FOX will air new and returning Thanksgiving and holiday favorites throughout the months of November and December.
All-new animated Thanksgiving-themed episodes include SON OF ZORN (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on Sunday, Nov. 13, and BOB’S BURGERS (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) at a special time on Sunday, Nov. 20, as well as BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (8:00-8:31 PM ET/PT) and NEW GIRL (8:31-9:01 PM ET/PT) on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
Then, catch the annual return of FOX animated holiday favorite ICE AGE: A MAMMOTH CHRISTMAS (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT), followed by an all-new holiday-themed BOB’S BURGERS (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) on Sunday, Nov. 27. LETHAL WEAPON (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) airs a seasonally themed episode on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Watch a Sunday night of themed animated episodes: THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), SON OF ZORN (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) and FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on Dec. 11. The holiday cheer continues with all-new themed episodes of BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (8:00-8:31 PM ET/PT) and NEW GIRL (8:31-9:01 PM ET/PT) on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
Don’t miss the all-new special SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO on Monday, Dec. 5 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). TARAJI’S WHITE HOT HOLIDAYS airs Thursday, Dec. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).
Finally, stay up late with FOX and Pitbull, along with hosts Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg, to watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop on PITBULL’S NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION airing Saturday, Dec. 31 (11:00 PM-12:30 AM ET live-CT/MT/PT tape-delayed).
FOX HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING The following Thanksgiving-themed programs air in November on FOX:
Sunday, Nov. 13
SON OF ZORN (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) – “The Battle of Thanksgiving”
After a pep talk from Linda (Artemis Pebdani), Zorn (Jason Sudeikis) crashes Edie’s (Cheryl Hines) Thanksgiving to prove to Edie’s mom how much he’s matured. It goes well at first, until Edie’s mom (guest star Jenny O’Hara) shares her views on Zephyria. Meanwhile, Alan (Johnny Pemberton) butters up his grandmother to get her to pay for his expensive summer music camp. Also, after Thanksgiving, Zorn consults fellow Zephyrian Dr. Klorpins (guest voice Nick Offerman) via Facetime, when he develops a mysterious itch.
Sunday, Nov. 20
BOB’S BURGERS (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) – “The Quirk-ducers” – Airing at a special time
The kids have their half day before Thanksgiving cancelled because of Mr. Frond’s (guest voice David Herman) idea for a play. Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Louise (Kristen Schaal) come up with an idea to sabotage the play with Tina’s (Dan Mintz) holiday fan fiction in order to get their half day back.
Tuesday, Nov. 22
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (8:00-8:31 PM ET/PT) – “Mr. Santiago”
At Amy’s (Melissa Fumero) intricately planned Thanksgiving dinner, Jake (Andy Samberg) goes “full Santiago” (binder and all) in order to impress her father (guest star Jimmy Smits), a former cop. With Jake and Amy’s focus elsewhere, Charles (Joe Lo Truglio) is left on turkey duty and Holt (Andre Braugher) helps Pimento (guest star Jason Mantzoukas) cope after learning he can no longer work for the NYPD.
NEW GIRL (8:31-9:01 PM ET/PT) – “Last Thanksgiving”
Jess (Zooey Deschanel) is set on making the gang’s last Thanksgiving at the loft the best one ever, while playing nurse to her new wheelchair-stricken boyfriend, Robbie (Nelson Franklin). Meanwhile, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Cece (Hannah Simone) have to babysit a heartsick Gavin (guest star Peter Gallagher) who’s just been dumped by his girlfriend.
The following holiday-themed programs air this November and December on FOX:
Sunday, Nov. 27
ICE AGE: A MAMMOTH CHRISTMAS (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) – Annual Return
America’s favorite arctic herd is busy decorating for the holiday season. In his rush to help, Sid (John Leguizamo) destroys Manny’s (Ray Romano) favorite decorations. Manny is so upset he convinces Sid he is now on Santa’s naughty list. Sid, Crash (Seann William Scott), Eddie (Josh Peck) and Peaches (Ciara Bravo) take off for the North Pole to plead their case to Santa (Billy Gardell). Meanwhile, Manny, Ellie (Queen Latifah) and Diego (Denis Leary), worry over Peaches’ safety and race to find her. Back at the North Pole, Sid and his crew accidentally destroy Santa’s Workshop on Christmas Eve, and it’s up to these newfound friends to orchestrate a Christmas miracle. The special, directed by Karen Disher, also features the voice talent of Chris Wedge, T.J. Miller and Judah Friedlander. An encore airs on Tuesday, Dec. 20 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT).
BOB’S BURGERS (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) – “The Last Gingerbread House on the Left”
Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) gets roped into competing in a secret Gingerbread house-building contest. Meanwhile, Linda (John Roberts) and the kids decide to go caroling, but their neighbors are not in the Christmas spirit.
Monday, Dec. 5
SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) – All-New Special
Emmy Award-winning personality Steve Harvey will host this two-hour event and reimagining of the classic talent showcase series, in which Harvey will celebrate his return to the famed theater, where he launched his own career, and where he’ll be joined by some of the biggest stars in comedy and music.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
LETHAL WEAPON (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) – “Jingle Bell Glock”
The whole precinct’s holiday celebrations are cut short when they’re called to examine a ruthless homicide linked to Eddie Flores (guest star Raul Casso), the deranged nephew of a notable drug lord who has a previous history with Riggs (Clayne Crawford). The holiday season weighs heavily on Riggs, who flashes back to past Christmases with his former wife, Miranda (guest star Floriana Lima). Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) is also a little preoccupied with his neighbor’s obnoxious holiday decorations.
Thursday, Dec. 8
TARAJI’S WHITE HOT HOLIDAYS (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) – All-New Special
EMPIRE’S Taraji P. Henson is back this holiday season to spread cheer, goodwill and some holiday magic in an all-new music and variety special, renditions of classic holiday songs by entertainment superstars, including EMPIRE’s Jussie Smollett, Taye Diggs, Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, Snoop Dogg and TLC. The event also will include cameo appearances by acclaimed actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry and BROOKLYN NINE-NINE’s Terry Crews, among other surprise guests and performances. An encore airs Friday, Dec. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT.
Sunday, Dec. 11
THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) – “The Nightmare After Krustmas”
Krusty (Dan Castellaneta) tries to impress his daughter (guest voice Natasha Lyonne) as they spend Christmas with the Simpsons. Meanwhile, Reverend Lovejoy (Harry Shearer) seeks converts after church attendance plummets, and Maggie is haunted by a spooky Christmas toy. Comedian Jackie Mason also makes a guest-voice appearance. An encore airs on Christmas, Sunday, Dec. 25 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT).
SON OF ZORN (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) – “The War on Grafelnik”
Torn between Edie’s Christmas and Zorn’s Grafelnik – the Zephyrian holiday of revenge – Alan realizes he can play his parents off each other to get better presents.
FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) – “How the Griffin Stole Christmas”
Peter (Seth MacFarlane) is asked to fill in for the mall Santa and gets drunk on the power. Meanwhile, Stewie (MacFarlane) and Brian (MacFarlane) crash holiday office parties for the free food, drama and women.
Tuesday, Dec. 13
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (8:00-8:31 PM ET/PT) – “Captain Latvia”
Charles enlists Jake’s help in tracking down his son’s favorite toy for Christmas, and the pair finds themselves accidentally facing off against a Latvian criminal ring as a result. Back at the precinct, the team gears up for their annual Christmas carol competition against their sworn enemy: the MTA.
NEW GIRL (8:31-9:01 PM ET/PT) – “Christmas Eve Eve”
Jess struggles to keep the loft’s Secret Santa afloat, while helping Reagan (guest star Megan Fox) plan a Christmas surprise for Nick (Jake Johnson). When Winston (Lamorne Morris) believes his gift for Cece won’t be delivered in time, Winston and Schmidt go on a mission to track it down.
Saturday, Dec. 31
PITBULL’S NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION (11:00 PM-12:30 AM ET live-CT/MT/PT tape-delayed) – All-New Special
Armando Christian Perez, aka Pitbull, will ring in the New Year LIVE from the sandy beaches of America’s hottest city – Miami – alongside hosts Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg. Pitbull will perform and be joined by some of his favorite A-list musicians, DJs and celebrity friends for this unforgettable live event.
Director: Adhik Ravichandran
Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran
Genre: Action / Crime Drama
Rating: 4.5/5
“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.
“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.
While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.
The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.
“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.
In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!
When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting. And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!
Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home.
Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence.
Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.
The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!
However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene.
Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes.
My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues.
I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.
Presence is available to stream.
Three and a half stars.
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan
Overview
Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.
Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.
Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.
The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.
The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.
Rating: 9/10
Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.
Pros
- Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
- Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
- Rich mythological lore
- Epic fight choreography
Cons
- Sparse episode release
- Story pacing can be uneven at times
Final Verdict 9/10
If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.
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Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies
Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)
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