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Show The Salt Lake Tribune CALENDAR Friday, November23, 2001 TELEVISION FGRTHEHOLIDAYS Ebenezer Endures Dickens’ ‘Christmas Carol’ Stands Out as the Most Remade Holiday Classicin Merry Channeling From Robbie the Reindeerto Martha Stewart, the Holidays onTelevision Following is a list of holiday television programs on network and majorcable stations. Many programsare repeated multiple times as noted, butonly thefirst showingis included in Screen History the list. Nov. 23 — “Casper’s Haunted Christmas,” USA, 11 a.m.; “Jack Frost,” TNT, 6 p.m. (re- BY MARTIN RENZHOFER peats); “Twice Upon a Christmas,” Pax, 7 p.m. (repeats); “Arthur’s Perfect Christ- THES ALT LAKETRIBUNE mas,” Thefirst knownattempt to make“A Christ- Ch. 11, 7 p.m. (repeats) masCarol” camein 1901, a black-and-whitesilent film of the Charles Dickens story madein Great Britain. hefirst “name”tofilm the story dison, who,in 1911, filmed asilent “A Christmas Carol.” Since then, Nov. 24 — “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Travel, 2 p.m.; “A Christmas Story,” 6 p.m., TNT; “Santa’s Funniest Moments,” Pax, 6 p.m.; “The Tangerine Bear,” Pax, 7 p.m.; “All I Wantfor Christmas,”Pax, 8 p.m. filmmakers have continually returned to the magicaltaleofspiri EbenezerScroogehasappe:ared onfilm more times than even Rocky Balboa. He’s even been Nov. 25 — “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” Ch. 14, 6 p.m.; “The Santa Clause,” Ch. 4, 6 p.m.; “It’s A Wonderful Life,” NBC, 8 p.m.; “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” CBS, 8 p.m.; “A Diva’s Christmas Carol,” VH1, 9 the Sublect ofcartoons, most notably “Mr. Ma- p.m.; “Scrooged,” TNT,6 p.m. (repeats) ey’s Christmas Carol, animated “Mickey's Nov. 28 — “Christmas in Rockefeller Cen- ‘A Flintstones Christmas ter,” Ch. 5,7 p.m. Carol” and a 1997 version with Tim Curry as the voice of Scrooge. ‘There waseven a pornversion. The uneven quality of the numerous versions of “A Christmas Carol” or “Scrooge”(including made-for-television specials) makes it an easy choicefor viewersto returnto the safe, entertaining andtraditional 1951 version with Alistair Sim. The United States produce Nov. 30 — “Frosty the Snov nan,” CBS, 8 p.m.; “Frosty Returns,” CBS, Dec. 1— “Angela Anacon- da: Secret Santa,” ABCFam, 9:30 a.m; ions in 1911 ed three more and 1915, before Britain pro 1922, 1923 andagainin 1935, “ Scrooge,” starred Seymour Hicks. “Frosty’s Win. ter Wonderland,” ABCFam, Thefirst versiontostick with succeedin a black and white American version “The Tangerine Bear’ airs Saturday on PAX. of “A Christmas Carol.” Veteran actor Michael Caine and Kermit the Ebenezer Scrooge. (In 1972, animatorsrelease “A Christmas Carol” unin‘the vocal track from the 1951 film.) In 1970, the story was set to music, and with tune, while the visit with the Gh masYet to Comewasthescariest version yet. George C. Scott offered a different, effective perspective in the dark 1984 televisi ter Christmas before 2,000 people was greeted Dickens would cut his reading to a two-hour However, Dickensliked the story enough to repeat the reading three days later to an audiworkingpeople, for whom he hadrequested that the auditorium be reserved. He thought they were his best audience. “They lost nothing, misinterpreted nothing, followed everything closely, laughed and cried,”Dickenssaid, “and [they] animated meto that extent thatI felt as if we wereall bodily going up into the clouds together.” Ch. 14, 5 p.m.(repeats); “Call Me Claus,” TNT,6 p.m.; “Celebration ofChristmas,” Ch. Backstage at Studio B Christmas Special,” 11, 7 p.m. (repeats); “Must Be Santa,” ABCFam, 7 p.m.; First Presidency Christmas Devotional 2001, Ch. 11, 8 p.m. (repeats); “Miracle on 34th Street (1994),” ABCFam, 9 m.; “Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings Christmas Carols,” Ch. 11, 9 p.m.; ae We Now of Christmas,” Ch.11, 9: m. (re- lease that will.be shown peats); “Christmas Memories,” Ch. i, 10 p.m.(repeats) Dickens’best loved and mostreadofall ofhis coldhearted and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who, after being visited by three spirits on financial situation.In 1843 Dickensandhis wife Christmas Eve, is transformed into a compas- Kate were expecting their fifth child. Requests for moneyfrom his family, a large mortgage on sionate and charitable humanbeing. his DevonshireTerrace home,andlagging sales from the monthly installments of Martin Chuzzlewit, had left Dickensseriously short of cash. As the the story progressed, Dickens lost performance.) ence of 2,500, almost exclusively composed of Dickensclassic available on video. Caine, of course, played Ebenezer Frost,” ABC Fam,11 p.m. on TNT. books wasthe result of the author’s desperate with frequent bursts ofapplause. (In later years, Dec. 2 — “Angela Anaconda: Hooray for Chanukah,” ABCFam, 9:30 a.m.; “KJZZ Bill Murray,left, starred as the central characterin “Scrooged,” a 1998 re- Three modernfavoritesare 1992's Christmas Carol” with Michael Caine, 1998's A Christmas Carol more than a century ago. Reportedly, his three-hour reading two days af- make 1992's “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” one of countless versionsof the Scrooge. Comedic actor “Scrooged” with Bill Murray anda television version from 1999 starring Patrick Stewart. Feminists can also take comfort that they, too, can turn fromthe darknesstoseethe light. In 1997, Cicely Tyson starred in the made-fortelevision “Ms. Scrooge.” Dickens gavehisfirst public reading of Chanukah,” Ch. 2, 7:30 p.m.; “It’s a Merry Red Green Christmas,”Ch.7, 10 p.m.; “Jack Frog, above,joined to greateffect. Albert Finney playedthe young and old Scrooge, which appears to beafi You Very Much” becamethefilm’: p.m; AMC,3:30 p.m (repeats); “Rugrats: the Santa Experience,” Ch. 2, 7 p.m.; “Mrs. Santa Claus,” Hallmark, 7 p.m.; “Rugrats: British filmmakersdidn’Sypepach Dickens’ short story again until 1951. rt wait beca thi leased Carol,” Alastair Sim pecimne thes UnCeeypeal 3 “Back Story: Miracle on 34th Street,” ing generation came in, 1938. Reginald Owen starr p.m.; “HomeAlone 2: Lost In New York,” FX, 9 p.m. himself in the story. He wrote that as the tale unfolded he “wept and laughed, and wept again” and that he “walked aboutthe black streets of p.m.; “Red Boots for Christmas,” ABCFam,7 p.m. While Scott chews up the scenery (sort a Pat- Dec. 5 — “Happy Holidays: The Best of Andy Williams,” Ch. 7, 7 p.m.; “Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey,” ABCFam, dimersional person. whenall sober folks had goneto bed.” Bob Cratchit, David Warner. Two examples of “A Christmas Carol” stand- In the end, nine actors have helped define outas the definitive filmed versions —British director Brian Desmond Hurst's 1951 film and what humbugis all about — Reginald Owen, Alistair Sim, Mister Magoo, Albert Finney, TRE HEBER VALLEY RAILROAD ) 2-xno¥ AMC,8:30 a.m. (repeats); “Home for the Holidays with Martha Stewart,” Ch. 2, 7 tonesque Scrooge), overall, his take on the character is fresh. He makes Scrooge a threeAndthe supporting cast includes Susannah York, Edward Woodward, Roger Reese and, as GeorgeC.Scott’s television production. Dec. 4 — “The Great Christmas Movies,” Sim’s interpretation is the yardstick by whichall other Scrooges are measured. Yet it isn’t completely faithful to the Dickens tale. Londonfifteen or twenty miles many a night Thefilm owes muchto Scottish actor Alastair Sim for his outstanding portrayal of the Dec. 3 — “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year,” ABCFam,8 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 —“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Ch. 4,7 p.m.; “Musical Christmas From the Vatican,” Ch. 11, 8 p.m.; “The Christmas List,” ABCFam,10 p.m. George C. Scott, Bill Murray, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart and Scrooge McDuck. See CHANNELING,Page B-9 Seek out and enjoy. PAI ” Brigham Young Universily’ SANTA TRAIN SAT. 2) and The University of Utah | Chor Departments Present: Ride the Christmas Train this Saturday andsee Santa Claus Call for reservations 495 654-8601 - SLC001-581-9908 - wwwbebervalieyrrorg J @ Approx. 30 min flight : | ~ Libby Gardner Concert Hall 7 $109.00 Approx. 1 nour nigne Yeace OnEarth, Good Will To Men Eighth Annual Holiday Concert Combined choirs of Brigham Young University and the University of Utah (BYU Singers, BYU Concert Choir, U of UA Capella Choir, Uof U Concert Chorale) i : 5 Santa Rides the Steam Train at Pfoon py ep sd hangRO Mines] onl saveaan gubentee °. 7 SI : @ Saturday, Dec. 1 time when one believed in dragons: 3:00 p-m. (Malinee Performan e) and 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $12 & py ce ns ale Students and Seniors: $6 z Call Morningstar Balloons ‘ c : ONL eea Ye age gr AgeAgeAgeOpe Family Pass (up lo six): $25 { Tickets available from ART-TIX oullets (355-ARTS) es ss FEO RGAE f : wwwpocatelloidaho. 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