Holiday movies, music specials arrive to light a bleak year

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Bring on the sentimental holiday rom-coms, the chorus of Christmas music specials and the nostalgia of last century's animated charmers. We'll take any and all feel-good moments in a year of scarcity.

Mariah and Dolly and Charlie Brown are among the comforts TV is offering this month, and not a moment too soon. Here's a sampling from broadcast networks, cable and streaming services, all times Eastern unless noted.

HOLIDAY HARMONY

- 'œMy Gift: A Christmas Special From Carrie Underwood,'ť now streaming on HBO Max. The singer performs tunes from her new holiday album and traditional songs, backed by her band, a choir and an orchestra led by Ricky Minor.

- 'œMariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special,'ť Dec. 4, Apple TV+. Music, dancing, animation and surprise guest stars help create what the streaming service promises to be a heartwarming journey with the pop star.

- 'œA Holly Dolly Christmas,'ť 8:30 p.m. EST (8 p.m. PST) Dec. 6, CBS. Dolly Parton sings hymns, holiday pop classics and tunes from her new album, and shares personal and faith-based Christmas memories.

- 'œChristmas with The Tabernacle Choir,'ť 9 p.m. Dec. 14 (check local listings), PBS. Broadway musical star Kelli O'Hara and actor Richard Thomas are part of the annual program, taped before an audience last year in Salt Lake City.

- 'œElla Wishes You a Swinging Christmas,'ť 8 p.m. Dec. 15 (check local listings), PBS. Vanessa Williams hosts and performs on a celebration of Ella Fitzgerald's 1960 album, with Dee Dee Bridgewater and Norm Lewis among those appearing.

- 'œGarth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event,'ť 8:30 p.m. EST live (8 p.m. PST, taped), Dec. 20, CBS. Brooks and Yearwood will perform holiday songs chosen from among fan requests submitted beforehand via Brooks' Facebook Watch show.

MERRY MOVIES

- 'œThe Princess Switch: Switched Again,'ť now streaming on Netflix. The saga continues as look-a-likes Stacy, a Chicago baker, and Lady Margaret, heir to the Montenaro throne, swap lives once more. Vanessa Hudgens again conveniently fills both roles.

- 'œJingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey,'ť now streaming on Netflix. Forest Whitaker is one of the big names in this tale of a toymaker in need of a miracle, with Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose and Keegan-Michael Key in the cast.

- 'œGodmothered,'ť Dec. 4, Disney +. Novice fairy godmother Eleanor (Jillian Bell) tries to prove her profession is still valid and unexpectedly puts her gifts to work for a widowed mom (Isla Fisher) who has abandoned hope.

- 'œChristmas Ever After,'ť 8 p.m. Dec. 6, Lifetime. Tony-winner Ali Stroker ('œOklahoma!'ť) plays Izzy, a romance novelist whose writer's block may be overcome by a handsome bed-and-breakfast owner (Daniel di Tomasso).

__ 'œA Christmas for Mary,'ť 9 p.m. Dec. 8, OWN. Rising journalist Lena's (Morgan Dixon) hoped-for promotion - and true love - may happen, with help from a portrait. Vivica A. Fox and Jackee Harry co-star.

- 'œMarry Me This Christmas,'ť 9 p.m. Dec. 6, Bounce. Brandon Jay McLaren stars as a pastor who's helping a couple prepare for a wedding he'd rather see not happen - he's in love with the bride-to-be (Gabrielle Graham).

- 'œThe Christmas Setup,'ť 8 p.m. Dec. 12, Lifetime. New York lawyer Hugo (Ben Lewis) heads home to Milwaukee, where matchmaking mom Kate (Fran Drescher) sets him up with his high school crush, Patrick (Blake Lee).

- 'œLove, Lights, Hanukkah!'ť, 8 p.m. Dec. 12, Hallmark. Christina (Mia Kirshner) is readying her restaurant for Christmas, with a DNA surprise and unlikely romance on the menu. Ben Savage and Marilu Henner co-star.

- 'œChristmas She Wrote,'ť 8 p.m. Dec. 6, Hallmark. Writer Kayleigh (Danica McKellar) escapes home after her column is canceled, but there's no hiding from the responsible, if very handsome, culprit (Dylan Neal).

- 'œIt's a Wonderful Life,'ť 8 p.m. Dec. 24, NBC. Jimmy Stewart's George Bailey is floundering amid self-doubt, but family, neighbors and Clarence the angel come to the rescue in filmmaker Frank Capra's 1946 enduring favorite.

STOCKING STUFFERS

- 'œA Charlie Brown Christmas,'ť 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 (check local listings), PBS. Protests followed the 1965 broadcast evergreen's removal to Apple TV+ , with PBS' telecast the compromise. Or see it on the streaming service during a free Dec. 11-13 window.

- 'œDr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical!'ť 8 p.m. Dec. 9, NBC. Matthew Morrison of Broadway and 'œGlee'ť fame stars in the adaptation of Theodor Geisel's book, with 'œYou're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch'ť among the tunes in the London stage production.

- 'œSilent Night - A Song for the World,'ť 8 p.m. Dec. 10 and Dec. 23, CW. The origin and cultural influence of the 200-year-old carol is recounted in a musical documentary that includes Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban and the Vienna Boys Choir.

- 'œRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,'ť 7:40 p.m. Dec. 5, Freeform. Looking different than everyone else is a burden that turns to joy for a heroic reindeer in the 1964 special narrated by Burl Ives, he of the mellifluous voice.

- 'œThe Lights Before Christmas: Radiance by Rail,'ť Dec. 22, BritBox. Take a virtual trip through rural England aboard an eight-carriage, 1940s train cruising by illuminated station displays and through the landscape of Shropshire county.

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Lynn Elber can be reached at lelber@ap.org and is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lynnelber.

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This story corrects the airdate for "Marry Me This Christmas'' to December 6.