Rueben's Ramblings

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

On December 16, the fall finales of NCIS and NCIS: Origins will air on CBS at 9 and 10 PM respectively.

The BET+ movie Queens of Christmas will debut online on December 19. Doris and Julia (Terri J. Vaughn and Vanessa Bell Calloway respectively), life-long friends and feuding neighbors, engage in a hilarious competition for the annual ‘Queen of Christmas’ title, discovering the true spirit of the holiday and the value of their sisterly bond along the way. The cast includes Tyler Kay Whitley and Essence Atkins.

On December 19, the Hallmark+ holiday movie Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane will debut online. In 1966, single guy David’s (Benjamin Hollingsworth) plans for a simple Christmas are dashed when his neighbor Stephanie (Chelsea Hobbs) arrives with news that she won a contest to have Tommy Saunders’ (Matt Dusk) Christmas Eve TV special broadcast live from her house – but used his address. In 1981, John (John Brotherton) and Lizzie (Erin Cahill) learn that this will be their last Christmas on Cherry Lane after John receives a job offer in Michigan and Lizzie finds out she’s pregnant. In 2000, best friends Matt (Sam Page) and Rebecca (Brooke D’Orsay) find unexpected feelings developing as they try to find out who is behind a series of Christmas-themed random acts of kindness.

The 6th season of Virgin River will (finally) premiere online on Netflix on December 19; meanwhile that same day, the fall finale of Elsbeth will air on CBS at 10 PM.

On December 19, the Passionflix movie Lick will debut online. Based on the New York Times bestseller by Kylie Scott, Evelyn (Brooke Lee) wakes up in Vegas married to rock star David (Travis Burns) after blacking out on her 21st birthday. Thrust into his fame, she questions if she can handle his lifestyle as they navigate if their marriage is real or a mistake.

The holiday movie Trading Up Christmas will debut at 8 PM on Hallmark Mystery on December 19. Michelle (Italia Ricci) is the dreamer of her family, always brimming with imaginative ideas to make the world a better place. This Christmas, her sister Keri desperately needs a new home, and Michelle hatches a creative plan to help. Starting with just a Christmas stocking, she sets out to trade her way up to something far greater—a house for Keri. While Keri dismisses it as a far-fetched idea, local reporter Dan (Michael Xavier) is intrigued. Assigned to cover Michelle’s story, Dan follows her closely, and as her plan gains attention, he starts to see the world through her hopeful eyes. As Michelle and Dan grow closer, so do their feelings for each other. But when it seems her plan has failed and she fears she ruined her relationship with Keri, Michelle is ready to give up. It’s Dan’s love and belief in her that reignites hope just when she needs it most.

On December 20, the Apple TV+ drama Before will air its season finale online.

The Netflix feature film The Six Triple Eight will debut online on December 20. The film, directed by Tyler Perry, and based on a 2019 World War II History magazine article by Kevin M. Hymel, the film focuses on the contributions of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black and all-female battalion, in World War II. The cast includes Kerry Washington, Sam Waterston, Susan Sarandon, Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Gregg Sulkin and Dean Norris [among others].

On December 21, the Great American Family holiday movie Christmas in Scotland will debut at 8 PM. A New York installation designer helps a small Scottish community create a dazzling light display to win “Best Christmas Village” festival. The designer is forced to work with a wealthy heir who doesn’t like Christmas, though feelings may change if the pair succeeds in creating joy for the community. Jill Winternitz and Dominic Watters co-star.

The UPtv movie A Country Music Christmas will debut on December 21 at 7 PM. Songwriter Brooke Remington (Alexandra Harris) has the decision of a lifetime to make when a charming executive makes promises of fortune and glory that require leaving her best friend and writing partner behind. Jonathan Stoddard co-stars.

On December 21, the holiday movie A Carpenter Christmas Romance will debut at 8 PM on Lifetime. Written and executive produced by Sarah Drew, the movie begins when novelist Andrea (Sasha Pieterse) hints her upcoming book may take a heartbreaking turn, which causes her fans to begin protesting, demanding their favorite character not get killed off. Needing a safe haven where she can finish her novel, Andrea flees to her family’s farmhouse in the town of Wildwood. Much to her surprise, she ends up running into her former crush, Seth (Mitchell Slaggert), an artisanal woodworker who’s helping rebuild the town after it was nearly destroyed by a fire. It doesn’t take long for sawdust and sparks to fill the air once the two work together to reignite the town’s Christmas spirit. Is this romance just a holiday fling that ends when her trip is over? Or can the two build a love that is made to last?

The Hallmark Channel movie Happy Howlidays will debut on December 21 at 8 PM. Mia (Jessica Lowndes), a meticulous webpage editor for the Seattle Tourism Board, finds herself unexpectedly navigating the holidays alone. As the only one working, she’s drawn into an unusual encounter when she encounters a stray dog. Unsure how to handle the situation, she crosses paths with Max (this will be portrayed by the winner of the Finding Mr. Christmas reality series), a dog shelter owner. Mia agrees to let Max’s ailing dog find solace with her newfound companion, in exchange for Max showing her the hidden gems of Seattle. Through their journey together, they both step out of their comfort zones, discovering new perspectives and forming a meaningful connection.

On December 21, the OWN holiday movie 24-Karat Christmas will debut at 9 PM. When Trish (Samantha Marie Ware), an unlucky-in-love jewelry designer, accidentally sends a set of Christmas wedding bands off with the wrong person, she and the charming best man, Book Mosely (Curtis Hamilton), must work together to track them down and get them to the wedding on Christmas Eve – in the process learning that you can’t wait for love to find you, you have to go out and find it.

The third and final season premiere of What If…? will air online on Disney+ on December 22; meanwhile, on that same day, the season finale of Dune: Prophecy will air on HBO at 9 PM.

On December 22, the UPtv movie North By North Pole: A Dial S Mystery will debut at 7 PM. Santa is back to help a new couple solve a mystery and find romance. Zoey has one Christmas wish…to produce the perfect Christmas Festival for her hometown of Willow Creek. That wish becomes more difficult when Dalton, the sponsor’s handsome but aggravating son, becomes her partner and his modern ideas clash with Zoey’s more traditional vision. However, when suspicious things start happening, they realize someone is trying to stop the festival. They must team up to save it and soon find that they have a lot more in common than they thought. The cast includes Abby Ross, Joey Scarpellino and Andrea Reindel.

The Lifetime holiday movie Engaged By Christmas will debut on December 22 at 8 PM. When Zoe (Brittany Bristow) writes into the advice column Dear Adora to help save her relationship before the holidays, she puts the advice into practice and it’s disastrous — her boyfriend breaks up with her! When she tracks down “Adora” to confront her, she discovers it’s actually a man named Adam (Marcus Rosner). Zoe vows to keep Adam’s identity a secret if he helps her to repair her life through a series of Christmas-themed events publicized by his column. When the interest in their activities gains traction, will they also find love?

Lastly, on December 22, the Great American Family holiday movie A Royal Christmas Ballet will debut at 8 PM. A retired ballerina is pressed into service working with a visiting team of royal ambassadors to put on the season’s performance of “The Nutcracker” and finds herself center stage in an unexpected Christmas romance. The movie stars Brittany Underwood and Jonathan Stoddard.

Mark your calendars!