The holiday season gets quite a kick-off tonight as Rosie O'Donnell's variety hour debuts and Neil Patrick Harris hosts the World Magic Awards. Combined with the Thanksgiving Day parade, Dolly Parton visiting Ellen on Friday, another can-not-wait Graham Norton Show on Saturday and some Walker family renovating on Brothers & Sisters, it's going to be a full Turkey Day weekend.
Check out the full listings after the break!
Wednesday
The 2008 World Magic Awards (MyNetwork TV) 8:00 PM EST
Prestidigitator Neil Patrick Harris hosts this annual look at the world's best illusions. Among the illusionists performing is out magician Hans Klok.
Rosie Live! (NBC) 8:00 PM EST
Rosie O'Donnell kicks off the holiday season with a return to the variety hour and with the likes of Kathy Griffin, Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski and Liza Minelli performing, this certainly has the potential to be a gay ole time. (Now, would it be it too much to hope that Jessica Walter will show up during Minelli's performance?)
Just one Lucille Austero reference, please, Rosie?
Top Chef (Bravo) 10:00 PM EST
Remember how I mentioned that I spent last season complaining about the lack of Grant Achatz, the chef behind Chicago's molecular gastronomy restaurant Alina, which frequently gets some of the highest praise among all the restaurants in the country? Tonight, Top Chef makes up for that omission as Achatz guest-judges tonight's holiday-themed episode. Oh, and The Foo Fighters also appear.
Thursday
Thanksgiving Day Parade (CBS) Check local listings
This year, the parade includes a performance from the casts of the current Broadway productions of Mary Poppins and Grease, along with an appearance by the newly-out Clay Aiken.
Gavin & Stacey Marathon (BBC America) starting at 11:00 AM EST
BBC America is rerunning the first two seasons of the critically-adored romantic comedy. Be sure not to miss Matt Lucas' hilarious guest appearance as a guy who sells bachelor party tours. I'll be watching carefully to see if I missed it when they explained what happened between Staceys gay brother Jason and Uncle Bryn on that fishing trip.
Gavin and Stacey
Survivor (CBS) 8:00 PM EST
Charlie makes a return in tonight's look back at the season-so-far. Normally I pass on these clip shows but there's something about Charlie that has me wanting to tune in. Let's hope his bromance with Marcus gets more attention than it did when the competition played out originally.
Friday
The Ellen Degeneres Show (syndicated) Check local listngs
Ellen spends her Thanksgiving Friday with the iconic Dolly Parton. With Bette Midler on Monday's show and now Dolly on Friday, Ellen has put together quite a week, hasn't she?
Shirts & Skins Marathon starting at Noon EST
Logo revisits its groundbreaking reality series featuring the Rockdogs, a gay basketball team. With appearances by John Amaechi and Sheryl Swoopes and a bunch of stereotype-busting gay jocks, this one is worth checking out if you missed it before.
Saturday
A Diva's Christmas Carol (Lifetime) 7:00 PM EST
The classic Christmas Carol takes what sounds like a really gay turn when Vanessa Williams steps into the role of Ebony Scrooge ... and then there's Kathy Griffin as the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Tom Jones and Alan Carr share the Graham Norton Show couch
The Graham Norton Show (BBC America) 10:00 PM EST
Graham talks with singer Tom Jones and out comedian/presenter Alan Carr. The last time Carr was on Norton show he was a blast to watch so I'm looking forward to this return visit.
Sunday
Brothers & Sisters (ABC) 10:00 PM EST
This week, it's Walkers with sledgehammers! No, really: apparently they're taking apart Nora's new house. Sheesh, with the way that family always ends up fighting about something, doesn't it seem like a bad idea to do "family demolition day"?
A Diva's Christmas Carol !
My bf and I saw this when it aired on VH1... ohhh, several years ago! As I love the general 'Scrooge' story, and watch it every christmas, I recorded it on Video tape.... (What's that you ask? It doesn't matter...) But I lost the tape! Then I found it on DVD on Amazon, and we got it. Anway... my point is this is a great christmas movie!
If you like different takes on 'A Christmas Carol', or if you love Vanessa Williams, do yourself a favor and check this out! I swear this was her audition for playing Wilhemina on Ugly Betty. We're having a gathering of friends the week before Christmas and making them watch it, and then we'll watch it again on Christmas. And the music is fun too! 8)
Sounds like fun!
I've never seen it, but I'll try to watch it this year.
BTW, I saw the Stephen Colbert Christmas special last night, and it was great! I urge you and others to check it out when it replays.