NBC gives the gift of holiday-themed series episodes and specials throughout late November and December with a multitude of festivities, a special military audience for "The Jay Leno Show" airing Thanksgiving evening and a night of holiday-themed Thursday night comedies from "Community," "Parks and Recreation," "The Office" and "30 Rock" on December 10.
In addition, NBC premieres "The Sing-Off" as a four-night holiday event series beginning Monday, December 14 featuring the hottest a cappella singing groups from across America competing for the chance at an Epic Records/Sony Entertainment recording contract. Also, a new SNL holiday special "Saturday Night Live Christmas 2009" is set to air on Thursday, December 17.
Other programs joining in on the holiday spirit are the family friendly specials and movies -- the all-new special "Merry Madagascar," "83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade," "The National Dog Show Presented by Purina," "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa," "It's a Wonderful Life," "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" and the "121st Tournament of Roses Parade."
The following are airdates of this year's holiday, themed specials:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
"Merry Madagascar" (8 - 8:30 p.m.)
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23
"Heroes" (8 - 9 p.m.)
"Trauma" (9 - 10 p.m.)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26
"83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
"The National Dog Show Presented by Purina" (12 noon - 2 p.m.)
"The Jay Leno Show" (10-11 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2
"Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (8 - 9 p.m.)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10
"Community" (8 - 8:30 p.m.)
"Parks and Recreation (8:30-9 p.m.)
"The Office" (9-9:30 p.m.)
"30 Rock" (9:30-10 p.m.)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19
"A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER16 AND MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 (8-10 p.m.)
"The Sing-Off" (8 - 10 p.m.)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 & THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24
"It's a Wonderful Life" (8 - 11 p.m.)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17
"Saturday Night Live Christmas 2009" (8 - 10 p.m.)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19
"WWE Tribute to the Troops" (9 - 10 p.m.)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31
"NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" (10-11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2010
"121st Tournament of Roses Parade" (11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
