What to Watch in December

There's a huge amount of worthwhile TV out there nowadays, so it can be hard to choose what to watch. But who better to recommend shows than the person who programs them? Lisa Tipton, WTTW’s Head of Programming and Pledge, constructs the WTTW schedule by searching through offerings from many different sources which include the national PBS network, the BBC, and independent filmmakers to put together a varied and engaging broadcast schedule. Each month, she recommends a few shows that she thinks you should watch.

Find all the ways to watch WTTW here. Many of the below shows are available to stream or will be once they premiere, especially by WTTW Passport members. 

Lucy Worsley's Holmes Vs. Doyle

Sundays beginning December 8 at 7:00 pm 

Arthur Conan Doyle is famous because of his creation Sherlock Holmes – but he famously grew to hate Holmes and killed his character off before being compelled to bring him back by public demand. The popular historian Lucy Worsley digs into the complicated relationship and Holmes' origin in Doyle's life in this three-part special.

New Christmas Concerts

Get in the holiday spirit with two new musical specials on Tuesday, December 17. First up is the annual Tabernacle Choir performance at 7:00 pm, this year featuring Downton Abbey's Lesley Nicol and Broadway star Michael Maliakel. Then there's Too Hot to Handel: The Gospel Messiah at 8:30 pm, featuring a reimagining of Handel's beloved The Messiah conducted by Marin Alsop.

Sister Boniface Mysteries: The Star of the Orient

Saturdays, December 21 and 28, at 8:00 pm

A two-part holiday special follows the titular crime-solving nun as she becomes embroiled in a mystery when a jewel is stolen from a snowbound train. It's a great introduction to a new season of Sister Boniface Mysteries coming to WTTW beginning January 4 at 8:00 pm.

A Celebration of Hanukkah

Monday, December 23 at 8:00 pm 

Do you prefer your latkes with sour cream or applesauce? Geoffrey Baer dives into those questions and more with a festive spirit as he explores not just the joyous traditions of this Jewish holiday but also its history along with musicians, families, and more. Celebrate even further with recipes and more at wttw.com/hanukkah.

Call the Midwife Holiday Special

Wednesday, December 25 at 7:00 and 9:00 pm 

The holidays are never simple at Nonnatus House, and 1969 is no different as influenza spreads alongside some break-ins. To really revel in frosty Poplar, settle in with WTTW beginning at 1:00 pm for a marathon of previous Call the Midwife holiday specials.

NEXT at the Kennedy Center: Sara Bareilles – New Year's Eve with the National Symphony Orchestra & Friends

Tuesday, December 31 at 7:00 pm

Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles celebrates the New Year with Washington, D.C.'s National Symphony Orchestra and friends like Rufus Wainwright with music from her career as a pop star and Broadway hit.