Dec. 15 – Dec. 21
Mark Wahlberg in a killer role, Willie Nelson’s birthday bash & celebrating Dick Van Dyke
FRIDAY, Dec. 15
The Family Plan
Mark Wahlberg stars in this new action comedy (above) as a car salesman dad confronting his past—as an elite government assassin—without revealing his long-hidden identity. With Michelle Monaghan (Apple TV+)
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
New stop-motion animated comedy, a spinoff of the original 2000 tale of “fowl play,” features more tales from the coop with voices of Imelda Staunton, Thandie Newton, Zachary Levi and Miranda Richardson (Netflix).
The National Christmas Tree Lighting
Light up your holiday mood with this annual TV special with an all-star lineup of performers at President’s Park in Washington, D.C. (8 p.m., CBS).
SATURDAY, Dec. 16
Small Town Christmas
Inside Edition’s Megan Alexander hosts season three of this spotlight on the expressions of fun, decorations, entertainment and faith of community Christmas celebrations across America (2 p.m., Fox Business News).
Luminaire Christmas
John Blasucci, formerly of Mannheim Steamroller, leads a rocking evening of reimagined hits and new seasonal songs with performances by artists from American Idol, The Voice, Blue Man Group and more (7:30 p.m., AXS TV).
SUNDAY, Dec. 17
The Sound of Music
The hills are alive, again, this holiday season for the annual TV airing of the feel-good 1965 classic (above), based on the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer (7 p.m., ABC).
Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Celebration
A host of stars come out to fete the iconic singer songwriter in this musical event, including The Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Keith Richards, George Strait and Chris Stapleton. Hosted by Jennifer Garner, Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren and Owen Wilson (8:30 p.m., CBS).
MONDAY, Dec. 18
Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas
Join the Scottish cook (above) in her homeland as she prepares iconic holiday dishes with her celebrity foodie friends (9 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Dec. 19
The Price is Right: Holiday Heroes
Military heroes compete for cash and prizes in this special edition of the game show (8 p.m., CBS).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
New series, based on the best-selling books by Rick Riordan, launches tonight with a two-episode premier about a 12-year-old kid (Walker Scobell) who’s actually a demigod accused by Zeus of stealing a lightning bolt, causing chaos and disorder in Olympus. With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Megan Mullaly and Jay Duplass (Disney+)
Maestro
Bradley Cooper (above) gives an Oscar-worthy performance (and directs!) as iconic classical-music composer Leonard Bernstein in this tale of his lifelong love to his wife Felicia (Carey Mulligan). If you missed it in theaters, you can see it now streaming (Netflix).
BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star
Eight-part docuseries the roots, rise and phenomenal success of the South Korean boy band that’s been capturing young hearts and amassing worldwide fans since 1983 (Disney+).
THURSDAY, Dec. 21
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capitol One
It’s a cumbersome title (duh, wonder who the sponsor is?) but this holiday musical special tight with with performances by Usher, Olivia Rodrigo, One Republic, Jelly Role and more (8 p.m., ABC).
Dr Death
Mandy Moore and Edgar Ramirez star in season two of this new series, based on the hit podcast about a charming young surgeon with deep secrets (Peacock).
Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic
This all-star tribute celebrates the acting icon’s milestone birthday as it time-travels back to the set of Van Dyke’s groundbreaking TV series of the 1960 with songs, special guests and lots of holiday magic and memories of his roles in Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and more (9 p.m., CBS).
READ ALL ABOUT IT
How did a raucous song from a festival all about drinking, gambling, fighting and sex become a cherished holiday classic? Pour yourself a cup of good cheer and find out in The 12 Days of Christmas: The Outlaw Carol That Wouldn’t Die (McFarland) by Harry Rand, a former Harvard prof who now works as a senior curator for the Smithsonian Institution.
BRING IT HOME
He was TV’s top cop a few decades ago, and now you own Columbo: The 1970s (KL Studio Classics), starring Peter Falk as the rumpled LA detective who made primetime a lot safer (and much more entertaining). This five-disc set includes seven full seasons of the show, with guest stars including Dick Van Dyke, William Shatner, Johnny Cash, Janet Leigh and Leonard Nimoy, and some episodes directed by Steven Spielberg!
The Media Tourist 