Here is the long list of the programming options to expect on TV this coming week:
On December 14, the holiday movie Lonestar Christmas will debut on Lifetime at 8 PM. When a single mom Erin (Stephanie Bennett) takes her daughters to spend Christmas with her estranged dad on his Texas ranch, she unexpectedly falls in love with local restaurateur Mateo (Marco Grazzini) while learning to forgive her father for the past. The cast includes B. J. Harrison.
The Netflix series Tiny Pretty Things will debut online on December 14. When tragedy strikes at Chicago’s most prestigious ballet school, where every dancer is both friend and foe who compete fiercely for coveted roles, it threatens to unravel close friendships and to expose a constellation of secrets that could bring down a world-renowned institution. The star student Cassie Shore will be played by newcomer Anna Maiche. The cast includes Lauren Holly, Damon J. Gillespie and a whole group of newcomers.
On December 15, Cooking Up Christmas is the latest holiday movie set to debut on OWN at 9 PM. Meagan Holder stars as Chloe, an Atlanta-based chef at a fine dining restaurant who gets fired just weeks before Christmas and reluctantly takes a job with pro baseball player Donovan Jackson (Lamman Rucker), who is a single dad of three needing a live-in-chef to get him through the holidays with the kids. Chloe only takes the job in order to save up enough capital to live out her dream of opening her own restaurant, but soon finds herself caught up in the ups and downs of the Jacksons encounter during her residency. Throughout the holiday season in the Jackson household the importance of family and Chloe’s good Southern cooking are two constants that remain. As Christmas comes to an end, Chloe discovers that her lifelong dream might finally come true and that her heart has a mind of its own.
The mid-season finale of Big Sky will air on ABC on December 15 at 10 PM.
On December 16, the 5th season of The Expanse will premiere on Amazon; and that same night the season finale of Devils will air on The CW at 8 PM.
The mid-season finales of Station 19, Grey’s Anatomy and A Million Little Things will air on ABC on December 17 at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively.
On December 17, the 9-episode limited series event The Stand will debut on CBS All Access. Based on the Stephen King apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil, the fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail (Whoopi Goldberg) and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgård), the Dark Man. The ensemble cast includes Amber Heard, Brad William Henke, Daniel Sunjata, Eion Bailey, Greg Kinnear, Heather Graham, James Marsden, Katherine McNamara, Nat Wolff, Jovan Adepo and Hamish Linklater.
The season finale of The Flight Attendant will debut on HBO Max on December 17.
Also on December 17, the political drama Total Control makes its US debut on Sundance Now. Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters) created this show, and stars as the embattled but cunning Prime Minister of Australia. Alexandra “Alex” Irving (Deborah Mailman) is a charismatic Indigenous woman who finds herself the center of media attention following her admirable actions in a high-risk situation. Rachel wants to use Alex to boost her popularity and further her own agenda and recruits her as a senator.
On December 18, the season finale of The Mandalorian will air online on Disney+.
The movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will debut on Netflix on December 18. Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. As the band waits in the studio’s claustrophobic rehearsal room, ambitious trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman, in his last on-screen role) – who has an eye for Ma’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry – spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories, truths, and lies that will forever change the course of their lives. The cast includes Colman Domingo and Jonny Coyne.
On December 18, the Lifetime holiday movie Christmas on the Menu will debut at 8 PM. Josie Jennings (Kim Shaw) a celebrated, romantic, 35-year old chef in the city heads home to spend the holidays at the quaint, magical bed and breakfast where she grew up, and where her mother Shannon (Cynthia Gibb) has just opened a new restaurant. Famous food critic Tanner Rhodes (Clayton James), who has given Josie harsh reviews in the past, comes to town to review the new restaurant and Josie’s Christmas Cuisine. As the holidays unfold, Josie and Tanner get to know each other better, and a romance soon begins to blossom but will Tanner find a way to right his wrongs, write a rave review for the bistro’s delicious cuisine, and win Josie’s heart by Christmas Eve.
The Holiday Quickies Passionflix movie Just Say When, based on the story by Jill Shalvis, will debut online on December 18. James (Khylin Rhambo from Teen Wolf) and Julia (Keelin Woodell who has appeared in episodes of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and CSI Miami) have been dating for several months, but he’s becoming increasingly frustrated by the way she always sneaks out of his bed in the middle of the night. He wants more from their relationship but he’s scared to push her as he knows she’s been hurt before and it’s made her gun-shy. What do you do when the one you want is the one you can’t seem to have. Can love conquer all?
The following movies will debut on December 19:
A Christmas Carousel on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM. When Lila (Rachel Boston) is hired by the Royal Family of Marcadia to repair a carousel, she must work with the Prince (Neal Bledsoe) to complete it by Christmas.
A Christmas Exchange on Lifetime at 8 PM. The holiday season has started and Molly Cooper (Laura Vandervoort) is looking for joy. Finally living her childhood dream, Molly swaps her quaint farmhouse for London Financier Patrick Kingston’s (Rainbow Sun Francks) posh apartment. Through the ups and downs of her new life in London and searching for romance, Molly begins to look forward to all communication with Patrick. Likewise, Patrick finds Molly’s warm emails and texts charming and compelling. Sparks fly between them as they get to know each other as they live in each other’s spaces.
Swept Up By Christmas on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries at 10 PM. An antique seller and a cleaner (Lindy Booth and Justin Bruening) clash over how to downsize a magnificent estate right before Christmas. As the two uncover the house’s treasures, they find a way to reconnect the reclusive owner with his own Christmases past.
Christmas at Rosemont on UPtv at 7 PM. Stranded by a raging blizzard after a chance meeting, Brad (Brendan Michael Coughlin) and the very pregnant Lisa (Ayla Kell) are forced to seek shelter together at the shuttered Rosemont Lodge with its reclusive owner, Josephine (Grace Zabriskie), five days before Christmas. Once a vibrant year-round resort, the Rosemont has been closed for nearly 20 years following a devastating family tragedy which may uncover a connection between Lisa and Josephine. The cast includes Brad Dourif, Lochlyn Munro and Michael Gross.
Lastly on December 20, the following movies will debut:
A Christmas Break on Lifetime at 8 PM. School teacher Addison Tate (Cindy Sampson) wants this Christmas to be special for her kids especially since the School Board has decided that it will be the last as the school will be closing. When Addison meets Danny (Steve Byers), a Hollywood actor home to reconnect with his roots, on a Christmas tree lot, sparks fly, uniting the two to save the school from closing right before Christmas Eve.
Project Christmas Wish on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries at 10 PM. For years Lucy (Amanda Schull) has played Santa to her small town’s community by making their holiday wishes come true. But when Lucy grants a little girl’s wish for a Christmas like she used to have with her Mom, she unexpectedly finds her own wishes coming true in life and love. Travis Van Winkle also stars.
Cross Country Christmas on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM. Former classmates Lina (Rachael Leigh Cook) and Max (Greyston Holt) are traveling home for the holidays, until a storm hits and they have to work together to make it home in time, no matter the mode of transportation.
Mark your calendars!
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