NBC's 2015 Holiday Programming Schedule

NBC's 2015 Holiday Programming Schedule
Much like many other networks, NBC is following suit with holiday programming of festive classics and all-new specials. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will kick things off on Thursday, November 26th followed by special engagements like “The Wiz Live!”, “Adele Live in New York City”, “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors”, Michael Buble’s 5th annual Christmas event, Dr. Seuss’ beloved tale “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and, a new favorite, “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas”.

The programming will wrap up on December 31st as Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Andy Cohen, and Carson Daly help ring in the new year.

You can find a full listing of programs, air dates and times below.

Stay merry!


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Thursday, November 26

“MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE” — America’s favorite holiday tradition will once again kick off the season of joy as the 89th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returns to march down the streets of New York. Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker of NBC’s “Today” will anchor the broadcast. Stars of film, television, stage, sports and music will provide the nation first-class performances.

Joining the festivities this year are Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Mariah Carey, Dove Cameron and Sofia Carson, Cirque du Soleil, Daughtry, Andra Day, Andy Grammer, Sandra Lee, Shawn Mendes, MercyMe, MIPSO, Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, Jennifer Nettles, NHL legends Mark and Marty Howe, Jake Owen, Panic! at the Disco, Plain White T’s, Rachel Platten, Questlove with the cast & the Muppets of “Sesame Street”, Prince Royce, the cast of Broadway’s “School of Rock,” Trey Songz, Jordin Sparks, Chica and the gang from Sprout and Train.

Joining the parade as a signature element kicking off the holiday season will be the world-famous Radio City Rockettes. The national broadcast would not be complete without showcasing the best theatrical productions. Set for a 34th Street performance will be “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Finding Neverland,” “The King & I,” “On Your Feet!” and “Something Rotten.” In addition, spectators will get a sneak preview performance from NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” which premieres Thursday, Dec. 3 (8 p.m. ET/PT). (Air Time: 9 a.m.-noon in all time zones)

Wednesday, December 2

“CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER” — NBC will celebrate the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree with “Christmas in Rockefeller Center®”. The 83rd annual holiday extravaganza will feature a 78-foot tall Norway Spruce from Gardiner, N.Y. It is approximately 80 years old and weighs approximately 10 tons. NBC’s “Today” anchors Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales will host the live broadcast from New York City’s Rockefeller Center, which will showcase spectacular holiday performances from Sting, Mary J. Blige, Andrea Bocelli, The Band Perry, Andy Grammer, Carly Rae Jepsen, Pentatonix, Band of Merrymakers, and music legend James Taylor, featuring world-renowned trumpeter Chris Botti. The evening will also include a special performance by the Rockettes. (Air Time: 8-9 p.m. ET)

Thursday, December 3

“THE WIZ LIVE!” — The Wiz Live! is adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The production opened on Broadway in 1975 at the Majestic Theatre and won seven Tonys, including best musical. The Wiz Live! stars Queen Latifah (The Wiz), Mary J. Blige (Evillene), Shanice Williams (Dorothy), David Alan Grier (Cowardly Lion), NE-YO (Tin Man), Elijah Kelley (Scarecrow), Amber Riley (Addaperle), Stephanie Mills (Auntie Em), Uzo Aduba (Glinda) and Common (The Gatekeeper). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (“The Sound of Music Live!,” “Peter Pan Live!,” Oscar-winning “Chicago”) will executive produce.

Kenny Leon (Tony winner, “A Raisin in the Sun”) is stage director and Matthew Diamond is TV director, with Harvey Fierstein (three-time Tony winner, “Torch Song Trilogy,” “Hairspray” and “La Cage aux Folles”) providing new written material. Esteemed choreographer Fatima Robinson (“Dreamgirls,” “Ali”) is also on board, along with music producer Harvey Mason Jr. (“Dreamgirls, “Pitch Perfect 2”) and Stephen Oremus (“The Book of Mormon,” “Kinky Boots”) as music director, orchestrator and co-producer of the music. “The Wiz Live!” is produced by Universal Television in association with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical. (Air Time: 8-9 p.m. ET)

Thursday, December 10

“MICHAEL BUBLÉ’S CHRISTMAS IN HOLLYWOOD” — Michael Bublé, the multi-Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter brings the holiday spirit to NBC for the fifth consecutive year with “Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood”. Celine Dion, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Tori Kelly join Bublé for special performances in celebration of his favorite holiday, Christmas. Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, Jay Leno, Eva Longoria, William Shatner and Blake Shelton also join in the festivities for comedy segments that take Bublé to classic Hollywood locations. (Air Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT)

“DOLLY PARTON’S COAT OF MANY COLORS” — Based on the inspiring true story of living legend Dolly Parton’s remarkable upbringing. This once-in-a-lifetime movie special takes place inside the tight-knit Parton family as they struggle to overcome devastating tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith, and a raggedy patchwork coat that helped make Parton who she is today. The film is set in the Tennessee Great Smokey Mountains in 1955. It is neither a biopic nor musical about Dolly’s whole life and performing career, but rather a family-oriented faith-based story about the incidents in her and her family’s life around the time she was 9 years old. Award winning country artist Jennifer Nettle, Alyvia Alyn Lind, multi-award nominees Gerald McRaney and Ricky Schroder will star. (Air Time: 9 p.m. ET/PT)

Monday, December 14

“ADELE LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY” — Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer Adele performs a special one-night only concert in New York at Radio City Music Hall. This extraordinary performance marks the artist’s first concert in the U.S. since fall 2011 and her largest show to date in New York. (Air Time: 10 p.m. ET)

Wednesday, December 16

“ELF: BUDDY’S MUSICAL CHRISTMAS” — NBC is bringing in the holiday spirit with the stop-motion hourlong animated special “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas.” Based on the popular film “Elf” and the hit Broadway show “Elf: The Musical,” the special will star four-time Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”) as Buddy. (Air Time: 8 p.m. ET)

Thursday, December 17

“HOW MURRAY SAVED CHRISTMAS” — “How Murray Saved Christmas” airs Thursday, December 17 at 8/7c. “How Murray Saved Christmas” is a one-hour animated holiday musical special including the voices of Jerry Stiller (“The King of Queens”) as Murray Weiner, Sean Hayes (“Sean Saves the World”) as Edison Elf, Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) as Doc Holiday, Dennis Haysbert (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “24”) as the Narrator, Kevin Michael Richardson (“Family Guy,” “The Cleveland Show”) as Santa Claus and John Ratzenberger (“Monsters University,” “Cheers”) as Officer Bender. (Air Time: 8 p.m. ET)

“KELLY CLARKSON’S CAUTIONARY CHRISTMAS MUSIC TALE” — Superstars Blake Shelton, Reba and Trisha Yearwood appear as guest stars in the upcoming holiday special “Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Christmas Music Tale.” Others making an appearance include Jay Leno, Matt Lauer, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, William Shatner, Danica Patrick, Heidi Klum, Ken Jeong (“Community”) and Jai Rodriguez (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”). (Air Time: 9 p.m. ET/PT, Original Air-Date: December 11, 2013.)

Wednesday, December 23

“HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!” — The beloved Christmas special combines the genius of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) and animator Chuck Jones in bringing the timeless book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” to television. The special features the voices of Boris Karloff as the Grinch and the narrator, as well as June Foray as Cindy Lou Who. (Air Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT)

Thursday, December 31

“A TOAST TO 2015!” — Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb are kicking off the New Year’s Eve celebration with the 2-hour special “A Toast to 2015!” – the ultimate year-end look at the buzziest stories and events over the last twelve months. An all-star cast of celebrities – from Zooey Deschanel and Eva Longoria to Michael Bublé and Blake Shelton – recount the most talked about moments and mishaps that made for an unforgettable year. (Air Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT)

“NEW YEAR’S EVE GAME NIGHT WITH ANDY COHEN” — Eight celebrities will participate in “NBC’s New Year’s Eve Game Night With Andy Cohen,” where they will join in the fun as they face off in hilarious party games based on “Hollywood Game Night,” in addition to newly created New Year’s Eve-themed games created especially for this special. (Air Time: 10 p.m. ET/PT)

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH CARSON DALY” — NBC’s “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly” will ring in the new year with some of the year’s best musical performances, including Ken Marino, Terry Crews, Chrissy Teigen, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Seth MacFarlane, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams. (Air Times: 10/9c and 11:30/10:30c)

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