By Andie Hagemann
ABC announced its holiday programming today in anticipation of the most wonderful time of the year, offering a lineup filled with merriment, beloved classics, and uplifting new specials.
Two dazzling specials featuring some of the biggest names in music will bring melodies in December: A Very Backstreet Christmas celebrates the holidays with The Backstreet Boys, and Finding Harmony is an uplifting story featuring EGOT winner John Legend and David Brown, founder of the Columbus-based Harmony Project in Ohio. Disney will also kick off its 100th anniversary celebration during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023.
Additional highlights include Disney’s new stop-motion holiday special, Mickey Saves Christmas; the return of CMA Country Christmas from Nashville; holiday-themed episodes of ABC’s favorite comedies and game shows; and Wonderful World of Disney movies that families can enjoy, including a special airing of Home Alone on Christmas Eve. ABC News is also set to air Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer/ABC News Special and The Year: 2022. A magical new season of The Great Christmas Light Fight also returns, along with news of a Season 11 pickup for 2023.
Additional movies, musicals, and specials round out the holiday season on ABC. Airdates are as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific unless otherwise noted).
Wednesday, November 16
8-8:30 p.m. — The Conners (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)
8:30-9 p.m. — The Goldbergs (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)
9:31-10 p.m. — Home Economics (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)
Tuesday, November 22
10-11 p.m. — The Rookie: Feds (New Thanksgiving-Themed Episode)
Sunday, November 27
7-7:30 p.m. — Mickey Saves Christmas (New)
7:30-8 p.m. — Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
8-10 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (New)
Monday, November 28
8-10 p.m. — The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Premiere)
Tuesday, November 29
8-9 p.m. — Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer/ABC News Special (New)
Thursday, December 1
8-9 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
9 p.m. — CMA Country Christmas (New)
Monday, December 5
8-10 p.m. — The Great Christmas Light Fight (New)
Tuesday, December 6
8-9 p.m. — Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
9-10 p.m. — Press Your Luck (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
10-11 p.m. — The $100,000 Pyramid (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
Wednesday, December 7
8-8:30 p.m. — The Conners (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
8:30-9p.m. — The Goldbergs (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
9-9:31 p.m. — Abbott Elementary (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
9:31-10 p.m. — Home Economics (New Holiday-Themed Episode)
Thursday, December 8
8-10:01 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney: Frozen 2 (Broadcast Premiere)
Monday, December 12
8-10 p.m. — The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season Finale)
Tuesday, December 13
8-8:30 p.m. — Mickey Saves Christmas
8:30-9 p.m. — Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
9-9:30 p.m. — Disney Prep & Landing
9:30-10 p.m. — Disney Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice
Wednesday, December 14
8-9 p.m. — A Very Backstreet Holiday (New)
10-11 p.m. — Finding Harmony (New)
Tuesday, December 20
8-9 p.m. — Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
9-9:30 p.m. — Toy Story That Time Forgot
9:30-10 p.m. — Shrek the Halls
Saturday, December 24
8 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney: Home Alone
Sunday, December 25
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET/7-9 a.m. PT — Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (New)
Monday, December 26
9-11 p.m. — The Year: 2022 (New)
Saturday, December 31
8-10 p.m. — Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 (New)
10-10:30 p.m. — Local Programming
10:30 p.m.-2:13 a.m. — Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 (New)