MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC celebrates Christmas in episodes of its sitcom ,Will And Grace and the hospital drama series, ER. In India, these two shows air on Zee Cafe.
On 8 December 2005 the Will and Grace episode cheekily titled A Little Christmas Queer airs. The gang spends the holidays at the house of Marilyn Truman (guest star Blythe Danner) while Grace (Debra Messing) and Will's (Eric McCormack) brother share some holiday romance. In addition, Will's 10-year-old nephew is clearly gay -- and it bothers Will that his mother ,Marilyn, is more tolerant towards the boy than she was of her son.
Also on 8 December is an episode of ER called All About Christmas Eve: Hark The Herald Angels Sing. After a little girl is mistakenly shot, Drs. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Weaver (Laura Innes) desperately try to bring her back to life, while Nurse Haleh (Yvette Freeman) holds her annual choir tryouts and everyone is surprised at who is chosen to sing the solo. In addition, Eve (Kristen Johnston) crosses the line with a patient and causes management to get involved. Abby (Maura Tierney) and Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) exchange Christmas gifts but, Abby's gift for him is bigger than expected.
The broadcaster will also air the animation special The Happy Elf on 2 December 2005. Grammy winning singer, Harry Connick, stars in his first CGI-animated family holiday special. Connick provides the voice for the animated narrator who tells the story of Eubie the Elf, one of Santa's helpers whose overly enthusiastic, rose-colored view of the holiday season is put to the test when he sets out to bring Christmas joy to a dreary town called Bluesville.
First, NBC, celebrates Thanksgiving on 24 November 2005. The traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Day kicks things off. It will feature all the pageantry, fun and surprises that have made this annual New York City extravaganza a perennial favorite. Heralding the start of the Christmas season, this holiday event features colourful, grand floats, marching bands, character balloons and special performances by musicians and Broadway performers. Santa Claus also makes an appearance.
The sitcom Joey also celebrates Thanksgiving that same day with the episode Joey and the Bachelor. Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Zach (Miguel Nunez) run into trouble when they discover ancient Native American artifacts on Joey's property and mistakenly give them away. Meanwhile, Gina (Drea de Matteo) is trying to have a meaningful family Thanksgiving with Alex (Andrea Anders) and Michael (Paulo Costanzo) but Joey isn't cooperating with her plans.
Christmas celebrations on NBC kicks off on 30 November 2005 with Christmas in Rockefeller Center. This is an one-hour special broadcast live from Rockefeller Center in New York City and celebrates the lighting of what the broadcaster says is the world's most famous Christmas tree. The popular musical lineup for the special will include a mix of current hits and favourite holiday music.
