TV Talk: Local TV stations set holiday programs

This year, broadcast networks have gone all-in on holiday programs, including CBS’s new animated special “Reindeer in Here” (9 p.m. Nov. 29) and three CBS holiday movies (8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 and 18, 9 p.m. Dec. 11), PBS’s 2022 “Call the Midwife” holiday special (9 p.m. Dec. 25, WQED-TV) and Fox’s “Housebroken Christmas” (8:30 p.m. Dec. 4, WPGH-TV) and a three-night, holiday-themed mini-­season of “LEGO Masters” (8 p.m. Dec. 19-21, WPGH-TV).

As for local productions, there are fewer festivities than there were even a decade ago (RIP WPXI-TV’s “Celebrate the Season Parade”), but there are still a few local programs of note:

“WTAE Project Bundle-Up Telethon” (Dec. 2): Channel 4 and the Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division launch their 37th year of community service to area children and seniors in need. The Project Bundle-Up telethon, hosted by WTAE chief meteorologist Mike Harvey, will again air as cut-ins during newscasts and regularly scheduled programming breaks from 5 a.m.-8 p.m.

“Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund” (7-8 p.m. Dec. 8, KDKA-TV): Lynne Hayes-­Freeland takes a break from her retirement to co-host with Ken Rice. This fundraiser is in its 69th year.

“First Night Pittsburgh” (10-10:30 p.m. Dec. 31, KDKA-­TV): “Pittsburgh Today Live” hosts Heather Abraham and David Highfield celebrate the new year from Downtown Pittsburgh, but it’s a shorter telecast (last year it ran 11 p.m.-12:05 a.m.) and does not actually ring in 2023.

WPXI-TV doesn’t offer any new, locally originated programs, but in addition to NBC’s Christmas programming, Channel 11 will air these syndicated specials on Christmas Day: “2022 Christmas Liturgical: A Serenade for Shepherds” (noon), Trafford native “Mark Milovats’ Christmas Wonderland Special” (1 p.m.) and “Stellar Tribute to the Holidays” (2 p.m.).

WQED-TV will premiere a new “WQED Holiday Sessions 2022” (8 p.m. Dec. 22, noon Dec. 25), featuring local musicians performing their own renditions of holiday favorites. Rebroadcasts of past WQED holiday specials will include “It’s Pittsburgh and a Lot of Other Stuff: I Think Santa Will Like the Sleigh” (7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11), “WQED Holiday Sessions 2020” (1 p.m. Dec. 11, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 22), “A Christmas Cookie Story” (1:30 p.m. Dec. 11), “It’s Pittsburgh and a Lot of Other Stuff: Gingerbread Lane” (2 p.m. Dec. 11), “B.E. Taylor Christmas Concert” (8 p.m. Dec. 15), “The Darr Mine Disaster” (7:30 p.m. Dec. 19), “WQED Presents: Live from Studio A: A Holiday Jam 2007” (12:30 p.m. Dec. 25), “Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh” (2 p.m. Dec. 25), “On Q Christmas Stories: Through the Years” (7:30 p.m. Dec. 26), “A Ho Ho Ho Healthy Holidays Hodgepodge” (8 p.m. Dec. 29).

Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers’ Productions’ “Donkey Hodie” delivers a new episode (10:30 a.m. Dec. 5, WQED) with Purple Panda on a “Snow Day!” and Bob Dog competing in the “Snow Surprise Challenge.” The winter theme continues in two other FRP shows, with the new “Daniel Tigers’ Neighborhood” episode “Daniel’s Wintertime Walk” (9:30 a.m. Jan. 11, WQED) and the “Alma’s Way” episode “Snow Day in the Bronx” (8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Jan. 23, WQED).