It’s Holiday Time at The CW! Celebrate the Season with Festive Programming

The CW Network today announced its slate of upcoming holiday programming featuring the all-new special, BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER!, along with holiday-themed movies and a roster of holiday classics and family favorites, including GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER, THE 92ND ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE and PENN & TELLER: MERRY FOOL US.

What would you do if you woke up to a life you didn’t recognize? In the film THE FAMILY MAN, making its CW Network debut on Sunday, November 10 (7:00-10:00PM ET), Academy Award®-winner Nicolas Cage plays a fast-lane investment broker in New York City who wakes up one morning to find himself living the quiet suburban life he rejected years ago. A fantastic holiday movie in the vein of “It’s a Wonderful Life” that poses genuine questions about what’s truly important in life. The film also stars Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, Saul Rubinek, Josef Sommer and Don Cheadle. The film was written by David Diamond & David Weissman and directed by Brett Ratner.

The comfort of the holidays continues with A WALTONS THANKSGIVING airing on Saturday, November 16 (8:00-10:00PM ET). The Walton family is reunited as they prepare for Thanksgiving in 1934. The Depression has affected everyone, but John Walton (Teddy Sears) has found a way to provide for his family through the farm and by picking up odd jobs from the eccentric Baldwin Sisters. It’s also the time of year for the Annual Harvest Festival Fair, where carnival rides, talent shows and pie contests become the center of attention for the Waltons. As the story unfolds, John Boy (Logan Shroyer) learns the true meaning of taking responsibility, Mary Ellen (Marcelle LeBlanc) comes to understand patience and collaboration, Grandma (Rebecca Koon) finds that winning can be complicated, and Olivia (Bellamy Young) shares her healing heart with every other Walton family member – at a time when each of them need it most. And when a young boy enters the Waltons’ world, everyone’s life is changed in ways they could never have imagined – transformed forever through love, faith and kindness!

The seasonal favorite THE HOLIDAY airs Sunday, November 17 (7:00-10:00PM ET). Two women on opposite sides of the globe, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) and Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet), find themselves in a similar predicament. Desperate for a change of scenery, the two women meet on the internet and swap houses for the Christmas holiday discovering that a change of address really can change your life. Written, produced and directed by the legendary Nancy Meyers, THE HOLIDAY also stars Jude Law, Jack Black, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell and Eli Wallach.

The holiday favorite classic GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER returns to The CW on Friday, November 29 (8:00-9:00PM ET). Celebrating its 25th broadcast anniversary, GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER is a one-hour special, based on the hit Song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, is a goofy and heartwarming adventure that features young Jake Spankenheimer on the quest of a lifetime to track his missing Grandma down on Christmas Eve to prove that Santa Claus is indeed real. Michele Lee (“Knots Landing”) provides the voice of Jake’s greedy Cousin Mel and recording artist Elmo Shropshire provides the narration. An encore presentation will air on Wednesday, December 18 (8:00-9:00PM ET).

The merriment continues with a very special episode of PENN & TELLER: MERRY FOOL US airing on Sunday, December 1 (9:00-10:00PM ET). The magical duo of Penn & Teller helps kick off the holiday season with this special complete with magicians, costumes and a Christmas Trophy! PENN & TELLER: MERRY FOOL US stars the legendary duo of Penn & Teller. PENN & TELLER: FOOL US is created and produced by 1/17 PRODUCTIONS with executive producers Peter Adam Golden, Andrew Golder, Penn Jillette and Teller.

On Saturday, December 7 (8:00-10:00PM ET), Christmas is the time to fall in love with A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS. In this holiday love story, a wealthy charmer poses as a ranch hand to get a hardworking farmer to sell her family’s land before Christmas. Written by Lauren Swickard and directed by Shaun Piccinino, the film stars Lauren Swickard and Josh Swickard.

The beloved holiday classic ILLUMINATION PRESENTS: DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH debuts on THE CW Sunday, December 8 (7:00-9:00PM ET). THE GRINCH tells the story of a cynical grump (Benedict Cumberbatch) who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, it’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism. The film features the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch as “The Grinch” along with Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, Cameron Seely, Angela Lansbury and Pharrell Williams. The film was written by Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow and directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney.

Relive your favorite holiday movie moments with the all-new special BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER! airing Monday, December 9 (8:00-10:00PM ET). Chronicling the Best Christmas Movies Ever, the special features such beloved classics as “Home Alone,” “Elf,” “The Santa Clause,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “Mircale on 34th Street,” “Christmas Vacation,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and, of course, “Die Hard.” Join over 50 stars, writers, athletes, directors and critics as they share the spirit of the season and unwrap the ultimate holiday gift this December on The CW. Executive Producers are Mark A. Altman, Thomas P. Vitale and Michael Broder and the special was written and directed by Mark A. Altman.

The star-studded tradition continues with THE 92nd ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE airing on Saturday, December 14 (8:00-10:00PM ET). Hosted by Dean Cain and Laura McKenzie along with Montel Williams and Elizabeth Stanton, the parade will feature Hollywood celebrities and movie cars, award-wining bands from across the country, dazzling equestrians, larger-than-life character balloons, colorful floats, humorous specialty acts, and high-profile performers. The parade culminates with the appearance of the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus, and his reindeer, ushering in the holiday season! The special is presented and produced by Associated Television International.

A special presentation of CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: HOLY NIGHT will air on Sunday, December 15 (7:00-9:00PM ET). A young mother labeled impure. A shepherd boy considered “unclean.” Experience Jesus’ birth through their eyes. A performance from world renowned performer Andrea Bocelli, with his son Matteo Bocelli, highlights seven musical performances and two beautiful new monologues. Starring Elizabeth Tabish and Vanessa Benavente and directed by Dallas Jenkins & Jacob Schwarz. The special also includes the most fan-requested performances from the previous two specials: Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude,” Matt Maher’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” Bonner Family’s “How Great Thou Art,” Zach Williams’s “Go Tell It,” One Voice Children’s Choir’s “What Child Is This,” and the “Joy to the World” finale featuring Phil Wickham and Maverick City Music.

The heart-warming family holiday movie THE WALTONS’ HOMECOMING airs on Saturday, December 21 (8:00-10:00PM ET). Set in the 1933 Depression Era, THE WALTONS’ HOMECOMING is told through the eyes of John Boy (Logan Shroyer), the 17-year-old eldest child of John (Ben Lawson) and Olivia Walton (Bellamy Young). His mother expects John Boy to help her raise his sisters and brothers, and his father expects him to follow in his footsteps to help support the family, but secretly, John Boy wants to be a writer. Times are hard enough in 1933, but to make matters worse, it looked to be the Waltons’ first Christmas without John Sr. When Olivia receives a letter that John Sr. is planning to make it home for Christmas after all, the family is thrilled and races to prepare for his homecoming. But when a storm threatens his arrival on Christmas Eve, and John Sr. is nowhere to be found, Olivia sends John Boy out into the night to find his daddy – a journey that will change John Boy’s life forever. The television movie stars Bellamy Young (“Scandal”) as Olivia, Logan Shroyer (“This Is Us”) as John Boy, Ben Lawson (“Firefly Lane”) as John Sr. and Richard Thomas, who starred as John Boy Walton in the beloved television series “The Waltons,” as “The Narrator.” The television movie is produced by Magnolia Hill Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Emmy® winner Sam Haskell serves as executive producer and the movie was written by Jim Strain. Lev L. Spiro is the director. “The Waltons” original series was created by Earl Hamner.

Spend the holidays with everyone’s favorite matriarch, Madea, in TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS airing Sunday, December 22 (7:00-9:30PM ET). Madea’s (Tyler Perry) friend convinces Madea to accompany her on a trip to visit her daughter in the countryside, as a surprise at Christmas. However, their expectations of the small sleepy town are proven to be false as shocking revelations and bitter feuds come to a head during the preparations for the annual winter carnival. The movie also stars Anna Maria Horsford, Tika Sumpter, Eric Lively, Jr Lemon, Daniel Lawrence, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray, Alicia Witt, Noah Urrea, Lisa Whelchel, Caroline Kennedy, Julie Ann Doan, Vickie Eng, Whitney Christopher. The movie was written and directed by Tyler Perry.

THE CW HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING:

Sunday, November 10
7:00-10:00PM THE FAMILY MAN

Saturday, November 16
8:00-10:00PM A WALTONS THANKSGIVING

Sunday, November 17
7:00-10:00PM THE HOLIDAY

WEDENSDAY, November 25
8:00-9:00PM SUPERMAN & LOIS
9:00-9:30PM THE CONNERS (Holiday Themed Episode)
9:30-10:00PM THE CONNERS (Holiday Themed Episode)

Friday, November 29
8:00-9:00PM GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER
9:00-9:30PM CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING (Season 4 Premiere)
9:30-10:00PM CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING (Original Episode)

Sunday, December 1
7:00-9:00PM TBA
9:00-10:00PM PENN & TELLER: MERRY FOOL US

Monday, December 2
8:00-9:00PM SUPERMAN & LOIS (Series Finale)
9:00-10:00PM TRIVIAL PURSUIT (Special Night)

Saturday, December 7
8:00-10:00PM A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS

Sunday, December 8
7:00-9:00PM ILLUMINATION PRESENTS: DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH
9:00-9:30PM THE CONNERS (Holiday Themed Episode)
9:30-10:00PM THE CONNERS (Holiday Themed Episode)

Monday, December 9
8:00-10:00PM BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER!

Wednesday, December 11
8:00-9:00PM SULLIVAN’S CROSSING (Season 2 Finale)
9:00-10:00PM INSIDE THE NFL

Saturday, December 14
8:00-10:00PM THE 92ND ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE

Sunday, December 15
7:00-9:00PM CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: HOLY NIGHT
9:00-9:30PM THE CONNERS
9:30-10:00PM THE CONNERS

Wednesday, December 18
8:00-9:00PM GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER (Encore Presentation)
9:00-10:00PM INSIDE THE NFL

Saturday, December 21
8:00-10:00PM THE WALTONS’ HOMECOMING

Sunday, December 22
7:00-9:30PM TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS
9:30-10:00PM THE CONNERS (Holiday Themed Episode)

Thursday, December 26
8:00-9:00PM SCRABBLE (Season 1 Finale)
9:00-10:00PM TRIVIAL PURSUIT (Season 1 Finale)