Rueben's Ramblings

Here is the short list of the programming options to expect on TV this holiday week:

On Christmas Day, the Call the Midway Holiday Special will air on PBS at 9 PM. Sister Mildred (Miriam Margoyles) arrives unexpectedly at Nonnatus House with her hands full with four Chinese orphans. Having fled China, the child refugees were found abandoned in Hong Kong and are being adopted in the U.K. as part of the World Refugee Project. With Christmas preparations in full flow and the midwives busy caring for the expectant mothers of Poplar, these unexpected visitors cause joy and chaos in equal measure. The special also sees Trixie return to Poplar in time to cover for the Sisters as they leave for the Mother House. The Order’s Mother Superior has taken ill, and a new spiritual leader needs to be elected. It soon becomes clear, much to Sister Julienne’s horror, that she is the favored candidate.

Also on Christmas Day, the Hallmark Channel will debut the When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing movie at 9 PM. When a group of orphans become stranded in Hope Valley for Christmas, their caretakers — sisters who have a mysterious backstory — lead Bill (Jack Wagner) to investigate the circumstances of their arrival. He discovers the sisters and their orphanage are in jeopardy, so Abigail (Lori Loughlin) and the other residents rally to make it a Christmas to remember for the orphans. Elizabeth (Erin Krakow), who is preparing for the birth of her child, organizes her students to engage in selfless gift-giving. That, along with a Christmas miracle, help bring wonder, hope, joy, and love to all this Christmas season. Other regular cast members who will appear in the special include Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith and Paul Greene [among others].

The Hallmark Channel holiday movie A Midnight Kiss will debut on December 29 at 8 PM. With only one week to prepare, Lisa Patterson and her family of party planners are given the biggest job in their company’s history: a New Year’s Eve party for tech entrepreneur Megan Clark. But when her brother breaks his leg and her parents head off on a planned vacation, Lisa must reluctantly enlist the help of her brother’s visiting college buddy, David Campos, to help her pull off the event which just so happens to fall on her favorite day of the year. But what Lisa didn’t plan on was falling in love in the process. The film stars Carlos PenaVega and Adelaide Kane.

Lastly on December 30, the season premiere of the second season of The Orville will air on FOX at 8 PM.

Mark your calendars!