Repeated treats from the silver screen dominate Christmas and New Year’s viewing this time around, writes James Croot.
It seems the days of ice-capades and Circus of the Stars featuring as part of festive viewing are over.
Instead, Christmas holiday television this year is filled with a variety of cinematic gems – some old, some recent.
Sadly, there’s no room for that American Christmas staple It’s A Wonderful Life or even Miracle on 34th Street, but there is certainly something for everyone when the conversation wanes or all that food necessitates some quality veg-out time.
On Christmas Eve, it’s Julia Roberts against Meg Ryan as the free-to-air networks serve up a double dose of both. Ryan features alongside Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail (8.30pm, TV One) and Sleepless in Seattle (10.55pm, TV2), while Roberts stars opposite Hugh Grant in Notting Hill (9.05pm, TV3) and Richard Gere in Runaway Bride (12.55am, TV2).
Earlier in the evening, TV2 has two animated films to help ramp up the pre-Santa excitement in the form of Shrek 2 (5.10pm) and the Jim Carrey-starring A Christmas Carol (7pm).
Those wanting to feel better about their own dysfunctional family should tune into the Modern Family Christmas Marathon (7.30pm, The Box) of season two episodes, especially since we still don’t know who is going to screen this excellent show in the future.
Other laughs can found in the Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special (10.55pm, TV One), the Top Gear 2011 Xmas Special (8.30pm, Prime) and
