All I Watch for Christmas
All I Watch for Christmas and Christmas Maximus are two interrelated program blocks respectively carried on TBS and TNT, the two former flagship stations of the Turner Broadcasting System.[1] Both channels are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery as of 2024.
The blocks feature seasonal Christmas television specials and films in November and December, most of which are from the archives of Warner Bros. Discovery and which are concurrently licensed out to competing cable networks' blocks, such as AMC's Best Christmas Ever and Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas.
History
[edit]TBS and TNT had long carried Christmas specials, particularly with the purchase of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer library in 1986. In 1989, TNT became the exclusive broadcaster of the original animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas![2] It also built a tradition of airing the 1983 film A Christmas Story beginning in 1987, eventually expanding over time to become a full-day marathon by 1997.[3][4] The Wizard of Oz, a holiday tradition on television since its 1950s golden age, moved to TBS in 1998.[5]
Other programs in the Warner Bros. library were licensed out to other channels. Through 2017, a package of films such as Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express and the 1974–1987 library of cel-animated and stop-motion "Animagic" Christmas specials from Rankin/Bass Productions were licensed to what was then ABC Family for its 25 Days of Christmas, where the films were major ratings draws. In 2018, Warner Bros.' parent company entered into a licensing deal with AMC to move those programs to that network, and out of the 25 Days of Christmas.[6] The Christmas specials from the Hanna-Barbera library were aired on sister channel Boomerang until 2024, when they became a centerpiece of MeTV Toons's holiday programming.[7]
Over time, TBS and TNT began airing that library on its own channels in addition to continuing to make them available to AMC.[8] (A Christmas Story remained exclusive to TNT and TBS, while the Grinch animated special has been licensed out to NBC since 2015, with TBS and TNT also showing the special.[9])
In 2021, TBS and TNT introduced the Winter Break branding as part of their holiday programming slate for that year. During this, TBS' Winter Break branding that year was hosted by Carla, an abominable "snowmonster" voiced by Amy Sedaris, and later, an group of greeting cards on top of an firehouse mantel on 2023, and continued after the rebranding of "All I Watch for Christmas".
The "Christmas Maximus" and "All I Watch for Christmas" block names were introduced in 2024. With the new brand, several of the films will also be featured in TNT's revival of Dinner and a Movie.[10]
Programming
[edit]As of 2024:[10]
Specials
[edit]- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (sublicensed to NBC)
- The Year Without a Santa Claus
Films
[edit]Films marked † are sublicensed to AMC. As of 2024:
- A Christmas Carol (1999)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Deck the Halls
- Die Hard†
- Elf†
- Fred Claus†
- Four Christmases†
- Jack Frost†
- Last Christmas
- Last Holiday
- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation†
- Office Christmas Party
- The Polar Express†
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Film franchises
[edit]- Marvel Cinematic Universe (Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and Black Panther) (New Year's Eve only)
- Parker Family Saga (A Christmas Story and A Christmas Story Christmas, including traditional Christmas Day marathon of the former)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Cyber Monday only)
References
[edit]- ^ Inman, Jessica (November 1, 2024). "Christmas programming officially begins Saturday at TBS, TNT". United Press International. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Hughes, Mike (December 9, 1989). "Turner turns Grinch; show only on TNT". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. 11. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Orlando Sentinel Television Listings – Researched from original microfilm at The Orlando Public Library on November 17, 2007". Orlando Sentinel. 1987–2001.
- ^ Cooper, Matt (December 22, 2017). "TV This Week, Dec. 24-30: A Christmas Story marathon and more". Los Angeles Times – via latimes.com.
- ^ Kissell, Rick (1998-04-06). "'Wizard' travels to TBS". Retrieved 2016-09-30.
- ^ Adalian, Josef. "AMC Nabs Christmas Classics As the War for Holiday TV Audiences Heats Up". Vulture. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (2024-11-20). "MeTV Toons Presents 'Tis the Season for Toons' Holiday Program". Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Jacobs, Meredith (2023-10-26). "TBS & TNT Holiday Schedule 2023: 'A Christmas Story,' 'Elf,' 'Friends' Episodes & More". TV Insider. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ "'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' Animated Special Moves To NBC – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. August 13, 2015. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
- ^ a b "TBS "All I Watch for Christmas" and TNT "Christmas Maximus" Kick Off Holiday Programming on Saturday, November 2". Pressroom. 2024-11-01. Retrieved 2024-11-02.