ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas 2012 Schedule

It is that time of year ago when you just stay inside with a blanket on and watch Christmas specials for a month straight. And ABC Family is happy to accommodate with its 25 Days of Christmas (Harry Potter and Pixar marathons notwithstanding) starting this weekend. Some highlights include new original holiday musical, The Mistle-Tones starring Tia Mowry (The Game) and Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills, 90210). Premiering Sunday, December 9 (8:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT), “The Mistle-Tones” follows Holly (Mowry), a young woman who decides to create her own Christmas singing group when she is turned down for a spot in legendary group The Snow Belles by the mean spirited Marci (Spelling). Here is the full schedule:


Saturday, December 1

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas
(8:30–10:30 AM ET/PT) Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
(10:30 AM–12:30 PM ET/PT) A Dennis the Menace Christmas
(12:30–3:00 PM ET/PT) Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
(3:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) The Family Man
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1998)
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) Elf – 25 Days of Christmas Premiere
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Snowglobe

Sunday, December 2

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
(8:30–11:00 AM ET/PT) Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) The Search For Santa Paws
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1998)
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Elf
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Live Action)
Encore Presentation (9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)

Monday, December 3

(5:00-5:30 PM ET/PT) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
(5:30–6:30 PM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(6:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs

Tuesday, December 4

(4:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) – Mickey's Christmas Carol
(6:00–6:30 PM ET/PT) Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
(6:30–7:30 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1979)
Encore Presentation (1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)
(7:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) – Elf
(10:00 PM–12:30 AM ET/PT) Fred Claus – ABC Family Premiere

Wednesday, December 5

(2:30–5:00 PM ET/PT) – Fred Claus
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Elf
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone – 25 Days of Christmas Premiere
Encore Presentation (12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express

Thursday, December 6

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol – Basic Cable Premiere
(10:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT) Elf
Encore Presentation (12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)

Friday, December 7

(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Elf
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(12:00–2:00 AM) 12 Dates of Christmas

Saturday, December 8

(7:00 –10:00 AM ET/PT) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
(10:00 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(1:30–4:00 PM ET/PT) Fred Claus
(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE The Santa Clause
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) Despicable Me – Basic Cable Premiere
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Santa Baby

Sunday, December 9

(7:00–8:00 AM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(8:00–10:00 AM ET/PT) Snow
(10:00 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) Snowglobe
(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby
(2:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
(4:00-6:00 PM ET/PT) 12 Dates of Christmas
(6:00-8:00 PM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones - ABC Family Original Musical Premiere
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT)

Monday, December 10

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) A Miser Brothers' Christmas
(6:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1979)
(7:00–7:30 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) Mickey's Christmas Carol
(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist

Tuesday, December 11

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(9:00– 11:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Chasing Christmas

Wednesday, December 12

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas Do-Over

Thursday, December 13

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas Everyday

Friday, December 14

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(7:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) Dinsney∙Pixar’s Toy Story
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) The Christmas List

Saturday, December 15

(7:00–7:30 AM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat
(7:30–8:00 AM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat
(8:00-8:30 AM ET/PT) The Little Drummer Boy
(8:30–9:00 AM ET/PT) Little Drummer Boy Book II
(9:00-9:30 AM ET/PT) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
(9:30-10:30 AM ET/PT) Pinocchio's Christmas
(10:30-11:30 AM ET/PT) A Miser Brothers' Christmas
(11:30 AM-12:00 PM ET/PT) The Story of the First Christmas Snow
(12:00-12:30 PM ET/PT) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
(12:30-1:00 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(1:00-2:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1979)
(2:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
(4:00-6:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(6:00-8:00 PM ET/PT) Dinsney∙Pixar’s Toy Story
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 2
(10:00 -11:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(11:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1998)

Sunday, December 16

(7:00-9:00 AM ET/PT) Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
(9:00-11:00 AM ET/PT) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone 4
(1:00-2:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(2:00-3:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(3:00-5:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(5:00-7:00 PM ET/PT) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 2
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 3 – ABC Family Premiere

Monday, December 17

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Sons of Mistletoe
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Christmas Everyday
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Christmas Do-Over
(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss on the Loose
(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
(6:00–6:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat
(6:30–7:00 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Encore Presentation (9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones

Tuesday, December 18

(11:00 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
(12:00–12:30 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(12:30–2:30 PM ET/PT) Santa Who?
(2:30–4:30 PM ET/PT) The Christmas List
(4:30–5:00 PM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing
(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
(5:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)

Wednesday, December 19

(8:00-10:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas in Boston
(10:00 AM-12:00 PM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)
(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) Three Days
(2:00-5:00 PM ET/PT) The Family Man
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol

Thursday, December 20

(7:00-8:00 AM ET/PT) Beverly Hills, 90210 “Christmas Comes This Time Each Year”
(8:00-9:00 AM ET/PT) Beverly Hills, 90210 “It’s a Totally Happening Life”
(9:00-11:00 AM ET/PT) Beverly Hills, 90210 “Walsh Family Christmas”
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Christmas Caper
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Secret Santa
3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) 12 Dates of Christmas
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Santa Baby

Friday, December 21

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas Cupid
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Snowglobe
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby

(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs

Saturday, December 22

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas
(8:30–10:00 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
(10:00–10:30 AM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing
(10:30–11:00 AM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
(11:00–11:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Christmas Carol
(11:30 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
(12:00-12:30 PM ET/PT) A Chipmunk Christmas
(12:30-2:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys
(2:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(3:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) A Miser Brothers' Christmas
(4:00-5:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(5:00-6:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(6:00-8:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Clause 2
Encore Presentation (12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)
(10:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause

Sunday, December 23

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys
(8:30 AM–10:30 PM ET/PT) A Dennis the Menace Christmas
(10:30 AM–12:30 PM ET/PT) Unaccompanied Minors
(12:30–3:00 PM ET/PT) Fred Claus
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)
(5:00-7:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Encore Presentation (9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)

Monday, December 24

(9:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) Full House “A Very Tanner Christmas”
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(3:00–5:00 AM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Clause 2
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Tuesday, December 25

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(9:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) A Chipmunk Christmas
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Clause 2
(3:00 –5:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(5:00-7:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Don’t Be Mad, It’s a Brand New Kind of Me

For a decade, Alicia Keys was a picture of class making the best RnB that reminds you of the classics but still kept accessible for modern times with four albums that range between good and great. Then in between album she got caught up in a bit of a scandal where she was accused of being a home wrecking. And looking at the evidence, it is probably true. Granted on the scale of scandals, home wrecking ranks near the bottom of most egregious but it is a bit weird listening to her new music with that nuggets in the back of your mind especially when the guy in the equation, Swizz Beats produced a song on the album. It does not help that New Day may be the weakest track on the album.

It is also a bit odd that she named her fifth album Girl On Fire which shares the name of The Hunger Games sequel that is set to be released next summer but does not seem to share anything with the movie series aside from the name. (Let me quickly add a three word review of the movie: severly over-hyped.) It just seems like a shameless attempt to attach herself to the biggest pop culture phenomenon of the year. It also does not help that the title track is probably the second weakest song on the album that is brought down even further by the always annoying Nicki Minaj. It should be noted that the smoother and Minaj-less Bluelight Version (which is not featured on the album) is significantly better than the Minaj enhanced Inferno Version on the album.

Those mediocre songs aside, Girl on Fire is another solid album by Alicia Keys. Thankfully she washes the bad Minaj taste out of your mouth on the next song by singing duet with Maxwell on Fire We Make with guitar by Gary Clark Jr. while both singers get their smooth falsetto on. But some of her strongest tunes were when Keys did some co-writing with British songstress Emeli Sandé (who was supposed to be this year’s Adele but never caught on stateside) on Brand New Me, Not Even the King, and 101.

Keys also brought in uber-nineties writer / producer Babyface for That’s When I Knew which drops Keys traditional piano for a beautiful acoustic guitar based ballad. But it was Bruno Mars and his The Smeezingtons production team (who is best known for The Song Otherwise Known as Forget You) that contributed the best track on the album Tears Always Win. A modern throwback that Mars and his boys are best known for and ranks as one of her best track in her career. It almost makes you forget any past transgressions.

Song to Download - Tears Always Win

Girl on Fire gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing the Mid-Seasons of Rizzoli & Isles and Leverage

Rizzoli and Isles returns tonight (followed by Leverage, more on that later) for its final five episodes of the season (yes the finale will air Christmas night). Where we left off over the summer, Rizzoli saved Isles from becoming the next victim of Eddie Cibrian while Jane’s little brother may or may have not knocked up Alexandra Holden who left their possible love child at her front door.

Tonight murder hits close to home when a man dies Division 1 Café from rat poison. And yes Jane’s least favorite restaurant owner becomes a suspect. And the victim turns out to know someone from one of the detective’s past. While next year, more ghosts from the past haunts another detective while the author of Suicide Boy is found hung in his office. We do learn the paternity of baby Tommy Jr. while Jane’s mom gets some action. Also Maura has to put her office in code red after a body is brought in, but that is not before sharing another one of nuggets in that you are less likely to get lime disease hiking without clothes.

Rizzoli and Isles airs Tuesdays at 9:00 on TNT. You can also download Rizzoli & Isles on iTunes.



Following Rizzoli and Isles is the continuation of the Leverage season and the team returns to take on what may be their biggest mark, which is saying a lot considering they once took down an entire nation. Tonight the team will be taking on Wal-Mart. Well, a Wal-Mart stand-in called Value More. If you live in a small town you know the story, a big box store moves in, crushing all the local business and then flexes it’s cooperate muscle to keep their employees from unionizing. Value More is so big, Nate has avoided taking them on, that is until Elliot cozies up to a local shopkeeper in the form of Willa Ford.

The team may actually be more ambitious next week when the Leverage Team tries to steal a dream. And to do so, they build something that looks like something Abed from Community would build if he had limitless funds to create a bigger dreamatorium. They will also be taking down a shady vinery owner and try to get a corrupt toy maker to buy a doll so creepy that it makes Chuck look like a Cabbage Patch Doll before his dangerous product its shelves before Christmas. And Nate’s nemesis insurance –investigator-turned-InterPol-agent Jim Sterling will make an appearance before the season ends.

Leverage airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on TNT. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.

I Want My Music Television - 11/26/12

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.

Stars - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals


I listen to the latest Grace Potter & The Nocturnals album when it came out and I do not remember anything really sticking out to give it another listen. Yeah I messed up on that one after hearing Amanda Brown perform the song last week on The Voice. Not only did Amanda get herself into the top twenty with her performance, she vaulted the original almost as high. I wonder if the exposure will stat getting airplay because of this, it definite does deserve it.


Mama Told Me – Big Boi featuring Kelly Rowland



When I saw Big Boi had a new song entitles Mama Told Me I fully expected a Mama Told Me (Not to Come) sample. No Three Dog Night, but it definitely has a retro (eighties not seventies) vibe to it.


Telescope – Hayden Panettiere


I find it interesting that they are attributing the songs from Nashville to the actors not the characters on the show. There even produced an actually music video for Hayden Panettiere that is different from the one that we saw Juliet Barnes filmed on the show. I guess that is smart because Juliet Barnes on the show is a horrible singer that is heavily auto-tunes (though Hayden could actually be the same too) Apparently it is working because the song charted on the Country charts.


Curtain – Eve 6


I am always a fan of backwards music videos, so thank you Eve 6 for another entertaining one.