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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Frosty, Charlie Brown, The Grinch Arrive Thanksgiving Week

Courtesy CBS

I'm making my lists, and checking them twice. First comes the list of Thanksgiving and Christmas specials that fill the television and radio airwaves next week, then my huge 2016 Holiday Program Guide.

Viewers will see plenty of their old favorites Thanksgiving week, starting Sunday with two telecasts of "Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (5:30 p.m. and 6:30 , TBS) which marks its 50th anniversary this year. (Here's my blog about no anniversary specialplanned for the iconic cartoon.)

Radio listeners will hear Mark Perzel's "Feast For The Ears" 10 a.m. Thanksgiving on 90.0 WGUC-FM,  and  Lynne Rossetto Kasper's popular "Turkey Confidential" cooking tips.

Credit MGM
Judy Garland, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Ray Bolger starred in "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939

"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "Frosty the Snowman" also air this week, along with holiday episodes of "Friends," "Happy Days," "M*A*S*H," and "The Brady Bunch." A bunch of popular movies (though not about Christmas) also make my list: "The Wizard of Oz," "Toy Story," "Mulan," "Shrek" and "Tangled," to name a few.

WLWT-TV (Channel 5) repeats the Emmy-winning 2011 documentary, "Ruth Lyons: First Lady of Television," on Thursday and broadcasts the Fountain Square tree lighting live at 7 p.m. on Friday.

WCET-TV repeats Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant Anniversary Concert" twice this week, while CET ARTS (Channel 48.3; Time Warner Channel 987) replays the August Lumenocity special.

Watch for my annual Holiday Programming Guide to be posted Sunday, Nov. 27.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20

Home Alone 4 (3:30 p.m., TBS): Kevin tries to reunite his separated parents.

Credit NBCUniversal
The Grinch comforts Cindy-Lou Who

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (5:30 p.m., TBS) Boris Karloff narrates the classic 1966 cartoon.

An Elf’s Story: The Elf on a Shelf (6 p.m., TBS): Animated. An elf helps a boy believe in Christmas.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (6:30 p.m., TBS) Boris Karloff narrates the classic 1966 cartoon.

The Wizard of Oz (7 p.m., TBS): Dorothy, Toto and friends are off to see the Wizard in 1939.

A December Bride (9 p.m., Hallmark): New. An interior designer (Jessica Lowndes, "90210") goes to her cousin's wedding with a guy (Daniel Lissing, "When Calls the Heart") who tells everyone they're engaged.

The Wizard of Oz (9:15 p.m., TBS): Dorothy, Toto and friends are off to see the Wizard in 1939.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 21

CSO Presents Lumenocity (9 p.m., CET Arts Ch 48): ): Replay of the August Lumenocity concert at Taft Theatre.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22

Alice’s Restaurant Anniversary Concert (8 p.m., CET Arts Ch 48.3, Time Warner Ch 987): Arlo Guthrie sings "Alice's Restaurant" and other hits.

Credit ABC Television
Clockwise from left: Franklin, Linus, Sally, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy and Marcie celebrate Thanksgiving.

WEDNESDAY NOV. 23

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (8 p.m., Ch 9, ABC): Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock prepare Thanksgiving dinner in 1973.

Macy's 90th Thanksgiving Parade Special (8 p.m., Ch 5 NBC): A look back at one of the nation's oldest traditions.

Broadcasting Christmas (8 p.m., Hallmark):  New. A Connecticut local TV reporter (Melissa Joan Hart, "Melissa & Joey," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch") and a New York news anchor (Dean Cain, "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman") compete to co-host a national morning show.

SNL Thanksgiving 2016 (9 p.m., Ch 5 NBC): Thanksgiving sketches from "Saturday Night Live."

THANKSGIVING

90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (9 a.m., Chs 5, 12, CBS, NBC): Live from New York. With Tony Bennett; Sarah McLachlan; U.S. Olympic gold medalists Michelle Carter, Laurie Hernandez and Claressa Shields; and the casts from  “Sesame Street” and "Cats."

Feast For The Ears (10 a.m., 90.9 WGUC-FM):  Mark Perzel hosts traditional music and American composers in a warm, heartfelt celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (11:30 a.m., Freeform): Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

Turkey Confidential (noon, 91.7 WVXU-FM): Lynne Rossetto Kasper, award-winning of "The Splendid Table," helps Thanksgiving cooks by answering listeners questions in a live two-hour broadcast.

Friends (1 p.m., TBS): "The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks."

Credit Ruth Lyons DVD

Ruth Lyons: First Lady of Television (2 p.m., Ch 5): Repeat of 2011 special about hugely popular WLWT-TV daytime TV host Ruth Lyons.

Mulan (2:05 p.m., Freeform): Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) becomes a brave warrior.

Friends (3:30 p.m., TBS) "The One with the Late Thanksgiving"

Ruth Lyons Special (4 p.m., Ch 5): Profile of the late daytime TV host Ruth Lyons.

Ruth Lyons: Living Legend (4:30 p.m., Ch 5): A look at the impact of Ruth Lyons' show and her Ruth Lyons' Children's Fund to benefit hospitalized children.

Giving Thanks 2016 (6 p.m., 90.9 WGCU-FM): John Birge offers a contemporary reflection on Thanksgiving with music and stories.

Toy Story (6:20 p.m., Freeform): Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) save the day, to infinity and beyond!

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (8 p.m., Ch 5, NBC): Boris Karloff narrates the classic 1966 classic cartoon.

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (8 p.m., Ch 9, ABC): Derek and Julianne host a new ABC special with and Derek Hough with Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson and Sofia Carson.

Toy Story 2 (8:20 p.m., Freeform):  Woody is stolen by a toy collector.

How Murray Saved Christmas (8:30 p.m., Ch 5, NBC): Animated. A cranky deli owner (Jerry Stiller) fills in for Santa.

Happy Days (9 p.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): Mrs. C tells the story of the first Thanksgiving.

Alice’s Restaurant Anniversary Concert (10 p.m., CET Arts Ch 48.3, Time Warner Ch 987): Arlo Guthrie sings "Alice's Restaurant" and other hits.

Credit ABC Television
"The Brady Bunch" cast in 1970.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 25

The Brady Bunch (7 a.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): Carol loses her voice before the Christmas concert.

Pettitcoat Junction (7:30 a.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): Santa Claus Special.

The Beverly Hillbillies (8 a.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): The Clampetts spend Christmas back home.

The Beverly Hillbillies (8:30 a.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): The  Clampetts get lavish gifts from Mr. Drysdale.

Light Up The Square (7 p.m., Ch 5): Live coverage of the Fountain Square tree lighting.

M*A*S*H (7 p.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): Hawkeye writes a letter home describing Christmas in Korea.

Once Upon A Sesame Christmas (7 p.m., HBO Family):  New. Elmo learns about Christmas traditions with the help of Grover, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, The Count, comedian Jim Gaffigan and Tony-winner Audra McDonald.

M*A*S*H (7:30 p.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): Father Mulcahy’s Christmas letter to his sister, a nun.

Frosty the Snowman (8 p.m., Ch 12, CBS):  Jimmy Durante narrates the 1969 musical cartoon .

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (8 p.m., Ch 9 ABC): Fred Astaire narrates 1970 cartoon about Santa.

Disney Parks Presents: A Descendants Magical Holiday Celebration (8 p.m., Ch 9, ABC): A new Disney special featuring songs by Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, China Anne McClain, Sofia Carson, Forever In Your Mind, Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks and Kelly Clarkson.

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (8 p.m., Ch 12.2, CW): Cartoon based on the novelty song.

Disney Pixar's Toy Story of Terror (8:20 p.m. Nov 25, Freeform): Mr. Potato Head disappears in a roadside motel.

Frosty Returns (8:30 p.m., Ch 12, CBS): Jonathan Winters narrates story of how a new snow removal spray threatens Frosty.

Despicable Me (8:50 p.m., Freeform): Gru and his many millions plan to steal the moon.

Happy Days (9 p.m., Ch 5.2, MeTV): A sailor gives Fonzie a gift from his long-lost father.

Christmas List (9 p.m., Hallmark): New. When her boyfriend abandons her, a young woman (Alicia Witt, "Nashville," "Justified) still tries to complete everything on her bucket list of holiday traditions.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26

Shrek (10 a.m., TBS): An ogre rescues a princess.

Shrek 2 (noon, TBS): Princess Fiona's parents throw a party.

Shrek the Third (2 p.m., TBS): Shrek and Fiona battle Prince Charming for control of land Far, Far Away.

The Boxtrolls (3:35 p.m., Freeform): Animated. A boy raised by trolls tries to help his friend.

Once Upon A Sesame Christmas (6 p.m., HBO Family):  New. Elmo learns about Christmas traditions with the help of Grover, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, The Count, comedian Jim Gaffigan and Tony-winner Audra McDonald.

Tangled (7:45 p.m., Freeform): Animated. Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) explores the world for the first time.

Robbie The Reindeer: Hooves of Fire (8 p.m., Ch 12, CBS):  Animated. Reindeer compete to pull Santa’s sleigh.

Robbie The Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe (8:30 p.m., Ch 12, CBS): Blitzen plans a reindeer theme park.

The Story of Santa Claus (9 p.m., Ch 12, CBS): Animated. A jolly old man (Ed Asner) starts the toy-giving tradition.

A Heavenly Christmas (8 p.m., Hallmark): New. A workaholic (Kristin Davis, "Sex and the City") dies and find herself tethered to her guardian angel (Shirley MacLaine, "Terms of Endearment") assigned to help a singer Max (Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace") patch things up with his family.

All I Want for Christmas (8 p.m. Lifetime) New. A busy executive (Melissa Sagemiller) can hear everyone's thoughts.

Disney's Wreck-It Ralph (9:55 p.m., Freeform): A video game villain wants to be a hero.

Watch for my annual Holiday Programming Guide to be posted Sunday, Nov. 27.

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.