Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

By Frank Macek WKYC's & NBC’s 2025 holiday lineup sparkles with music, nostalgia, and tradition.  The season begins with Wicked: One Wonderful Night , a star-studded musical celebration featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.  Thanksgiving brings Countdown to the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade , the parade itself, and the beloved National Dog Show Presented by Purina . December shines with Christmas in Rockefeller Center hosted by Reba McEntire, followed by Christmas in Nashville .  Animated favorites return, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas , Frosty the Snowman , and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer . Holiday fun continues with the Password Holiday Special , A Motown Christmas hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey, and Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular . Classic films and faith close the season with It’s a Wonderful Life and the traditional Christmas Eve Mass , before the 137th Rose Parade ushers in the New Year. Here's a preview of ...

WKYC and NBC will offer up a stocking full of festive holiday programming this season original Christmas music/variety specials from Blake Shelton (Monday, December 3; 10-11 p.m. ET) and Michael Buble (Monday, December 10 10-11 p.m. ET); the new special "Christmas in the White House" (Thursday, December 13, 8-9 p.m. ET) and the traditional tree-lighting ceremony on "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (Wednesday, November 28, 8-9 p.m. ET). "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" will step off on Thursday, November 22 (9 a.m-12 noon all time zones). Following the parade will be popular holiday special "The National Dog Show Presented by Purina" -- hosted by actor, author and Broadway star John O'Hurley ("Seinfeld," "Dancing with the Stars") and expert analyst David Frei -- on Thanksgiving Day from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in all time zones. In addition, the network will once again honor the United States armed forces as Worl...

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," ...