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Comedy

VOD Spotlight: “A Christmas Story 2” continues Ralphie’s saga

It’s a little hard to imagine a sequel to A Christmas Story this long after the 1983 film’s original release. But A Christmas Story wasn’t an immediate success in its day, and it’s only been over the passage of time that the film has acquired the patina of a holiday classic. Bearing that in mind is likely what the filmmakers of A Christmas Story 2 would suggest before comparing the current release to its predecessor. Download a FREE Holiday TV programming calendar There was a sequel prior to this film — 1994’s It Runs in the Family (later retitled My Summer […]

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Animation

Rankin-Bass specials air throughout Dec. … but when?

They never get old, do they? The Rankin-Bass animated specials have been an indispensible part of the holiday season for nearly 60 years, and they’re still enchanting new generations as well as those of us who grew up with them. Maybe you can’t imagine a holiday without the Heat Miser. Or that Little Drummer dude. Maybe it’s watching Santa take on Burgermeister Meisterburger that does it for you. Or maybe you just have to take in as much Rankin-Bass goodness as possible this time of year. Fortunately, there’s no shortage, largely in part due to ABC Family’s annual 25 Days […]

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Animation

When is Rudolph on TV 2012?

When is Rudolph on TV 2012? Tuesday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 14 CBS, 8:00pm ET/PT RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER — (From CBS) The special, narrated by Burl Ives, who is also heard as the voice of Sam the Snowman, is a musical story based on the popular song of the same title by Johnny Marks.  It recounts the tale of a shy reindeer whose Christmas spirit is dampened because his shiny nose has made him the laughing stock of all Christmasville. Pursued by an Abominable Snowmonster, inhabitants of Christmasville flee to the island of Misfit Toys in the Arctic […]

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Casting Calls

“Code: 9” amps up the pranks in second season on Disney XD

How can I get on Code: 9? That seems to be the million-dollar question with kids and adults alike regarding the wildly-popular prank show, which returns for a second season Monday at 7:30pm ET/PT on Disney XD. There are a lot of hidden-camera programs on television — the barometer will always be Ashton Kutcher’s Punk’d on MTV — but what makes Code: 9 stand apart is its focus on regular people instead of celebrities. And unlike the classic Candid Camera, the folks here are having the wool pulled over their eyes by their own family members. Yes, you read that correctly. […]

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Comedy

“Marvin Marvin” brings Lucas Cruikshank back to Nickelodeon

Even if you don’t know the name Lucas Cruikshank, if you’ve seen any Nickelodeon at all, chances are you recognize that voice he sported in all of those Fred shows and films. And whether that voice appeals to you or is the verbal equivalent of scraping a chalkboard, Cruikshank is back on Nickelodeon — without the elfin squeak — in a new series, Marvin Marvin, premiering Saturday, Nov. 24 at 8:30pm ET/PT. I talked to the former Fred: The Show star about his new series, what it’s like to leave Fred behind, and what he has going on for the […]

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Animation

VOD Spotlight: “Arthur Christmas” is on his way

It’s one of the great mysteries of all time, and one that has puzzled children for over a century: How does Santa Claus manage to deliver presents to the all of the children of the world in just one night? It’s a question very much at the root of director Sarah Smith’s film for Aardman, Arthur Christmas. The film tells the story of the dysfunctional Claus family and their high-tech operation concealed at the North Pole that carries out the annual Christmas mission. When an elfin error results in one child being missed on the run, the race is on […]

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Family

Matt and Amy Roloff talk “Little People, Big World: Wedding Farm”

After six seasons, nearly 250 episodes and a quartet of specials, Little People, Big World stars Matt and Amy Roloff found themselves at a personal and professional crossroads. Their four kids were growing up and preparing for life away from the family’s home and the enormously popular TLC series they created there. The couple had just purchased land adjacent to their farm. And a major marital milestone loomed. “Matt and I looked at each other, like, ‘What are we going to do with each other?’” Amy chuckles. “‘What are we going to do?’” They found the answer in their new […]

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7 Questions With...

“7 Questions” With … Rico Rodriguez

Rico Rodriguez has no reason to be scared these days. The 14-year-old star just started his fourth season on Modern Family, where he is a vital part of one of TV’s best and most successful shows, and there appears to be no end in sight for his potential. Yet act scared he does in the new episode of R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour. In “The Weeping Woman,” which airs at 6pm Saturday, Rodriguez plays Chi, who must contend with “La Llorona,” a vengeful spirit that feeds on negative energy. Boy, that’ll ruin your sleepover real quick. Rodriguez took some time to […]

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Family

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” star Robert Capron returns for more “Haunting Hour” chills

Something just comes over Robert Capron whenever he signs on to do an episode of R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour. The sweet, kindhearted moppet we see as Rowley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies all of a sudden becomes a callous jerk who doesn’t care what happens to anyone else as long as he gets what he wants. Having played a ravenous ice-cream junkie in last year’s “Catching Cold,” Capron returns to the spooky anthology series for “The Cast,” which premieres at 6pm Saturday on The Hub. In it, his character Rex takes trying to fit in way […]

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Family

Olivia Holt in “Girl Vs. Monster,” new Disney original

It’s monsters, music and mayhem for Olivia Holt who stars in Disney Channel’s new original movie Girl Vs. Monster premiering Friday, October 12 at 8pm ET/PT. Fighting monsters? No problem. That’s according to the multitalented, 15-year-old Olivia Holt, who has busied her young life with a variety of challenges from competitive cheerleading and gymnastics to her more recent successes in acting and singing. The Disney XD Kickin’ It star puts her martial arts series on hold and picks up some funny gadgets to fight off monsters in Disney Channel’s new original movie Girl vs. Monster. In the movie, Holt stars […]