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TV This Week

Same old Grinch, in a new location

The classic special moves to NBC following a 10-year run on ABC

By Louisa Ada Seltzer

December 2, 2015

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For the past 10 years, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has been a holiday staple on ABC.

But tonight, the Grinch moves to NBC, a coup for the network, which will air the show at 9 p.m. behind the annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special.

That gives NBC a nice two-hour block of holiday-themed entertainment, at a time of year when broadcast is eager to avoid low-rated reruns.

“Grinch” is annually one of the top holiday specials with kids and their parents. In fact, last year’s airing averaged a 1.9 adults 18-49 Nielsen rating, the show’s best in five years.

The special is a year away from its 50^th birthday, having debuted in 1966, a year after another hugely popular holiday special, “Charlie Brown Christmas.”

It aired for 20 years on CBS, its original home, and then bounced around between TNT, TBS and the WB, corporate siblings of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, which distributes the show.

With its move to NBC, “Grinch” has now aired on all of the Big Three networks. The network has the rights for another two years.

A look at this week’s top TV draws

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2

Time

Network

Program

Description

7:15 p.m.

ESPN2

“College Basketball” (S)

Syracuse hosts Wisconsin in a game in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (A)

Live coverage of the 83rd annual tree-lighting event.

8 p.m.

CMT

“CMT Artists of the Year” (A)

Awards special includes an Artist of a Lifetime trophy for Kenny Rogers.

9 p.m.

Fox

“Empire” (D)

Cookie wants to hold a concert at the prison where she was locked up for 17 years.

9 p.m.

truTV

“Santas in the Barn” (R)

Series premiere. Holiday-themed reality competition looking for “America’s top Santa.”

9 p.m.

NBC

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (A)

An airing of the classic 1966 animated special.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

NBC

“The Wiz Live!” (A)

Live performance of the play with a cast that includes Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Common, Ne-Yo and David Alan Grier.

8:25 p.m.

CBS

“Thursday Night Football” (S)

The Packers try to avenge a loss from earlier this season against the Lions.

9 p.m.

ABC

“CMA Country Christmas” (A)

Holiday special hosted by Jennifer Nettles.

9 p.m.

FYI

“Food Porn” (R)

Series premiere. An Instagram-inspired food show starring restaurateur Michael Chernow.

9 p.m.

ESPN

“College Basketball” (S)

Interesting matchup between top-ranked Kentucky and UCLA.

9:30 p.m.

TNT

“NBA Basketball” (S)

Should be a tough matchup between the Spurs and Grizzlies in Memphis.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

Time

Network

Program

Description

3 a.m.

Netflix

“A Very Murray Christmas” (A)

New holiday special hosted by Bill Murray and directed by Sofia Coppola.

8 p.m.

ESPN2

“College Football” (S)

The MAC conference championship game between Bowling Green and Northern Illinois in Detroit.

9 p.m.

“America’s Next Top Model” (R)

Series finale. The show ends its 22nd and final season.

9 p.m.

Disney Channel

“Disney Channel Fa-La-La-Lidays” (A)

Musical holiday special featuring popular Radio Disney artists.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Shark Tank” (R)

A college student pitches an adult version of an old-school toy.

9 p.m.

NBCSN

“NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards” (S)

Season-ending special honoring the best racers of the season.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5

Time

Network

Program

Description

4 p.m.

CBS

“College Football” (S)

Alabama takes on Florida in the SEC championship game.

8 p.m.

Hallmark Channel

“Just in Time for Christmas” (M)

A woman is offered a great job, but the price would be moving thousands of miles away from her boyfriend.

8 p.m.

Fox

“College Football” (S)

A spot in the College Football Playoff is most likely on the line in the Big Ten title game between Michigan State and Iowa.

8 p.m.

NBC

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (M)

The classic 1946 Frank Capra movie starring Jimmy Stewart.

9 p.m.

BBC America

“Doctor Who” (D)

Season finale. The latest season wraps up with an episode titled “Hell Bent.”

11:30 p.m.

NBC

“Saturday Night Live” (C)

Ryan Gosling hosts, with musical guest Leon Bridges.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6

Time

Network

Program

Description

8:20 p.m.

NBC

“Sunday Night Football” (S)

Interesting AFC matchup between the Colts and Steelers.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Sinatra 100 — An All-Star Grammy Concert” (A)

Concert special celebrating Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday.

9 p.m.

Fox

“Family Guy” (C)

The guys form a neighborhood watch group after a couch is stolen from Peter’s front lawn.

9 p.m.

Lifetime

“Last Chance Christmas” (M)

Santa needs a replacement reindeer when Prancer injures his foot.

9 p.m.

HBO

“The Leftovers” (D)

Season finale. John isn’t too sure about Kevin’s version of events the night Evie disappeared.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Quantico” (D)

An emergency disciplinary hearing is held at Quantico.

A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.