Preparing for Fall TV 2013 for November

The 2013-2014 TV season is still going strong with plenty of new and returning shows airing in September and October, but TV viewers still have plenty to look forward to in November, especially where made-for-TV movies celebrating the upcoming holidays are concerned.

Let’s take a look at all that November TV has in store:

First of all, the special Doctor Who movie An Adventure in Space and Time will debut this month on BBC America, taking a look at the genesis of the legendary, longest-running TV show of all time that first aired on November 23, 1963.

The Hallmark Channel holiday movie The Thanksgiving House will debut on November 2 at 8 PM.

When Boston lawyer Mary Ross (Emily Rose) inherits a house in Plymouth from her late aunt, she has no idea she may have inherited a historical treasure. Mary’s initial desire to sell the house is supported by her slick boyfriend, Rick (Adam Kaufman), but she is shocked to discover local historian Everett Mather (Justin Bruening) has evidence that her house is located on the site of the first Thanksgiving. With the house turning into an unexpected tourist attraction, putting Mary in the media spotlight at the prying of unscrupulous gossip blogger Ashleigh Mulligan (Cerina Vincent), Everett tries to prove his theory and Mary tries to prove anything that will keep the house in her hands.

On November 4, the new FOX drama Almost Human will debut at 8 PM. The year is 2048. John Kennex (Karl Urban from Star Trek) is a cop who survived one of the most catastrophic attacks ever made against the police department. After waking up from a 17-month coma, he can’t remember much — except that his partner was killed, he lost one of his legs and he is now outfitted with a highly sophisticated synthetic appendage. Suffering from depression, mental atrophy, trauma-onset OCD, PTSD and the psychological rejection of his synthetic body part, John returns to work at the behest of longtime ally Captain Sandra Maldonado (Lili Taylor). By mandate, every cop must partner with a robot; and despite his passionate aversion to androids, John is paired up with a battle-ready MX-43. But he abruptly terminates his partnership after the robot discovers incriminating information about him so technician Rudy Lom (Mackenzie Crook) introduces John to Dorian (Michael Ealy), a discontinued android with unexpected emotional responses.

UPDATE: FOX has changed the premiere of Almost Human to Sunday, November 17 (after a double-header of football), followed by its second episode in its regular Monday night at 8 PM timeslot.

The Hallmark Channel movie Pete’s Christmas will debut on November 8 at 8 PM.

At fourteen, Pete Kidder (Zachary Gordon) is sick of being the middle child in his family, always overlooked by his mother and father (Molly Parker and Rick Roberts). Unlike his brothers, jock Jake (Wesley Morgan) and bookworm Kenny, (Peter DaCunha), Pete hasn’t yet developed a distinct personality that sets him apart and he often feels left out. With the kid’s grumpy grandfather (Bruce Dern) unexpectedly in town for Christmas, the pressure is on to make the day as great as Grandpa remembers with his late wife, but the holiday is filled with disastrous moments, including a toppling Christmas tree and a bout with food poisoning. Just when things can’t get any worse, Pete wakes up the next day and realizes he’s reliving December 25th all over again. Stuck repeating the day over and over, Pete panics, but slowly realizes, with the help of his new friend and next door neighbor, Katie (Bailee Madison), that he can use his unique gift for good and give this Christmas day the do-over it deserves

On November 9, the Lifetime movie A Country Christmas Story movie will debut at 9 PM.

The film follows a young Appalachian mountain girl (newcomer Desiree Ross) as she pursues her dream of becoming a country star against the wishes of her mother (Megyn Price). Her journey to the stage at Dollywood with a singing competition hosted by Dolly Parton reunites her with her musician father (Brian McKnight) and uncovers the musical legacy of African Americans in the world of country music.

The Hallmark Channel movie Snow Bride will debut November 9 at 8 PM.

Greta Kaine (Katrina Law) is always in search of juicy gossip. As a tabloid reporter at Pulse! Gossip in Los Angeles, it’s her job to expose the rich and famous for the entertainment of the magazine’s readers. So when word gets out that that one of the late Senator Tannehill’s two sons might be proposing marriage at the family’s Big Bear compound during Christmas, Greta and her chief rival Wes (Tom Lenk) are challenged by their old-school editor to get the scoop. There’s incentive to be the first, too: The editorship of the magazine’s new online incarnation.

On November 10, the Hallmark Channel movie A Very Merry Mix-Up will debut at 8 PM.

Shop owner Alice Chapman (Alicia Witt) is nervous to meet her future in-laws at Christmas, especially because she is arriving ahead of her new fiancé, Will Mitchum (Scott Gibson). Alice’s trip becomes more stressful when her luggage is lost and her phone is damaged, leaving her no way to find Will’s family. As fate would have it, she meets her future brother-in-law, Matt Mitchum (Mark Wiebe), at baggage claim and is happy to get a ride home with him. As Alice meets Matt’s doting family, mom Penny (Susan Hogan), dad Joe (Richard Fitzpatrick) and Grandpa Charles (Lawrence Dane), she falls in love with their festive holiday traditions and warm welcome to their home. But then Alice realizes she feels a kindred spirit-not to mention a spark-with Matt.

The Lifetime movie Twelve Trees of Christmas will debut on November 16 at 8 PM.

Local librarian Cherie (Lindy Booth) is ecstatic to celebrate the holiday season until she learns that a real estate developer, Tony (Robin Dunn), has plans to demolish her library. Cherie rallies her neighbors to help save the library with a Christmas tree decorating contest. Not to be deterred, Tony joins the competition and recruits professional interior designer, Cordelia (Mel B), to help him beat Cherie. Will Cherie’s devotion be enough to save her beloved library?

Also on November 16, the Hallmark Channel movie The Christmas Ornament will debut at 8 PM.

Newly widowed Kathy (Kellie Martin) plans to skip out on decking the halls and trimming the tree this Christmas, trying to avoid anything that will bring back memories of her late husband. The only Christmas tradition she will observe is baking cookies for her friends, a passion since she was a child. When Kathy meets handsome Christmas tree shop owner Tim (Cameron Mathison), though, their undeniable chemistry – along with an ornament Tim gives her that symbolizes hope – helps Kathy open up to the joys of the season again. With the support of her best friend Jenna (Jewel Staite), and the budding relationship with Tim, Kathy begins to embrace the hopeful message of the ornament, eventually hanging it – along with many others – on her Christmas tree.

Catch a Christmas Star is the new Hallmark Channel movie that will debut at 8 PM on November 17.

Nikki Crandon (Shannon Elizabeth) is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. Whether she’s singing the National Anthem or promoting her latest album, everyone knows who she is – none more so than New Jersey high school basketball coach and widower Chris Mitchell (Steve Byers), who was Nikki’s first love in high school. When Chris’ 10-year-old daughter Sophie finds out her dad still has feelings for the singer, she takes matters into her own hands.

On November 22, the final season of Nikita will air for six straight weeks starting tonight on The CW at 9 PM.

The new 13-part fantasy drama Atlantis will get its start on November 23 on BBC America at 9 PM. The series is set in a time of legendry heroes and mythical creatures. A mysterious place; a world of bull leaping, of snake haired Goddesses and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants – this is the lost city of Atlantis. That same night the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special will also air that night on BBC America.

The Hallmark Channel movie Window Wonderland will debut on November 23 at 8 PM.

It’s no holds barred when two Manhattan department store employees vie for the same job during the busy Christmas season. Sloan Van Doren (Chyler Leigh) is a driven young woman determined to become the next window dresser at McGuire’s department store and to uphold a 95-year old artistic holiday tradition. Serious and professional with an upper-crust air, she’s the polar opposite of the happy-go-lucky Jake Dooley (Paul Campbell), who also wants the job. When Mr. Fitch, the head of advertising and promotion, gives them a challenge, the competition is on: each will create a series of seasonal storefront windows twice a week until Christmas.

On November 23, the Lifetime movie Kristin’s Christmas Past will debut at 8 PM.

Estranged from her family, Kristin (Shiri Appleby) falls asleep alone on Christmas Eve only to wake up and discover it’s Christmas morning 1996 and she has to relive the worst Christmas of her life. But this time, Kristin decides to do things differently to change not only her imperfect past, but also her less-than-perfect future.

The ION original made-for-TV movie Defending Santa will debut on November 23 at 9 PM.

Scott Hanson (Dean Cain), a ski resort sheriff, inadvertently arrests a sleeping Santa in the snowy woods on suspicion of a crime he did not commit. With his sleigh ride now in doubt, Santa is put on trial. But, during the proceedings, Sheriff Hanson, also a dad and widower, begins to fall for Santa’s court-appointed defense attorney, Sarah.

On November 24, Fir Crazy is the new Hallmark Channel movie that will debut at 8 PM.

Busy career woman Elise MacReynolds (Sarah Lancaster) has no time or desire to take part in Christmas festivities. However, a few twists of fate land Elise in the middle of her worst nightmare: unemployed, newly single and running her family’s Christmas tree lot for the dreaded holiday season.

The Hallmark Movie Channel Christmas With Tucker will debut on November 25 at 9 PM.

In the months following his father’s death, a 13-year-old boy forms a special bond with a neighbor’s dog named Tucker, and learns to be a man by helping his grandparents and farmland community through a series of dangerous winter storms nearing Christmas. However, the upcoming Christmas promises to be one to remember, as the young boy learns first-hand the importance of responsibility, the faithfulness of friends and the power of love. The cast includes James Brolin and Josie Bissett.

On November 25, Major Crimes will be back with the rest of its current season on TNT at 10 PM.

The ABC Family movie Christmas Bounty will debut at 7 PM on November 25.

Former bounty hunter turned elementary school teacher Tory Bell (Francia Raisa) was ready for a new life when she left the family business behind and moved to Manhattan. But when an old enemy is released from jail and vows retribution on Tory and her loved ones, she returns to New Jersey to take care of him once and for all. When Tory’s upper-class fiancé, James (Will Greenburg), follows her home for Christmas, she tries to keep her bounty hunting ways a secret, but the plan backfires when James unwittingly becomes involved in the Bells’ mission. Further complicating matters, Tory must work closely with her ex-boyfriend, Mike (WWE Superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin) to bring down their target and keep James out of certain danger. But as Tory becomes further entrenched in her old life, she finds herself torn between whom she once was and her plans for the future.

On November 29, My Santa is the new original ION made-for-TV film will debut at 9 PM.

A young, single mother, Jen (Samaire Armstrong), begins to lose her faith in the magic of Christmas. However, when she takes her son Eric to see the local mall Santa, Jen immediately feels an attraction and connection with Chris (Matthew Lawrence), the young, attractive man filling the suit. As they begin spending time together, she begins to rediscover her belief in Christmas. Little does Jen know that Chris is the son and heir to the “real” Santa, and his mission is to find himself a Mrs. Claus. As the two fall for one another, Chris faces his inevitable return to the North Pole.

The Hallmark Channel movie Let It Snow will debut on November 30 at 8 PM.

When Falcon Resorts acquires family-owned Snow Valley Lodge from retiring owners Karla and Paul, driven executive Stephanie Beck (Candace Cameron-Bure) must spend the week before Christmas in Maine, preparing a proposal on the property’s renovations. Determined to impress Falcon’s president, her detached father Ted (Alan Thicke), Stephanie reluctantly departs her warm Arizona home to immerse herself in the lodge’s property and decide how to change it to fit the hip, young Falcon brand.

On November 30, the Lifetime movie Dear Secret Santa movie will debut at 8 PM.

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Jennifer (Tatyana Ali) moves back to the house she grew up in, bringing back memories of her recently deceased friend Jack (Lamorne Morris). But after receiving a Christmas card from a secret admirer, she is stunned when she discovers the truth.

November is, obviously, top-heavy with holiday movies and a smattering of TV shows so what are you looking forward to out of the above programming options. Please share your thoughts below.