The CW Network today announced its slate of upcoming holiday specials, including the new specials MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC and POPSTAR’S BEST OF 2017.
New this holiday season, The CW will broadcast an original holiday special, MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC Friday, December 1 (9:00-10:00pm ET). This special from Associated Television International features some of today’s hottest magicians including Jarret and Raja, Jonathan Pendragon, Ed Alonzo, Jibrizy, Les Arnold, Murray SawChuck, Farrell Dillon, Tommy Wind, Titou, Naathan Phan, Greg Gleason, and Christmas Choir. An encore presentation will air Friday, December 22 (8:00-9:00pm ET).
Based on polls from Popstar Magazine, Associated Television International presents POPSTAR’S BEST OF 2017, airing Monday, December 18 (8:00-9:00pm ET). Hosted by Elizabeth Stanton, the special counts down the greatest and most memorable moments from 2017.
On Friday, December 1 (8:00-9:00pm ET), the one-hour special GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER returns to The CW. Based on the hit song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, this goofy and heartwarming adventure 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 of GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER will air on Wednesday, December 20 (8:00-9:00pm ET).
On Tuesday, December 12 (8:00-9:00pm ET), The CW presents an all-new GREATEST HOLIDAY COMMERCIALS COUNTDOWN 2017 as Kevin Frazier (“Entertainment Tonight”) and Keltie Knight (“Entertainment Tonight”) host this holiday celebration with a countdown of the 12 best holiday commercials ever – one for each of the 12 days of Christmas. In addition to the top 12, the special features other great commercials from both the U.S. and abroad, that capture the true spirit of the holiday season – from the heartfelt to the hilarious, from the outstanding to the ridiculous. Executive Producers are Robert Horowitz and Lewis Fenton. An encore presentation will air on Friday, December 22 (9:00-10:00pm ET).
Dean Cain hosts THE TOP 12 GREATEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES OF ALL TIME, airing on Wednesday, December 20 (9:00-10:00pm ET). In this special, Dean Cain and friends present a fresh look inside the 12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All Time counting down to the number one choice. We look at the magical moments in each of these films that make us laugh, cry, and mostly want to watch them again and again. These great films define what the holidays are all about.
On Thursday, December 14 (8:00-9:30pm ET), The CW will air iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2017, a 90-minute holiday music event that celebrates the season with performances by the year’s biggest recording artists. The star-studded concert event will feature performances from Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, The Chainsmokers, Fifth Harmony, Liam Payne, Camila Cabello and Niall Horan. An encore presentation of iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2017 will air on Monday, December 25 (8:00-9:30pm ET).
THE 86th ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE will air on Friday, December 15, (8:00-10:00pm ET), with Dr. Oz serving as Grand Marshal. The “Largest Christmas Celebration in America” will be hosted by popular personalities Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams, with special co-hosts Elizabeth Stanton and Garrett Clayton. The parade on Hollywood Boulevard will include live musical performances that will take place on two stages. A true Hollywood tradition, the parade features larger-than-life inflatable character balloons, and celebrity-filled cars making the heralded trek down the three-mile parade route.
On Monday, December 18 (9:00-10:00pm ET) The CW will air THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME HONORS. Hosted by Montel Williams, the special celebrates those who have been honored over the years with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We will look back at celebrations for Amy Adams, Adam Levine, Hugh Laurie, Viola Davis, Chris Pratt, George Segal, Allison Janney, Ice Cube, Keri Russel, Jason Bateman, John Goodman, Jeffrey Tambor, Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell. The special will features a brand-new star unveiling and tribute to popstar Selena.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1
8:00-9:00pm GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER
9:00-10:00pm MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
8:00-9:00pm GREATEST HOLIDAY COMMERICALS COUNTDOWN 2017
9:00-10:00pm TBA
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14
8:00-9:30pm iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2017
9:30-10:00pm WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (Encore)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
8:00-10:00pm THE 86th ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18
8:00-9:00pm POPSTAR’S BEST OF 2017
9:00-10:00pm THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME HONORS 2017
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
8:00-9:00pm GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER (Encore)
9:00-10:00pm THE TOP 12 GREATEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES OF ALL TIME
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22
8:00-9:00pm MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC (Encore)
9:00-10:00pm GREATEST HOLIDAY COMMERICALS COUNTDOWN 2017 (Encore)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 25
8:00-9:30pm iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2017 (Encore)
9:30-10:00pm WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (Encore)
Streaming
His Three Daughters (Netflix) – A Heartfelt Family Drama
His Three Daughters, Netflix’s emotional family drama, explores the strained relationships between three estranged sisters who are reunited by their father’s terminal illness. Set in a small, intimate family home, the film follows Katie, the eldest daughter and caretaker, Christina, the rebellious middle child, and Laura, the youngest, who carries the weight of family expectations. As they come together to care for their ailing father, old wounds resurface, leading to intense confrontations, moments of reconciliation, and ultimately, the rediscovery of familial bonds.
The narrative is a slow burn, focusing on the sisters’ personal journeys as they grapple with their father’s decline, unresolved issues from the past, and the impending loss of their patriarch. Director Azazel Jacobs captures these emotionally charged moments with precision, delivering a raw, honest portrayal of sibling dynamics, grief, and love. The performances are gripping, with each actress bringing depth and vulnerability to their roles, making the audience feel the weight of their complicated relationship.
The house, almost a character itself, is filled with memories, secrets, and tension. As the sisters sort through their father’s belongings, they also untangle their own emotional baggage, confronting their fears, regrets, and hopes for the future.
His Three Daughters is a powerful character-driven story that captures the complexities of family ties and the inevitability of loss. The film shines with its strong performances, subtle direction, and poignant dialogue. While its pacing may feel slow for some viewers, those who appreciate emotional depth and character development will find this drama deeply moving. The film’s realistic portrayal of sibling rivalry, grief, and reconciliation makes it relatable and impactful.
Rating: 4/5 – A deeply affecting family drama that hits all the right emotional notes.
TV
Top 5 Korean TV Horror
Kingdom
What could be better than a beautifully realized Joseon-period K-Drama, starring the excellent actor Doona Bae, fresh off her grand success in Netflix’s ‘Sense8’? All of that, but with zombies!
Oh this is a great one ya’ll. Adapted from a webcomic known as The Kingdom of the Gods, the show addresses the huge gap between the high and low classes plaguing (sorry) our Kingdom and of course has several engaging mysteries running throughout, but also happens to be a monster mash in the fantastic new zombie way reminiscent of Train to Busan! The show got not one but two well deserved seasons and even spawned (very sorry) a Netflix special, Kingdom: Ashin of the North, that yes, spoilers, features a zombie tiger. And it is absolutely amazingly rendered too.
Kingdom on Netflix gives us a breathtakingly possible story from long ago, both lovely and terrifying in equal measure, that should get a view from everyone!
Goblin: The Lonely and Great God
Whatever other great supernatural romance KDrama you think is awesome, Goblin did it first. Also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, the show graces us with outstanding performances from Gong Yoo as our Lead and Lee Dong-wook as the Grim Reaper, and is a romance with a supernatural twist for the ages. Like, literal ages. So Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), a bubbly high school student despite her tragic family history and her ability to see ghosts, who knows diddly about fate and the machinations of destiny, is skeptical in the beginning. But as the supernatural of the Goblin and the Grim Reapers and the search for a destined bride across space and time catches everyone in its clutches, love in all its messy, gloriously alive splendor may just save the souls of everyone involved!
Catch Goblin or Guardian whatever you want to call it, on Amazon Prime now!
Squid Game
This choice is obvious, though honestly it’s kind of sad at the same time. The main reason most of us enjoyed Squid Game quite that much, was because it was entirely possible, for pretty much all of it, to happen tomorrow. The show was so engaging in its many different portrayals of the lowest, pettiest, and darkest parts of humanity that were given to us by these actors like it was pulled out of their very souls and offered up to us the audience on a platter, and we ate, we consumed, with relish. Hell, we demanded a sequel series, which should be coming out soonish.
It says a fair bit about us as a species as we watch these poor, both literally and figuratively if you think about it, people participate in what are actual Games of Death. The show launched another wave of interest in large-stakes games, Korean culinary culture (ask me about the dalgona crack!), and became iconic with the jumpsuit and the blank mask with a shape on it. Have you seen the tinies who wear the jumpsuit and shape-mask to go trick-or-treating? They’re five years old. Did you let them watch the show?! Wow.
We all know Squid Game is a Netflix show, right? Right.
Tale of the 9 Tailed
Plenty has been said about the kitsune, the magical Japanese 9-tailed fox, while the Korean version is known as a gumiho, and is similar-ish in nature and magical powers. Like their other Asian counterparts, the gumiho is known to be otherworldly and long-lived, snarky and arrogant when it comes to humans, unless the prospective human love interest happens to come entangled in the threads of fate and destiny. … Well, guess what!
Celebrated lead Lee Dong-wook is our Korean fox main character Lee Yeon, former mountain spirit and guardian who now spends his earthly time carrying out missions from the Afterlife Immigrations Office while looking for the reincarnation of his former love, the exiled 7th daughter of the former King of Joseon, she who carries the fox bead, Yi Ah-eum, or Nam Ji-ah (Jo Bo-ah) as she’s known here in the modern era.
We’ve got Spirits of Darkness, shamans and Dragon Kings, shapeshifters and turning-humans-into-trees type curses, long-standing grudges and the binding if not choking ties of fate and destiny, all bound together with great love that spans lifetimes! Chase those nine tails of the gumiho on Netflix!
Bulgasal Immortal Souls
This is a hard one ya’ll – featuring pretty constant violent death-and-rebirth, a craptastic ton of guilt everywhere, actual physical and emotional abuse from trusted authority figures and family, no sexual abuse but it sure is strongly threatened and implied, and the equivalent of a vampire crossed with a demon for the supernatural element to tie it all together, Bulgasal Immortal Souls is not for the faint of heart, or stomach.
However, the show is a gorgeous read and wonderfully shot, finding beauty in the (eventual) redemption of its characters, but boy do they take awhile to get there. And the constant, if unintentional, betrayal can start to get on your nerves. And they do, the characters do manage to find their way across fate and lifetimes to be together for a few precious moments, which is great. Be warned though, Bulgasal believes in playing things out to the final, often very bitter but in theory deserved, very end. Treasure those few precious moments, the show says, they will be gone before you know it. Not only a great horror, the show also works as an anti-valentine’s day Bulgasal Immortal Souls on Netflix now!