Where to be and what to watch...
By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/18/2005 7:00:00 PM
Monday, Dec. 19
'Tis the season for rockin' around the Christmas tree—or the menorah, if that's your thing. The 2005 Radio Music Awards, live from Las Vegas on NBC (9 p.m. ET), are hosted by Mark McGrath and Jaime Pressley, with performances by Ashlee Simpson, Keith Urban and Ricky Martin. Then there's the premiere of So Jewtastic on VH1 (9 p.m. ET), a celebration of all things Jewish (and, presumably, fantastic) and some things that don't seem all that Jewish (but are still fantastic). The cultural commentators comprise a Who's Who of Jews, from Jackie Mason to Brooke Burke, with occasional appearances from ecumenical types like Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. Maybe D.M.C. will bust out a little “Holidays in Hollis”: “My name's D.M.C. with the mic in my hand/And I'm chillin' and coolin' just like a snowman/So open your eyes, lend us an ear/We want to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!”
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Kelsey Grammer had Frasier. Ted Danson had Becker. George Wendt had his beer commercials, and John Ratzenberger (better known as Cheers' jack-of-all-facts Cliff Clavin) has Made in America, whose third season debuts on the Travel Channel (9 P.M. ET). Ratzenberger traipses the nation in search of some of the more intriguing manufacturing sites in America, then provides picayune details about them. The season premiere features visits to the Diamond Match factory in Cloquet, Minn., and to the Lyon & Healy Harps plant in Chicago. Next week, Ratzenberger goes in search of Shelley Long's career.
Wednesday, Dec. 21
When a program description contains both “touching” and “moving” in the same sentence, we're generally all over it. Throw in a guest appearance by the Goo Goo Dolls, and, well, put another brimming mug of treacle on our tab. CBS is airing A Home for the Holidays (8 p.m. ET), which includes performances by Sheryl Crow, Toni Braxton and the Goo Goos, and, all sarcasm aside, touching stories about adoption. Larry David was not, in fact, given up for adoption by the kindly Christian couple in Curb Your Enthusiasm this season, but the dark lord of anxious laughter does have some personal insights to share on Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg on TV Land (10 p.m. ET). Comedian/director Steinberg, a fairly funny man in his own right, gets the Curb star to talk about why Johnny Carson never had him on The Tonight Show.
Thursday, Dec. 22
Ever wonder what it would be like to see a movie with Yogi Berra? There'd probably be endless explanations of plot points, no shortage of ssshhhs from your neighbors, lots of popcorn and soda, and probably several trips to the bathroom. For a taste of the experience, tune in to YES Network for Yogi and a Movie, when the Yankee Hall of Famer peppers an airing of The Natural with an array of Yogi-isms (8 P.M. ET). As Yogi might say, the movie ain't over 'til it's over, or the fat lady sings, or Roy Hobbs plays catch with his kid in the cornfield.
Friday, Dec. 23
Gifts. Family. Eggnog with just the right amount of hooch. James Bond? The suave secret agent may not be a Christmas icon on par with Santa, Frosty or even a Red Ryder carbine-action BB gun, but Spike thinks otherwise. It kicks off 008 Days of 007 with Live and Let Die (9 a.m. ET). It's eight days of Bond flicks, from Never Say Never Again to Diamonds Are Forever, right up until the gifts have been returned, the family has departed and the nog is, sadly, no more.
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