Rueben's Ramblings

Here is the long list of the programming options to expect on TV this coming week:

On December 12, the two-hour season finale The Cleaning Lady will air on FOX at 8 PM while on that same night the fall finale of The Good Doctor will air on ABC at 10 PM.

The Paramount Network holiday movie A Nashville Country Christmas will debut on December 12 at 8 PM. Overwhelmed by her high-powered agent, a bombastic Hollywood director, and a totally tricked-out, off-base holiday spectacular, a country music superstar bolts from her outrageous lifestyle, seeking a haven at her grandma’s Tennessee farm. Rather than refuge, she finds romance when she reconnects with her handsome ex, a return to her musical roots, and an unexpected family when she discovers three clever kids who’ve outsmarted the foster system are living at the family homestead at Christmas. The film stars country legend Tanya Tucker, Keith Carradine, Ana Ortiz, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Olivia Sanabia.

On December 13, the limited series Kindred will debut online today on FX on Hulu. The series will center on Dana James (Mallori Johnson), a young Black woman and aspiring writer who has uprooted her life of familial obligation and relocated to Los Angeles, ready to claim a future that, for once, feels all her own. But, before she can settle into her new home, she finds herself being violently pulled back and forth in time. She emerges at a 19th-century plantation, a place remarkably and intimately linked with Dana and her family. An interracial romance threads through Dana’s past and present, and the clock is ticking as she struggles to confront secrets she never knew ran through her blood, in this genre-breaking exploration of the ties that bind. The cast includes Ryan Kwanten.

The fall finales of FBI, FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted will air on CBS on December 13 at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively.

On December 14, the season finale of The Santa Clauses will air online on Disney+.

The small screen adaptation of National Treasure: Edge of History will debut its first two episodes online on Disney+ on December 14. The series is told from the point of view of a young heroine, Jess (Lisette Olivera) – a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer in search of answers about her family – who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about the past and save a lost Pan-American treasure. The series also stars Harvey Keitel and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

On December 14, the VH1 holiday movie A New Diva’s Christmas Carol will debut at 8 PM. Aphrodite was made famous back in the day for performing THE timeless love song of the era. The song that everyone plays at their weddings, in every sappy commercial for diamonds or rings or puppies or soldiers coming home. It made her a ton of money, but Aphrodite HATES this song. She’s now the meanest judge on Pop The Question but her life changes when Brianna, becomes the breakthrough contestant, exuding love and purity. When Aphrodite reluctantly becomes her mentor, she does everything possible to steer her away from love and love anthems and so is visited by three spirits who take Aphrodite on a journey through love (and Christmas) past, present and future to try and shake her out of her funk and let love back in. The cast includes Ashanti, Eva Marcille, Mckenzie Small, Mel B, Robin Givens and Vivica A. Fox.

The Netflix movie I Believe In Santa will debut online on December 14. After five happy months dating Tom, Lisa’s horrified to learn he’s obsessed with her least favorite holiday. Is it time to give Christmas another chance? The film stars Christina Moore, John Ducey and Violet McGraw.

On December 15, the fall finales of So Help Me Todd and CSI: Vegas will air on CBS at 9 and 10 PM respectively; meanwhile, on that same day, the second season of the reboot of The Game will premiere on Paramount+ online.

The following movies will debut on December 15:

* A Blackjack Christmas on BET+. A story of two sisters – one who migrated to and built a nice life in the US, while the other stayed behind in their native Jamaica. When addiction threatens to tear the family apart, the sisters find their way back to one another and rebuild their bond. The cast includes Dawnn Lewis, Charmin Lee and Adam Lazarre-White.

* Record Breaking Christmas on Lifetime at 8 PM. Leah Hoffman (Michelle Argyis), an adjudicator for The World Record Bureau, draws the short straw and is forced to travel to a small town just before Christmas to investigate its plans to break multiple holiday world records. As she falls for the town’s doctor, Devan Bancroft (Andrew Bushell), she discovers that the whole town is in cahoots, and she just may be the person who can help them reach their true Christmas goal.

Also on December 15, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration will air live on ABC at 8 PM. In celebration of the Dtisney classic, this version will be an animated and live-action special, featuring award-winning singer-songwriter H.E.R. as Belle and Josh Groban as the Beast along with cast members Rita Moreno, Martin Short, David Alan Grier, Shania Twain and Jon Jon Briones.

The following movies will debut on December 16:

* The musical reimaging of the beloved comedy classic Snow Day on Nickelodeon at 7 PM. A musical reimagining of the beloved comedy classic film, Snow Day follows a group of kids who are determined to achieve their dreams when their school closes for a snow day. Siblings Hal and Natalie Brandston discover that anything is possible on a snow day when a surprise winter whiteout offers them the chance to break routines and take giant risks. Inspired to pursue his crush, Claire, Hal enlists the help of his best friend, Lane to help him express his feelings, and Natalie decides she must challenge the town’s cranky snowplow man if she wants to pull off the task of creating a second snow day. Jerry Trainor (iCarly) assumes the iconic role of the Snowplowman.

* Holiday Heritage on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM. Ella returns to her hometown to mend fences with her fractured family. With the help of Griffin, her ex-boyfriend, she encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa and to heal their past wounds before it’s too late. The movie stars Holly Robinson Peete, Lyndie Greenwood and Brooks Darnell.

* A Christmas to Treasure on Lifetime holiday at 8 PM. The passing of beloved Ms. Marley reunites six estranged friends for one final hometown holiday treasure hunt. As the search unfolds and fond childhood memories are relived, sparks fly between Austin Craig (Taylor Frey) and his former best friend Everett Matthews (Kyle Dean Massey). The gang find the hidden treasure before the city has the chance to turn the Marley house into a holiday resort but the blossoming holiday romance between Austin and Everett may turn out to be the greatest Christmastime treasure of all.

Also on December 16, the Netflix series The Recruit will debut online. A rookie lawyer (Noah Centineo) at the CIA stumbles headlong into the dangerous world of international espionage when a former asset threatens to expose agency secrets. The cast includes Vondie Curtis Hall, Laura Haddock, Kristian Bruun and Byron Mann (among others).

The season finale of Shantaram will air online on Apple TV+ on December 16.

The following movies will debut on December 17:

* The Holiday Dating Guide on Lifetime at 8 PM. Dating coach and aspiring book author Abigale Slater (Maria Menounos), is close to making her lifelong dream come true. She has completed her first book – a how-to guide for dating in today’s modern world – and is now more than ready to become a published author. However, after reading the book, her publisher Jack won’t proceed with the deal without knowing that her dating advice actually works. Before he has a chance to say no, Abigale proposes that she prove the rules work by using them herself and making a man fall for her by Christmas Eve in 12 days. Although Abigale’s never seen love as a priority for herself, she sets out to find someone who will fall quickly enough to get this book in print. Things change when Abigale meets Michael Ryan (Brent Bailey), and her single-minded mission takes an unexpected turn. While following her own advice, and learning to expect the unexpected in the process, Abigale discovers the romance of her dreams.

* Sappy Holiday on UPtv at 7 PM. Stranded in a small town after her car breaks down, Joy meets the charming James, a local trying to save his family’s maple farm. The movie stars Vanessa Sears and Jon McLaren.

* Twas the Night Before Christmas on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM. A former actress (Torrey DeVitto) trying to break into directing tests her skills with a town’s annual Christmas Eve courtroom production in which the true authorship of the famous poem “A Visit from St. Nick” is debated. Zane Holtz co-stars.

* Five More Minutes: Moments Like These on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries at 10 PM. The second holiday story inspired by Scotty McCreery’s song “Five More Minutes,” a young widow’s (Ashley Williams) Christmas wish for her son is answered in unexpected ways when she returns to their old home for the holidays. Lucas Bryant co-stars.

* Aisle Be Home for Christmas on Great American Family at 8 PM. Two exes finally reconnect when a snowstorm leaves them stranded in a superstore, without cell service or Wi-Fi, just before Christmas. The film stars Garrett Watson and Jennifer Freeman.

The following movies will debut on December 18:

* A Brush with Christmas on Great American Family at 8 PM. Over the week leading up to Christmas, Charlotte (Jillian Murphy) tries to capture her own unique style in the local art scene while also helping her mother run the family restaurant. Disheartened and struggling to find time for her art, Charlotte throws out her latest painting, only to discover that it has been anonymously submitted to the Christmas art festival. It turns out that Wyatt (Joseph Cannata), a visiting artist, stumbled upon her discarded work and is now using the festival’s exposure to find its mysterious creator who has stolen his heart with her craft.

* When Christmas Was Young on CBS at 8:30 PM. A headstrong music manager (Tyler Hilton) in desperate need of a hit song for his last remaining client finds himself falling for a gifted singer-songwriter (Karen David) with abandoned dreams of making it big, as he attempts to secure the rights to a Christmas song she wrote years ago. Sheryl Crow provides some of the featured music and she serves as executive producer.

* Hanukkah on Rye on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM. A matchmaker connects Molly and Jacob, but their new romance is put to the test when they realize that they are competing deli owners. Will a Hanukkah miracle keep them together? The cast includes Jeremy Jordan, Yael Grobglas and singer-actress Lisa Loeb.

* An Eclectic Christmas on UPtv at 7 PM. When a small-town vintage store owner leaves instructions in her will for inventory to be distributed as Christmas gifts, her out-of-town niece (Hannah Gallway) seeks help from a handsome local (Jeremy Walmsley) in identifying recipients from the clues provided.

* Wrapped Up in Love on Lifetime at 8 PM. Ashley Mackenzie (Brittany Bristow) has always been the preeminent “Christmas Queen” in town. From making hand-crafted decorations for the office to hosting the town’s annual Christmas sweater competition, she loves everything about the holiday…that is, until she meets her match in Ben Williams (Olivier Renaud). Ben is the devilishly handsome new guy in town who loves Christmas just as much as she does – and unwittingly begins to steal her thunder. But as Ashley begins to feel like Ben is taking Christmas away from her, she is reminded of the true spirit of the holiday, and she joins forces with him to make this Christmas even more meaningful.

On December 18, the winter finale of Yellowstone will air on Paramount Network at 8 PM and that same day the EPIX drama Rogue Heroes will air its season finale at 9 PM; and also that night, the season finale of Step Up: High Water will air on Starz at 9:02 PM.

Lastly, also on December 18, the Yellowstone prequel series 1923 will debut online on Paramount+. This is the next origin story in the Yellowstone franchise that introduces a new generation of Duttons led Academy Award nominee Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton and Academy Award winner Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton. Tthe series will explore the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west and the Duttons who call it home. The ensemble cast includes James Badge Dale, Jerome Flynn, Marley Shelton, Michelle Randolph, Brian Geraghty, Darren Mann, Julia Schlaepfer, Brandon Sklenar and Aminah Nieves.

NOTE: The show will also have its network debut on December 18 on Paramount Network at 9 PM after a new episode of Yellowstone.

Mark your calendars!