“A Charlie Brown Christmas” featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the whole gang on their holiday adventures as Apple and PBS team up for a special airing on Sun., Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal. Marking the 10-year anniversary of PBS’s beloved CALL THE MIDWIFE, the annual holiday special will premiere on Christmas Day, Wed., Dec. 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal, preceded by the show’s 2019 and 2020 holiday specials at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively.
Starting Thanksgiving Weekend and on “Giving Tuesday” (Nov. 30), PBS SoCal and KCET will kick off WINTER PLEDGE DRIVE – the most important season of the year for the organization, which runs through December 12, to promote the giving spirit of our region and supporting local public media. The lineup of Pledge Programming for the Winter Pledge Drive highlights some great mysteries that include MIDSOMER MURDERS and AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT, the always popular RIVERDANCE, CELTIC WOMAN and CELTIC THUNDER, the premiere of LAND GIRLS (marathon of Season 1 on Nov. 28, while the first three seasons are available on PBS Passport) and some important documentaries including Armenian genocide film THE HIDDEN MAP and SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME exploring forced labor in America after the Civil War. Check out the PBS SoCal and KCET Online Schedules for a list of airdates and airtimes.
PBS SoCal and KCET will also air some documentaries featured on PBS this year, including the past year from Ken Burns as well as AMERICAN MASTERS, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, INDEPENDENT LENS and the locally produced arts and culture series ARTBOUND. On-air videos featuring PBS SoCal and KCET employees will thank viewers for their yearlong support for the essential programs they’ve come to count on watching on their local PBS stations.
Finally, the Winter Pledge Drive will feature some fun holiday specials featuring the likes of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Sarah Brightman in these three viewer favorites being featured this coming holiday season:
HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH BING AND FRANK: Celebrate the holidays with a timeless special, featuring the magical combination of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. In this early color broadcast from 1957, the two legends swap Christmas songs and stories and duet on some favorite holiday classics. Airs Tues., Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. on KCET and Tues., Dec. 7 at 8:30 p.m. on KCET and Sat., Dec. 18 at 8:30 p.m. on KCET.
THE DEAN MARTIN AND FRANK SINATRA FAMILY CHRISTMAS SHOW: Join Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and their families for this joyful holiday special filmed in 1967. Songs include “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Silent Night” and many more. With special guest Sammy Davis, Jr. Airs Sun., Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Fri., Dec. 10 at 8:30 p.m. on KCET.
SARAH BRIGHTMAN: A CHRISTMAS SYMPHONY: Join the world’s best-selling soprano for her first-ever Christmas special. Breathing new life into holiday classics and festive fan favorites of the season, Sarah is joined by guests Andrew Lloyd Webber, Aled Jones and choir Gregorian. Airs Sun., Nov. 28 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. on KCET.
Additional holiday specials, will air as follows on PBS SoCal and KCET (*subject to change):
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL – Thanksgiving Day, Thurs., Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The BBC favorite series based on the beloved James Herriot books. A mini marathon with the Yorkshire veterinarian and friends is sure to get viewers into the holiday spirit beginning with all season one episodes, culminating with episode seven’s holiday special “The Night Before Christmas.”
RICK STEVES EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS – Sat., Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Celebrating the Christmas season throughout the European continent. In the special, Rick visits friends and families in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal their customs and practices of the holiday season.
EDDY’S WORLD – Wed. Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. on KCET
The 30-minute special is an engaging portrait of a 100-year-old toy inventor. Best known for the iconic Yakity Yak Teeth, Eddy Goldfarb is the inventor of nearly 800 toys including Stompers, Vac-U-Form, Kerplunk and the Bubble Gun.
THE WAYFARING PROJECT – Fri., Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal & Wed., Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. on KCET
An original concert film, conducted by Robert Istad and featuring Pacific Chorale, members of Pacific Symphony and soloists performing J.S. Bach’s motet, Jesu miene Freude, interwoven with contemporary works such as Wayfaring Stranger and Dolly Parton’s Light of a Clear Blue Morning.
CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK: INSIDE THE PLAZA – Christmas Eve, Fri., Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. as well as encoring on Christmas Day, Sat. Dec. 25 at 11 a.m. on KCET
At the Plaza on New York’s Fifth Avenue, where suites cost up to $40,000 a night, staff are tasked with fulfilling every whim of their guests. Watch as they prepare a Christmas feast for up to 500, turn rooms into magical yuletide havens and await the arrival of Father Christmas himself.
And there’s even some exciting PBS SoCal programming highlights for the kids. On Sun., Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. all Roald Dahl fans are sure to love CLOWN, BY QUENTIN BLAKE a half-hour animated special that brings to life the adventures of a little toy clown who has been thrown away. On Christmas Eve, Clown goes on an exciting journey to find a new home for himself and his friends. Encoring on Fri., Dec. 24 at 6 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Additional kids holiday specials, will air as follows on PBS SoCal (*subject to change):
Fri., Dec. 3 at 7 a.m. WILD KRATTS: A CREATURE CHRISTMAS
Fri., Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. CURIOUS GEORGE: A VERY MONKEY CHRISTMAS
Fri., Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. NATURE CAT: A NATURE CAROL
Fri., Dec. 3 at 12:30 p.m. LET’S GO LUNA: CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
Fri., Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. PEG + CAT + HOLIDAYS
Mon., Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. SESAME STREET “Holiday at Hooper’s”
Mon., Dec. 13 at 6:30 a.m. ARTHURS PERFECT CHRISTMAS
Mon., Dec. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ALMA’S WAY HOLIDAY SPECIAL
