By Dana Simpson TV Media
IOff off-Broadway NYC playwright returns home in first NZ musical sitcom
f you have ever seen a Broadway musical and wondered what the cast and crew do when they aren’t selected for the show, “Happiness” is just the series for you. Premiering Sunday, Dec. 14, with back-to-back episodes, the musical comedy taps into the rejection and upset felt when dreams don’t work out as you have planned and life sends you right back where you began. As it happens for “Happiness” lead Charlie Summers (Harry McNaughton, “Madam”), “back where he began” is more than 8,500 miles away.
Set in Tauranga, New Zealand, “Happiness” follows Kiwi theater director Charlie Summers, who, after working on Broadway in New York City, is forced to return to his hometown to renew his working visa when its initial renewal is denied mid-career. Although the news is understandably devastating for Charlie, his mother, Gaye (Rebecca Gibney, “Packed to the Rafters”), is more than happy to welcome him home, regardless of the reason. In fact, given her son’s clear flair for highend dramatic arts, Gaye is convinced she has just the thing to keep him occupied while he is back in town — not that he needs to be kept any busier than hosting rehearsals for a Broadway revival of “Cats” with two-time Oscar winner Sally Field (“Forrest Gump,” 1994) as star.
And despite the clear downer at the crux of the plot, “Happiness” has a good heart. Chock-ablock with themes related to family obligation, societal politeness and one’s ability to support various ludicrous misunderstandings to avoid mounting embarrassment, the series, directed by Robyn Grace (“Sweet Tooth”), has already been nominated for the C21 International Drama Awards, a U.K.-based awards program that aims to “recognize the best in global scripted creativity” (per C21media.net). Additionally, the series has already been awarded National Winner at this year’s Asian Academy Creative Awards.
“I like to describe it as kind of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ meets ‘Glee’,” Gibney told the Today Show Australia in early November. “My son comes home from New York and he has to help out. He doesn’t tell her [Gaye] the truth about why he’s back, so it’s joyous, it’s uplifting, it’s light-filled, it’s fun.”
The light, quirky vibe of the series is also backed up by its breezy brevity. At just 20 minutes per episode, the six-episode season is a quick weekly palate-cleanser for the comedically inclined viewer. And although Gibney may be the only familiar face — if any — for PBS viewers, “Happiness’s” cast is bursting with talent, as is its show-within-a-show “Trojan Horse: The Musical.”
Marshayla Christie (“Whina,” 2022) stars as Gloria, the high school music teacher behind the
creation of “Trojan Horse: The Musical,” while Jessie Lawrence’s (“Elliott from Earth”) Jacqui heads up the production alongside her co-stars Connor (Henry Auva’a, “First Place,” 2025), Mia (Melody Lui-Webster, “Custard’s World”), Adrian (Peter Hambleton, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” 2012), Nicky (Bronwyn Bradley, “Heart Eyes,” 2025) and Adam (Joel Granger, “Please Like Me”), to name a few.
Yvette Parsons (“The Power of the Dog,” 2021), Brady Peeti (“Koka,” 2025) and Maaka Pohatu (“Miles from Nowhere”) also star, while makeup and costumes are provided by Sammy Salsa (“The Panthers”), Dianne Ensor (“M3GAN 2.0,” 2025) and Tania Houghton (“The Blue Rose”).
Hailed as New Zealand’s first musical sitcom, per online magazine The Spinoff, “Happiness” was created by actor and writer Kip Chapman (“Top of the Lake”) and new talent Luke Di Somma, who also composed the show’s music. Choreography for “Happiness” is arranged by Liv Tennet, who has previously worked on popular
New Zealand crime procedural “The Brokenwood Mysteries.”
On top of awards talk for the series’ premiere season, “Happiness” has also been confirmed for a second season on New Zealand home network Three and its streamer ThreeNow, meaning PBS is also likely to have another season coming its way if all goes well during the Season 1 release. Season 2 filming is scheduled to begin in February or March 2026.
Replete with heartfelt moments, raw sincerity and approximately two original songs per episode, the titular happiness is clear from the jump, which is something leading actors McNaughton and Gibney credit to their instant behind-thescenes connection.
“You have to do a lot of masking in this industry — socializing and being with people on set — but Bec [Gibney] and I don’t have to mask around each other at all,” McNaughton told New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, as reported on the magazine’s Instagram (@newzealandwomansweekly) in mid-May.
“The connection was just there. It’s lovely, knowing you don’t have to put up a front and just be yourself.”
As for the audience’s connection to the cast and series, Gibney supposes that, too, will come rather naturally.
“If you want a bit of escapism,” Gibney says, “pour yourself a glass of something and sit down and just be prepared to smile all the way through it.”
“Happiness” is produced by Greenstone TV for New Zealand’s Three and ThreeNow. Distributed by DCD Rights, “Happiness” premieres its first two episodes in North America Sunday, Dec. 14, on PBS.
Jessie Lawrence in “Happiness”
SUNDAY DAYTIME
DECEMBER
Married to
Steve Carell. <++ Minions (‘15) Sandra Bullock. < The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water < The Addams Family
Snapped "Amanda Kaur" SnappedSnapped "Donna Cobb" Snapped "Melissa Cole" SnappedSnapped Snapped: Behind Bars
Rescue Bar Rescue Bar Rescue <++ F9 The Fast Saga (‘21) Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Vin Diesel. <++ The Equalizer (‘14)Denzel Washington.
SYFY 160 122 244 <++ Cloud Atlas (2012, Drama) Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent,Tom Hanks. <+++ Back to the Future Part III (‘90) Michael J. Fox. <+++ Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
TBS 29 139 247 <+++ Matilda The Grinch <++++ A Christmas Story (‘83) Peter Billingsley. <++ A Christmas Story Christmas <+++ Twister (1996, Action)Bill Paxton,Cary Elwes, Helen Hunt.
TCM 501 132 256 < Thrill of a Romance <+ Cash on Demand (‘62)Peter Cushing. <+++ Holiday Affair (‘49) Robert Mitchum. <+++ In the Good Old Summertime < Shop Around the Cor
TLC 42 183 280 90 Day Fiancé: Other 90 Day Fiancé: Other 90 Day Diaries90 Day Diaries90 Day Diaries Sister Wives Sister Wives Sister Wives
TLN 71 - - Turning Jeffress Baptist Study In Touch With (N) MiracleINSIGHTChristian Worship HourEquipping Paid Prog. The JoyIn GraceRevelation Today
TNT 52 138 245 FBI "Fathers and Sons" FBI "Short Squeeze" FBI "Trigger Effect" <++ Godzilla vs. Kong (‘21) Alexander Skarsgård. <++ Meg 2: The Trench (‘23) Jing Wu, Jason Statham. < Dune TOON 32 176 296 < Scooby-Doo! & the Legend of the V Jellystone! LooneyLooneyTom Tom Tiny TooHero/Hero LooneyLooneyLooneyLooneyTiny Toons Looniversity
63 196 277 Mysteries at the Castle Mysteries at the Castle Mysteries at the Castle Aliens "Alien Flight Plan" Aliens "Captured"
Green,Orlando Bloom.
Crowe.
Roberts.
(‘17) Noomi Rapace. <+++ Speed (‘94)Dennis Hopper,Keanu Reeves. <+ Getaway (‘13)Ethan Hawke. <+++ Inception (‘10) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Leonardo DiCaprio. The Knick
Maguire. <++ Terminator: Dark Fate (‘19) Linda Hamilton. <++ Shooter (‘07)Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Mark Wahlberg. <+++ First Blood Sylvester Stallone. < Shaft
Book
Force <+++ World War Z (‘13) Mireille Enos,Brad Pitt. Power Book IV: Force Spartacus: Ashur
Unexpected Christmas (‘25)Lil Rel Howery.
Return (‘24) Ralph Fiennes. <++ Virtuosity (‘95)Denzel Washington. < Queen of the Desert (‘15) Nicole Kidman. < The Infernal Machine Guy Pearce.
SUNDAY PRIME
(‘07)
(‘04)Tom
DECEMBER 14, 2025
49 241 241 <++ The Equalizer <++ The Equalizer 2 (‘18)Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Denzel Washington. <++ The Equalizer (2014, Action)Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denzel Washington. Movie
160 122 244 <++ Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey Keanu Reeves. <++ Hot Tub Time Machine (‘10) John Cusack. <+ Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (‘15) Rob Corddry. <+++ Bill &Ted's Excellent Adventure
TBS 29 139 247 Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big BangBig BangBig BangBig BangBig BangBig BangBig BangThe Grinch <++++ A Christmas Story (‘83) Peter Billingsley. TCM 501 132 256 < Shop Around the Co <+++ Meet Me in St. Louis (‘44)Judy Garland. <++++
Wives
Wives
Day Fiancé90
Fiancé "Fasten Your Seatbelts" (N) Sister Wives (N) 90 Day Fiancé (N) 90 Day Fiancé
TLN 71 - - Insights Counsel-W Acts Full Robert INSIGHT SkywatchTV Jackson PlaceIn GraceTurning Point Jack HibbsNewsJerusalem Joseph Paid Prog. TNT 52 138 245 <+++ Dune (‘21, Sci-Fi) Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac,Timothée Chalamet. <+++ Dune: Part Two (2024, Sci-Fi) Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Timothée Chalamet. (P) <++ Clash of the Titans
TOON 32 176 296 Burgers Burgers Burgers Burgers Burgers Family GuyFamily Guy Family GuyFamily Guy Family GuyFamily Guy Rick MortyRick Morty Smiling AdultSwim Oh My God
TRAVEL 63 196 277 Aliens "The Mother Ship" Alaska Haunting "Where Evil Lives" Alaska Haunting "Cursed Alaskan Cabin" (N) Alaska Haunting "Ghostly Bedfellows" (N) Alaska Haunting
TRUTV 65 242 246 Movie <++ Aquaman (2018, Action) Amber Heard,Willem Dafoe, Jason Momoa. <++ Black Adam (‘22)Aldis Hodge,Dwayne Johnson. < Clash of the Titans (‘10) Sam Worthington. (P) TVLND 30 106 304 Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two MenTwo MenTwo MenTwo MenTwo and a Half Men Two MenTwo Men Seinfeld Seinfeld Seinfeld Seinfeld
Law-SVU "Recall" Law-SVU "Cold" Law-SVU "Official Story" Law & Order: SVULaw-SVU "Net Worth" Law-SVU
Noticias (L) (N) Noticiero Univisión
(‘00, History)Joaquin Phoenix,Connie Nielsen, Russell Crowe. Movie
Knick
Knick The Knick < Your Monster (‘24)Melissa Barrera. <++ Going the Distanc e (‘10)Drew Barrymore. Movie
Flight (‘24)Josh Hartnett. <++ The Equalizer 2 (‘18)Denzel Washington. Mayor of "My Way" <++ Shooter (‘07) Michael Peña,Mark Wahlberg.
(‘12)
Ealy. Spartacus: Ashur Power Book IV: Force Spartacus: Ashur Power Book IV: Force Spartacus: Ashur Power Book IV: Force
The Widowmaker (‘02) Liam Neeson,Harrison Ford. < Gasoline Alley (‘22) Bruce Willis < The Survivalist (‘21) John Malkovich. <++ Uncommon Valor (‘83)Gene Hackman.
Highlights
thisweek
Sunday
All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece
WILL 7:00 p.m.
This Season 5 premiere finds the people of Yorkshire Dales dealing with the spring of 1941 and the Second World War. To help out, Siegfried (Samuel West) lends a hand in surgery, while Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) and Helen (Rachel Shenton) try to serve.
Monday FBI
(2) WBBM WCIA 7:00 p.m.
Before holiday plans can be set into mo tion, there’s work to be done. The agents put their festivities aside to tackle a seemingly straight forward murder investigation, only for it to take a shocking turn that puts all of New York City in harm’s way.
Tuesday
NCIS
(2) WBBM
7:00 p.m.
In the next episode, Mc Gee (Sean Murray) and Torres (Wilmer Valderra ma) find themselves on the hunt for a stolen truck filled with toys for the Navy’s annual Christmas drive. Mean while, Knight (Katrina Law) searches for a former member of the team.
Monday
Wednesday Survivor
(2) WBBM WCIA 7:00 p.m.
There can only be one! This season finale will finally reveal just which castaway did their best to outlast their rivals and went the distance. There’s been infighting and angry exchanges, but Jeff Probst will hand someone a check for $1 million.
Thursday
Next Level Baker
(32) WFLD 7:00 p.m.
Gordon Ramsay hosts the season finale of this holiday baking competition. The bakers compete on a massive threetiered set, aiming to create eye-popping festive delights that will impress mentors Carla Hall and Candace Nelson for
Saturday A Make or Break Holiday HALL 7:00 p.m.
Liv (Hunter King) and Daniel (Evan Roderick) have made the decision to take a
break from their relationship. But they’ve already planned to host Christmas for their families and don’t want to disappoint them, creating a memorable holiday celebration.
Kevin Alejandro,
(11) WTTW 7:00 p.m.
Hope of the Season: Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir
Embrace the holidays with “Hope of the Season: Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir,” a special presentation airing on PBS this Monday, Dec. 15. The 360-member Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square share songs and stories of Christmas. Actors Dennis Haysbert and Ruthie Ann Miles join the ensemble.
M Xmas Gold Nestor Christmas <++ Mr. Mom (‘83) Teri Garr, Michael Keaton. <++ Nanny McPhee (‘05) Emma Thompson. <+++ The Polar Express (‘04) Tom Hanks. Movie
T Frosty's Christmas <+++ Mrs. Doubtfire (1993,Children) Sally Field,Robin Williams . <++ Jumanji (1995,Children) Bonnie Hunt,Robin Williams. <++++ The Wizard of Oz (‘39) W <++ Daddy Day Care (‘03) <++ Yes Man (2008,Comedy) Zooey Deschanel, Jim Carrey. <++ Click (2006,Comedy) Kate Beckinsale, Adam Sandler. <++ National Lampoon's Vacation Th <+++ March of the Wooden Soldi... <++ Four Christmases (‘08) Vince Vaughn. <++ Jack Frost (1998,Children) Kelly Preston,Michael Keaton. <++ Fred Claus (‘07) Vince Vaughn. F Year Without a Santa <+ Vegas Vacation (‘97) Chevy Chase. <++ Liar Liar (‘97) Maura Tierney,Jim Carrey. <+ Deck the Halls (‘06,Com) Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito. Movie
ANPL 66 (M-W) The Aquarium / (Th F) Scaled The Vet Life / (F) River Monsters My Cat From Hell / (F) River Monsters My Cat From Hell / (F) River Monsters Pit Bulls and ParoleesPit Bulls and Parolees Various Various
M <++ Taking Woodstock (‘09) I Love LA Music Box: Wizkid: Long Live Lagos <+++ The Peanut Butter Falcon I Love LA <+++ Sorry, Baby (‘25) Eva Victor. I Love LA
T <+++ Dangerous Liai <+++ Girls Trip (‘17) Queen Latifah, Regina Hall. Music Box: Wizkid: Long Live Lagos IT: Welcome to Derry <++ The Conjuring: Last Rites (‘25)
W The Shuffle <+++ The Town (‘10) Rebecca Hall,Ben Affleck. < Friendship (‘25) Tim Robinson. <+++ Weapons (2025,Horror) Julia Garner, Josh Brolin IT: Welcome to Derry
Th <++ 50 First Dates <+ Get a Job (‘16) Miles Teller. Hard Knocks IT: Welcome to Derry <+ The Watch (‘12,Com) Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller. <+++ Materialists (‘25)
F <++ Table 19 (‘17) <++ It: Chapter Two (‘19) James McAvoy,Jessica Chastain <++ The Conjuring: Last Rites (‘25) Patrick Wilson. <+++ Call Me by Your Name (‘17)
M <++++ 2001: A Space Odyssey (‘68) <++ The Flash (‘23,Act) Sasha Calle,Ezra Miller. <++ The Mummy (‘17) Tom Cruise. <+++ My Cousin Rachel (‘17) Rachel Weisz.
T < Janet Planet (‘23) <++ Pan (‘15) Hugh Jackman < Oracle (‘23) Ryan Destiny <++ The Belko Experiment (‘16) <++ A Cure for Wellness (‘16) Dane DeHaan.
W <++ Black Adam (‘22) <+++ Captain Fantastic (‘16) Viggo Mortensen. <++ The First Monday in May (‘16) <+++ Ruby Sparks (‘12) Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano. <+++ Speed (‘94) Keanu Reeves.
Th <+++ The Color Purple <++ Queer (2024,Biography) Drew Starkey,Daniel Craig < 2 Days in New York (‘12) <++ The 9th Life of Louis Drax (‘16) <++ Tuesday (‘23)
F Movie < Amityville: Where the Echo Lives <++ Sleepwalking (‘08) Nick Stahl. <+++ It Follows (‘14) <++ The Belko Experiment (‘16) <++ Trap (‘24)
M <+ Grown Ups (‘10) Adam Sandler. <+ Grown Ups 2 (‘13) Kevin James ,Adam Sandler < Guns Up (‘25) Kevin James. <+++ Rocketman (‘19) Taron Egerton. <+++ Fargo (‘96)
T < Murder Company <++++ Goodfellas (‘90,Cri) Ray Liotta,Robert De Niro. <++ Treasure (‘24) Stephen Fry,Lena Dunham <++ Rumours (‘24) Cate Blanchett. < Shell (‘24)
W <++++ Raging Bull (‘80) <+++ Heat (1995,Crime Story) Robert De Niro,Al Pacino. < The Last Stop in Yuma County <+++ The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Micha
Th Movie <+++ Happy Christmas (‘14) <++ Slingshot (‘24) Casey Affleck. <++ Shaft (‘00) Samuel L. Jackson. <++ Scream 4 (‘11) Neve Campbell < The Cut
F <++++ Indiana Jones & the Raiders of the Lost <+++ Ocean's Thirteen (P) (‘07) George Clooney < American Renegades (‘17) <++ Masterminds (‘16) Zach Galifianakis Movie
M Movie <+++ American Gangster (‘07) Denzel Washington. < Survive (‘22,Dra) Corey Hawkins,Sophie Turner. < Ex-Husbands (P) (‘23) Griffin Dunne. Spartacus: Ashur Movie
T < Hostile Takeover < Survive (‘22,Dra) Corey Hawkins,Sophie Turner. <+++ The Bourne Legacy (‘12) Jeremy Renner. < Sugar Baby (‘24) Mary Beth Barone. < Hostile Takeover (‘25)
STARZ 533
W <++ Maleficent (‘14) Elle Fanning, Angelina Jolie. <+ Mother's Day (‘16) Jennifer Aniston. <+++ Minority Report (2002,Sci-Fi) Colin Farrell, Tom Cruise. <+++ Loving (P) (‘16) Joel Edgerton.
Th < Greedy People (‘24) <+++ Loving (‘16) Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton. <+ Addicted (‘14,Dra) Boris Kodjoe, Sharon Leal. Spartacus: Ashur < There's Something in the Barn Movie
M <++ Think Like a Man (‘12) <++ Miami Vice (‘06) Jamie Foxx,Colin Farrell <+++ Hot Fuzz (2007,Comedy) Nick Frost, Simon Pegg <++ The Dilemma (‘11) Movie
T <+++ Bleed for This (‘16) Miles Teller. <++ Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion <+ Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas <+++ Bleed for This (‘16) Miles Teller. Movie
F Movie <+++ From the World of John Wick: Ballerina < The Perfect Christmas (‘23) Gigi Orsillo. <+ Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas < Unexpected Christmas (‘25) Lil Rel Howery. STZENC 517
W <+++ Casino (1995,Crime Story) Sharon Stone, Robert De Niro. <++ 1992 (2022,Action) Ray Liotta, Tyrese Gibson. <+++ From the World of John Wick: Ballerina <++ Stone (‘10)
Th < You, Me & Her (‘23) Sydney Park. <+ The Strangers: Chapter 1 (‘24) <+ Collide (‘16) Nicholas Hoult. <+++ The Best Christmas Pageant < The Plus One (‘23,Rom) Michelle Hurd, Ashanti. F <+ Borderlands (‘24) <++ Waterworld (‘95) Kevin Costner. <++ The Dilemma (‘11) Vince Vaughn. < There's Something in the Barn (‘23) <++ Waterworld (‘95)
M Movie <+++ The Great Debaters (‘07) Denzel Washington. <+++ An Officer and a Gentleman (‘82) <++ The House of Mirth (‘00) Gillian Anderson. <+++ A Single Man
T <+++ Witness (‘85) < The Dead Don't Hurt (‘23) Vicky Krieps. <++ Anthropoid (2016,History) Jamie Dornan, Cillian Murphy < London Town (‘16) < Earth Mama (‘23)
W < What Remains (‘22) Cress Williams. < The Survivalist (‘21) <++ Dean (‘16) Demetri Martin. <++ The Romantics (‘10) <++ Mouse Hunt (‘97) Lee Evans,Nathan Lane. Th <+ An Invisible Sign <++ Love Me (‘24) Kristen Stewart. < Belushi (2020,Documentary) <+++ Saturday Night Fever (‘77) John Travolta. <++ K-19: The Widowmaker (‘02) F <++ The Space Betwe < Queen of the Desert (‘15,Hist) James Franco, Nicole Kidman. <+++ Good Kill (‘14) Ethan Hawke. <+++ Total Recall (‘90) Arnold Schwarzene gger. <+++ Hugo (‘11) 8 AM 8:30 9 AM 9:30 10 AM 10:30 11 AM 11:30 12 PM 12:30 1 PM 1:30 2 PM
From the list below, find each word and circle its letters in the puzzle to reveal the message relating to this week’s topic.
The Leftovers
Sports this week
SUNDAY
10:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Brentford vs. Leeds United. (Live) (2:00)
Noon (2) WBBM WCIA (32) WFLD NFL Football (Live) (3:25)
(7) WLS Women’s College Basketball Teams TBA. (Live) (2:00)
BIG10 College Basketball Texas Southern at Minnesota. (Live) (2:00)
GOLF PGA Tour Golf Grant Thornton Invitational, Final Round. (Live) (1:00)
1:00 p.m. (5) WMAQ PGA Tour Golf Grant Thornton Invitational, Final Round. (Live) (2:00)
GOLF PGA Korn Ferry Tour Golf Q-School Finals, Final Day. (Live) (2:00)
2:00 p.m. (7) WLS Women’s College Volleyball NCAA Tournament, Regional Final: Teams TBA. (Live) (2:00)
BIG10 College Basketball Western Michigan at Iowa. (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 College Basketball Troy at Alabama-Birmingham. (Live) (2:00)
3:00 p.m. (5) WMAQ FIS Snowboard World Cup FIS Snowboard World Cup. Big Air World Cup. (Live) (2:00)
3:25 p.m. (2) WBBM WCIA (32) WFLD NFL Football (Live) (3:05)
6:30 p.m. ESPN Women’s College Volleyball (Live) (2:00)
7:15 p.m. (5) WMAQ NFL Football Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys. (Live) (3:15)
MONDAY
2:00 p.m. USA Premier League Soccer Manchester United vs. Bournemouth. (Live) (2:00)
7:00 p.m. ESPN NFL Football Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers. (Live) (3:15)
ESPN2 NFL Football Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli: Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers. (Live) (3:15)
TUESDAY
6:00 p.m. ESPN College Basketball Louisville at Tennessee. (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 College Basketball South Carolina at Clemson. (Live) (2:00)
GOLF Golf 2025 Notah Begay III Boys Junior National Championship. (Live) (2:00)
6:30 p.m. TRU TNT NHL Hockey Edmonton Oilers at Pittsburgh Penguins. (Live) (2:30)
8:00 p.m. ESPN College Football IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30)
ESPN2 College Basketball Towson at Kansas. (Live) (2:00)
GOLF Golf 2025 Notah Begay III Girls Junior National Championship. (Live) (2:00)
9:00 p.m. BIG10 Women’s College Basketball Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo at UCLA. (Live) (2:00)
TRU TNT NHL Hockey Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken. (Live) (3:00)
WEDNESDAY
4:00 p.m. ESPN College Football StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Teams TBA. (Live) (2:00)
9:00 p.m. TRUTNT NHL Hockey New Jersey Devils at Vegas Golden Knights. (Live) (3:00)
10:00 p.m. BIG10 College Basketball Portland at Oregon. (Live) (2:00)
THURSDAY
5:30 p.m. ESPN Women’s College Volleyball (Live) (2:00)
6:00 p.m. ESPN2 Women’s College Basketball South Carolina at South Florida. (Live) (2:00)
8:00 p.m. ESPN Women’s College Volleyball (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 College Football (Live) (3:30)
FRIDAY
10:00 a.m. ESPN College Football Myrtle Beach Bowl: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30)
11:00 a.m. GOLF Golf PNC Championship Pro-Am. (Live) (2:30)
1:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30)
7:00 p.m. (7) WLS ESPN College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30) (32) WFLD College Basketball Wisconsin vs. Villanova. (Live) (2:00)
8:30 p.m. TRU TNT College Basketball Abilene Christian at BYU. (Live) (2:00)
9:00 p.m. BIG10 College Basketball Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo at UCLA. (Live) (2:00) 10:30 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Washington at Seattle. (Live) (2:00)
SATURDAY
9:00 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Manchester City vs. West Ham United. (Live) (2:00) 11:00 a.m. (7) WLS ESPN College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:40)
BIG10 College Basketball Oakland vs. Michigan State. (Live) (2:00)
11:30 a.m. (2) WBBM WCIA College Basketball St. John’s vs. Kentucky. (Live) (2:30) (5) WMAQ Premier League Soccer Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool. (Live) (2:00) USA College Basketball Liberty at Dayton. (Live) (2:00)
1:00 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Memphis at Mississippi State. (Live) (2:00)
1:30 p.m. (5) WMAQ Golf PNC Championship, Day 1. (Live) (3:00)
2:00 p.m. (2) WBBM WCIA College Basketball Ohio State vs. North Carolina. (Live) (2:30)
2:30 p.m. TRU TNT College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30) TBS College Football (Live) (3:30)
3:00 p.m. (7) WLS College Football FCS Division I Championship, Semifinal: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00)
ESPN2 College Football NCAA Division II Championship: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00)
4:00 p.m. (32) WFLD NFL Football Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00)
4:30 p.m. (2) WBBM WCIA College Basketball Houston vs. Arkansas. (Live) (2:30)
5:00 p.m. BIG10 College Basketball Bucknell at Iowa. (Live) (2:00)
ESPN College Basketball Maryland at Virginia. (Live) (2:00)
6:30 p.m. TRU TNT College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30)
ESPN2 College Football FCS Division I Championship, Semifinal: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00) TBS College Football (Live) (3:30)
Solution on page 6
6:30 p.m. TRU TNT NHL Hockey Utah Mammoth at Detroit Red Wings. (Live) (2:30)
GOLF USA Optimum Golf Channel Games (Live) (3:00)
7:30 p.m. ESPN College Football 68 Ventures Bowl: Teams TBA. (Live) (3:30) 8:00 p.m. BIG10 College Basketball Texas-San Antonio at USC. (Live) (2:00)
7:00 p.m. (32) WFLD NFL Football Teams TBA. (Live) (3:00)
BIG10 College Basketball Pennsylvania at Rutgers. (Live) (2:00)
ESPN College Basketball Duke vs. Texas Tech. (Live) (2:00)
9:30 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Teams TBA. (Live) (2:00)
MONDAY PRIME TIME
DECEMBER 15, 2025
123 127 251 Snapped Snapped Snapped: Behind Bar sSnapped "Joann Helfrich" SnappedSnapped Snapped "Verina Childs" Snapped "Wendy Cobb" PARMT 49 241 241 Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two MenTwo Men <++
Vaughn.
Queer (‘24, Bio)Drew Starkey, Lesley Manville, Daniel Craig. <+ A Thousand Words Eddie Murphy. < Balls Out (‘14)Nikki Reed,Jake Lacy. <++ Love Happens
Made (‘17)Tom Cruise. Mayor of (N)
American Sniper (‘14) Sienna Miller,Bradley Cooper (P) < Guns Up (‘25) Kevin James. Movie
Gangster (‘07) Russell Crowe,Denzel Washington. Power Book IV: Force Spartacus: Ashur < Eye for an Eye (‘25) Finn Bennett. (P) Couple
Chocolat (‘00) Juliette Binoche. <+++ The Duchess (‘08) Keira Knightley. <+++ Mansfield Park (‘99) Embeth Davidtz. < Breakfast at Tiffany's
TUESDAY PRIME TIME
DECEMBER 16, 2025
PARMT 49 241 241 Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two MenTwo Men <+++ Django Unchained (2012, Western) Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio,Jamie Foxx. < American Sniper SYFY 160 122 244 <+++ Troy (‘04) Brad Pitt. <++ The Expendables (‘10)Sylvester Stallone. <++ The Expendables 2 (‘12) Jason Statham,Sylvester Stallone. <+++ M3GAN (‘22) Allison Williams
TBS 29 139 247
of
< I
a
From
<+++ Wuthering Heights (‘39) Merle Oberon. <+++ The Divorce of Lady X (‘38)Merle Oberon. < 'Til We Meet Again
TLC 42 183 280 7 Little Johnstons Baylen Out "Saddle Up!" Baylen Out LoudBaylen Out Loud (N) Baylen Out Loud (N) 7 Little Johnstons (N) Sister Wives (N) Baylen Out Loud
71 - - Paid Prog. Gospel Paid Prog. Prophecy The 700 Club NewsJeffressTurningRobert RobisonElevation Russ & MekPaid Prog.Answers
Doménica Montero (N) Monteverde (N)
Noticias (L) (N)
Noticiero (L) (N) Contacto deportivo (L) (N)
Crashers (‘05)Owen Wilson. Hard Knocks (N)
LA Hard Knocks IT: Welcome to DerryHard
(‘17) Saoirse Ronan.
Unknown (‘11)Diane Kruger, Liam Neeson. < Knox Goes Away (‘23)Al Pacino,Michael Keaton. <+++ St. Vincent (‘14) Bill Murray. Movie
< Shell Elisabeth Moss. <++++ The Godfather (‘72, Cri)Al Pacino, James Caan, Marlon Brando. <++++ Goodfellas (‘90)Ray Liotta,Joe Pesci,Robert De Niro. <+++ Chuck (‘16)Liev Schreiber.
Eye for an Eye (‘25) Finn Bennett. <++ The Change-Up (‘11) Ryan Reynolds. <+++ The Bourne Legacy (‘12)Jeremy Renner. < Hostile Takeover Michael Jai White. Couple
Movie <+++ Patriots Day (‘16) Kevin Bacon,Mark Wahlberg. < The Dead Don't Hurt (‘23)Vicky Krieps. < Outlaw Posse (‘24)Mario Van Peebles. <+ Halloween II
Toxin city
‘Fallout’ is back with a radioactive new season
By Sarah Passingham TV Media
Not even a nuclear blast can silence the siren song of the once-whizzing slot machines on the strip in Sin City. A woman, her dog and a ghoul trek across the Mojave wasteland toward New Vegas in the much-anticipated second season of “Fallout,” premiering Wednesday, Dec. 17, on Prime Video. The eight-episode season drops new installments weekly.
Ella Purnell (“Yellowjackets”) returns as Lucy, a former luxury Vault-Tec dweller who got a crash course in survival during the first season of “Fallout.” After Lucy escaped the underground community she was raised in, she was forced to learn how to live on the post-apocalyptic surface. In search of the reason behind the attack on her vault that drove her outside, Lucy took her endless positivity and naiveté into a toxic, cynical world two centuries deep into a nuclear holocaust.
On the surface, Lucy encountered the Ghoul (Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus”), a foeturned-friend whose disillusioned worldview broke her spirit as a courtesy. Maximus (Aaron Moten, “Next”), an armored squire of the Brotherhood of Steel, also found Lucy in the wasteland. While Maximus was just a cog in the machine of the Brotherhood at the beginning, a relatively routine mission gone wrong put him on Lucy and the Ghoul’s path and revealed the complexities of the world he previously thought was simple.
This season, Lucy and the Ghoul trace the path of her father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan, “The Lowdown”), across the desert with man’s best friend, CX404. Having escaped the sinking ship of Los Angeles in an armored suit in the Season 1 finale, Hank took off toward the ruins of Las Vegas, where his daughter and her companions will fight to find him in the upcoming season. With the vision of her father as the ultimate benevolent leader shattered, Lucy must pick herself up and try to hold him accountable. Maximus, now a knighted member of the Brotherhood, must return to the life he learned too much about to truly believe in.
With lots of time to get to know each other on their way to Las Vegas, the Ghoul asks Lucy in the upcoming season’s trailer what exactly she plans to do once they find her father in Sin City. “I’m gonna bring him to justice. So people know that how they conduct themselves matters, and they don’t give up hope.” Eternally optimistic, even in the face of monsters and badlands, Lucy is determined to live by the ideals she was raised on, even if they were a facade.
Delightfully gruesome creatures molded by nuclear fallout continue to reveal themselves this season. Creepy crawlies have grown exponentially larger than what we’re familiar with — a
tarantula spanning the width of a set of double doors devours a cat-sized scorpion in the trailer — and characters are mutating before our very eyes.
Maximus’ Brotherhood companion Thaddeus (Johnny Pemberton, “Superstore”) is growing teeth from his collarbone after ingesting a lifesaving radioactive elixir last season. Finally, it wouldn’t be Vegas without The King. A roving gang of undead Elvis Presley impersonators still occupy the strip and make trouble for Lucy in the trailer.
Returning this season are Moises Arias (“The King of Staten Island,” 2020) as Lucy’s brother, Norm, still a member of the vault; and Frances Turner (“The Boys”) as Barb, a Vault-Tec executive and wife of the Ghoul in his former human life before the Great War of 2077, when he was Hollywood actor and spokesperson Cooper Howard.
New cast member Justin Theroux (“Running Point”) joins the series this season as Robert House, revealed in the teaser trailer in a scene before the war, where he’s intimidating Cooper from the pilot’s seat of his luxurious Las Vegas office-meets-command center. Macaulay Culkin (“The Righteous Gemstones”) also joins the cast in a yet-unnamed role in the upcoming season.
Culkin made a brief appearance in the trailer, but aside from what video game fans can interpret from his armored costuming, there’s no official word on his character yet. New cast member Kumail Nanjiani (“Only Murders in the Building”) also popped up in the trailer, making a big entrance and telling members of the Brotherhood gathered in an aircraft hangar, “I understand we’re discussing a civil war. I must not have gotten my invitation.”
“Fallout” is inspired by one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. This season uses the setting of the franchise’s fourth mainline release, 2010’s Fallout: New Vegas. The series was co-created by Graham Wagner (“Silicon Valley”) and Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Tomb Raider,” 2018). The series is executive produced alongside Wagner and Robertson-Dworet by Jonathan Nolan (“Westworld”), Lisa Joy (“Burn Notice”) and Athena Wickham (“Person of Interest”) for Kilter Films, who also serve as showrunners.
Screen Scramble
Unscramble the letters for each word to reveal five movies and TV shows. Then, rearrange the circled letters to discover the actor who has appeared in all five.
Solution on page 2
By Caroline Collacutt TV Media
“[Giving] viewers a front-row seat to how she decks the halls — and sets the table,” (per Elle Decor), the sensational seasonal special, “With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration,” is now available to stream on Netflix.
Archewell Productions released a press release ahead of the special’s debut, stating that viewers will “join Meghan in [Montecito, California], for a magical holiday celebration. Together, friends and family deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts and share lots of laughs — with simple howtos to follow at home. It’s a holiday wonder with warmth, tradition and a generous dose of joy.”
During the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in October, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, herself teased that the special was “a really good one,” revealing it would include “lots of gift wrapping techniques.” The California-based royal first picked up the skill while teaching advanced gift wrapping at Paper Source during her early acting days, picking up shifts to make extra money between auditions. Now, her wrapping techniques prove more useful than ever before. “That’s not the full circle I was expecting,” she said, “but here we are.”
A trailer for “Holiday Celebration” sees its host shopping for Christmas trees and completing some festive crafts, even sharing sneak peeks of two special guests:
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in “With
Meghan’s husband, Prince Harry, and four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka. According to Women’s Wear Daily, appearances will also be made by chef Tom Colicchio (“Top Chef”), restaurateur Will Guidara, author Lindsay Roth (“What Pretty Girls Are Made Of”) and close friend to Meghan, Kelly Zajfen.
Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration”
Walton Goggins and Frances Turner in “Fallout”
Crossword
Across
1. Art ___
5. “___: Cyber”
8. Not hearing
12. Author Turgenev
13. ___ Goodman Mirrorball Trophy (“Dancing with the Stars” cup)
14. European erupter
15. Sensation, slangily
16. Kim Kardashian series
18. Sarah Snook series
20. Article for Mozart
21. Golfer Michelle
22. Payables
24. Become narrower
28. Former “American Idol” judge, briefly
29. Put
30. ___ sense (ESP)
33. Urgent
35. Louis XIV, e.g.
37. Eternally
38. Kathryn Hahn series
42. “The Green Hornet” star
44. “Chiquitita” quartet
45. Have a hankering
46. Be mistaken
47. Archeological site
48. Misses
49. Oil source
50. “Cómo ___?”
Down
1. Prima donna
2. It’s not good
3. TV adjunct that gets you more channels
4. Like some wonders
5. ___ Boothe Luce
6. Ego
7. Acquired relative
8. Stop Spot’s scratching
9. Ministre d’___
10. Singer DiFranco
11. Distant
17. Exec
19. Lt.’s inferior
22. Plays, as at a wedding
23. Yale Bowl player
25. Rhea Seehorn series
26. Pack away
27. Potent potable
31. Remnants
32. Improve
33. Prefix with fauna
34. Basso Siepi
36. Runs in neutral
37. Completely
38. Robert of HBO’s “Arli$$”
39. Dynamic beginning
40. Parting words
41. Pop’s mom
42. Breathalyzer attachment
43. Big TV maker
Solution on page 6
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DECEMBER 17, 2025
Sailor Douglas Fairbanks Jr.. <+++ Emma (‘96) Gwyneth Paltrow. <+++ Sense and Sensibility (‘95)Emma Thompson. Movie TLC 42 183 280 Hoarding: Buried Alive Hoarding: Buried Alive Obese "A Heavy Secret" Dangerously Obese (N) Dangerously Obese (N) AddictionAddictionAddictionAddictionDangerously Obese
71 - - Paid Prog. Our Vets Paid Prog. Newswatch The 700 Club BaptistJeffressTurning Robert RobisonElevation ExaltedSingsationThe
Meyers (N)
Noticiero (L) (N) Contacto deportivo (L) (N)
Figures (‘16)Octavia Spencer,Taraji P. Henson. I Love LA
Reiner
Spinal Tap II: End Cont Hard Knocks I Love LA
Getaway (‘13) Ethan Hawke.
Public Enemies (‘09)Christian Bale,Johnny Depp.
2:22 (‘17) Michiel Huisman. <++ The 33 (‘15)Rodrigo Santoro,Antonio Banderas.
Bull (‘80) Cathy Moriarty, Robert De Niro. <+++ Heat (1995, Crime Story) Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer,Al Pacino. <++++ Taxi Driver (‘76) Robert De Niro.
of the Manor (‘21)Melanie Lynskey.
Report (‘02) Colin Farrell, Tom Cruise. <+ Shadow Force
THURSDAY PRIME TIME
DECEMBER 18, 2025
(N) Last Word (L) (N) 11th-Stephanie (L) (N) The Briefing MTV 60 160 331 Ridiculous Ridiculous Ridiculous Ridiculous <+ Big Daddy (‘99)Adam Sandler. <++ Happy Gilmore (‘96)Adam Sandler. <+ Billy Madison (‘95) Adam Sandler. NICK 31 170 299 SpongeBob OddParents SpongeBob SpongeBob Loud HouseLoud House SpongeBobSpongeBob Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends FriendsFriends OXY 123 127 251 Dateline "The House" Unforgettable "The Haunted House Confession" Dateline: Unforgettable "The Agent's Wife" (N) Dateline "Breakout" Dateline: Unforgettable "The Agent's Wife"
49 241 241 Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two MenTwo Men <++ The
Rim (2013, Sci-Fi)Diego Klattenhoff,Idris Elba,Charlie Hunnam. <++ Pacific Rim Uprising (‘18)John Boyega. TBS 29 139 247 Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big BangBig BangBig Bang Big Bang Big BangBig Bang Big Bang Big BangBig BangBig Bang < Never Been Kisse d
<++
Kind of
(‘63) Paul Newman. <+++ Heaven Can Wait (‘43)Gene Tierney. <+++ Angel on My Shoulder (‘46) Paul Muni. <++ Cabin in the Sky
TLC 42 183 280 90 Day Diaries 90 Day Fiancé: Other 90 Day Fiancé: Other90 Day Fiancé: Other (N) 90 Day Fiancé: Other (N) 90 Day Fiancé90 Day Fiancé 90 Day Fiancé: Other TLN 71 - - CrossTalk Paid Prog. Paid Prog. Newswatch The 700 Club Julia JeffressTurningRobert RobisonElevationFaithwire Dan Willis Ambo TV TNT 52 138 245 <+++ Twister (‘96) Bill
Griffith The Andy Griffith Show Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond EverybodyRaymond Raymond RaymondKingKingKingKing USA 51 105 242 Law-SVU "Hate" Law-SVU "Ritual" Law-SVU "Families" <+++ Creed (‘15, Dra) Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson,Michael B. Jordan. <+++ Creed II (‘18) Michael B. Jordan.
<+
(L) (N) Noticiero (L) (N) Contacto
Green, Orlando Bloom.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 <++ The Dilemma (‘11)Vince Vaughn. <+ Borderlands (‘24) Cate Blanchett. Movie
Hard Knocks
The Color Purple (‘23) Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia. Music Box: Counting (N) In The Flesh (L) (N) Music Box: Counting
Thousand Words Eddie Murphy. <+++ Past Lives (‘23)Greta Lee. <++ The Mountain Between Us Kate Winslet. < Janet Planet (‘23)Zoe Ziegler,Julianne Nicholson.
Cut (‘24) Orlando Bloom. <+++ First Blood Sylvester Stallone. <+++ Django Unchained (‘12) Christoph Waltz,Jamie Foxx. <++ Shaft (‘00) Samuel L. Jackson. Movie
Pretty Thing < Greedy People (‘24) Joseph Gordon-Levitt. < Eye for an Eye (‘25) Finn Bennett. Spartacus: Ashur < There's Something in the Barn Couple
Widowmaker <++ Indecent Proposal (‘93)Robert Redford. <+++ Gangs of New York (‘02)Leonardo DiCaprio. <++++ Taxi Driver (‘76) Robert De Niro. Movie
By Kimberly Tremblay TV Media
WHAT’S NEW ON ACORN TV
“The Madame Blanc Mysteries” - Christmas Special
A festive night of art and intrigue takes a perilous turn when “The Madame Blanc Mysteries’” Christmas special premieres Monday, Dec. 15, on Acorn TV. This year’s Christmas special sends Jean White (Sally Lindsay, “Still Open All Hours”) to the Musee de Sainte Victoire, where she’s asked to authenticate a newly acquired treasure — a rare Ormolu box once owned by Marie Antoinette herself. Joined by Dom (Steve Edge, “Cruella,” 2021), Judith (Sue Holderness, “EastEnders”) and Jeremy (Robin Askwith, “Coronation Street”) for an exclusive Christmas Eve event, Jean’s routine assessment unravels when she discovers a ticking bomb concealed inside the historic piece. With only 90 minutes before it explodes, the museum goes into lockdown, a security guard turns up dead and the group must decipher a hidden code before disaster strikes. Created by Lindsay and Sue Vincent (“Bad Move”) — who stars as Gloria in the series — returning cast members include Alex Gaumond (“Derry Girls”) and Tony Robinson (“Maid Marian and Her Merry Men”), with John Thomson (“Coronation Street”), Kacey Ainsworth (“EastEnders”), Raji James (“Hollyoaks”) and Manjinder Virk (“Midsomer Murders”) also joining the cast for the special.
WHAT’S NEW ON HALLMARK+
“Oy to the World!” (2025)
Let the holiday spirit take center stage when “Oy to the World!” arrives Monday, Dec. 15, on Hallmark+. When a burst water line shuts down Temple Beth Am, its members suddenly need a new place to celebrate Hanukkah. Across the street, St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church welcomes them in without hesita-
tion, creating an unexpected shared home for two communities. With the final night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve landing on the same day, the reverend and rabbi decide to join forces for one combined service — leaving St. Joseph’s youth choir director Nikki Roberts (Brooke D’Orsay, “Royal Pains”) and Temple Beth Am’s substitute youth choir director Jake Cohen (Jake Epstein, “Suits”) to create a single music program. The problem? Nikki and Jake were once fierce high school rivals. As they work to pull off a fundraiser and a performance that matters to both congregations, Nikki and Jake have to put aside their differences, and in doing so, they discover teamwork can move mountains and open hearts, including their own. David Julian Hirsh (“Weeds”), Haven Gin (“Merry Magic Christmas,” 2023) and Ryder Miller (“Virgin River”) also star.
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU
“Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts”
Comedian Kumail Nanjiani (“Life as We Know It,” 2010) brings his signature sense of humor to a set centered on all the things in his life that go bump in the night when “Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts” debuts Friday, Dec. 19, on Hulu. Nanjiani returns
to the stage for his first stand-up special in nearly a decade with an hour of sharp, offbeat thoughts shaped by the odd, anxious and often hilarious ideas that keep him awake after dark. Drawing on the same wit that carried him through his Broadway turn as Mary’s husband in “Oh, Mary!,” Nanjiani explores the quirks of everyday life and the unexpected moments that unsettle him. The special also marks a new chapter in his creative work behind the scenes, joining Hulu’s “Hularious” slate with Nanjiani serving as an executive producer alongside Elan Gale (“The Life of Chuck,” 2024) and Bernie Schaeffer (“Edge of Alaska”).
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX
“Emily in Paris” - Season 5 Grab your passport! Emily’s next adventure awaits when Season 5 of “Emily in Paris” debuts Thursday, Dec. 18, on Netflix. Now the head of Agence Grateau, Emily (Lily Collins, “To the Bone,” 2017) finds her life split between Paris and Rome as she launches the agency’s new Italian office — a “tale of two cities” that brings fresh professional and romantic complications. Just as everything seems to click, a bold work idea backfires, sending ripples through
her career and personal life. Seeking stability, Emily embraces her French routine while navigating growing chemistry with Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini, “Don’t Leave Me”) and long-standing tension with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo, “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” 2022). However, a major secret soon jeopardizes one of her closest relationships. Through honesty and unexpected self-discovery, Emily gains deeper connections and renewed clarity. Season 5 also stars Ashley Park (“Only Murders in the Building”), Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (“Two Brothers,” 2004) and William Abadie (“Gossip Girl”).
WHAT’S NEW ON HBO MAX
“The Elephant”
A team of acclaimed animators embarks on an unpredictable creative experiment when “The Elephant” debuts Friday, Dec. 19, on Adult Swim and the following day on HBO Max. “The Elephant” brings together four visionary creators — Patrick McHale (“Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio,” 2022), Ian Jones-Quartey (“Steven Universe”), Rebecca Sugar (“Steven Universe”) and Pendleton Ward (“Adventure Time with Finn & Jake”) — for an animated special unlike anything they’ve attempted before. Designed as a narrative experiment, the project unfolds in three acts crafted independently, with Sugar and Jones-Quartey collaborating on one segment and McHale and Ward each guiding their own. Acting as “game masters,” Jack Pendarvis (“Adventure Time with Finn & Jake”) and Kent Osborne (“Kiff”) provide prompts that shape the story’s direction, allowing the creators to surprise one another as their distinct pieces ultimately merge into a single, unexpected narrative. Alongside the special, Adult Swim presents “Behind the Elephant,” a documentary offering a rare look into the creative process with interviews and production footage, highlighting the challenges, discoveries and spontaneity that define this boundary-pushing collaboration.
Sally Lindsay stars in “The Madame Blanc Mysteries” Christmas special
Lily Collins stars in “Emily in Paris”
A scene from “Adult Swim’s The Elephant”
FRIDAY PRIME TIME
DECEMBER 19, 2025
251 Snapped "Tracy Lawson" Snapped "Tina Lunney" SnappedSnapped "Rose Chase" SnappedSnapped "Colette Reyes " Snapped "Robyn Davis" Snapped
49 241 241 Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two MenTwo Men <++++ Goodfellas (1990, Crime Story) Ray Liotta,Joe Pesci,Robert De Niro. <+++ My Cousin Vinny Joe Pesci.
160
<+++ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone <+++ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret s (‘02) Rupert Grint,Daniel Radcliffe. < Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban TBS 29 139 247 Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang <+++ Wonka (‘23)Calah Lane, Hugh Grant, Timothée Chalamet. <+++ Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factor
(N)
<+++ National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Chevy Chase. Movie
<++ Waterworld <+ The Perfect Holiday (‘07) Gabrielle Union. <++++ E.T. the Extra-T errestrial Henry Thomas. <++ Venom (‘18)Michelle
Williams, Tom Hardy.
Kruger, Liam Neeson.
Perfect Getaway Steve Zahn.
The Flash (‘23) Sasha Calle,Michael Shannon,Ezra Miller.
Nights:
Flight (‘24)Josh Hartnett.
Ocean's Eleven (‘01)George Clooney. (P)
Ocean's Twelve (‘04)George Clooney. (P) < Ocean's Thirteen
Book IV: ForcePower Book IV: Force (N) Spartacus: Ashur (N) Power Book IV: Force Spartacus: Ashur Power Book IV: Force
(‘86)
Connelly,David Bowie.
Paranormal Activity
Activity
SATURDAY DAYTIME
DECEMBER 20, 2025
SpongeBob SpongeBob SpongeBob < Movie
123 127 251 Dateline: Secrets Dateline: Unforgettable "The Agent's Wife" Accident "The Big Shot" Accident, Suicide Accident, Suicide Accident "A Family Fight" Accident, Suicide
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone <+++ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret s (‘02) Rupert Grint,Daniel Radcliffe. < Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
TBS 29 139 247 Friends Friends Friends Friends FriendsBig BangBig Bang Big Bang Big BangBig BangBig BangBig Bang Big BangCollege Football (L) (N)
< Love Finds Andy Hardy <++ On Moonlight Bay (‘51) Doris Day. <++ Prancer (‘89) Rebecca Harrell,Sam Elliott. <+++ Three Godfather s (‘48) John Wayne. < The Thin Man
Dr. Pimple Popper Dr. Pimple Popper Dr. Pimple PopperHoarding forHoarding for Hoarding forHoarding forSister Wives
Goonies (‘85)Josh Brolin,Sean Astin.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Cousin Rachel (‘17) Rachel Weisz. < Battle of the Sexes
(‘97)
Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio. <++++ Goodfellas (‘90)Ray Liotta,Joe Pesci,Robert De Niro. <+++ Road to Perdition (‘02)Tom Hanks. < Saving Private Ryan
(‘18)
There Be
Power Book IV: Force
Crowe.
Duchess Keira Knightley.
in the Air (‘09) George Cl ooney. <++ Just Go With It (‘11)Adam Sandler. Movie
DECEMBER 20, 2025
ION WCPX (38) 13 38 38 Law-SVU "Return of the Prodigal Son"
Lampoon's
NFL Football Teams TBAFootball action from around the National Football League. (L) (N) Fox 32 News at Nine Saturday (N) The Backstage The Floor "Karma"
& Order: SVU "TrickRolled at the Moulin"
& Order: SVU "PostGraduate Psychopath"
in
"Wolves in
Clothing"
Vacation <+++ Elf (‘03) James Caan, Will Ferrell. <+++ National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation <+++ Elf (‘03) James Caan, Will Ferrell.
Treehouse Masters My Pet Ate My Pet AteMy Pet AteMy
Ice
<+
Next (2002, Comedy)Mike Epps,John Witherspoon, Ice Cube. <+++ The 40 Year-Old Virgin (‘05)Catherine Keener,Paul Rudd,Steve Carell.
Kelly McGillis,Tom Cruise. <++++ Forrest Gump (1994, Comedy Drama)Robin Wright,Gary Sinise,Tom Hanks. Gold. GirlsGold. Girls CNBC 59 208
American Greed American Greed American GreedAmerican GreedAmerican Greed American GreedAmerican GreedAmerican Greed
<+++
the Night" NCIS "Recruited" NCIS "Freedom "
War Z (‘13) Mireille Enos ,Brad Pitt. <+ After Earth (‘13)Jaden Smith. <+++ The Bourne Identity (‘02)Matt Damon. <+++ Looper (‘12) Bruce Willis
Blonde (‘17)Charlize Theron. To Be Announced Programming to be announced. It' I Love LA <++ Eddington
"Jacob Collier; Nickel Creek"
Joaquin Phoenix.
Goes Away (‘23)Al Pacino,Michael Keaton. < Batman: Killing Joke <++ Black Adam (‘22) Dwayne Johnson. <+ Getaway (‘13)Ethan Hawke. Movie
Ryan (‘98) Tom Hanks. <++++ The Godfather (‘72, Cri)Al Pacino, James Caan, Marlon Brando. <++++ The Godfather, Part II (‘74) Robert Duvall,Diane Keaton,Al Pacino.
Power Book IV: Force <+ The Intruder (‘19) Michael Ealy. Spartacus: Ashur Power Book IV: Force Spartacus: AshurPower IV
(‘02)
Hartnett. <+++ Up in the Air George Clooney. <++ Just Go With It (‘11)Adam Sandler. <+++ Chocolat Juliette Binoche.
By Adam Thomlison TV Media
Q: What’s going on with the second season of “The Night Manager”? Didn’t they announce that a while ago?
A: They’ve been slowly announcing a second season of “The Night Manager” for years now, but suddenly it’s all happening quickly. A teaser trailer was released a few weeks ago, and then, a premiere date, which is now just a few weeks away.
Season 2 of “The Night Manager” will premiere on Prime Video Sunday, Jan. 11, in North America (those lucky Brits get to see it early — New Year’s Day on the BBC).
With the trailer, the producers also finally shared some plot details. Having helped bring down international arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie, “House”), Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston, “Loki”) is now in London, working as a low-level MI-6 surveillance officer. But, according to the official description, “a chance sighting of an old Roper mercenary prompts a call to action” and pits him and his old spy-runner, Angela (Olivia Colman, “The Favourite,” 2018), against a new foe (Diego Calva, “Babylon,” 2022), this time in the sunny climes of Colombia.
These details have been a long time coming, as the show’s first season aired way back in 2016. At first, it was assumed to be a miniseries — it was based on a novel by John le Carre and told that whole story across its six episodes. But it was a runaway success, prompting increasing calls for more.
The producers finally relented in 2024, but
they did so in a big way: the BBC announced a renewal for two seasons at the same time. Hopefully the wait for Season 3 won’t be quite so long.
Q: I was just rewatching “Holiday in the Wild” (it’s one of my Christmas go-tos) and it got me wondering: what’s Kristin Davis up to now?
A: I’m going to assume you’re wondering what Kristin Davis has been doing besides the incredibly high-profile “Sex and the City” reboot series “And Just Like That...” But if that’s the case, the answer is not much — “And Just Like That...” has taken up nearly all of her time since its debut in 2021.
She found time to squeeze in a lead role in the 2024 indie action film “Cash Out,” opposite John
Travolta (“Pulp Fiction,” 1994), but that’s about it.
To be fair, “And Just Like That...” was a pretty all-consuming job. Not only is series television famously demanding, but this wasn’t just any show — it was one of the most famous series of the decade, and required huge amounts of promotional work on top of the filming.
It ran for three seasons on HBO, from 2021 until its cancellation earlier this year.
That cancellation brought one big, final flurry of media work. Davis was all over the headlines expressing her surprise at its cancellation (“I just assumed that we were gonna keep going,” she said on “The Drew Barrymore Show” in September) and at negative responses to the final season (“People have some super-strong feelings,” she said on her own podcast, “Are You a Charlotte”).
She’s also busy with other pursuits, most notably charity work. As a “Holiday in the Wild” fan, you may like to know that she’s an active participant in elephant conservation, working with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to protect wild elephants in East Africa. Indeed, it was this charitable work that led to the creation of the film in the first place.
Q: What has the actor who played Stevie been doing since “Schitt’s Creek”?
A: “Schitt’s Creek” was a great underdog story — a Canadian sitcom that slowly grew into a worldwide sensation — and its breakout cast members continue to reap the rewards.
Emily Hampshire, who played motel employee (and later owner) Stevie Budd, is a great example. Prior to the “Schitt’s Creek” premiere in 2015, she was a respected Canadian actress but had not really gained much success yet.
But today, a few years after the end of the sitcom in 2020, she’s an in-demand star who’s toplined multiple series —including 2021’s “Chapelwaite” and 2023’s “The Rig” — and is now playing the villain (or maybe not — the details are typically sketchy) in a new megabudget Marvel series.
News broke recently that she’d been cast as E.D.I.T.H., the artificial intelligence entity, in “VisionQuest,” a new show centered around the superhero Vision (Paul Bettany, “A Knight’s Tale,” 2001), himself an AI machine who became much more in the course of the smash-hit Avengers films.
Before that ever sees light of day, though, she’ll be appearing in the star-studded big-screen comedy “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,” which just wrapped filming, eyeing a release date sometime next year.
She’s also signed on to appear in another comedy film, “Slo Pitch,” about a beer-league ball team chasing limited glory. Few other details are known about that one.
Haveaquestion?Emailusat questions@tvtabloid.com.Pleaseincludeyour nameandtown.Personalreplieswillnotbeprovided.
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For Peace of Mind tomorrow, come and see the difference in the value, care and beauty of our sacred grounds and mausoleums. See why so many families are choosing All Saints TODAY! Visit us at 1839 W. State Rt. 102 in Bourbonnais!
Tom Hiddleston in “The Night Manager”