Dec. 13 – Dec. 19
An evening with Dua Lupa, rocking through the years with Elton, and Nate Bargatze’s all-star Nashville Christmas special
All times Eastern.
Elton John hangs with John Lennon in a new rock documentary.
FRIDAY, Dec. 13
Elton John: Never Too Late
The iconic singer reflects on his life and five-decade career in this new rock doc. Plus, you’ll get to hear a brand-new EJ song! (Disney+).
Wonder Pets: In the City
New animated series for preschoolers about a trio of critters (a snake, bunny and guinea pig) who live in a kindergarten in New York City when not zooming all over the world in a “Jetcar” to rescue other animals in need (Apple TV+).
SATURDAY, Dec. 14
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Jim Carrey is Ebenezer Scrooge in this 2009 retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, with The Princess Bride’s Robin Wright and Cary Elwes in bit parts (10 a.m., Freeform).
Christmas All the Way Marathon
Celebrate the upcoming holiday with Elf, Four Christmases and The Polar Express (AMC).
SUNDAY, Dec. 15
Dexter: Original Sin
TV’s favorite serial killer returns for a new origin-story series starring Patrick Gibson and Christian Slater, with a special guest appearance by Sarah Michelle Geller (Paramount+).
An Evening with Dua Lipa
The global superstar (above) performs her hits and new material with backing by a symphony orchestra in London’s famed Albert Hall (8:30 p.m., CBS).
MONDAY, Dec. 16
Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry
Little Big Town hosts this all-star musical holiday celebration from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, with performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson and more (8 p.m., NBC).
Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around
Keith Urban, Pat Benatar and others weigh in on the pint-sized hitmaker, how her early fame and a life of poverty shaped her artistry across pop, rock and country, and how her signature song, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” became a holiday perennial (10 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Dec. 17
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Ossie Davis narrates, Jewel makes an appearance, and the famed Trans-Siberian Orchestra plays for this grand-scale tale of a runaway’s journey home on the night before Christmas (8 p.m., AXS).
The Beverly Hillbillies
What better, the week before Christmas, than to watch this vintage episode of The Beverly Hillbillies from 1968, called “Week Before Christmas,” in which the Clampetts prepare to visit Hooterville for the holidays (9 a.m., MeTV).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18
The Secret Life of Animals
Hugh Bonneville narrates the 10-part docuseries (above) about the behaviors and innate intelligence of the natural world around us, from fish to frogs and kangaroos and raccoons (Apple TV+).
A Saturday Night Live Christmas
Re-watch memorable Christmas skits and sketches from the show’s 50 (yes, 50!) years of the iconic weekend comedy series (9 p.m., NBC).
THURSDAY, Dec. 19
A One Hour Ghostmas Special
A leaky water heater threatens to ruin everyone’s holiday plans in this holiday episode of Ghosts (8 p.m., CBS).
Lost Treasures of the Bible
The Good Book gets a good look in this docuseries that follows archaeological teams uncovering and investigating cities and civilizations featured in the Bible in some of its most famous stories, like the Tower of Babel (9 p.m., National Geographic).
Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas
The acclaimed “clean” comedian mixes stand-up yuks with pretaped comedy shorts, sketches, musical performance and special guests (9 p.m., CBS).
BRING IT HOME
Lady Gaga joins Joaquin Phoenix in Joker: Folie À Deux (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), a continuation of the tale of Batman’s “trickiest” villain, now with a new accomplice/squeeze. One trick here: It’s dang near a musical! Extras include a longform making-of documentary, and other behind-the-scenes goodies.
One of the most critically hailed films of the year, Conclave (Universal) arrives now on Blu-ray. Rallph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow lead the cast in the story of a group of priests gathering—in conclave—to elect a new pope. It’s got intrigue, suspense, secrecy, scandal and surprises galore…and that’s all before the timely shocker at the end. Highly recommended.
The Media Tourist 