The CW Network announced its slate of upcoming holiday specials, including the new specials GREATEST HOLIDAY COMMERCIALS COUNTDOWN 2018, GREATEST HOLIDAY VIDEO COUNTDOWN, both airing Tuesday, December 18 and POPSTAR’S BEST OF 2018 airing Friday, December 28 (9:00-10: 00 pm ET).
On Tuesday, December 18 (8:00-9: 00 pm ET), The CW presents an all-new GREATEST HOLIDAY COMMERCIALS COUNTDOWN 2018. 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.
The all-new special GREATEST HOLIDAY VIDEO COUNTDOWN will air Tuesday, December 18 (9:00-10: 00 pm ET). This special will be hosted by the Holderness Family, the viral video family that rose to internet fame with their viral hit “Christmas Jammies.” The Holderness family will guide the audience through this special showcasing video greeting cards from around the world. From agencies and companies to families and friends, and everything in between, this special will feature some of the most memorable holiday videos from around the globe. Executive producers are Robert Horowitz and Lewis Fenton.
On Friday, November 23 (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 19 (8:00-9: 00 pm ET).
THE 87th ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE will air on Friday, December 14, (8:00-10: 00 pm ET), with Nancy O’Dell serving as Grand Marshal. The “Largest Christmas Celebration in America” will be hosted by famous 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 show features larger-than-life inflatable character balloons, and celebrity-filled cars making the heralded trek down the three-mile parade route. the celebration is presented and produced by Associated Television International.
On Sunday, December 16 (8:00-9: 30 pm ET), The CW will air iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2018, a 90-minute holiday music event that celebrates the season with performances by the year’s most prominent recording artists. The star-studded concert event will feature performances from Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Camilla Cabello and many more of today’s biggest stars. An encore presentation of iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2018 will air on Tuesday, December 25 (8:00-9: 30 pm ET).
The CW will broadcast a special holiday MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC Sunday, December 23 (8:00-9: 00 pm 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, Nathan Phan, Greg Gleason, and Christmas Choir.
On Friday, December 28 (9:00-10: 00 pm ET), The CW will air POPSTAR’S BEST OF 2018. Presented by Associated Television International and based on polls from Popstar Magazine, host Elizabeth Stanton will count down the greatest and most memorable moments and trends of 2018.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
8:00-9:00pm GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER
9:00-10:00pm TBA
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14
8:00-10:00pm THE 87th ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
8:00-9:30pm iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2018
9:30-10:00pm WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (Encore)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18
8:00-9:00pm GREATEST HOLIDAY COMMERCIALS COUNTDOWN 2018
9:00-10:00pm GREATEST HOLIDAY VIDEO COUNTDOWN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19
8:00-9:00pm GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER (Encore)
9:00-10:00pm TBA
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
8:00-9:00pm MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC (Encore)
9:00-10:00pm CHARMED (Encore)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25
8:00-9:30pm iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL 2018 (Encore)
9:30-10:00pm WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (Encore)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28
8:00-9:00pm TBA
9:00-10:00pm POPSTAR’S BEST OF 2018
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
8:00-10:00pm iHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL NIGHT 1 (Encore)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31
8:00-10:00pm iHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL NIGHT 2 (Encore)

Movie
Review of “Good Bad Ugly”

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.
Streaming
Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies

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.
Streaming
Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)

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.