I fell completely in love with the movie, there are a number of problems. The new additions to the franchise (Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris) almost feel like they were added in halfway into the writing process once someone told Purvis and Wade this was Bond’s 50th Anniversary. Also, while I shouldn’t complain about embracing the Bond mythos, you all know I’m going to.
How is it that you spend the first two films of the Daniel Craig era practically urinating on a legacy built up over decades and now decide to make an about-face and cherish all that’s been thrown aside? I’m glad to see that someone realized it’s okay to be a bit less like all the other spy movies being made right now and continue a well-established tradition, but from a continuity perspective within one actor’s Bond-arc, this makes no sense. Again, I’m happy this has happened and this is the kind of Bond film I was hoping Casino Royale would be, but I left the theater completely baffled as to the sudden shift in ideology.
Now, with all of that huffing and puffing over with, the bottom line is that fans of the franchise, both young and old, will find a lot to like in Skyfall. It has some problems in the story resolution but sets up the possibility for continued success with Daniel Craig wearing the tuxedo (he’s signed on for two more and at one point was offered an additional three by the producers). It has all the elements a good Bond film should have: seduction, action, a standout villain, and a fantastic opening theme song (this time by Adele, so good it harkens back to the classic “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey). And although the seduction bit was a bit muted here, having the other elements done as well as they were, the entertainment factor remains high and will make forking over the price of admission seem like a good choice for most fans of the series.
GRADE: B-
Skyfall hits theaters on November 9, 2012 and is rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking.
Signed copies of 8 Hours/Taylor Swift will be auctioned off with the proceeds to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America as announced today by Sony Electronics. No details on the auction were given other than to disclose 10 books autographed by Taylor would be up for auction on eBay by Sony.
The auction was revealed by Sony as part of the announcement of the release of 8 Hours/Taylor Swift, a photo book featuring the singer as photographed by Nigel Barker. The 60 page book, which features photographs taken over an eight hour period with Taylor in Southern California, will be available for a limited time only at Sony Stores and will be offered to customers who purchase a Sony Alpha DSLR or NEX camera. Swift and Barker collaborated on the collection, with Swift and Barker conceiving the idea of a book that would show the different sides of the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter: every day casual, Hollywood glamour and performer-chic.
Talking about the shoot Barker said, “Photographing one of the most famous pop icons of our time could have been a challenge, but working with Taylor was like a dream sequence. In one day, we managed to shoot an entire book’s worth of images and multiple short films! You daren’t put your camera down for a moment for even when she’s exiting the stage it’s iconic…”
Teri Reeves as Hallie, David Eigenberg as Christopher Hermann, Charlie Barnett as Peter Mills, Lauren German as Leslie Shay, Monica Raymund as Gabriella Dawson, Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Jesse Spencer as Matthew Casey, and Eamonn Walker as Battalion Chief Walter Boden. (Photo by: Sandro/NBC)
If you’ve caught the first few episodes of Chicago Fire but you’re still worried about actually getting hooked on the show in case it gets canceled, you can now breath a bit easier. NBC says the drama series will be sticking around for the remainder of the 2012-2013 season, getting a full season commitment from the network as announced by Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment.
“We all love this thrilling new drama with its sexy breakout cast. We are excited to see it gaining traction on our schedule,” stated Salke. “Executive producer Dick Wolf and all the producers have done an amazing job developing a high-stakes series with lots of great heroic characters whose exploits are depicted in Dick’s typically epic storytelling style. We are incredibly invested in this one and can’t wait to hear about their plans for the rest of the season.”
The show is averaging 8 million viewers through its first six weeks.
The Plot:
For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating. These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way. The pressure to perform on such a high level has a way of taking a personal toll, sometimes putting team members from the Truck and the specially-trained Rescue Squad at odds with each other. Lt. Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer), in charge of the Truck, butts heads with the brash Lt. Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) of the Rescue Squad.
The firehouse also includes: Battalion Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker); paramedics Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) and Leslie Shay (Lauren German); Peter Mills (Charlie Barnett), an academy graduate who is the latest generation in a family of firefighters; and Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), a seasoned veteran who must uproot his family to move in with his in-laws.
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) – “A General Thanksgiving Episode”
When Cleveland (Mike Henry) finds out that Holt (Jason Sudeikis) was not invited to his estranged family’s holiday dinner, he asks him to babysit Rallo (Henry), while the gang opens a new airport pub. Holt quickly realizes that babysitting is an easy way to meet girls, so he uses Rallo as a chick magnet in exchange for toys. Meanwhile, Cleveland drinks too much and winds up flying an airplane in danger of crashing, so Holt and his drill sergeant father, General Richter (guest voice Will Arnett), must work together to bring Cleveland back to safety.
In the series’ first-ever Thanksgiving episode, it’s Bob’s (H. Jon Benjamin) favorite holiday of all time, and he’s determined to make it the most memorable Thanksgiving ever. However, the plans change when Mr. Fischoeder (guest voice Kevin Kline) hires Bob as his chef and Linda (John Roberts) and the kids as his family in order to stage the perfect Thanksgiving dinner and make a former flame (guest voice Lindsey Stoddart) jealous.
Tuesday, Nov. 20
RAISING HOPE (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) – “Candy Wars”
Natesville is holding its annual Thanksgiving Radish Harvest Festival, and Jimmy (Lucas Neff) is determined to sell the most candy bars around town, so that Hope (guest stars Rylie and Baylie Cregut) can ride atop the town’s Thanksgiving Day float. But when he doesn’t sell enough to win, Virginia (Martha Plimpton) and Maw Maw (Cloris Leachman) unveil a dark, mafia-inspired family secret that could lead the Chances to victory.
BEN AND KATE (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) – “Reunion”
When a high school reunion is held on the eve of Thanksgiving, Will (guest star Geoff Stults) encourages Kate (Dakota Johnson) to attend and stand up to the high school bully, Anna (guest star Amber Stevens), who gave her an unforgettable nickname. Meanwhile, in the midst of the holiday season, Ben (Nat Faxon) doesn’t think he can keep the huge secret that he and BJ (Lucy Punch) have been hiding from Kate for much longer. An encore airs Wednesday, Dec. 26 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT).
NEW GIRL (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) – “Parents”
Jess (Zooey Deschanel) invites her divorced mom and dad (guest stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Rob Reiner) over for Thanksgiving dinner and enlists Nick (Jake Johnson) and Cece (Hannah Simone) to help her with a “Parent Trap” to reunite them. Meanwhile, Schmidt’s (Max Greenfield) cousin, Big Schmidt (guest star Rob Riggle), visits, and Winston (Larmorne Morris) manipulates them into an escalating battle to prove their manhood.
THE MINDY PROJECT (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Thanksgiving”
Mindy (Mindy Kaling) decides to cook Thanksgiving dinner at Gwen’s (Anna Camp), but she’s sidetracked when she arrives to find a former blind date (guest star Ed Helms) there with his new girlfriend (guest star Richa Shukla). Meanwhile, a lonely Danny (Chris Messina) holds down the empty office, while Betsy (Zoe Jarman) and Jeremy (Ed Weeks) visit Betsy’s eccentric family for the holiday. An encore airs Thursday, Dec. 27 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT).
Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 22
THE X FACTOR (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) – “LIVE Results”
Tune in to see if your favorite singing acts made the cut, in an all-new “LIVE Results” episode on Thanksgiving night!
GLEE (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Dynamic Duets”
A love triangle heats up among Marley (Melissa Benoist), Jake (Jacob Artist) and Ryder (Blake Jenner), and Blaine (Darren Criss) has a run-in with the Warblers.
Friday, Nov. 23
HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT)
In this annual holiday special, the Peanuts gang is back and ready to help Linus (Austin Lux) break away from his childhood security blanket. The stakes are high as Linus learns his grandmother is coming to visit, and he must decide whether or not to dispose of his most cherished possession. In an effort to help Linus kick his habit, Charlie Brown (Trenton Rogers), Lucy (Grace Rolek) and even Snoopy pitch in to help. Lucy is quick to attempt her amateur psychiatric skills, while Snoopy employs the age old drag-and-run method. Despite all attempts, Linus eventually learns that security is a valuable quality in life and everyone is entitled to their own version of a security blanket. Another encore airs Monday, Dec. 17 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).
THE SIMPSONS (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) – “Holidays of Future Passed” (encore)
In an encore broadcast, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the series flash-forwards thirty years, when Bart (Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) have children of their own and decide to spend the holidays as one big family at Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and Marge’s (Julie Kavner) house.
Sunday, Nov. 25
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Turkey Pot Die”
Cleveland takes a reluctant Cleveland, Jr. (Kevin Michael Richardson) to a turkey farm in order to teach him how to hunt the family’s Thanksgiving dinner. But Junior refuses to harm the innocent turkeys. So when Cleveland is accidentally shot, he and Junior embark on an elaborate mission to free all of the turkeys before Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Rallo (Henry) and Donna (Sanaa Lathan) build a float for Stoolbend’s Thanksgiving Day parade, but Rallo takes matters into his own hands when Donna fails to embrace his artistic vision.
Thursday, Nov. 29
GLEE (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Thanksgiving”
It’s time for Sectionals, and New Directions receives guidance from some of the recent McKinley graduates who volunteer to mentor the glee club during their Thanksgiving breaks. Meanwhile, Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) have a non-traditional holiday dinner in the Big Apple.
Virginia is convinced that the world is going to end on Dec. 21, 2012. So she uses her extreme couponing skills to stock up on supplies and she forces the family to train for the apocalypse. Meanwhile, Jimmy is determined to give Hope the best Christmas he can, since it likely will be the first one she remembers, and Maw Maw tries to knock a few more items off her bucket list before the world ends. An encore airs Monday, Dec. 24 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT).
NEW GIRL (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) – “Santa”
When the gang attempts to juggle multiple holiday parties in one night, Jess tries to avoid a remorseful Sam (guest star David Walton), Nick tries to keep up with a sexually adventurous Angie (guest star Olivia Munn) and Winston panics when he gets a cranberry stuck in his ear. An encore airs Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 25 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT).
Mindy throws an office Christmas party at her apartment, and she’s eager for her colleagues to finally meet her boyfriend, Josh (guest star Tommy Dewey). Meanwhile, Jeremy deals with doling out the office holiday bonuses, much to everyone’s chagrin. An encore airs Thursday, Dec. 27 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT).
Thursday, Dec. 13
GLEE (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Glee, Actually”
In a tribute to the film “Love, Actually,” seemingly separate storylines come together as one holiday-themed episode, in which Sam (Chord Overstreet) and Brittany (Heather Morris) live their lives to the fullest before the much-heralded Mayan Apocalypse occurs. Meanwhile, Jake (Jacob Artist) and Puck (Mark Salling) spend quality sibling time together for Hanukah, Artie (Kevin McHale) has a holiday dream that changes his outlook on life and Kurt has a Christmas he’ll never forget.
Sunday, Dec. 16
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) – “Die Semi-Hard” (encore)
An encore broadcast in which Cleveland tells his family his own version of one of his favorite holiday stories, “Die Hard.”
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) – “’Tis the Cleveland To Be Sorry”
Cleveland discovers that the food served at the local homeless shelter is much better than it is at home, so he pretends to be homeless to benefit from the meals. But when the community catches onto his ill-spirited scheme, they confront him and he must apologize to everyone. Meanwhile, chauvinistic storeowner Harris Grundle (guest voice Nick Offerman) hires Roberta (Reagan Gomez) as a Christmas elf, but requires all of Santa’s female helpers to don sexy costumes.
THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) – “To Cur With Love”
When a fire at the retirement home forces Grampa (Dan Castellaneta) to move home with the Simpsons, Homer throws out his back on moving day and decides to stay home to recover. While enjoying his time alone, Homer gets distracted by “Villageville” – a super-addictive tablet game in which he is able to create his own virtual village – and loses the family dog, Santa’s Little Helper.
Bob inherits a storage unit, and the whole family imagines treasures, but only finds a man named Chet (guest voice Zach Galifianakis) living inside. Imbued with the holiday spirit, Linda persuades Bob to invite Chet to stay at the restaurant, where it’s discovered that this stranger, who claims he was once a mannequin, has a gift for intricate and living window displays.
FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) – “Jesus, Mary & Joseph”
Peter (Seth MacFarlane) tells his own version of the Nativity story. Need we say more?
AMERICAN DAD (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Minstrel Krampus”
It’s holiday time in Langley Falls and Steve (Scott Grimes) starts acting like a spoiled brat. So Stan (Seth MacFarlane) takes him to see his incarcerated Grandpa Jack (guest voice Daran Norris), who tells the story of how, as a boy, he captured the legendary Minstrel Krampus (guest voice Danny Glover), a Christmas demon who used to punish naughty children on Christmas. Meanwhile, Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane) gets a job at the airport, but realizes she may not be cut out for customer service.
Monday, Dec. 17
DREAMWORKS DRAGONS: GIFT OF THE NIGHT FURY (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT)
Inspired by the popular “How to Train Your Dragon” film franchise, this all-new special is a story of faith, love and friendship that takes viewers on an adventure of dragon-sized proportions as the villagers of Berk prepare for the winter holidays. As their festivities approach, the dragons make a sudden mass exodus leaving Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), Astrid (America Ferrera), Stoick (Gerard Butler) and the rest of the gang saddened by the loss of their winged friends. A wild turn of events leads Hiccup to discover a mysterious, never-before-seen island and learn the true reason why the dragons left the village. Friendship and loyalty abound in this touching holiday tale of spreading one’s wings, but always staying close to home. An encore airs Friday, Dec. 28 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT).
ICE AGE: A MAMMOTH CHRISTMAS (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) (encore)
America’s favorite arctic herd returns in this annual special to decorate the holiday season. In his rush to help, Sid (John Leguizamo) destroys Manny’s (Ray Romano) favorite decorations. Manny is so upset he convinces Sid he is now on Santa’s naughty list. Sid, Crash (Seann William Scott), Eddie (Josh Peck) and Peaches (Ciara Bravo) take off for the North Pole to plead their case to Santa (Billy Gardell). Meanwhile, Manny, Ellie (Queen Latifah) and Diego (Denis Leary), worry over Peaches’ safety and race to find her. Back at the North Pole, Sid and his crew accidentally destroy Santa’s Workshop on Christmas Eve, and it’s up to these newfound friends to orchestrate a Christmas miracle. An encore airs Friday, Dec. 28 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT).
HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) (encore)
An encore broadcast of the seasonal favorite.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
THE X FACTOR (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Season Finale, Part One”
The remaining finalists take the stage LIVE to mark their spot on the last performance show of the season. See who steps up their game in hopes of winning the $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.
Thursday, Dec. 20
THE X FACTOR (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Season Finale, Part Two”
Find out who will walk away with a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music as hosts Khloé Kardashian Odom and Mario Lopez reveal the winner LIVE.
Saturday, Dec. 22
COPS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) – “Ho! Ho! Ho! #10”
The Portland Police Bureau catches a man and a woman engaged in lewd activity in a vehicle, and upon closer investigation, they discover an unused meth pipe in the backseat. Next, California’s Alameda County Sheriff’s Office goes undercover and conducts a prostitution sting at a hotel. Finally, two officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confront an underage prostitute in possession of alcohol.
An encore broadcast of last season’s holiday special.
Sunday, Dec. 23
FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) – “Grumpy Old Man” (encore)
An encore broadcast in which Carter (Seth MacFarlane) and Babs (Alex Borstein) take Stewie on a road trip. But when Carter falls asleep at the wheel, the family decides it might be time for him to retire.
AMERICAN DAD (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) – “Season’s Beatings” (encore)
In an encore broadcast of last season’s holiday-themed episode, Father Donovan (guest voice Martin Mull) holds a Christmas play at the mall and casts Stan as Santa Claus and Roger (Seth MacFarlane) as Jesus.
Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 25
NEW GIRL (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) – “The 23rd” (encore)
In an encore broadcast from the show’s first season, the gang attends Schmidt’s holiday office party and Jess frets when she receives an expensive gift from Paul (guest star Justin Long).
NEW GIRL (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) – “Santa” (encore)
An encore broadcast of this season’s holiday-themed episode, in which the gang attempts to juggle multiple holiday parties in one night.
Monday, Dec. 31
NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE ’12 (11:00 PM-12:30 AM ET live; CT/MT/PT tape-delayed)
Count down the final moments of 2012 while watching the ultimate year-end bash, set to feature the year’s chart-topping musical guests. As 2012 nears, FOX cameras will capture every electrifying moment both from Las Vegas and the heart of New York City as the world-famous New Year’s Eve Ball makes its descent into Times Square. NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE is executive-produced by Bob Bain, produced by Paul Flattery and directed by Michael Dempsey.
Nickelodeon and Sony Music Entertainment’s (SME) are celebrating the holidays a bit early with the release of the It’s a SpongeBob Christmas! album. They’ll also be airing the It’s A SpongeBob Christmas half-hour stop-motion special on December 9th at 7:30pm with four songs off the album featured on the holiday special.
Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne will be out on the road in 2013 performing a series of concerts which kick off on January 19th in Portland, Oregon. The 2013 Acoustic Tour will find Jackson performing songs from his vast body of work, changing up each night of the show with varying set lists.
One of the most buzzed about indie drama/comedies of the fall is 
There’s appears to be no stopping “Gangnam Style” as Psy’s massive international hit has just been certified double-platinum. With digital sales over 2 million, “Gangnam Style” and its totally addictive music video have taken over YouTube, setting a new record as the most-liked video in the site’s history with over 4.6 million likes.
