December TV Calendar

As we head into the holidays and with mid-season not that far off, there are some shows returning, other shows airing their fall finales, holiday specials set to air and made-for-TV movies ready to debut. Needless to say, there is a lot to look forward to on TV so get your calendars out as it’s going to be another busy month:

December 2- Nikita and Supernatural will both air their fall finales on The CW at 8 and 9 PM respectively

December 2 – The NBC movie Game of Your Life will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: When gamer Zach Taylor (Titus Makin, Jr.) lands a scholarship to an exclusive video game design program, his future looks promising. That is, as long as he can survive the freshman project that will eliminate half the class. But when Zach learns that his father is in financial trouble, he has to make a choice that will affect his future and the lives of everyone around him. The cast includes Lea Thompson and Nathan Kress.

December 3 – The Hallmark Channel movie A Princess for Christmas will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS:  Jules Daly (Katie McGrath) is a frenetic twenty-something who becomes guardian to her young niece Maddie (Leilah De Meza) and nephew Milo (Travis Turner) when her sister and brother-in-law are tragically killed in an accident. While balancing the daily hysteria of becoming an overnight parent, Jules was recently laid off at work, her car is on the fritz, and the kids’ shenanigans have caused a dozen nannies to flee like vampires before garlic. When an ominous knock on the door comes late one evening, Jules wonders, what now? At the door is Paisley Winterbottom (Miles Richardson), a proper English butler, with a most curious invitation: a Christmas holiday with grandfather, Edward (Roger Moore), the Duke of Castlebury Hall, who was absent from the kids’ lives, but wants to reconnect out of love for his late son. Jules initially wants to decline the trip, though she and the kids eventually travel to Castlebury to meet the Duke. On more than one occasion, Jules feels woefully common trying to blend in with her late brother-in-law’s ostentatious family. Eventually, however, even with missteps and mistakes, a mystical influence begins to fall over the family, like the comfort of a dusting of snow over the quiet countryside.

December 4 – The ION made-for-TV movie A Golden Christmas 2: The Second Tail will air at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: When golden retriever owner, Lisa, takes her dog Jake and her neighbors’ dogs for a walk one day, she interrupts a wedding proposal involving none other than her ex, David. Now, with David’s wedding approaching, Lisa and he must decide whether to leave their love in the past, or to give it another chance. With a little help of three lovable pups, it’s sure to be a Christmas to remember. The cast includes Julie Gonzalo, Bruce Davison, Kelly Stables and Alley Mills.

December 4 – The holiday movie Christmas Mail will debut on ION at 11 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: A Post Office boss becomes suspicious of his new official “Santa Writer,” Kristi, prompting him to enlist reluctant Postman Matt to spy on her. Before long, Matt and Kristi fall for each other, only to realize all is not what it seems this Christmas season. Ashley Scott, A.J. Buckley and Piper Harris star.

December 4 and 5 – The Syfy 4-hour mini-series Neverland will debut at 9 PM (both nights)

MINI-SERIES SYNOPSIS: The mini-series takes on Peter Pan in this original prequel to the classic J. M Barrie story, sweeping in time from the turbulent seas of the pirates of the Caribbean and the back alleys of Dickensian London to a world of pure imagination. The film stars Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man) as James Hook, Keira Knightley as the voice of Tinker Bell, Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Captain Elizabeth Bonny, Oscar nominee Bob Hoskins (Hook) as Smee, Raoul Trujillo (Tin Man) and Charlie Rowe (Pirate Radio) as Peter Pan.

December 5 – The fall finales of both Gossip Girl and Hart of Dixie will air on The CW at 8 and 9 PM respectively

December 6 – The holiday special A Michael Buble Christmas will air on NBC at 8 PM

December 6 – The fall finale of 90210 will air on The CW at 8 PM

December 6 – The stand-alone holiday episodes of Warehouse 13, Eureka and Haven will air on Syfy

December 6 – The TNT telefilm Hide will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Based on Lisa Gardner’s book, Carla Gugino plays Boston Police Detective D.D. Warren, who is called to the grounds of an abandoned mental hospital where a buried chamber is discovered. Inside are the mummified remains of six young women, who have all been missing for years. The case leads D.D. to Annabelle (Bridget Regan), a young woman who spent her childhood moving from city to city, from identity to identity, hiding from someone or something totally unknown to her. D.D. uses clues from Annabelle’s secret past to unravel the mystery behind her twisted family history. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Kevin Alejandro also star.

December 6 – The second season finale of Covert Affairs will air at 10 PM on USA Network

December 7 – State of Play will debut at 10 PM on BBC America

Show Synopsis: This 2004 six-part British TV drama that tells the story of a newspaper’s investigation into the death of a young woman and centers on the relationship between the leading journalist and his old friend, who is a Member of Parliament and the murdered woman’s employer. The cast includes Billy Nighy, James McAvoy, Polly Walker, Kelly Macdonald and John Simm.

December 7 – The TNT made-for-TV movie Silent Witness will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Based on Richard North Patterson’s novel stars Dermot Mulroney as prominent defense attorney Tony Lord, who returns to his hometown to defend an old friend, played by Michael Cudlitz. The friend is a teacher accused of murdering one of his students, and the case re-opens the heartache from Tony’s own high school days, when he was a student falsely accused of murdering his first love.

NEWLY ADDED:
December 7 – The fall finale of Harry’s Law and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will both air on NBC at 9 and 10 PM respectively

RECENTLY CHANGED:
December 8 – FOX will air the last episode of 2011 of Bones at 9 PM (the fall finale has been moved to January 12)

December 10 – The Syfy movie Snowmageddon will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) David Cubitt (Medium) and Magda Apanowicz (Caprica) star in the story about a mystical snow globe that makes very bad things happen in the real world when it is shaken.

December 10 – The Hallmark Channel movie Annie Claus is Coming to Town will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Santa’s daughter Annie (Maria Thayer) takes her first trip away from the North Pole during the Christmas season hoping to find adventure and love in sunny California. While Santa and Mrs. Claus (Vicki Lawrence) watch their daughter through a magic snow globe, Annie arrives in L.A. and becomes friends with the owner of Candy Cane Inn, Lucy (Vivica A. Fox), and her daughter, Mia. She also quickly lands a job at Wonderland Toys. Wonderland Toys’ owner, Ted (Sam Page) is struggling to stay in business selling old-fashioned toys in a digital world. Annie soon realizes that she wants Ted’s business to thrive because she has feelings for this Christmas traditionalist. Annie also knows that when she finds her true love, she and her mate will move back to the North Pole to take over the family business. But Santa isn’t the only one watching Annie through the looking glass. So is a senior Santa Elf who himself wants to inherit the Ho Ho Ho of Holidays, so much so that he hires Dean, a Hollywood actor to feign affection for Annie. Although Annie temporarily falls for the imposter, she realizes there is something about Ted that is unforgettable.

December 11 – The fall finale of Once Upon a Time will air on ABC at 8 PM

December 11 – The new HBO series Luck will debut at 10 PM

Show Synopsis: The series follows a man in his late 60’s (Dustin Hoffman), just released from prison after four years, who is deeply involved in gambling primarily at a horse-racing track. Other cast members include Nick Nolte, Dennis Farina, Ian Hart and Jason Gedrick.

December 11 – The ABC Family Channel movie 12 Dates of Christmas debuts at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar star in this telefilm that follows a young woman who re-lives the same first date on Christmas Eve over and over again until she learns to open up her world to new things and stop living in the past.

December 11 – A Christmas Kiss is a new ION made-for-TV movie that will air at 1 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Wendy is an aspiring designer and assistant to her callous boss Priscilla. Unfortunately, Wendy’s dreams of impressing her boss get complicated when she realizes that the mysterious man she kissed in a falling elevator is Priscilla’s boyfriend, Adam. As the holidays approach and Adam and Wendy’s friendship grows, Priscilla is forced to take drastic measures to make sure her engagement goes forward as planned. Will Wendy and Adam connect before it’s too late? The cast includes Cast: Elisabeth Rohm, Brendan Fehr and Laura Breckenridge.

December 11 – The Christmas Pageant will debut on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Vera Parks (Melissa Gilbert), an overly intense and demanding Broadway director gets fired from yet another job, leaving her no choice but to take a gig directing a small town Christmas pageant in upstate New York. Stunned at how basic the production is, Vera attempts to back out, but she is convinced by Garret (Ed Herrmann) the owner of the B&B and some of the other locals to give their town a chance. To her surprise, the warmth and charm of the small town grows on Vera and she even enjoys the experience of directing the pageant. When Vera discovers her former fiancé Jack (Robert Mailhouse) recommended her for the job, she is outraged. But over time Vera appreciates the gesture, as she grows close to both Jack and his young daughter. Will love stay in the wings this time around? Or is this Vera’s eleven o’clock number after all?

December 11 and 12 – The four-hour A&E mini-series Bag of Bones (based on the Stephen King novel) will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Best-selling novelist Mike Noonan (Pierce Brosnan) is unable to stop grieving after the sudden death of his wife Jo (Annabeth Gish). Suffering from writer’s block, a dream inspires him to return to the couple’s lakeside retreat in western Maine. While there, Mike befriends an attractive young widow, Mattie (Melissa George) and her daughter Kyra (Caitlin Carmichael), and becomes involved in a custody battle with the child’s enormously wealthy grandfather, Max (William Schallert). Though his ability to write suddenly returns, Mike is plagued by ever-escalating nightmares and mysterious ghostly visitations from Sara Tidwell (Anika Noni Rose), a blues singer whose spirit lingers in the house. As he is haunted by the many secrets at the lake, Mike comes to realize that his late wife still has something to tell him. Jason Priestley also stars.

December 13 – The TNT movie Good Morning, Killer will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Adapted by April Smith from her own novel, this thriller stars Catherine Bell as FBI Special Agent Ana Gray, an undercover operative tracking down a serial kidnapper. As Ana develops a rapport with the kidnapper’s latest victim, the suspect suddenly changes his pattern. Now Ana must race to find him before he strikes again. Cole Hauser (Chase, K-Ville) co-stars as Detective Andrew Berringer.

December 14 – Psych will air its mid-season finale on USA Network at 10 PM

December 16 – The entire first season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand will be reaired on Starz starting tonight (check your local listings for airtime)

December 17 – The Hallmark Channel movie Christmas Comes Home to Canaan will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Billy Ray Cyrus reprises his role as Daniel Burton in the 1960s-era saga of a family’s experiences in racially charged Canaan, TX. In the story, Daniel’s son Bobber (Liam James) needs extensive orthopedic surgery and months of intensive physical therapy to recover from being struck down by an automobile. Rodney Freeman (Matt Ward, narrates the story), the young black man who Daniel took into his home and raised as another son, has become a famous writer and offers to fly Daniel and Bobber to San Francisco and to pay for the surgery. Once in San Francisco, Daniel meets and falls for Briony Adair (Gina Holden), a physical rehabilitation specialist who will be working toward Bobber’s recovery. When therapy progresses slowly, Bobber invites Briony to come home to Canaan to spend Christmas with the Burtons and continue his treatment. Briony is a natural at caring for a thriving family, but Sarah (Emily Tennant), Daniel’s daughter distances herself not wanting to dishonor her late mother’s memory, and a disastrous Christmas visit drives Daniel and Briony apart. In the soul searching that follows, Daniel finds the strength to open his heart again and invite love back into his life.

December 18 – Christmas Magic is the new Hallmark Channel movie that will debut at 8 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Carrie Bishop (Lindy Booth) lives for her successful career as an event planner in New York City, but her life changes in an instant after a nasty car accident in a snowstorm. Carrie suffers head trauma and regains consciousness in Central Park with an older man, Henry (Derek McGrath). Henry is Carrie’s spirit guide and is there to help her “pass over” to Heaven. But before Carrie can move on, she must fulfill one last task on Earth—a type of Angel Duty. Henry tells Carrie that she must help guide a widowed, young restaurant owner, Scott Walker, (Paul McGillion) who has recently considered suicide because his beloved restaurant/catering business is utterly failing. Carrie befriends Scott and his 8-year-old daughter and immediately displays a knack for promoting the restaurant. But time isn’t on Carrie’s side on this mission. She has until midnight Christmas Eve to turn the eatery around. As friendship grows, romance blooms, and Carrie finds it a struggle to keep business and pleasure separate. Will the heat in Scott’s kitchen be all about the food? Or is one Angel on a meteoric rise to earn her wings?

December 19 – The season finale of Terra Nova will air on FOX at 8 PM

NOTE: There is no word yet whether FOX has decided to renew the show for more episodes.

December 20 – The TNT telefilm Deck the Halls will debut at 9 PM

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: Based on the first book in Mary Higgins Clark and daughter Carol Higgins Clark’s series of holiday mystery novels, this warm-hearted story brings together two of the authors’ most popular characters: Cleaning-woman-turned-private-eye Alvirah Meegan (Kathy Najimy) and Detective Regan Reilly (Scottie Thompson). The women investigate the kidnapping of Regan’s father and a young female driver just before the holidays. The race is on to rescue the pair and get them home in time for Christmas. Jane Alexander plays Regan’s mother, famed mystery writer Nora Regan Reilly.

December 21 – The 13th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Martina McBride will air at 8 PM on CBS

NEWLY ADDED:
December 25 – The Doctor Who Christmas episode “The Doctor, The Widow & the Wardrobe” will air on BBC America at 9 PM

NEWLY ADDED:
December 25/26 – There will be a marathon of all season 3 episodes of Merlin on Syfy from 11 PM to 5 AM

NEWLY ADDED:
December 26/27 – A marathon of Being Human episodes from season 1 will air on Syfy from 12 Noon to 1 AM

Mark your calendar!