By Andie Hagemann

In between holiday festivities, curl up on the couch for these spectacular titles coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend. On Saturday, watch a marathon of holiday-themed episodes of The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, and Family Guy, airing on FXX, followed by a presentation of Disney’s A Christmas Carol on Freeform, and the Tracking Santa livestream on Hulu. The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade debuts Sunday morning on ABC, and later that same day Disney Channel will broadcast the first two episodes of The Santa Clauses.

FXX’s Seasons Greetings Animated Marathon—Saturday, December 24, from 11 a.m.-12 a.m. ET/PT on FXX
This weekend FXX wants you to celebrate the holidays with your family. No, not that one—your animated family! Beginning at 11 a.m. ET/PT on Christmas Eve, tune in to the network for a day jam-packed with hijinks with the Simpsons, Belchers, and Griffins! Don’t miss this marathon featuring hilarious holiday-themed episodes of The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and more.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol—Saturday, December 24, at 12 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this computer-animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic features Jim Carrey in the role of the Ebenezer Scrooge, as well as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. While London anxiously prepares for Christmas, Scrooge refuses to take part in the festivities. But the miser is visited by three ghosts who attempt to teach him the true meaning of the holiday before it’s too late. The film also stars Gary Oldman as Bob Cratchit, Marley, and Tiny Tim, Colin Firth as Fred, Robin Wright as Fan, and Lesley Manville as Mrs. Cratchit as well as Cary Elwes in multiple roles.

Tracking Santa – Livestream—Saturday, December 24, on Hulu
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… SANTA CLAUS. In this live broadcast, ABC’s Owned Television Stations will track Santa sightings across America. Starting at WABC in New York, the event will jump from station to station following Santa, with anchors in the studio tossing to reporters in the field, meteorologists tracking atmospheric disturbances that can only be Santa himself, celebrity shout outs and holiday greetings, live chats with Santa, and much more!

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade—Sunday, December 25, at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET/7 a.m.-9 a.m. PT on ABC
The beloved holiday tradition returns to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort with heartwarming stories, showstopping performances, and of course, the iconic Christmas Day parade! Derek Hough and Julianne Hough will host the festivities and perform “Officially Christmas.” The star-studded special also features performances by Black Eyed Peas (“Carol of the Bells”), Chloe Flower (“A Liberace Christmas”), David Foster and Katharine McPhee (“Blue Christmas,” “Grown Up Christmas List”), Maren Morris (“When You Wish Upon a Star”), and Meghan Trainor (“My Kind of Present”), to name a few. The parade will be available to stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+.

The Santa Clauses—Sunday, December 25, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
After being Santa Claus for nearly 30 years, Scott Calvin (Disney Legend Tim Allen) is as jolly as ever. But as Christmas declines in popularity, so does his magic. Scott struggles to keep up with his demanding job, as well as spending quality time with his family. Upon discovering there’s a loophole to retire from his role, Scott considers stepping down as Santa Claus and finding a worthy successor so that he can become a better father and husband. The series also stars Elizabeth Mitchell as Carol/Mrs. Claus, Kal Penn as Simon Choksi, Elizabeth Allen-Dick as Sandra, Austin Kane as Cal, Rupali Redd as Grace Choksi, Devin Bright as Noel, and Matilda Lawler as Betty. The first two episodes of the Disney+ Original series will debut on the network on Christmas Day. All episodes are available to stream on Disney+.

By Andie Hagemann

From strange lands to hilarious holiday hijinks, this week has something for every member of the family to enjoy. Watch the holiday classic Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town when it airs Tuesday night on ABC. On Wednesday, stream Full-Court Miracle, followed by a brand-new episode of Willow, both available on Disney+. Don’t miss Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, airing Thursday on Freeform. Last but not least, Strange World launches Friday on Disney+.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town—Tuesday, December 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
In this beloved stop-motion Christmas special, a mailman named Special Delivery “S.D.” Kluger answers some of the biggest questions regarding the jolly man in the red suit: Santa Claus. In doing so, he tells us about Kris, a baby raised by a family of elves. As an adult, Kris aspires to deliver toys to the children of Sombertown, but his wish is forbidden by the Burgermeister Meisterburger. However, Kris goes against the Burgermeister Meisterburger’s command to bring joy to everyone in the town. The voice cast includes Fred Astaire as S.D., Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle, Keenan Wynn as Winter, and Paul Frees as Burgermeister Meisterburger, to name a few.

Full-Court Miracle—Wednesday, December 21, on Disney+
Celebrate Hanukkah with a viewing of this fan-favorite Disney Channel Original Movie—as well as these spectacular holiday-themed specials. Based on the true story of Lamont Carr, the film follows a Jewish basketball team in Philadelphia in desperate need of a new head coach. Alex (Alex D. Linz) loves basketball, but his academy’s team has yet to win a game. After a chance encounter with Lamont (Richard T. Jones), Alex persuades the injured college basketball player to coach them. Despite the concerns of the academy’s teachers and administrators, the team’s misfortunes suddenly rebound.

Willow—Wednesday, December 21, on Disney+
The epic journey continues after the action-packed events of Episode 4. Last week’s episode concluded with the unlikely band of heroes—Willow (Warwick Davis), Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel), Jade (Erin Kellyman), Kit (Ruby Cruz), Elora (Ellie Bamber), and Graydon (Tony Revolori)—surviving the haunted castle and continuing their quest to Immemorial City. However, the Crone’s minions are watching their every move and plot to hunt them down.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas—Thursday, December 22, at 1:30 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” festivities continue with a presentation of this heartwarming animated special. Over three separate stories, beloved characters Donald Duck, Goofy, Mickey Mouse, and their pals discover the true meaning of the holiday season. From “sled rides” in the snow to playing Santa Claus, you won’t want to miss all the Christmas spirit!

Strange World—Friday, December 23, on Disney+
A “strange” family adventure is coming to the streaming service this week! The animated film from Walt Disney Animation Studios introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob called Splat; the family dog, Legend; and a slew of ravenous creatures. The star-studded voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Dennis Quaid as Jaeger, Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father; Jaboukie Young-White as Ethan, Searcher’s 16-year-old adventure-seeking son; Gabrielle Union as Meridian, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world.

By Courtney Potter

Meet the Family Madrigal in a Whole New Way with Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl

Step into Casa Madrigal for an unprecedented concert spectacular as the original voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award^®-winning Encanto reunites at the Hollywood Bowl for a spectacular concert event—featuring fan-favorite musical numbers from the now three-time Grammy^®-nominated soundtrack. Check out the special’s brand-new trailer, below: 

Starring Stephanie Beatriz (as Mirabel), Jessica Darrow (as Luisa), Diane Guerrero (as Isabela), Adassa (as Dolores), Carolina Gaitán (as Pepa), Mauro Castillo (as Félix), Angie Cepeda (as Julieta), and Olga Merediz (as Abuela Alma)—along with legendary Colombian superstars and multiple Latin Grammy winners Carlos Vives and Andrés Cepeda—Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl turns the historic venue into the world of the animated film that became a global phenomenon. The concert, featuring an 80-person orchestra, 50 dancers, and out-of-this-world special effects, gives viewers a front-row seat to the musical extravaganza celebrating the world, characters, and songs of the animated hit.

Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl is directed by Chris Howe (Coldplay Live at Whitby Abbey, Bruno Mars: 24k Magic Live at Apollo), and choreographed by Jamal Sims and Kai Martinez, the film’s original choreographer and animation reference consultant, respectively. Conductor Anthony Parnther leads the full orchestra, performing the film’s score and cherished songs live-to-picture, and the outstanding cast and special guest artists perform the film’s acclaimed songs live; a Colombian band, featuring musicians from the original soundtrack, accompanies the orchestra.

See it exclusively on Disney+ beginning December 28!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm^®

Wasn’t it just Halloween? Thanksgiving? And now we’re heading into the first few nights of Hanukkah, and Christmas is just around the corner… what’s there to watch from around the worlds of Disney? A new sing-along version of Muppets Most Wanted on Disney+; the always enjoyable, holiday-adjacent presentation of The Sound of Music on ABC; and much more where that came from.

Disney+ Orders Second Season of The Santa Clauses

Great news, Santa fans! Following the debut of The Santa Clauses season finale this past week, Disney+ announced a Season 2 greenlight for the Original series! Disney Legend Tim Allen will continue in the beloved role of Santa/Scott Calvin and serve as an executive producer, while Elizabeth Mitchell will reprise her role as Mrs. Claus/Carol from Walt Disney Pictures’ blockbuster franchise.

In the series’ first season, we catch back up with Scott Calvin, who’s been Santa Claus for nearly 30 years and is as jolly as ever. But as Christmas declines in popularity, so does his Santa magic… Scott struggles to keep up with the demands of the job, as well as being there for his family. Upon discovering there is a way to retire from his post, Scott considers stepping down as Santa Claus and finding a worthy successor so that he can become a better father and husband.

But wait, there’s more: Season 1 of The Santa Clauses will also make its broadcast television debut throughout the rest of December, across ABC, FX, Disney Channel, and Freeform. Each network will air the first two episodes…

• Friday, December 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform, following a special marathon of The Santa Clausemovie trilogy
• Saturday, December 17, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FX
• Saturday, December 24, at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on ABC
• Sunday, December 25, 7 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel

All episodes of The Santa Clauses are now available to stream on Disney+!

Shanghai Disney Announces Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights Coming to Disneytown

Donald Duck will soon welcome Shanghai Disney Resort guests to his all-new Parisian-style garden-themed restaurant Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights in Disneytown—and we’ve got a feeling it really is all it’s quacked up to be!

Waddle down to the beautiful restaurant, where a marquee displaying a smiling Donald Duck sporting his chef outfit welcomes all. The bistro serves up freshly baked specialty pizza made by the in-house pizza chef, over-the-top milkshakes, and rich sundaes in a variety of flavors—as well as other delectable desserts. The exterior features a domed building of glass and brass highlights shaded by beautiful trees, making it perfect for outdoor seating during the day, weather permitting. The Art Nouveau style serves as inspiration for the whimsical details adorning the glass and decorative ironwork. As night falls on the quaint café, the golden glow from inside will remind guests of the famed “City of Light” on which its based…

Besides Donald, guests will also find Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Daisy, as well as his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie—and even his occasional nemeses Chip and Dale—represented throughout the interior. Oval framed art features the iconic group of friends prominently hung over the booths and tables, in a casual and urban sophisticated atmosphere.

Look for Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights at Shanghai Disney Resort this winter.

New Trailer and Premiere Date for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder

Earlier this week, Disney+ announced that the second season of the Emmy^® Award-winning original series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will premiere Wednesday, February 1—so make sure to mark those calendars! The Disney Branded Television series is a critically acclaimed revival of Disney’s groundbreaking The Proud Family… and it just recently won Outstanding Casting for an Animated Program at the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards!

From creator and executive producer Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder continues the story of its central character, Penny Proud (voiced by Kyla Pratt), and her iconic family: parents Oscar (voiced by Tommy Davidson) and Trudy (voiced by Paula Jai Parker), twin siblings BeBe (voiced by Bresha Webb) and CeCe (voiced by Aiden Dodson), grandmother Suga Mama (voiced by JoMarie Payton), as well as Puff (voiced by Carlos Alazraqui). By Penny’s side is her loyal crew of Dijonay Jones (voiced by Karen Malina White), LaCienega Boulevardez (voiced by Alisa Reyes), Zoey Howzer (voiced by Soleil Moon Frye), Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins (voiced by Keke Palmer), and Michael Collins (voiced by EJ Johnson).

Cedric the Entertainer returns as the voice of Uncle Bobby, with Carlos Mencia as Felix Boulevardez, Maria Canals-Barrera as Sunset Boulevardez, Alvaro Gutierrez as Papi, Raquel Lee Bolleau as Nubia Gross, and Marcus T. Paulk as Myron. Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto return as Randall and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins, with Asante Blackk as Kareem, and Artist “A Boogie” Dubose as Francis “KG” Leibowitz-Jenkins.

And as seen in the above new featurette, the previously announced guest star lineup includes Gabrielle Union, Chance the Rapper, Normani, Leslie Odom Jr., Disney Legend Anthony Anderson, Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Holly Robinson Peete, Maury Povich, Storm Reid, Courtney B. Vance, and Liana Mendoza.

The first season of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is available to stream on Disney+, and, beginning January 2023, episodes will air weekly on Disney Channel and Disney XD. All seasons of The Proud Family are also currently available on the streaming service.

Disney+ Greenlights Witch Mountain Pilot

In further Disney+ news, our friends at the streaming service recently announced a pilot greenlight (that’s fancy Hollywood speak for “given the go-ahead”) for Witch Mountain, a reimagining of the successful film franchise. The series is a modern reinvention of the fan-favorite classic that takes place in the shadow of Witch Mountain, following two teens who develop strange abilities and discover their sleepy suburb may not be as idyllic as it seems.

Bryce Dallas Howard, known lately for her turn as director of The Mandalorian, will star in the leading role as Audrey, one of the teens’ devoted and loving mother. Her husband died from a mental illness, and now, she is trying to reassure her fretful daughter that she shows no sign of following her father’s dark spiral. She’s a warm “mama bear” type—but like everyone in this town, not everything is as it seems…

In addition to Howard, the pilot will also star Isabel Gravitt, Levi Miller, Bianca “b” Norwood, and Jackson Kelly. Look for more info on Witch Mountain in the months to come.

Hulu’s The 1619 Project Announces Premiere Date

Disney’s Onyx Collective announced a January 26 premiere date for Hulu’s upcoming six-part limited docuseries The 1619 Project, an expansion of “The 1619 Project” created by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine. The limited series will debut with the first two episodes streaming exclusively on Hulu, with two additional episodes released every Thursday.

In keeping with the original project, the series seeks to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. The episodes—“Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear,” and “Justice”—are adapted from essays from The New York Times’ No. 1 bestselling The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story and examine how the legacy of slavery shapes different aspects of contemporary American life.

The series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, is a Lionsgate Production in association with One Story Up Productions, Harpo Films, and The New York Times. Look for it to stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S.; Star+ in Latin America; and Disney+ in all other territories.

Disneyland After Dark Returns in 2023

Yes, it’s true—Disneyland After Dark events are returning to the Disneyland Resort in 2023… and love is in the air! Along with the debut of Princess Nite, Disneyland After Dark will be hosting Sweethearts’ Nite for the ultimate date night. The event will offer scrumptious food and drinks, magical entertainment, encounters with your favorite Disney characters, as well as collectible merchandise!

Disneyland After Dark begins with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PT at Disneyland Park, then the private party runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. PT, allowing ticketed guests to ride popular attractions after regular park hours. Additionally, at each event, guests receive unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the party, plus commemorative keepsakes including a souvenir credential and event guide map to remember their Disneyland After Dark experience.

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite will begin January 31 and will continue through select nights throughout February­­—just in time for Valentine’s Day! Celebrate the love of your life, your best pal, or a cherished family member at this very special evening. Disney’s most romantic scenes from films such as Lady and the Tramp and The Little Mermaid have inspired photo-ops across the parks. The event will also have special themed fireworks, a Royal Ball hosted by Aladdin and Jasmine, as well as a romantic moonlit cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat.

Meanwhile, for all those royals out there, Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite is coming to Disneyland Resort March 7 and 9. This all-new, first-ever event will be a celebration under the stars where adventurous heroines and aspirational hearts unite. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in this empowering event with iconic characters who light up the world with kindness, courage, and a touch of magic. With shimmering décor, special photo opportunities, themed food and beverage offerings, commemorative keepsakes, and characters galore, guests will be ready to step into their own adventure of bravery and grace. 

Tickets are now on sale at Disneyland.com. Get ’em while the gettin’ is good!

ICYMI: Disney Wins 16 Emmy^® Awards at the Inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Award Ceremonies

As alluded to earlier in these News Briefs, Disney had a delightful night at the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. Across its content brands and studios, it won 16 awards; for a rundown of which among your favorites took home a coveted statuette, click here.

By Andie Hagemann

From a special presentation of a beloved classic to a new sing along, you won’t want to miss all the spectacular content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend. On Friday, Le Pupille and a sing-along version of Muppets Most Wanted debut on Disney+. Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas”celebration continues with Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, airing Saturday on the network, followed by a presentation of The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause on Sunday. Round out the weekend with The Sound of Music, airing Sunday night on ABC. 

Le Pupille—Friday, December 16, on Disney+
From writer and director Alice Rohrwacher and Academy Award®-winning producer Alfonso Cuarón, this live-action short is a tale of innocence, greed, and fantasy. Set at Christmas time, the feature follows young girls at a strict religious boarding school who are consumed with their thoughts of desire, freedom, and anarchy.

Muppets Most Wanted Sing-Along Version—Friday, December 16, on Disney+
The Muppets embark on a world tour at the suggestion of their new manager, Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais), despite Kermit the Frog’s concerns. And those doubts are proven right when look-alike Constantine escapes from prison and swaps places with Kermit, landing the frog in a Siberian prison. While Kermit attempts to convince his captors of his identity, Constantine and Dominic plot to steal London’s crown jewels.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Saturday, December 17, at 5:15 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
What’s this? Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon) is taking over Christmas? Jack, Halloweentown’s pumpkin king, is bored with his annual routine of frightening people in the real world. However, when Jack accidentally stumbles upon Christmastown, he plots to take over the holiday and assume the role of Santa Claus. The all-star voice cast includes Catherine O’Hara as Sally, Glenn Shadix as the Mayor, William Hickey as Dr. Finkelstein, and Ken Page as Oogie Boogie.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause—Sunday, December 18, at 2:40 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Scott Calvin/Santa Claus (Disney Legend Tim Allen) invites his in-laws, Bud (Alan Arkin) and Sylvia (Ann-Margret), to visit. However, Christmas cheer soon turns into chaos when Jack Frost (Martin Short) announces his plan to take over the North Pole. To thwart Jack’s plot, Scott joins forces with his family and head elf Curtis (Spenser Breslin) to take on the icy villain.

The Sound of Music—Sunday, December 18, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
Based on the real-life story of the von Trapp Family singers, the beloved musical follows Maria (Disney Legend Julie Andrews), an aspiring nun who is sent to become governess for a retired naval captain and widower, Baron von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), and his seven children. After bringing a new admiration for music (and love) into the lives of the family, Maria marries Baron—but their wedded bliss is quickly threatened amid unrest in their homeland.