With Christmas closing in and the end of the year quickly approaching, it's all about list-making. Wish lists, shopping lists, lists of New Year's resolutions. While browsing blogs filled with top 10 lists of the biggest stories, juiciest scandals and best movies, moments, you name it, I noticed that instead of assessing 2009 alone, they're surveying the 00's. Now we must not only take inventory of the past year, but we also must take inventory of the entire decade. It's been an eventful 10 years. In fact, it's a miracle that we even made it into the 21st century. Remember Y2K?
There are still a few weeks left before it's over, and if Tiger Woods has shown us anything, it's that we cannot possibly assess the decade's juiciest scandals prematurely. For now, let's focus on the weekend to-do list. A lot can happen in 21 days.
WATCH THIS
Stars don't always fade sometimes they seem to disappear overnight. If you have ever wondered
"Whatever happened to...?" (insert the name of a TV star past their heyday), look no further than cable Christmas movies.
Dawson from "Dawson's Creek," DJ Tanner from "Full House" and the man who brought us "Achy Breaky Heart," Billy Ray Cyrus (now better known as Miley's old man) can be found on the Hallmark Channel for the holidays. Jenny McCarthy, who I'll always remember as the hostess of MTV's "Singled Out," is on ABC Family with a sequel to her "Santa Baby" Christmas special, aptly titled "Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe." Steve Sanders from the original "90210" will be on Lifetime in "Christmas Hope." Both '90s sweethearts' specials will air Sunday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. (I know, I know how will you ever be able to decide which one to watch?!").
Made-for-TV holiday movies range from surprisingly delightful to downright awful. While they're usually formulaic and more than a little cheesy, made-for-TV sometimes surpasses holiday-themed major motion pictures. Take trash like "Four Christmases" or "Christmas with the Kranks." They may have some A-list talent and high production values, but they also have D-minus scripts. I'll take a heartwarming Hallmark movie with D-listers instead.
Here's what else to watch (or not watch) this week:
The top two Christmas specials that cannot be missed will air this weekend. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," in all its Burl Ives, "Holly Jolly" glory, will be on CBS Saturday at 8 p.m. Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings on "It's a Wonderful Life," simultaneously airing on NBC at 8 p.m. Saturday.
"This is a singing competition!" Simon Cowell often crows about "American Idol" nevermind that it's essentially a glorified popularity contest. NBC is trying to truly make it all about belting out a tune on its new show, "The Sing-Off," a four-night-long a cappella contest. It begins Monday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m., and will continue Dec. 15, 16 and 21 (the finale). Will the states get our own Susan Boyle?
WHAT'S
HAPPENING
41 West will have Bogus on Temple Friday beginning at 9 p.m. and Weapons of Jazz, also starting at 9 p.m., on Saturday.
BJ's is cracking open their last keg of Koch's Golden Anniversary tonight. Enjoy some super-cheap drinks and possibly some swag.
Opening day at Holiday Valley in Ellicottvillle and Peek'n Peak Resort in Findley Lake is today.
SUNY Fredonia is presenting the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at First United Methodist Church in Fredonia Saturday at 8 p.m. In King Concert Hall on campus, the internationally-renowned Moscow Boys Choir will perform Sunday at 2 p.m.
Holiday nun shenanigans ensue at "The Nunsense Christmas Musical," presented at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Friday at 8 p.m.
Rock out. Jamestown Community College's winter jam is tonight at 7 p.m. in Scharmann Theatre, Jamestown. with the rock ensembles under the direction of Bill Eckstrom.
"Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus," will be staged at the Lucille Ball Little Theater in Jamestown tonight, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Call 483-1095 for ticket information.
April Diodato is an OBSERVER Staff Writer. Give her the dish on what's happening at aprildiodato@gmail.com
