This Month on CPTV
Festive celebrations, family gatherings and new beginnings and endings hint that it’s the month of December. End-of-year holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa dot the calendar. The first day of winter signals a fresh season is upon us, and New Year’s Eve offers the chance to reflect on the past while looking forward to the future. At Connecticut Public, we’re excited to commemorate this time of year with a variety of shows that highlight the music, people, places and stories that honor the joy of where we’ve been and showcase the prospect and enduring opportunity of a new year.
On CPTV
France Made with Love
Monday, December 1 at 8 p.m.
Discover the exquisite craftsmanship and renowned charm of the country's most talented artisans. From glovemakers to bakers, stained glass restorers to chefs, revel in the rich heritage of centuries-old traditions and the elegant style of France.
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Rick Steves Art of Europe: Michelangelo to Monet
Monday, December 1 at 9:30 p.m.
Enjoy a greatest-hits pledge party celebrating Europe's art and creative geniuses, from Leonardo to Van Gogh. Across the two-hour special, Rick traces Florence's bold "rebirth" after Europe's medieval struggles; marvels at the over-the-top churches, palaces, fountains and canvases of the Baroque period; and examines the pioneering Impressionist works that captured the joie de vivre of the late 1800s.
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Tommy Emmanuel CGP: Live at the Sydney Opera House
Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m.
Join the guitar virtuoso for magical performances in his native Australia recorded in May 2023. Featuring his beloved songs "Tall Fiddler," "Mombasa," and "Country Wide," plus an iconic arrangement of "Classical Gas" and a thrilling Beatles medley.
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Air Supply 50th Anniversary Concert
Saturday, December 6 at 11 p.m. on CPTV
Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock celebrate five decades of hits in this May 2025 concert. Songs include "Lost in Love," "All Out of Love," "Every Woman in the World," "The One That You Love," "Here I Am," "Sweet Dreams," "Without You" and more.
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Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like
Tuesday, December 9 at 8 p.m.
Join host Michael Keaton to celebrate "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," the pioneering children's series that premiered nationally 50 years ago. Celebrities, cast members and Joanne Rogers reveal their favorite memories from the series.
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American Masters: Starring Dick Van Dyke
Friday, December 12 at 9 p.m.
Celebrate the life and career of legendary actor Dick Van Dyke on his 100th birthday. Known for films like Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins and his classic CBS sitcom, Van Dyke has delighted audiences on screen and stage for eight decades. Featuring never-before-seen footage, photos and home movies that detail Van Dyke’s extraordinary showbiz legacy.
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I Want My ‘80s Tour Live
Saturday, December 13 at 11 p.m.
Rick Springfield, Wang Chung and John Waite perform their biggest hits of the decade, including "Jessie's Girl," "Don't Talk to Strangers," "Everybody Have Fun Tonight," "Dance Hall Days," and "Missing You."
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Happiness
Sundays at 8 p.m. beginning December 14
Broadway director and golden boy Charlie Summers has come home to New Zealand. And he's devastated. After 20 years working his way up to the top of the musical theatre world, he has found himself back in his childhood bedroom and back helping his mother, Gaye, at the local community musical theater. The eclectic cast and crew there may lack professional skills, but certainly don't lack passion.
WATCH THE PREVIEW
Hope of the Season: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir
Monday, December 15 at 8 p.m.
The world-renowned Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square joins with Tony Award-winner Ruthie Ann Miles and Hollywood veteran Dennis Haysbert in this unforgettable holiday spectacular. Packed with classic carols and holiday favorites, the concert features songs and stories of hope for all ages.
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POV: Between Goodbyes
Monday, December 15 at 10:30 p.m.
When a queer Korean adoptee reunites with her birth mother in Seoul, deep cultural misunderstandings and unspoken regrets surface. With tenderness, humor and determination, both navigate the heart-wrenching legacy of international adoption.
WATCH HERE
Great Performances “The Nutcracker”
Tuesday, December 16 at 8 p.m.
Enjoy Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic set in Edwardian-era London. Clara embarks on a fantastical adventure with her enchanted nutcracker featuring over 100 dancers and a magical, dreamlike realm. Choreographed by Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith.
American Masters: Ten Times Better
Tuesday, December 16 at 9:30 p.m.
The astonishing and heartwarming story of George Lee, a pioneering Asian dancer who originated a featured role in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker 70 years ago as a teenage immigrant from China.
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A Celebration of Hanukkah
Thursday, December 18 at 8 p.m.
Host Geoffrey Baer takes viewers on a fun exploration of the time-honored traditions of this joyous Jewish holiday, sharing how Hanukkah came to be, the significance of the season's cherished dishes and the ways families continue to celebrate together across generations. Along the way, Geoffrey provides an overview of Hanukkah in popular culture, weaving in his holiday memories through childhood home movies. And, because food plays such a meaningful part of every Hanukkah observance, he also heads into the kitchen with experts to try his hand at creating seasonal culinary delights -- including latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (filled donuts) -- while explaining how these dishes connect to Hanukkah's history.
WATCH HERE
Velvet: White Christmas
Friday, December 19 at 10 p.m.
In late 1950s Madrid, the golden age of haute couture, there is one place everyone would like to shop at least once in their lifetime: the Galerias Velvet. When snow arrives in time for Christmas, Ana organizes a celebration. However, Rita is left heartbroken after Pedro's announcement.
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Austin City Limits | Jon Batiste
Saturday, December 20 at 11 p.m.
Seven-time Grammy and Academy Award winner Jon Batiste returns to the ACL stage for an electrifying hour. The New Orleans native and vibrant ambassador of jazz, blues and soul lights up the stage with an ecstatic performance of gems from Big Money.
Craft in America: East
Sunday, December 21 at 7 p.m.
Explore the intersection of history, culture and contemporary craft in the eastern region of the US. Featuring renowned tapestry artist Helena Hernmarck, from Ridgefield, Connecticut, who uses a weaving technique that manipulates colored weft threads to produce photo-realistic imagery.
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Seaside Hotel | Season 10
Sundays at 11 p.m. beginning December 21
It's summer and the residents of the hotel are back for more seaside shenanigans.
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Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2025
Thursday, December 25 at 8 p.m. (with a repeat airing at 10 p.m.)
When senior members of the Nonnatus House staff head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, the younger
midwives are left to cope alone. As the Christmas action shifts between the sun-drenched Far East and a snowy East End, Sister Julienne suddenly finds herself excited about the Order’s future.
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Velvet: Twelfth Night
Friday, December 26 at 10 p.m.
Secrets are revealed as Carlos and Ana's relationship grows stronger. Clara takes driving lessons from Lucas after Mateo refuses to let her drive his car. Cristina hosts an eventful Christmas party.
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Secrets of the Royal Palaces | Buckingham Palace
Saturday, December 27 at 8 p.m.
The origins of Buckingham Palace, and the most haphazard royal wedding in history.
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Great Performances: Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary
Wednesday, December 31 at 8 p.m.
Beginning with their first collaboration on “Oklahoma!” in 1943, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II revolutionized Broadway by integrating music and dance with well-crafted storylines to create a cohesive new form of musical theater. With a string of blockbusters including “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I,” “Flower Drum Song” and “The Sound of Music,” the duo garnered 34 Tony Awards along with 15 Academy Awards for their film adaptations. Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, “Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary” features an all-star cast at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane, including Michael Ball, Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Friedman, Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Aaron Tveit, Marisha Wallace and Patrick Wilson, with additional surprise appearances by Rita Moreno and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
WATCH THE EXTENDED PERFORMANCE WITH PASSPORT
Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Wednesday, December 31 at 10 p.m.
The incomparable, trail-blazing talent of Joni Mitchell is celebrated in Washington, DC's historic DAR Constitution Hall by a cadre of musical stars who all drew inspiration from the woman many consider to be the most influential musical artist of her time. Be it lyrics, composition, playing, singing or even painting, no artist has demonstrated the creative length, depth and breadth of Joni Mitchell.
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America @ 250
Mark Twain’s Neighborhood: Nook Farm
Monday, December 22 at 8 p.m.
In the latter half of the 19th century, the Nook Farm neighborhood in Hartford flourished. During the heyday of Mark Twain’s writing career, Nook Farm was the remarkable neighborhood that his family called home. His neighbors included other literary, political, and religious leaders of the day, including Harriet Beecher Stowe and publisher Charles Dudley Warner. This documentary explores that remarkable community.
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Prohibition: Connecticut Goes Dry
Monday, December 29 at 9 p.m.
In 1920, the 18th Amendment was enacted, banning the sale of alcohol. But in the "land of steady habits," alcohol consumption was a habit that proved hard to break. Explore Connecticut's unique role in the Prohibition movement, from the early temperance advocates of Litchfield to the lawless rum-runners of Long Island Sound. Learn about the creation, rise, and fall of Prohibition in Connecticut.
WATCH HERE