Four of the movies are original, never-seen-in-SA before and are perfect for the whole family to enjoy together including the latest gem from the Jim Henson stable.
A Country Christmas Story will be screened on 21 December at 10.45am. Musical icon and multiple Grammy Award winner Dolly Parton and Grammy Award nominated R&B singer and producer Brian McKnight star in this Lifetime original movie.
The film follows a young Appalachian mountain girl (Desiree Ross) as she pursues her dream of becoming a country star against the wishes of her mother (Megyn Price).
Her journey to the stage at Dollywood with a singing competition hosted by Dolly Parton reunites her with her musician father (McKnight) and uncovers the musical legacy of African Americans in the world of country music.
Mary Kay Place also stars as her grandmother in this movie, whose repeat will be on 24 December at 4pm and on Christmas day at 10.10am.
Twelve Trees Of Christmas will be televised on 21 December at 4pm. Cheri Jamison rallies the residents of her beloved Manhattan neighbourhood to participate in a Christmas tree contest when her cherished local library is abruptly set for demolition.
Cheri finds herself up against an ambitious developer, Tony Shaughnessy, who hires Cordelia, a professional decorator, to win the contest for him.
The competition is on, but as Cheri works to save the library she discovers that Tony is more than the heartless man she thought. Will her dedication to the beloved library drive Tony away … and with it a chance at true love?
It stars Lindy Booth, Melanie Brown, Robin Dunne, Casper Van Dien, Matt Baram, and Naomi Snieckus. Repeats on 22 December at 10.45am.
Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever, which screens on 22 December at 4pm, was shown on Lifetime last December but is well worth a revisit. It tells of a grumpy, lonely cat living in a mall pet shop.
Because she never gets chosen by customers, she develops a sour outlook on life … until one day during the holidays, a very special 12-year-old girl named Chyrstal enters the pet store and falls in love with her after realising she is the only person who can hear this unique cat talk.
As the two develop a close friendship, Grumpy reluctantly thwarts the kidnapping of an exotic dog she dislikes and, on Christmas Eve, rescues Chyrstal after the mall closes.
Through her adventures, will Grumpy learn the true meaning of Christmas? Or will it be, in her words, the “Worst. Christmas. Ever?” Repeats on 23 December at 10.45am.
Christmas In The City, shows on 23 December at 4pm. After closing down her small-town family business, Wendy and her six-year-old daughter Grace, move to the big city where an old friend offers her a job in the toy department of Wolmans.
But her excitement is short lived when the store’s new consultant, Teanna, ruins the holiday spirit throughout the store by replacing Santa with a hunky male underwear model.
It’s only when Grace begins to lose faith in the holiday that Wendy realises she must bring the true meaning of Christmas back to Wolmans before it is too late.
It stars Ashley Williams, Ashanti, Shanola Hampton, Jon Prescott, Michael Durrell, Kylie Price, David Ralphe, Josh Crotty, and Beverly Leech. Repeats on 24 December at 10:45am.
Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow, which shows on 24 December at 8pm, is based on a recently discovered original treatment by the incomparable Jim Henson himself, and using creatures designed by him.
Turkey Hollow is a family film and caper in the Henson tradition. The heart of the film is the story of a divorced father who brings his jaded city kids, a young son and a teenage daughter, back for a rustic family Thanksgiving with his eccentric Aunt Cly who lives in the quaint town of Turkey Hollow.
It’s a typical small town, but its charm and its residents – both human and turkey – are being threatened by factory farming practices and greed.
Wild, appealing, naturalistic creatures (that look like nothing we’ve seen from Henson before) inhabit the nooks and crannies of our human world, and they pop up to provide comic relief.
The kids must band together with these forest creatures and defeat the farmers, free the turkeys, and bring together their fractured family. Repeats on 25 December at 11.45am, 26 December at 9.45pm and on 27 December at 5pm.
