Dennis the Menace : The Christmas Story (1959)

Made for CBS, airing December 20th in the US.

Season 1. Episode 11.

The story:  Christmas is a big thing for Dennis. He loves snooping to make sure he is getting the gifts that he asks for.

This year is no different but Henry and Alice are on to him.

They always hide his gifts and he finds them. So they end up having to hide them again.

Dennis knows this routine all too well and looks everywhere he can think to find his gifts without luck.

That's because this year Henry and Alice have found the perfect hiding spot.

Stars Jay North, Gloria Henry, Billy Booth, Herbert Anderson,  Joseph Kearns, Robert B Williams, Sylvia Fields 

Directed by Don Taylor

Not Rated

B&W

FAMILY/COMEDY/SERIES/CHRISTMAS

Gleason (2002)

Made for CBS, airing October 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

Based on truths. 

The story: Jackie Gleason had quite a traumatic childhood, but there was one thing that he daydreamed about, stand up comedy.

He seen a comedy show once with his dad and that audience and their laughter was the best thing in his world.

As a young man, he got his shot at comedy on the stage, in the spotlight.

Jackie didn't always get the laughs but he never let that stop him.

He went on to get a shot at a movie deal but when he wasn't allowed to be "funny", things didn't work out.

Just when he believed his world was falling apart he was asked to host a TV comedy show.

This was Jackie's way in, the right way.
Now Jackie was free to be funny how he knew to be, which landed him his very own comedy show, The Honeymooners...

Stars Jake Brockman, Paula Jean Hixon, Jack Langedijk, Brad Garrett, Gretchen Egolf, Mark Camacho, Saul Rubinek, Kristen Dalton, Danny Wells, Vlasta Vrana, Jason Blicker, Michael Chieffo, Shawn Lawrence, Kevin Dunn, Terry Farrell, Lisa Bronwyn Moore, Amy Sloan, Richard Jutras

Directed by Howard Deutch

Not Rated

BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/DRAMA

Stuber (2019)

Released July 12th in the US.

Filmed in Georgia and California.

The story: Some months after his partner is shot, policeman Vic continues working on the case to take down her ruthless killer.

The day he gets an eye exam and cannot see for a limited time, he learns his daughter is having her first art show.

He cannot see so he cannot drive, so she sets him up with Uber.

Later that day, Vic is home napping when he is woke by a phone call telling him where the killer is going to be.

Vic quickly jumps in his car but doesn't get far and somehow calls Uber.

What the Uber driver doesn't know though is that Vic is going to keep him for as long as he needs. 

Stars Dave Bautista, Karen Gillian, Iko Uwais, Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, Kumail Nanjiani, Betty Gilpin, Jimmy Tatro, Steve Howey, Amin Joseph, Rene Moran, Christine Horn

Directed by Michael Dowse 

Rated R
ACTION/COMEDY

Apple & Onion : Christmas Spirit (2020)

Made for Cartoon Network, airing December 5th in the US.

Season 2. Episode 10.

The story: After Apple and Onion exchange Christmas lists with each other they wonder how they will come up with the cash to buy each other their gifts.

They agree they need a job so they quickly search the internet and find that the mall could use a mall Santa Claus.

When they get there, Chicken Nugget the security guard is also there and sees the ad for the mall Santa.

Now Chicken Nugget wants the job as well.

They all apply and because the mall only needs one Santa, the mall boss tells them that they can all play the role of mall Santa.

But the one who gets the most children to visit them will get paid.

Stars (voices by) Richard Ayoade, George Gendi

Directed by George Gendi

Not Rated

ANIMATION/FAMILY/COMEDY/SERIES/CHRISTMAS

Heart of a Dog (2015)

Released March 1st in the US.
Filmed in New York.

The story: Laurie Anderson, poet and performance artist tells us many tales.

She speaks of dreams, her dream of her beloved terrier Lolabelle and her dream of her dying mother, her home in Manhattan, and life in Manhattan after 9/11.

Then, Laurie takes Lolabelle and travels to the mountains in California.

The two spend much time there, just enjoying themselves and relaxing in the beautiful wide open.

Returning to New York, she finds things are much more strange than when she left.

The government is everywhere and collecting data all the time.

Laurie speaks of who she was as a child and then goes into the aging of Lolabelle.

Lolabelle's trainer taught Laurie and her dog many things.

When aging Lolabelle lost her eyesight she was taught to paint, sculpt, and play music.

She played many live shows, charities for animals and even released a Christmas album.

This is Laurie's reflection on her loved ones who died and how she's learned to eventually deal with and feel about losing them.

Stars (voice) Laurie Anderson , Archie , Jason Berg , Heung Heung Chin , Bob Currie , Paul Davidson , Dustin Guy Defa , Etta , Evelyn Fleder , Willy Friedman , Gatto , Sasha Grossman 

Directed by (& story written) Laurie Anderson

Not Rated

BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/DRAMA/FANTASY

"Every love story is a ghost story."

Richard Jewell (2019)

Released December 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Georgia.

Based on truths.

The story: In 1986, 31-year-old Richard Jewell was working a humdrum job but had aspirations to be a police officer.

He went on to become a security guard at a college but was let go for being too extreme.

In 1996 Richard found himself closer to his dream as a police officer as he was working security once again.

He always took his job very seriously and was always very respectful of the law and his fellow employees.

While working security at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia before the upcoming Summer Olympics, Richard found and reported a suspicious package to his fellow policemen.

Having to take any suspiciousness seriously, a bomb squad was called in to investigate.

Shortly after realizing the suspicious package was in fact a threat, many people were seriously injured.

Quickly Richard was considered an American hero for helping secure the area, saving many people's lives.

But after just three short days of public praise, the FBI, along with the media, decided they had reason to believe that Richard was not a real hero, but more of a nobody looking for attention.

Stars Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Ronnie Allen, Grant Roberts, Ian Gomez, Jon Hamm, Mike Pniewski, Olivia Wilde, Charles Green, Ryan Boz, Brandon Stanley, Nina Arianda

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Rated R
HISTORY/DRAMA

Sister Sister : Christmas (1995)

Made for the WB, airing December 13th in the US.
Season 3. Episode 12.

The story: Tia and Tamara have saved their money all year so they can buy really great gifts for everyone they love.

A few days before Christmas they are visited by Grandpa Jimmy.

When everyone is out for the day and Tia is the only one home, there's a knock at the door.

She opens it to find a loan shark, looking for Grandpa Jimmy.

Apparently, he owes him money. So Tia gives him her and Tamara's Christmas funds.

She is told the loan shark will return tomorrow for the rest of the dough and off to the mall Tia rushes to tell her mom.

Everyone knows about Grandpa Jimmy's money troubles but no one wants to ruin Christmas for Ray by telling him what's going on.

So when the loan shark returns and Grandpa Jimmy isn't home, Lisa ends up giving him the rest of the owed cash, which is her Christmas fund as well.

Stars Tia Mowry, Tamara Mowry, Jackee Harry, Tim Reid, Marques Houston, Steve Monroe, Sherman Helmsley, Tahj Mowry, David Strickland, Pat McCormick, Frank Sivero, Bianca Lawson

Directed by Gary Shimokawa

Rated TVG
FAMILY/COMEDY/SERIES/CHRISTMAS