Entertainment NOW

December 04, 2022

Entertainment NOW - The Lebanon Reporter's TV listings and entertainment guide for Lebanon, IN

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2 December 4 - 10, 2022 | Entertainment Now By Dana Simpson TV Media F or many who formed the tra- dition of celebrating the holi- day season by watching films and television specials with friends and family, CBS was the place to go. For a long time — many point to the 1965 launch of Charles Schultz's "Charlie Brown Christmas" as the starting point — CBS has long been a comfort- ing home for the holidays, but since 2012, Christmas has looked a little different on the Viacom network. Last year, following a nine-year hiatus, CBS reinstated its tradition of launching original holiday films and specials, premiering "Christ- mas Takes Fight" and "A Christmas Proposal," among other titles. This year, on Sunday, Dec. 4, the holiday premieres begin again, kicking off this time with a new film called "Fit for Christmas." Starring dancer, fitness instruc- tor and co-host of the daytime talk show "The Talk" Amanda Kloots, "Fit for Christmas" follows Audrey (Kloots) as she prepares to cele- brate the spirit of the season with sweat (and style) in the small, apt- ly named Montana town of Mistle- toe. An instructor at the local com- munity center, which is struggling to keep its head above water amid troubling times, Audrey isn't about to let the center's financial trou- bles dampen the town's Christmas spirit. As luck — or maybe fate — would have it, Audrey isn't the only person with her mind on the failing business over the holidays: a businessman named Griffin (Paul Greene, "When Calls the Heart") has arrived to take a look at the situation himself. Unfortu- nately for Audrey and the Mistle- toe townspeople, Griffin's plans do not involve saving the commu- nity's gathering place. Instead, he is hoping to buy the center out and turn the property into resort space. While Audrey and Griffin are initially at odds regarding the fate of the small town's social/activity hub, "Fit for Christmas" is, after all, a holiday romance. As the pair butt heads while trying to iron out conflicting business plans, they become more interested in one another, ultimately complicating their relationship and learning that there may just be more im- portant things in life than getting their own way. In addition to leading the cast, Kloots serves as an executive pro- ducer for "Fit for Christmas" alongside the film's writer, Anna White ("My Christmas Inn," 2018). Produced for CBS by Brad Krevoy's (The Princess Switch franchise) Motion Picture Corporation of America, "Fit for Christmas" also stars Rebecca Budig ("General Hospital"). Also joining the CBS holiday roster this year is Mark Amato's "Must Love Christmas," pre- miering Sunday, Dec. 11. Amato is behind more than a dozen holiday films, including the Vanessa Hudgens-led ("The Prin- cess Switch," 2018) film "The Knight Before Christmas" and last year's CBS original, "A Christmas Proposal," in which a food truck chef (Jessica Camacho, "All Rise") agrees to pose as a lawyer's (Adam Rodriguez, "CSI: Miami") girlfriend in order to help him land his dream job of taking over the family firm. New this year, "Must Love Christmas" stars Liza Lapira ("Crazy, Stupid, Love.," 2011) as Natalie, a romance novelist fa- mous for her sultry, holiday- themed content who escapes to a snowy cabin in Cranberry Falls for the season. While there, she finds herself caught up in an interesting love triangle with her former childhood crush and the persistent reporter who is trying to save his failing magazine by landing a tell- all interview with her. Also produced by Krevoy's MCPA, "Must Love Christmas" co-stars Neal Bledsoe ("Ugly Bet- ty"), Nathan Witte ("Charmed") and Adam Beauchesne ("Tucker and Dale vs Evil," 2010) and is di- rected by Amato's oc- casional collaborator, "Virgin Riv- er" director Martin Wood. Wrapping up the holiday festiv- ities on the third Sunday of De- cember is CBS's final original holi- day film of the year, "When Christ- mas Was Young." Premiering Sun- day, Dec. 18, this holiday romance features a screenplay written by scriptwriter and bestselling novel- ist Robert Tate Miller ("Marry Go Round," 2022) and original theme music from award-winning pop/ country musician Sheryl Crow, who also serves as an executive producer. Set against the country and western background of Nashville, Tennesee, "When Christmas Was Young" stars Tyler Hilton ("One Tree Hill") as Luke Dawson, a music manager who returns to his home- town in a determined attempt to secure the rights to a Christmas love song written by his high school girlfriend, Melody (Karen David, "Fear the Walking Dead"). Shawn Williamson ("The Good Doctor") and Jamie Goehring ("The Confirmation," 2016) of Lighthouse Pictures produce "When Christmas Was Young" alongside Tom Mazza ("Date My Dad," 2017), David Cal- vert-Jones ("Same Time, Next Christmas," 2019) and Everywhere Studios' Karen Glass ("Ice Prin- cess," 2005). In addition to these three new films, CBS also airs a selection of classic specials, including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964), "Frosty the Snowman" (1969), "Frosty Returns" (1992), "The Story of Santa Claus" (1996), "Robbie the Reindeer" (1999) and more. Still to come this season on CBS are the National Christmas Tree Lighting's 100-year celebration (Dec. 11), "Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!" (Dec. 20), the 24th annual "A Home for the Holi- days" special at The Grove (Dec. 23) and last year's Katie Lowes- led ("Scandal") holiday origi- nal "Christmas Takes Flight," about a financially rigid CEO (Evan Williams, "Blonde," 2022) who buys a family air- line around the holidays. Join CBS for this year's newest selection of holi- day programming. It all begins Sunday, Dec. 4, with "Fit for Christmas." Happy holidays! Cowan's Drugs 1 x 3" Heat up the holidays CBS launches 'Fit for Christmas' and other films Liza Lapira in "Must Love Christmas" Clerks III After Randal (Anderson) suf- fers a heart attack, he realizes changes need to be made and decides to make a movie about his life at a little conve- nience store called the Quick Stop. Randal enlists fellow clerks Dante (O'Halloran), Elias (Fehrman), Jay (Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith) to help him with his project, and as Randal's movie gets made, friendships are tested, shady deals are made and the group learns to appreciate the little things — especially given how fragile life has proven to be. Director: Kevin Smith. Stars: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Ander- son, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Rosa- rio Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Amy Sedaris, Austin Zajur, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Harley Quinn Smith. 2022. 100 mins. Comedy. Medieval The throne of the Holy Roman Empire is now vacant, and fighting for its control are King Wenceslas (Roden) of Bohemia and King Sigismund (Goode) of Hungary. Soon, Czech mercenary leader Jan Zizka (Foster) is hired by Lord Boresh (Caine) to carry out a kidnapping that could turn the tides of battle. But when Jan falls in love, the mission goes south. His next move will determine if a king takes the throne or if the power is to be restored to his people. Director: Petr Jákl. Stars: Ben Foster, Sophie Lowe, Michael Caine, Til Schweiger, William Moseley, Matthew Goode, Karel Roden, Werner Daehn, Roland Møller. 2022. 126 mins. Action. Ashgrove Leading scientist Jennifer Ashgrove (Brugel) lives in a world where the water supply is tainted, and drinking it is fatal. Harrowed by the pub- lic's demand for a solution, she retreats to the country- side with her husband to take a much-needed mental break. Unfortunately, their marriage is rocky at best and their time together begins to head into far more troubling territory. As things reach a boiling point, the two realize that their ability to resolve their is- sues could actually determine the outcome of the pressing water crisis. Director: Jeremy LaLonde. Stars: Amanda Brugel, Jonas Chernick, Shawn Doyle, Nata- lie Brown, Christine Horne, Sugith Varughese. 2022. 92 mins. Drama. Videoreleases Trevor Fehrman and Brian O'Halloran in "Clerks III"

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