THURSDAY

DECEMBER 8

2016

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET

This 2014 holiday special may be the Toy Story franchise cash-in that fans forgot, but it’s really a worthy addition to the Pixar playhouse. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are back, lending their voices and comedic skills to their respective roles of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, in a story that includes a post-Christmas letdown, a little paranoia, and a lot of small-scale adventure.

TARAJI'S WHITE HOT HOLIDAYS

Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET

Taraji P. Henson of Empire hosts this second annual musical variety special celebrating the holiday season. Henson may be the only Christmas Cookie on the bill – but expect appearances, also, from her Empire costars, and from Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliott, Tyler Perry, Terry Crews, TLC and others.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Exactly 50 years to the day since it premiered on CBS, this 1966 production of The Glass Menagerie, newly restored, brings the Tennessee Williams play, starring Shirley Booth and Hal Holbrook, back to television, courtesy of TCM. For a review, and a story interviewing Holbrook and those behind this excellent restoration, see Bianculli’s Blog.

SHREK THE HALLS

ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

Made in 2007, this Shrek small-screen spinoff presents a holiday gathering, hosted by Shrek and Fiona, turning into a predictably manic Christmas celebration. Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas and Eddie Murphy all reprise their large-screen animated roles.

THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW

ABC, 9:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s installment is all about bread. If you have a sweet tooth, it may not be exactly what you’re looking for in this particular reality competition series – but expect the show, and its bakers, to rise to the occasion. Besides, you can’t always get what you want – but if you try sometimes, you just might find… you get what you knead.

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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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BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

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TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

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