Christmas in Washington

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Christmas in Washington was an annual Christmas television special that originated on NBC and later aired on TNT. It ended in 2015 after a 33-year run.

Contents

Background

One of two annual holiday specials produced by George Stevens Jr. (the other being the Kennedy Center Honors ), the variety show first aired in 1982 on NBC before moving to its most recent home on TNT in 1998. Recorded in Washington, D.C. at the National Building Museum, on the second Sunday of each December before being re-edited for later broadcast, Christmas in Washington is a one-hour concert featuring artists from musical genres. Each guest performs at least one solo, but the prominent marquee performer usually has one or two more songs. The show sometimes had at least one guest from the world of opera. Each of the musical performances are backed by a full orchestra and chorus. The show's finale consisted of a medley performed by all the musical guests before the attendees-of-honor, the President of the United States and the First Lady, make a closing statement followed by the singing of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".

Recent events have benefited Children's National Medical Center.

Host and performers

From 2004 to 2008, the show was hosted by Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin. However, since 2009 and for the remainder of its most recent run, the show had a single host. The 2013 edition featured Hugh Jackman as host and The Backstreet Boys as marquee performers, marking the first time in six years that a group has been featured as marquee performers. The show aired live on pay-per-view internationally and in most major cities, after which a re-edited 42-minute version (with commercials in a one-hour slot) aired on network television.

Cancellation

In 2015, shortly after the Stevens' production company sold the rights to their companion program, the Kennedy Center Honors, the special was cancelled after being unable to find a new network or presenting sponsor (TNT had declined to renew the show after the 2014 edition).

Editions

The marquee performer is marked in bold.

YearHostPerformers
1982 Dinah Shore
1983 Andy Williams
1984 Hal Linden
1985 Tom Brokaw
1986 John Forsythe
1987 Barbara Mandrell
1988 James Stewart
1989 Olivia Newton-John
1990 John Denver
1991
1992 Julie Andrews
1993 Kirstie Alley
1994 Helen Hunt
1995 Kelsey Grammer
David Hyde Pierce
Jane Leeves
Peri Gilpin
John Mahoney
1996 John Lithgow
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Kristen Johnston
French Stewart
Jane Curtin
1997 Glenn Close
1998 Brooke Shields
1999 Brendan Fraser
2000 Sarah Michelle Gellar
2001 Reba McEntire
2002 Katie Holmes
2003 Patricia Heaton
2004 Phil McGraw and Robin McGraw
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009 George Lopez
2010 Ellen DeGeneres
2011 Conan O'Brien
2012
2013 Hugh Jackman
2014 Dwayne Johnson

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References

  1. "Breaking News - Hugh Jackman to Host TNT's "Christmas in Washington," Featuring Special Guest Charles Barkley and Performances by Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Anna Kendrick, Janelle Monae and Pat Monahan". TheFutonCritic.com. 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2022-05-06.


Source: for Christmas in Washington 2000: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271434/