The TV Column

Stars tune up for yet another CMA Country Christmas

Jennifer Nettles returns for the seventh time as host of CMA Country Christmas. The special airs at 7 p.m. Monday on ABC.
Jennifer Nettles returns for the seventh time as host of CMA Country Christmas. The special airs at 7 p.m. Monday on ABC.

It's the time of year for TV to fire up the Christmas specials, and here's one to get you in the spirit.

Popular country singer Jennifer Nettles (the prettier half of the duo Sugarland) is returning to host CMA Country Christmas. The two-hour special was taped Nov. 8 before an audience at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn., and will air at 7 p.m. Monday on ABC.

This will be Nettles' seventh turn at hosting the event and, as expected, the historic Opry was transformed into a "holiday wonderland."

Among the country stars on hand to sing classic Christmas tunes were Brett Eldredge, Kelsea Ballerini, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Young and Brad Paisley.

Among the noncountry singers to grace the stage were Frozen's Idina Menzel, Sarah McLachlan, R&B singer Andra Day and 13-year-old piano prodigy Joey Alexander.

Highlights include Nettles joining Menzel and Day for a song; McLachlan's take on "O, Come All Ye Faithful"; a moving a capella performance of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" from Rascal Flatts; and The Voice winner Jordan Smith with his rendition of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

Country star Kacey Musgraves has a special twist on the old Bing Crosby Hawaiian Christmas song "Mele Kalikimaka," and a plug for her new Christmas album.

The special is certain to please country music fans and those who simply love holiday specials. There's a big opening number, lots of familiar classics and "a magical snow-filled ending."

More Duggars. TLC is continuing to milk the cash cow that is Tontitown's Duggar family even though 19 Kids and Counting has been kicked to the curb.

The series debuted in 2008 and was canceled in 2015 following revelations of eldest son Josh's teenage molestations and his continued misdeeds, including infidelity and his self-professed "secret addiction" to pornography.

However, the eldest Duggar daughters stepped up in December to fill the huge financial void with a spin-off.

The special three-parter, Jill and Jessa: Counting On, focused on newlyweds Jill Duggar Dillard, Jessa Duggar Seewald and several other adult Duggar kids (sans Josh). It was a hit by cable standards.

TLC has announced that an 11-episode second season of Counting On will air early next year. It promises "love, laughter and tears."

What's ahead? Well, Jessa and Ben have a newborn; Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo will have a two-hour wedding special (they got hitched and shared their first kiss Nov. 5 at John Brown University in Siloam Springs); and it'll be Joy-Anna's turn to have her courtship (with Austin Forsyth) splashed across the screen for the world to share.

Hard to believe, but Joy-Anna is 19 now. The next daughter in line is Johannah, but she's only 11. If we can hold out for the last three Duggar girls (ages 9, 7 and 6), we could be watching Duggar courtships for years to come.

Nightcap, 7 p.m. Wednesday on Pop. On what? Pop is the obscure cable channel formerly known as the TV Guide Channel.

Full disclosure: I don't normally go poking around the nosebleed section of the cable offerings looking for Pop. Its usual lineup includes reruns of everything from Buffy and That '70s Show to old movies and Impact Wrestling.

And then, out of nowhere, I'm watching Good Morning America and they're talking about Nightcap, a new comedy on Pop. Clips made it look hilarious.

I'm guessing the reason GMA spent so much time on the show is that the creator/star is Ali Wentwork, wife of GMA's George Stephanopoulos. There was lots of husband/wife banter. Wentwork portrays Staci Cole, the head talent booker for the fictitious low-rated late-night talk show, Nightcap With Jimmy. The comedy takes place around her dysfunctional staff and all the wacky and weird stuff that goes on backstage.

It's all backstage. Viewers never go out front with the guest stars. We never meet Jimmy.

Guest stars? Set for the 10 episodes of the first season are Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Paul Rudd, Kelly Ripa, Debra Messing, Whoopi Goldberg, Denis Leary, Michael J. Fox, Andy Cohen, Mark Cuban, Mark Consuelos, Jim Gaffigan, Janeane Garofalo, Mariska Hargitay, Jim Norton, Rosie Perez, Tim Gunn and Joel Schumacher.

And Stephanopoulos. "He's such a diva," Wentworth says of her hubby.

A second season of Nightcap has already been ordered.

Last quacks. Speaking of country, A&E says the current 11th season will be the last for Duck Dynasty. It'll be a bifurcated effort. The series, which airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, will run until Jan. 18, take a break, and resume March 1. The final duck call will be April 12.

The reason? Plunging ratings. The series, which once drew more than 10 million viewers, fell to fewer than 1.5 million last season.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Style on 11/27/2016

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