Rueben's Ramblings

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

On December 9, the fall finale of Brilliant Minds will air on NBC at 10 PM.

The season finale of Sullivan’s Crossing will air on December 11 at 8 PM on CW.

On December 11, the box office movie Maria will debut online on Netflix. This is a biographical psychological drama film about opera singer Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie and played by Aggelina Papadopouou as young Maria). It is reportedly set during Callas’ final years in the 1970s when she was living in Paris. Pierfancesco Favino and Kodi Smit-McPhee co-star.

The BET+ movie Too Many Christmases will debut online on December 12. Jerome and Kayla (Denzel Whitaker and Porscha Coleman respectively) are excited to spend their first Christmas together as husband and wife. The only problem is that they’ve never celebrated Christmas without their respective families. This Christmas, instead of deciding on one event, they agree to attend two at the same time, to appease their families. The ensemble cast includes Jackie Harry, Valarie Pettiford and Willie C. Carpenter.

On December 12, the season finale of The Day of the Jackal will air online on Peacock.

The Hallmark Mystery holiday movie All I Need for Christmas will debut on December 12 at 8 PM. Maggie (Mallory Jansen) has been trying for years to break in as a singer/songwriter. Now faced with challenges of new apps and social media, Maggie fears she’s outdated and unable to compete in a tech-savvy world. While helping her parents on their farm at Christmastime, she meets Archer (Dan Jeannotte), an entrepreneur who has come back to town to spend the holidays alone. Archer is developing large-scale apps and is a tech enthusiast. At first, Maggie blames him for all of her songwriting woes. To her surprise, he encourages her to get back in touch with music that really matters and write from the heart; tech can be used in a supportive role to help her achieve her dreams without replacing the art of songwriting. Archer is dealing with loss of family, and through her tight family bonds, Maggie helps Archer find ways of moving beyond years of family feuding.

Also on December 12, the Hallmark+ movie Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane will debut online. In 1960, Eli (Benjamin Ayres) and Penny (Erica Durance) take in Eli’s curmudgeonly father, Walter (Serge Houde), and are forced to navigate some tricky family waters to get through the holidays while also working on a Christmas themed time capsule for son Alex’s school project. In 1998, we see Regina (Catherine Bell) and Nelson’s (James Denton) first meeting: stuck together when a blizzard strands Nelson in Regina’s home on Christmas Eve. In 2015, Jessie (Julie Gonzalo) faces a big challenge while planning her sister’s last-minute Christmas Eve wedding – the officiant is Tim (Ryan Rottman), her high school sweetheart, whom she hasn’t seen in almost 20 years.

The prequel series Dexter: Original Sin will debut online on Paramount+ on December 13. The series follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson with Michael C. Hall provided the inner voice for Dexter) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Christian Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department. The cast includes Patrick Dempsey, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christina Milian and Reno Wilson [among others].

On December 13, the fall finales of S.W.A.T. and Fire Country will air on CBS at 8 PM and 9 PM respectively with the series finale of Blue Bloods following at 10 PM.

The Netflix feature film Carry-On will debut online on December 13. In this action thriller film, a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) blackmails Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton), a young TSA officer, to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. The film also stars Logan Marshall-Green, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, Dean Norris and Sinqua Walls.

Also on December 13, the Hallmark Channel movie Hanukkah on the Rocks will debut at 8 PM. One week before Hanukkah, corporate lawyer Tory (Stacey Farber) finds herself unexpectedly unemployed and questioning the career she’s dedicated years to. As she helps her Bubby prepare for the holiday, she embarks on a quest across Chicago to find the last box of coveted Hanukkah candles. Her search leads her to Rocky’s, an Old Town bar, where she encounters Jay (Daren Kagasoff), a charming doctor from Florida, his grandfather Sam (Marc Summers) and a cast of quirky regulars who make her rethink everything. Torn between keeping her job loss a secret and embracing a newfound sense of belonging, Tory ends up bartending at Rocky’s, transforming it into the vibrant “Hanukkah on the Rocks” celebration. Through festive food, drinks, and games, she revitalizes the bar, bonds with Jay, and finds the courage to pursue her true calling. As Tory navigates the holiday, she learns that sometimes a detour can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be, lighting the way to a future filled with joy, romance, and self-discovery.

The Great American Family holiday movie Get Him Back for Christmas will debut on December 14 at 8 PM. Bella (Alexa PenaVega) made it big in music. Jack (Carlos PenaVega, Alexa’s real-life husband) stayed behind in his hometown working at The Salvation Army to help his family after his dad passed away. Bella returns home after a heartbreaking split with her chart-topping singing partner and asks Jack to write the perfect song to get her boyfriend back. NOTE: This movie could possibly debut on December 21 instead; please check your local listings.

On December 14, the Lifetime movie The Holiday Junkie will debut at 8 PM. The movie follows the decorating and planning service company run by Andie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and her mother Mimi. After Mimi passes away, Andie is forced to face her first Christmas without her mother and carry The Holiday Junkie torch on her own. Despite the challenges, Andie may also find some love at Christmas along the way with the handsome house manager, Mason (Brian Hallisay, Hewitt’s real-life husband), who has his own holiday secrets.

The holiday movie The Santa Class will debut on the Hallmark Channel on December 14 at 8 PM. Kate North (Kimbereley Sustad) finds herself reluctantly taking over her father’s once acclaimed and now struggling Santa School. In the weeks leading up to Christmas and the school’s next session, Kate and her new co-worker Dan (Benjamin Ayres) discover who they believe to be the real Santa Claus, lost and without his memories after his sled steered off course and crashed near the school. They decide to help him remember who he is by inviting him to participate in the intense Santa training program. There’s a lot at stake this year with Kate’s school needs in order to best the rival St. Nicholas School or be forced to close their doors, and Nick (Santa Claus) needs to remember who he is or the fate of Christmas might be at stake.

Also on December 14, the OWN holiday movie Mistletoe & Matrimony will debut at 9 PM. Olivia Morris (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) is a successful wedding planner who plays it safe in life and love. She is forced to reckon with her timid tendencies when she’s unwillingly tasked with planning her vivacious younger sister’s Christmas Eve wedding. Things get even more complicated when Olivia’s ex-boyfriend, Isaiah (Etienne Maurice), returns from overseas to help with the wedding. When sparks fly with her former flame amidst unfolding family drama, Olivia contemplates if she is finally ready to live life on her own terms this holiday season.

The UPtv movie A Novel Christmas will debut at 7 PM on December 15. When a successful children’s book author Chloe Anderson (Brigitte Kingsley) heads to the cozy town of Noelville to spend time with her sister’s family and help care for her recently widowed father, she didn’t expect the instant-connection with the local bookstore owner and single dad, Ethan Carter (Landy Cannon); or find her number one fan in his daughter, Alex. Will the small town’s charms be enough to rekindle a grieving family’s Christmas spirit along Chloe’s dreams of writing her first novel – let alone a chance at love? The movie also stars Alys Crocker and Jon McLaren.

On December 15, the Lifetime movie Christmas on the Alpaca Farm will debut at 8 PM. Jess (Kirsten Comerford), aka the “Queen of Christmas Sweaters,” quits her job at the hottest fashion label in New York City, intent on winning a Christmas competition with her own line of sustainable luxury knits. Getting her hands dirty, she teams up with Andrew (Matt Wells), a single dad and struggling alpaca farmer, as she helps bring Christmas joy to the farm and love into both of their hearts.

The Hallmark Channel movie Following Yonder Star will debut on December 15 at 8 PM. Abby Marshall (Brooke D’Orsay), once celebrated for her role as an inspirational mother on TV, is finding her real life in shambles after dealing with a scandal. She retreats to a luxury Vermont resort for Christmas only to find herself without a room due to a booking mishap. All the local hotels are booked up due to a rare astronomical event – a beautiful star said to mirror the Star of Bethlehem will appear on Christmas Eve. Thankfully, Abby finds a room at a quaint B&B, owned by Tom Maguire (John Brotherton), who is also a high school astronomy teacher. Since his wife’s passing, Tom has taken on a lot of extra responsibilities, including running the inn and directing the local church’s Christmas pageant. Empathizing with Tom, Abby offers to help with the pageant and various activities around the inn and finds herself enjoying both the projects and Tom’s company. Through newfound community, family and love, Abby discovers that hope sometimes comes in the most unexpected ways.

Lastly also on December 15, the series finale of Yellowstone will air on the Paramount Network at 8 PM; while on that same night, the prequel series Dexter: Original Sin will debut on Showtime at 9 PM.

Mark your calendars!