Holiday movies move in

Sunday, November 24, 2002

Television

Holiday movies move in

As sure as presents under a tree, this season brings a new delivery of holiday TV movies.

While many gravitate to old favorites - Tim Allen's The Santa Clause (7 p.m. today, Channels 9, 2) and others in our holiday TV list (E14-15) - viewers will find new TV films featuring the Muppets, Mary Tyler Moore, Rob Lowe, Jason Alexander and Burt Reynolds.

Most will appear on cable, because CBS is the only broadcast network with a regularly scheduled movie.

Here's what's new:

It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (8 p.m. Friday, Channels 5, 22): Kermit and pals save the Muppet Theater from a Scrooge-like banker (Joan Cusak). With appearances by Whoopi Goldberg, Kelly Ripa, Molly Shannon, William H. Macy, Carson Daly and the Scrubs cast.

The Christmas Shoes (9 p.m. Dec. 1, Channels 12, 7): CBS' film is based on a holiday song popular two years ago about a boy wanting new shoes for his dying mother. Mr. Lowe plays an attorney who meets the boy (Max Morrow) Christmas shopping. It's adapted from Donna VanLiere's best-selling book inspired by the song.

Christmas Rush (8 p.m. Dec. 1, WTBS): Dean Cain (Adventures of Lois & Clark) stars in a Turner Broadcasting action-thriller as a police officer who disrupts a shopping mall robbery, which turns into a hostage situation.

Miss Lettie and Me (8 p.m. Dec. 8, TNT): A visit by a 9-year-old girl rekindles romance for a lonely, small-town woman (Ms. Moore) and her old flame (Mr. Reynolds).

The Man Who Saved Christmas (9 p.m. Dec. 15, Channels 12, 7): Mr. Alexander stars as toy maker A.C. Gilbert, father of the Erector Set, who is asked by the government during World War I to promote buying war bonds, not toys.

Silent Night (9 p.m. Dec. 14, Hallmark Channel): Linda Hamilton stars in a fact-based story about a German woman who takes in American and German soldiers into her home on Christmas Eve during World War II.

One new documentary of note: The Christmas Truce (8 p.m. Dec. 17, History Channel) recalls how German and British soldiers ceased fighting in 1914 to celebrate Christmas together.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com