You won't have to bundle up in the cold to see the Dec. 29 implosion of Cinergy Field.

All four Tristate TV newsrooms plan to broadcast the blast live at 8 a.m.

Channel 19, which will be live 7:30-8:30 a.m. that day, began promoting its coverage last week. Channel 9 will do coverage during its 8-9 a.m. news. Channel 12's plans are not final.

Channel 5 plans the longest broadcast, 6-8:30 a.m., says news director Scott Hollowell.

The NBC affiliate plans to borrow a helicopter from its sister station in Louisville, to have two choppers covering every speck of dust.

"We've been planning it for several weeks," says Pat Casey, Channel 19 news director. "I am expecting a huge crowd on both sides of the river. I think it will have a large TV audience as well."

HOLIDAY TV TODAY

• 11 a.m. Hazel Hazel nabs a thief. TV LAND • 6 p.m. Annabelle's Wish Narrated by Randy Travis. FAM. • 6:30 p.m. Even Stevens "Heck of a Hanukkah." DISN. • 7 p.m. The Christmas Path (1999) An angel helps a fatherless boy. FAM. • 8 p.m. Emeril Live "Christmas, Emeril Style." FOOD. • 9 p.m. One Christmas (1994) A boy meets his father (Henry Winkler) and a woman (Katharine Hepburn) in New Orleans. HALL. • 9 p.m. A Little Piece of Heaven (1991) A man (Kirk Cameron) finds playmates for his sister. LIFE. • 9:30 p.m. A Mole's Christmas. Animated. DISN. • 10:45 p.m. Jack Frost (1998) A dead man (Michael Keaton) returns as a snowman. WTBS. • Day-to-day TV schedule

Gore update: Former Vice President Al Gore finally has found work.

He'll make his debut as Saturday Night Live guest host this week (11:30 p.m. Saturday, Channels 5, 22). Impressionist Darrell Hammond should have a ball.

Music guest will be Phish, the band's first gig since going on "indefinite hiatus" two years ago.

`Christmas Carol': The Christmas Carol: A Radio Drama, the award-winning 1989 radio-TV special produced by WXIX-TV and WXVU-FM (91.7), will repeat at 9 a.m. Christmas on Channel 19.

Under the direction of David Ashbrock, Channel 19 taped Charles Dickens' classic story as it was performed as a radio drama at Emery Theatre.

The drama stars David Edwards as Scrooge, Greg Procaccino as Marley and Fezziwig, Paul O'Brian as Bob Cratchit and Fred Anderson as Scrooge's nephew.

Chris Dahlgren composed and performed original music for the production.

Christmas music: If you're looking for an FM station playing Christmas music around-the-clock, and you live in the northern suburbs, you're in luck.

Tune in Dayton's WLQT-FM (99.9), which reaches the northern half of Hamilton County.

Emmy collection:Cincinnati TV producer Jim Friedman collected his 50th regional Emmy in Chicago recently. In 24 years, he has been honored for his TV productions for eight stations in six states.

The 50th Emmy was for directing his seventh Dreambuilder movie, In the Net. His next Dreambuilder movie, Skin Complex, completed filming in Cincinnati in early October.

Twenty-two stations in the Midwest and South will air it early next year.

Talk shows: Today's guest list:

Live with Regis and Kelly (9 a.m., Channel 9): Jennifer Lopez, Melissa Etheridge.

Montel Williams (10 a.m., Channel 5): Susan Sarandon, director Brad Silberling.

Wayne Brady Show (10 a.m., Channel 9): Pierce Brosnan, Carrot Top, Judy Reyes, K-Ci and Jojo.

The View (11 a.m., Channel 9): Dennis Quaid, Phyllis George.

Caroline Rhea Show (3 p.m., Channel 19): Rita Wilson, Donna Hanover.

Oprah Winfrey (4 p.m., Channel 9): Author Martha Beck.

Tonight Show (11:35 p.m., Channels 5, 22): Rudolph Giuliani, George Lopez, Counting Crows.

Late Show (11:35 p.m., Channels 12, 7): Jason Alexander, Ryan Adams.

Late Night (12:35 a.m., Channels 5, 22) Henry Winkler; actor Rob Schneider; Sheryl Crow performs.

Late Late Show (12:35 a.m., Channels 12, 7) Alanis Morissette.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com