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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, December 12, 2008

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Peter, Susan, Lucy and Aslan the lion, a computer-generated image, in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." The family epic makes its basic-cable debut on ABC Family.

Gannett News Service

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TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEES

"Frosty the Snowman" (7 p.m.), "Frosty Returns" (7:30) and "The Flight Before Christmas," 8-9 p.m., CBS. Here's a holiday animation spree, starting with the familiar and moving to something new. The original "Frosty" has been around since 1969. The story and animation are so-so, but the jaunty song livens much of the half-hour. There's a first-rate voice cast, with Jimmy Durante narrating, Jackie Vernon as a droll Frosty and June Foray — yes, the voice of Rocky J. Squirrel and Cindy Lou Who — as the teacher and Kathy and more.

"Frosty Returns," alas, is no match. Done in 1992 by talented people who must have been having a bad day, it's flat and forgettable. Then comes the new one. "Flight" was created in Finland, then dubbed by Norm McDonald, Emma Roberts (Eric's daughter, Julia's niece) and others for the English version. A young reindeer has heard that his dad is a member of Santa's elite flying squad. The lad wants to find him, but doesn't know how to fly; an inept flying squirrel tries to help.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" (2005), 6 and 9:30 p.m., ABC Family. To escape the World War II bombing, four children are sent from London to the country home of a stodgy professor. Life is dreary — until they find that his magical wardrobe leads to another world. There are many flaws here. The story tends to be stop-and-go and runs much too long. Still, this is handsomely filmed, a grand adventure now making its basic-cable debut.

OF NOTE

"Greatest Holiday Moments: Songs of the Season," 7 p.m., NBC. This looks at the top Christmas songs. Clips range from Bing Crosby and Gene Autry (yes, we'll hear "Frosty" yet again) to John Lennon and Mariah Carey.

"Everybody Hates Chris," 7 p.m., CW (Oceanic Digital Channel 93). This episode skips ahead to New Year's Eve.

Family Entertainment Awards, 8 p.m., CW (Oceanic Digital Channel 93). Tyler James Williams, from the terrific "Everybody Hates Chris," hosts this show, with awards for movies, TV shows and video games. Lots of people are scheduled to appear, including two from "American Idol" (Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest), plus Julianne Hough and her brother Derek, Michael Phelps and his mother Debbie and more.

"Lipstick Jungle," 8 p.m., NBC. Not every show is obsessed with the holiday and family values. Tonight, Victory is pondering whether to go naked in a promotion for her clothing line. Also, Wendy fumes when Josie (Vanessa Marcil) offers Shane a chance to tour with Natasha Bedingfield.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" (2007, HBO), "Cold Mountain" (2003, Oxygen) or "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006, TBS), all 7 p.m. Here are more choices for those not obsessing on the holidays. Quick and slick, "Ultimatum" is a terrific finale to the trilogy about a skilled gunman (Matt Damon) with no memory. "Cold Mountain" is deeply depressing at times — as a Civil War tale probably should be — but it is beautifully filmed, with a superb cast that includes Renee Zellweger's Oscar-winning work in support. And "Talladega" is just fun, a Will Ferrell film with some lame moments and some big laughs.

"Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. In a rerun, someone is using his police job to commit rapes.