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Thursday, December 8
JOHN LENNON: GIMME SOME TRUTH Among the many commemorations of the 25th anniversary of his death ( John Lennon: The Final Days at 8 pm and midnight on Star, and The John Lennon Assassination on 9 pm and 1 am on A&E), this Yoko-archived doc focuses on the music, finding the ex-moptop in the studio during his Imagine sessions. With Phil Spector , Andy Warhol and Miles Davis . 9 pm on MuchMoreMusic, repeated at midnight and 4 pm Friday
Friday, December 9
I WALK THE LINE: A NIGHT FOR JOHNNY CASH To promote their current biopic, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Weatherspoon introduce musical tributes to the late country star from Dwight Yoakam , Jerry Lee Lewis , Norah Jones , Foo Fighters , U2 and the ubiquitous Sheryl Crow . 9 pm on Sun
Saturday, December 10
MY NAME IS BARBRA To mark the 40th anniversary of its original broadcast, Streisand’s first Emmy Award-winning special returns with digitally remastered renditions of the Funny Girl’s signature songs Second Hand Rose, People and Don’t Rain On My Parade. And dig those Halston hats! 8 pm on PBS
JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA When the BBC first aired its production of the controversial musical based on the trash TV talk show earlier this year, more than 50,000 viewers complained to the network. See why as Starsky And Hutch’s David Soul , playing the former Cleveland mayor, moderates a showdown in Hell between Satan, Adam and Eve and a scantily clad Jesus Christ. The source material runs at midnight on SunTV. 9 pm on Bravo
Sunday, December 11
SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA The final two contestants go head-to-head for a million bucks in front of Dimples and the tribal council. A reunion follows at 10 pm. 8 pm on CBS/Global
THE BIG ONE THE BIG ONE
97 doc follows director Michael Moore as he harangues U.S. corporate executives for raking in record profits while laying off thousands of employees. 10 pm on TVO
Monday, December 12
ELTON JOHN: THE RED PIANO The knighted ivory tinkler brings his interactive Vegas extravaganza to the small screen with guests Justin Timberlake portraying a younger Elton and Pamela Anderson pole-dancing to The Bitch Is Back. Spectacular visuals by fashion photographer David LaChappelle . 8 pm on A-Channel
Tuesday, December 13
BARENAKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS The pride of Riverdale add sleigh bells to If I Had A Million Dollars and other hits as well as quirky takes on seasonal favourites in this live performance at Citytv’s Rehearsal Hall. Wouldn’t this be a lot more festive on ice? 8 pm on Bravo, repeated at 1 am
Wednesday, December 14
THE NUTCRACKER Filmed in London’s Covent Garden Opera House, the Royal Ballet performs Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic under the direction of Peter Wright . For a different spin, check out an unusually animated Barbie In The Nutcracker , with Tim Curry as the voice of the Mouse King, on Treehouse at 6 pm Saturday (December 10). 8 pm on PBS