What to Watch This Week: December 2 to 7

From Mariah's Christmas cartoon to our very favourite elf, we round up the holiday specials airing this week

From Mariah’s Christmas cartoon to our very favourite elf, we round up the holiday specials airing this week

1. Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas – Sunday, December 2, 2 p.m., CBC

This offbeat musical documentary tells the story of Jewish songwriters Irving Berlin, Mel Tormé, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans and more, who are largely responsible for the soundtrack to Christianity’s biggest holiday—a generation of artists who discovered the perfect holiday in which to imagine a better world, if only for a day.

2. Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker – Sunday, December 2, 3 p.m., Knowledge

Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable ballet has become a Christmastime staple, combining the instantly recognizable score and the whimsical story of a magical doll kingdom with spectacular choreography, performed in this special by The Australian Ballet.

3. Christmas Catch – Sunday, December 2, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m., Super Channel Heart & Home

In order to bring down a diamond thief, rookie detective Mack (Emily Alatalo) is forced to go undercover and charm her way into the heart of handsome lead suspect Carson (Franco Lo Presti). Despite her terrible flirting skills, Mack is successful—to the point where she starts to have feelings for her target. Can Mack keep her emotions in check long enough to solve the crime?

4. Angel of Christmas – Sunday, December 2, 7 p.m., W Network

Aspiring journalist and full-time cynic Susan (Jennifer Finnigan) gets her first big break, but her Scrooge-like demeanour is put to the test when she’s asked to write a yuletide-themed account of her own family’s carved wooden Christmas angel, which is rumoured to bring true lovers together. 

5. Elf – Sunday, December 2, 9 p.m., Global

The beloved Will Ferrell holiday comedy makes its annual appearance to tell the hilarious tale of an oversized elf named Buddy who travels to New York City to track down his birth father (James Caan) and manages to spread his own quirky brand of cheer along the way.

6. A Godwink Christmas – Monday, December 3, 8 p.m., City

Kathie Lee Gifford stars in this romance about Paula (Kimberley Sustad), an antique appraiser who reluctantly accepts a marriage proposal from her career-driven boyfriend, but when she visits her aunt (Gifford) in Nantucket, the puzzle pieces of love suddenly fall into place.

7. Tradition of Christmas – Monday, December 3, 11 p.m., Vision

Take a break from contemporary holiday hits and hear The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra perform holiday classics like “Joy to the World,” “For Unto Us a Child Is Born,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night” in an annual concert that dates back decades.

8. 12 Days of Giving – Thursday, December 6, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m., Super Channel Heart & Home

When Baxter (David Blue) wins $50,000, he decides to share the wealth by acting as a Secret Santa to the people in his small town. But after Baxter starts helping out a young boy and his financially struggling mother (Ashley Jones), his life takes a surprising turn.

9. A Charlie Brown Christmas – Thursday, December 6, 8 p.m., ABC

Is it even Christmas without an annual dose of the Peanuts? The all-time favourite returns to show how Lucy, Linus and the gang come together to cheer up Charlie Brown as he finds himself depressed during the most wonderful time of the year.

10. Jack Frost – Friday, December 7, 11:15 a.m., AMC

A less iconic effort from Rudolph-makers Rankin/Bass follows the titular solstice sprite (voiced by the great Robert Morse) as he strives to become mortal so he can be with the girl he loves, only to see her kidnapped by an evil king.

11. The Christmas Pact – Friday, December 7, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m., Super Channel Heart & Home

When Sadie (Kyla Pratt) and Ben (Jarod Joseph) were eight years old, they planted a scrawny Christmas tree, promising each other that they would keep the spirit of Christmas alive in their hearts. But as grown-up life threatens to break their pact, a little magic forces them to reconnect and face the big question: Can friends fall in love?

12. Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You – Friday, December 7, 5 p.m., AMC

The animated children’s movie, featuring the voice of the Grammy-winning pop diva herself, tells the story of young Mariah as she agrees to dog-sit her uncle’s puppy in a bid to get a pooch of her own.

13. Frosty Returns – Friday, December 7, 7 p.m., CBC

The world’s most famous snowman (now voiced by John Goodman) is back, but this time his very existence is threatened by a snow-removal spray. Stay tuned (again) as the town of Beansboro chooses between insta-summer and their beloved Frosty.