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THURSDAY
DECEMBER 25
2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 
THE YULE LOG

Various Networks, Check local listings

Merry Christmas. Most stations are running the classic WPIX Yule Log special beginning at 8 a.m. ET, so look for it. In New York, WPIX first televised its Yule Log, with music taken from the Christmas music collection of the wife of then-station president Fred M. Thrower, in 1966. In 1970, the crackling fireplace image was replaced with a new fireplace (from a California residence, rather than New York’s Gracie Mansion), and that’s the one to seek out. If the fireplace on your TV doesn’t match the one in the accompanying picture, search until you find the right one. Thanks to the classic music mix, Yule be glad you did. Check local listings.
 
  
 
 
THE PRINCESS BRIDE

Sundance, 1:00 p.m. ET

On a family holiday, those who gather around the TV set usually are in search of a family movie – something everyone can watch at the same time, just as they (we) did in the old days. Well, here’s one perfect option: Director Rob Reiner’s flawless 1987 film version of William Goldman’s novel and screenplay. Even better, it's being offered through a Cary Elwes-hosted marathon beginning at 1:00 p.m. and ending with the final showing at 12:15am. The supporting players steal the show here, especially Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn and Billy Crystal. What joy.

 
  
 
 
CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2014

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

In England, it’s a tradition for certain series to serve up special movie-length episodes for the holidays. One of them is Doctor Who – and another, starting this year, is Call the Midwife, with a special installment that has Cynthia thinking about becoming a postulant. Check local listings.

 
  
 
 
CHRISTMAS WITH MEL BROOKS

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

TCM is of the opinion that there are fewer better ways to spend Christmas night than some films by one of Hollywood’s most celebrated Jewish comic actor-writer-directors. I couldn’t agree more – and for tonight’s Mel Brooks mini-marathon, TCM focuses on the films in which Brooks himself stars or is featured. His affectionate Alfred Hitchcock spoof, 1977’s High Anxiety, starts things off, with Madeline Kahn (pictured, with Brooks) doing a perfect imitation of Hitch’s trademark icy blondes. At 10 p.m. ET, 1976’s Silent Movie follows, then, at 11:45 p.m. ET, Brooks’ sparkling 1983 remake of the Jack Benny wartime comedy, To Be or Not to Be, a movie in which Brooks gets to play opposite his wife, Anne Bancroft, who’s terrific. At 1:45 a.m., the film barrage ends with Brooks’ 1970 adaptation of a comic tale from Russian literature, The Twelve Chairs – and the Brooks Christmas event ends at 3:30 a.m. ET with a replay of Brooks being interviewed by Dick Cavett for an onstage special in 2006. Happy holidays, Mel! We’ll be watching.
 
  
 
 
DOCTOR WHO: LAST CHRISTMAS

BBC America, 9:00 p.m. ET

A marathon of all 12 episodes of Season 8, the most recent season of Doctor Who, is shown on BBC America today, beginning at 8 a.m. ET. That’s the season that introduced Peter Capaldi as the current and Twelfth Doctor – and the marathon serves as an all-day warm-up, and primer, for tonight’s all-new 2014 Doctor Who Christmas special, Last Christmas. Nick Frost from Shaun of the Dead plays Santa Claus, in an episode that also prominently features Jenna Coleman as Clara, my all-time favorite Doctor’s companion, in what may or may not be her farewell appearance. (No matter what happens, given this show’s time-shifting tendencies, I’m betting it’s not.) But beware: If you’re looking for a warm and funny Christmas TV treat, these Doctor Who holiday specials tend to serve up the scary and dark along with the froth and the fun.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and is an occasional substitute host for that show. He's also an author and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His 2009 Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', has been purchased for film rights. His latest, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to the Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific, is an effusive guidebook that plots the path from the 1950s’ Golden Age to today’s era of quality TV.
 
 
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