What’s On: Laura Petrie in Color, the ‘Christmas Story’ Marathon and More Holiday Movies

Matt Roush
24 Comments
Dick Van Dyke Show

The Dick Van Dyke Show—Now in Living Color! (Friday, 9/8c, CBS): The tradition started with I Love Lucy, and at 8/7c, there are colorized vintage episodes of that classic sitcom to savor, but this year, the shows not to miss are two colorized episodes of the 1960s gem that launched the career of Mary Tyler Moore as Laura Petrie. Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner selected these episodes to spotlight the legend who passed away this year. In the first, 1961’s “My Blonde-Haired Brunette,” Laura dyes her hair blonde to rekindle the romance with Rob (Van Dyke), but as usual, things don’t go as planned. In the second, 1964’s “October Eve,” Reiner moonlights from his recurring role as Alan Brady to play an artist who paints a portrait of Laura that, when unveiled, is more revealing than anyone expects. They don’t make them like this anymore.

A Christmas Story (Sunday, 8/7c, TBS and TNT): Sometimes there’s just no topping the original. Whatever you thought of Fox’s ambitious live musical adaptation last weekend, it only whetted the appetite for another viewing of the nostalgic 1983 family comedy based on Jean Shepherd’s whimsical writings. Peter Billingsley stars as 9-year-old Ralphie, who wants that doggone Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas more than anything. Hilarity ensues. And you’ll get plenty of chances to watch, because as tradition dictates, the movie repeats every two hours for 24 hours straight. Merry Christmas!

More Christmas Movies: Turner Classic Movies presents two holiday favorites featuring Barbara Stanwyck in a Friday double bill: 1945’s Christmas in Connecticut (8/7c), in which Stanwyck is an inept Martha Stewart type who must prepare a holiday welcome for a war hero (Dennis Morgan); and 1940’s Remember the Night (10/9c), pairing Stanwyck with Fred MacMurray, who’s a prosecutor taking pity on a female shoplifter during Christmas court recess.

More contemporary cornball fare is found, as usual, on Hallmark, including Rocky Mountain Christmas (Friday, 9/8c, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries), about a movie star (Kristoffer Polaha) who rides into romance on a Colorado dude ranch; Hallmark’s Christmas Getaway (Saturday, 8/7c), set at a mountain resort where a reservation mix-up pairs a single travel writer (Bridget Regan) with a widowed father (Travis Van Winkle).

Inside Weekend TV: Nine new episodes of Netflix’s Fuller House (Friday) bring back that “TGIF” vibe. … For action/fantasy fans, Netflix premieres the feature film Bright (Friday), starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton as LAPD cops taking on orcs and a villainous elf (Noomi Rapace). … ABC’s 20/20 shamelessly exploits the network’s biggest new fall hit with an edition titled “The Good Doctors: Brilliance and Bravery” (Friday, 10/9c), profiling doctors with disabilities. The Good Doctor’s Freddie Highmore, who’s only pretending to play a savant surgical resident with autism, is interviewed as well. … For Christmas Eve, we can once again watch Clarence (Henry Travers) earn his wings as James Stewart learns It’s a Wonderful Life (Sunday, 8/7c, NBC) in Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece.

 

The Dick Van Dyke Show key art
Dick Van Dyke

Dick Van Dyke

Mary Tyler Moore

Mary Tyler Moore

Rose Marie

Rose Marie

Morey Amsterdam

Morey Amsterdam

Larry Mathews

Larry Mathews

Richard Deacon

Jerry Paris

Ann Morgan Guilbert

Ann Morgan Guilbert

Carl Reiner

Carl Reiner

⨁Full Cast & Crew

CBS

Series

1961–1966

TVPG

Sitcom

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  1. G

    GreenElephant

    Just watched the colorized "I Love Lucy" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" eps. They look good though I think I still prefer the black and white ones...

  2. G

    GreenElephant

    I have no idea if I'll once again watch It's a Wonderful Life or CBS's offerings of colorized "I Love Lucy" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" eps in which Laura Petrie dyes her hair blond and regrets it! I guess I'll know tonight...

  3. C

    CyanCoathanger

    For some non-Xmas fare this weekend, try The Simpsons marathon on FXX, Futurama on SyFy, or Doctor Who all weekend on BBC America.

    1. R

      RedCupcake

      FXX has had a lot of evenings when it's All Simpsons. Fun to catch up on some I haven't seen. ANd Futurama on SyFy has been kind of fun. Makes more sense than SyFy airing wrestling, imho.

    2. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Sy Fy airs alternative programing? I always thought they were just a Science-Fiction channel.

    3. R

      RedCupcake

      I don't know why SyFy airs wrestling. As for Futurama, I think that was a temporary thing. And at least Futurama can be considered sci-fi. A cartoon, but sci-fi nonetheless. 😀

    4. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Sy Fy should also get the rights to The Jetsons! But seriously, Sy Fy probably needs Wrestling to lure more viewers to their low rated sci-fi programing.

      I

  4. G

    GoldSubmarine

    Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC live tonight!! If there is a more exciting show on, I haven't watched it.

    It's a Wonderful Life on NBC live Sunday night with the family.

    If time allows, we will watch other Christmas movies too.

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Hard to believe there's a new episode of anything on tonight. It's going to be a boring weekend for those of us who don't feel like watching Xmas movies.

  5. C

    CyanTag

    Our family will be watching the Dr. Who Christmas special!

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I can't believe he didn't even mention it.

    2. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Marvel AoS is new tonight and no mention. Even the 2-hour season premiere on Dec 1, no mention. But he did mention other Marvel shows like The Gifted and INHUMANS this season.

    3. G

      GoldSubmarine

      I know you hate lists, but what are some of your favorite Christmas movies?

    4. O

      OrangeAirBalloon

      I love Christmas In Connecticut. Barbara S. is a wonderful actress. The movie has a great cast, a wonderful script and is well acted. It has been overlooked for too long. It is a must see every year.

    5. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I don't hate lists. I just think it's funny how you tend to have one for every occasion. I used to like It's a Wonderful Life before I got cable where it's played 100 times every December. Even though I normally can't stand Will Ferrell, I like Elf. I liked Polar Express too. I guess my favorite Xmas movie is Bad Santa! LOL

    6. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Maybe he doesn't like AoS. He doesn't seem like a huge fan of sci-fi shows.

    7. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Oh, and I like Home Alone. I guess that could be considered a Xmas movie, couldn't it?

    8. G

      GoldSubmarine

      So true underrated movie and actress. I loved her in many movies and of course The Big Valley.

    9. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Stanwyck was never a favorite of mine. I always thought she was odd looking. I've never seen The Big Valley. Was it a very popular show?

    10. G

      GoldSubmarine

      It aired on ABC in the 60s , their answer to CBS Gunsmoke and NBC's Bonanza.

      It lasted multiple seasons but not quite as popular as those .

      I watched all of these shows in syndication.

    11. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Speaking of Bonanza...there's a young man here whose first name is Landon because his mother was a huge fan of Michael Landon. However, he'd never heard of Bonanza. He only knew of Little House. I told him to look Michael up especially because he was the original teenage werewolf!!! I can't believe Michael died in 1991! It seems like only yesterday!

    12. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Little House on the Prarie was another show I used to watch in syndication . Michael Landon had some careerr . He also had a hit Highway to Heaven.

      Great track record for TV shows .

    13. C

      CyanCoathanger

      You've sure seen a lot of shows in syndication. I've seen Bonanza which still plays on some of the oldies channels, but I don't think I've ever seen a whole episode of Little House or even part of an episode of Highway.

    14. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Back in the 80's and 90's there weren't nearly as many shows to watch. So I had more time to watch older shows in syndication. Shows that my parents and grandparents would recommend for me.