FEATURES

CHANNEL SURFING

by Sharon Pisinski

    The Hoilday Season Is Officially here so let's see what on TV...
CBS Holiday Specials...

   All your holiday entertainment is here! CBS is kicking off the season with
Classic favorites that the whole family will love!

   Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns makes is debut this season on Dec. 2
at 7pm. On Dec. 4, my all-time favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas will be
on at 7pm. Rudolph makes his annual appearance Dec. 5 at 7pm in Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer. Look for Hoosier-born feline, Garfield in a Garfield
Christmas on Dec. 14 at 7:30pm. The Story of Santa Claus will be on Dec. 23
at 7pm.

ABC HOLIDAY SPECIALS...

Winnie The Pooh and Christmas Too on Dec. 3 at 6pm, followed by The
Tangerine Bear: Home In Time For Christmas at 6:30 pm. Teen queen -
Christina Aguilera: My Reflection - airs at 7 pm. On Dec. 9, at 7 pm look
for Walt's lovable mouse to make his appearance on Mickey's Christmas Carol.

     Join Dick Clark on Dec. 31, to see the ball drop in Times Square to ring
in the New Year on Dick Clark's New Years Rockin Eve beginning at 9 pm.

CMT HOLIDAY SPECIALS...

    For more than five years CMT Showcase has featured one specific artist
per month. It will break that tradition in December, as episodes will
feature interviews and performances by Opry legends such as George Jones and
Loretta Lynn, as well as newer Opry members Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis,
MartyStuart and many more. Episodes air Fridays at 10:30 pm.

CMT's popular weekly series Hit Trip, hangs out with some of the biggest
names in country music. Throughout December, guests include country stars
Reba McEntire, Neal McCoy, Rascal Flatts, Lee AnnWomack, Keith Urban, Bryan
White, Cledus Judd, Sons Of The Desert and Toby Keith. A new and different
episode is telecast each Friday at 6 pm.

    CMT is counting down the best country music videos of 2000 in a year end
special, CMT 2000 Countdown, to premiere Dec. 8 at 9 pm. Winners in seven
video performance categories along with the top 12 videos of 2000 will be
revealed.

Another CMT year end special is - A Year of The Big Ones - which will
feature every music video that reached the No. 1 position on the weekly CMT
Top 12 Countdown during the year. It premieres Dec. 27 starting at 4:30 pm.

TNN HOLIDAY SPECIALS...

    The National Network makes merry with a month-long holiday celebration in
December of popular specials featuring Yuletide themes and holiday-inspired
movies. Contemporary country trio, SHeDAISY is joined by pop stars like
Jewel, Brian McKnight and Richard Marx when TNN presents: A SHeVERY Merry
Christmas on Dec. 7 at 7 pm.

TNN's month of encore holiday specialinclude: A Classic Christmas With
Martina McBride on Dec. 12 at 7 pm; A Country Holiday At Walt Disney World
spot lights Tim McGraw and Tanya Tucker trading their country repertoire for
a collection of seasonal hits Dec. 6 at 7 pm; A Glen Cambell Christmas airs
Dec. 23 at 8 pm, with Collin Raye joining Campbell at the Big Cedar Lodge in
the Ozarks.

A&E HIGHLIGHTS...

BIOGRAPHY:
They are the fifth best-selling recording act of all time, behind Elvis,
the Beatles, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. This two-hour Biography
Special: The Bee Gees chronicles the life and times of this phenomenally
successful singing and songwriting group. This episode recounts the
nightmarish evening in Chicago when a local radio station (DJ Steve Dahl)
orchestrated a bonfire of disco records and "disco backlash" quickly grew to
the point of stations promotion "Bee Gees-Free Weekends."

     Throughout their career, the Bee Gees have triumphed over a series of
personal and professional challenges; they are now recognized as one of
popularmusic's most enduring legends. This episode premieres on Dec. 10 at 7
pm.

A&E HOLIDAY SPECIAL...

This two hour special - Holiday At Pops 2000 - features Keith Lockhart, the
Boston Pops Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in aholiday concert
from historic Symphony Hall in Boston. Special guests include country star
Martina McBride, and the Grammy-winning Take 6 singing classic carols. Debuts
Dec. 16 at 7 pm.

TBS HIGHLIGHTS...

   After opening your presents from Santa, you can spend the day with The
Duke.
   TBS will present Christmas With The Duke on Dec. 25 - John Wayne movies
will air all Christmas Day starting at 6:40am - from "McLintock" to "The
Quiet Man" to "Rio Lobo."

TNT HIGHLIGHTS...

    David Copperfield: Part One will air on Dec. 10 at 7 pm while Part Two
concludes on Dec. 11 at 7 pm.

Christmas in Washington airs Dec. 17 at 7 pm. TNT celebrates the holidays
with a special concert featuring the top names in entertainment and music
joining the President and Mrs. Clinton for an unforgettable night to benefit
the Children's Hospital in Washington D.C. This annual event, taped live
fromthe National Building Museum, is considered the "hot ticket" of the
capital'sholiday season.

A Very Special Christmas at the White House airs Dec. 19 at 7pm. A
line-up of major contemporary music stars joins the President and Mrs.
Clinton at the White House in an unforgettable, star-studded concert event to
celebrate the 32nd anniversary of Special Olympics.

    As we end this year and look forward to the next, I want to take a moment
and wish all of the readers of Midwest BEAT Magazine a very Merry
Christmas! May the coming New Year be healthy and prosperous for us all!