PBS Offers A Bounty Of Family-Friendly Holiday Fare

The Nonnatus House family aids a clinic in South Africa in

CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL.

Credit: Courtesy of Neal Street Productions & OOA Photos by Coco Van Oppens

- Programs Feature Anne of Green Gables, Nuns and Nurses of Nonnatus House, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Laura Osnes and Martin Jarvis, Lidia Bastianich and Military Veterans, Joyce DiDonato, Bonnie Raitt and More -

ARLINGTON, VA; NOVEMBER 15, 2016 - As family and friends gather around to celebrate the holidays, PBS offers a variety of special programming to create even more lasting memories. On Thanksgiving, PBS offers a delightful duet for family viewing with a new rendition of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and a reprise of POLLYANNA. Martin Sheen stars as Matthew Cuthbert in the new adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic novel about the irrepressible orphan Anne (Ella Ballentine), airing Thursday, November 24, 8:00-9:30 p.m. ET. Another young orphan girl captures the hearts of family, friends and strangers alike in an adaptation of yet another children's classic novel, POLLYANNA, airing 9:30-11:30 p.m. ET.

A special kind of family, the Nonnatus House sisterhood (and others) of the cherished CALL THE MIDWIFE series, celebrates Christmas this year in a wholly unexpected way. When they receive an SOS call from a tiny mission hospital that's understaffed, underfunded and threatened with closure, they travel to South Africa to save Hope Clinic and make a difference in the lives of the people who use it. CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL debuts on Christmas day, Sunday, December 25, 7:30-9:00 p.m. ET.

For members of the military, the holidays can be particularly emotional, especially when they're stationed thousands of miles away from home and family. LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA Holiday for Heroes, an uplifting special in which acclaimed chef and food ambassador Lidia Bastianich pays homage to the men and women of our military, preparing dinner for 250 active duty Navy troops aboard the USS George Washington, airs Friday, December 16, 2016, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET.

Since Lidia won't be the only one cooking for family during the holidays, PBS has scheduled two Masterclass marathons with Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW judges who take viewers through step-by-step re-creations of sweet and savory baked treats featured in the series. The special episodes air Saturday, November 19, 2016, 12:00-6:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, December 17, 2016, 12:00-6:00 p.m. ET.

The family of singers and musicians who constitute the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in Salt Lake City welcomes Broadway star Laura Osnes, British screen actor Martin Jarvis and four Metropolitan Opera soloists for the annual CHIRSTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR, airing Monday, December 19, 2016, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET.

After Christmas, PBS waves farewell to 2016, journeying from New York to Austin. LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER New York Philharmonic New Year's Eve, Saturday, December 31, 8:00-9:30 p.m. ET, rings in the new year with a night of American classics, including works by Rodgers & Hammerstein and featuring Joyce DiDonato. AUSTIN CITY LIMITS counts down the minutes to 2017 with ACL Hall of Fame New Year's Eve as Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King and Kris Kristofferson are inducted into the Hall of Fame. The program airs 11:00 p.m. to12:00 a.m. ET.

New Programs (check local listings for all)

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW: MASTERCLASS

Saturday, November 19, 2016, 12:00-6:00 p.m. ET

A marathon presentation of six Masterclass episodes, including a special Christmas class, features celebrity chefs and BAKING SHOW judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, who take viewers through step-by-step re-creations of sweet and savory baked treats featured in the series.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

Thursday, November 24, 2016, 8:00-9:30 p.m. ET

Savor a new adaptation of the classic novel about the orphaned Anne, placed in the care of uptight Marilla and her brother Matthew, played by Martin Sheen. Neither Anne nor Marilla could predict the profound effect they'd have on each other's lives.

LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA Holiday for Heroes

Friday, December 16, 2016, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET

Join host Lidia Bastianich for an unforgettable holiday special celebrating veterans, who discuss the importance of family during holidays, the challenges and sacrifices of their work and the pride they take in having defended our country.

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW: MASTERCLASS

Saturday, December 17, 2016, 12:00-6:00 p.m. ET

A marathon presentation of six Masterclass episodes, including two special Christmas classes, features celebrity chefs and BAKING SHOW judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, who take viewers through step-by-step re-creations of sweet and savory baked treats featured in the series.

CHIRSTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING LAURA OSNES AND MARTIN JARVIS

Monday, December 19, 2016, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

Hear Broadway star Laura Osnes, acclaimed British screen actor Martin Jarvis and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in the annual Christmas concert. Joining Osnes and Jarvis are four distinguished Metropolitan Opera soloists.

CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Sunday, December 25, 2016, 7:30-9:00 p.m. ET

As Poplar celebrates a white Christmas, Nonnatus House receives an SOS call from a tiny mission hospital in the Eastern Cape that is understaffed, underfunded and threatened with closure. Transported to South Africa and facing some of their toughest challenges, the Nonnatus family digs deep to save Hope Clinic and make a difference in the lives of the people who use it.

LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER New York Philharmonic New Year's Eve

Saturday, December 31, 2016, 8:00-9:30 p.m. ET

Ring in the new year with a night of American classics, in

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