By Rick Gables
Hallmark Channel serves up a double helping of holiday cheer during its first ever Merry Thanksgiving Weekend event, with double-feature original movie premieres each night at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET/PT on Friday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 28. Topping off the weekend’s movies are fan favorites Lacey Chabert and Candace Cameron Bure. In her 11th Christmas movie for the network, Chabert whisks viewers away to Ireland in Christmas at Castle Hart, which premieres Saturday, Nov. 27, and also stars Stuart Townsend. On Sunday, Nov. 28, Candace Cameron Bure competes for a good cause with John Brotherton in The Christmas Contest.
Sunday, Nov. 21 on PBS, catch a special episode of Call the Midwife at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the season finales of MASTERPIECE dramas Grantchester at 9 p.m. ET and Baptiste at 10 p.m. ET (check your local listings). On this special episode of Call the Midwife, we take a celebratory look back at 10 years in this compilation full of births, deaths, love stories, faith and family. Go behind the scenes at Nonnatus House for interviews with the incredibly talented ensemble cast and crew in this thank you to the fans. In the season finale of Grantchester, when a successful music producer is murdered, Geordie (Robson Green) finds himself implicated in the investigation. Then, on the season finale of Baptiste, Emma (Fiona Shaw) and Julien (Tcheky Kary) must follow the clues to stop the next attack.
NBC will air its holiday musical event, Annie Live!, on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Accomplished on both stage and screen, award-winning actress Jane Krakowski is back at NBC starring as the larger-than-life Lily St. Regis in this all-star production. Krakowski plays the sassy, sticky-fingered partner of the swindling Rooster Hannigan, played by her Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt co-star Tituss Burgess. This comedic duo will join the stage alongside Taraji P. Henson’s Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr.’s Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger’s Grace and the recently announced Celina Smith as Annie. As one of the most beloved and biggest hits in Broadway history and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, NBC’s version promises to be an enjoyable evening for the whole family.