FREEFORM GIVES THANKS TO THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR DURING ITS ANNUAL 'COUNTDOWN TO 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS' STARTING ON THANKSGIVING DAY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Plus, Sofia Carson Stars in the Network Television Premiere of 'A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits,' the Fourth Installment of the Popular Franchise
This Year's 'Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas' Includes the Freeform Premieres of 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green' and 'Boxtrolls'
Put down the dish towel, stop the cooking and cleaning and come get filled up on Freeform's annual "Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas" programming celebration, starting Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24 and featuring some of Disney and Disney�Pixar's classic films, including "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2," as well as "Brave," "Tangled," "Mulan," "Wreck-It Ralph" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
Additionally, during this year's "Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas," Freeform will premiere "The Odd Life of Timothy Green," "Boxtrolls," and the network premiere of the fourth installment of the hit "Cinderella Story" franchise, "A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits," starring Sofia Carson ("Descendants" "Adventures in Babysitting").
"Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas" movie highlights include:
Thursday, November 24
(11:30 a.m. - 2:05 p.m. EST) CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY From the acclaimed children's book by Roald Dahl comes this magical fantasy about the candy maker and his wacky Wonka factory! The mysterious and reclusive confectioner extraordinaire Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) has secretly hidden five golden tickets somewhere in his candy bars - which are really invitations to join him on a grand tour of the wondrous chocolate factory. The winning children find themselves on a dizzying, yet fantastic voyage, and with the chance for an even grander prize - if they can resist temptation!
(2:05 - 4:10 p.m. EST) DISNEY'S MULAN Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) is a brave young woman faced with the terrible reality that her ailing father -- too old to be a soldier but too honorable not to be one -- will be killed in battle. Driven by her love and devotion for her family, Mulan makes a decision that will change their lives forever. Disguising herself as a man, she secretly takes her father's place in the Imperial army that is being gathered to meet the threat of invasion by the villainous Hun leader, Shan-Yu (Miguel Ferrer). Accompanied by her feisty, fire-breathing "wanna-be" guardian dragon, Mushu (Eddie Murphy), Mulan trains to be a brave and disciplined warrior and ultimately learns some profound lessons about courage, honor and love.
(4:10 - 6:20 p.m. EST) DISNEY�PIXAR'S BRAVE Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land. When Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos in the kingdom, she must harness all of her skills and resources including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers to undo a beastly curse before it's too late, and discover the meaning of true bravery.
(6:20 - 8:20 p.m. EST) DISNEY�PIXAR'S TOY STORY Twenty years after its theatrical release, "Toy Story" is still beloved by millions of fans. Set in a world where toys have a life of their own when people are not present, Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story" takes moviegoers on a fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys: Woody (Tom Hanks), a pull-string talking cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), a superhero space action figure. The comically mismatched duo eventually learn to put aside their differences when circumstances separate them from their owner, Andy (John Morris), and they find themselves on a hilarious adventure-filled mission where the only way they can survive is to form an uneasy alliance. Disney�Pixar's "Toy Story" repeats on Friday, November 25 at 4:10 p.m. EST.
(8:20 - 10:30 p.m. EST) DISNEY�PIXAR'S TOY STORY 2 The toys are back in town and ready to play once again in this exciting sequel, picking up as Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), owner of Al's Toy Barn, kidnaps Woody (Tom Hanks). At Al's apartment, Woody discovers that he is a highly valued collectible from a 1950s TV show called "Woody's Roundup," and he meets the other prized toys from that show - Jessie the cowgirl (Joan Cusack), Bullseye the horse and Stinky Pete the Prospector (Kelsey Grammer). Back at the scene of the crime, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the gang from Andy's room -- Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger) -- spring into action to rescue their pal from winding up as a museum piece. The toys get into one predicament after another in their daring race to get Woody home before Andy returns. Disney�Pixar's "Toy Story 2" repeats on Friday, November 25 at 6:10 p.m. EST.
(10:30 - 11:00 p.m. EST) DISNEY�PIXAR'S TOY STORY OF TERROR! Join Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and their pals in a frighteningly fun animated adventure. What starts out as an exciting road trip for the Toy Story gang takes an unexpected turn for the worse following a detour to a roadside motel. After Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) suddenly disappears, his friends find themselves caught up in a hilarious mystery that must be solved before they suffer the same fate in this thrilling Toy Story! Disney�Pixar's "Toy Story of TERROR!" repeats on Friday, November 25 at 8:20 p.m. EST.
(12:00 - 2:00 a.m. EST) DENNIS THE MENACE (1993) Wherever Dennis goes, mayhem follows. And somehow, most of it seems to land in the lap of his long-suffering next-door neighbor, George Wilson (Walter Matthau). Dennis and his backyard exploits are guaranteed to stir up laughter and warm the heart.
Friday, November 25
(11:30 a.m. - 1:40 p.m. EST) LITTLE RASCALS (1994) Alfalfa has fallen in love with Darla, threatening the very existence of the Little Rascals "boys only" club. Further trouble ensues when their "clubhouse" is destroyed and their prized go-cart "The Blur" is stolen by the neighborhood bullies. How can they win the race and its prize big trophy? Adding to their woes is the new boy in town, Waldo, who's refined, rich and also wooing Darla.
(1:40 - 4:10 p.m. EST) THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN - FREEFORM PREMIERE An inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can't wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim - and their small town of Stanleyville - learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life's greatest gifts. "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" repeats on Saturday, November 26 at 7:00 a.m. EST.
(8:50 - 11:00 p.m. EST) DESPICABLE ME In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences and flowering rose bushes sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout belonging to Gru (Steve Carell), a dastardly villain who, along with the help of his many little minions, is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world: he's going to steal the moon! But his plans are foiled the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. This smash hit boasts a stellar all-star vocal cast that includes Julie Andrews, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Danny McBride, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Mindy Kaling and more. "Despicable Me" repeats on Saturday, November 26 at 5:40 p.m. EST.
(12:00 - 2:00 a.m. EST) HAPPY FEET 2 Mumble, The Master of Tap, has a problem because his tiny son, Erik, is choreo-phobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven - a penguin who can fly! Mumble has no hope of competing with this charismatic new role model. But things get worse when the world is shaken by powerful forces. Erik learns of his father's guts and grit as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner of fabulous creatures - from tiny krill to giant elephant seals - to put things right. "Happy Feet 2" repeats on Saturday, November 26 at 9:30 a.m. EST.
Saturday, November 26
(11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST) ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY A famous dancer (Drew Seeley) returns for his senior year to surround himself with "real" people and remind himself why he fell in love with dance in the first place. At the masked high school dance, he meets a mesmerizing girl (Selena Gomez), but before he can learn her true identity, she disappears. His only clue: The mp3 player she left behind. "Another Cinderella Story" repeats on Sunday, November 27 at 7:00 a.m. EST.
(1:30 - 3:35 p.m. EST) MATILDA Matilda is an extraordinary girl, a child of wondrous intelligence. Unfortunately, her neglectful parents, Harry and Zinnia Wormwood (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman), are too wrapped up in their own little lives to care or even notice that their daughter is a budding genius. "Matilda" repeats on Sunday, November 27 at 11:15 a.m. EST.
(3:35 - 5:40 p.m. EST) THE BOXTROLLS - FREEFORM PREMIERE The Boxtrolls are a community of quirky, mischievous, fantastical creatures who have lovingly raised a human boy, Eggs, since infancy in the amazing cavernous home they've built beneath the cobblestoned streets of Cheesebridge. They live a happy and harmonious existence away from society. But with his Boxtrolls family increasingly at risk because of Cheesebridge citizens misunderstanding them, Eggs must venture above ground, "into the light," where he meets and teams up with another 11-year-old, the fabulously feisty Winnie. "The Boxtrolls" repeats on Sunday, November 27 at 1:25 p.m. EST.
(7:45 - 9:55 p.m. EST) DISNEY'S TANGLED When the kingdom's most wanted and most charming bandit Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) hides out in a mysterious tower, he's taken hostage by Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Looking for her ticket out of the tower where she's been locked away for years, Rapunzel strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade complete with a super-cop horse (Maximus), an over-protective chameleon (Pascal), and a gruff gang of pub thugs. Disney's "Tangled" repeats on Sunday, November 27 at 5:45 p.m. EST.
(9:55 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. EST) DISNEY'S WRECK-IT RALPH For decades, Ralph (John C. Reilly) has played the bad guy in his popular video game. In a bold move, he embarks on an action-packed adventure and sets out to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a big heart. As he explores exciting new worlds, he teams up with some unlikely new friends including feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman). Then, when an evil enemy threatens their world, Ralph realizes he holds the fate of the entire arcade in his massive hands. Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" repeats on Sunday, November 27 at 3:35 p.m. EST.
(12:00 - 2:00 a.m. EST) TOOTH FAIRY Dwayne Johnson is "The Tooth Fairy," also known as Derek Thompson, a hard-charging minor league hockey player whose nickname comes from his habit of separating opposing players from their teeth. When Derek discourages a youngster's hopes, he's sentenced to one week's hard labor as a real tooth fairy, complete with the requisite wings, magic wand and frilly tutu. At first, Derek "can't handle the tooth" - bumbling and stumbling as he tries to furtively wing his way through strangers' homes. But as Derek slowly adapts to his new position, he begins to rediscover his own forgotten dreams. "Tooth Fairy" repeats on Sunday, November 27 at 9:10 a.m. EST.
Sunday, November 27
(8:00 - 10:00 p.m. EST) A CINDERELLA STORY: IF THE SHOE FITS - NETWORK TELEVISION PREMIERE If a dream is a wish your heart makes, then auto mechanic Tessa Golding's (Sofia Carson) wish is to be a singer and dancer. When her fame-hungry stepmother (Meg Tilly) and stepsisters (Amy Louise Wilson and Jazzara Jaslyn) drag her to a swank resort so the sisters can audition for pop star Reed West's upcoming musical, Tessa decides to disguise herself and turn into Bella Snow: British singing sensation! She wins the role, but can she juggle playing two different people, her spoiled family's demands and her budding friendship with Reed all at the same time? With a heart that big and the talent to back it up, anything is possible if you just dream it.
(10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. EST) DISNEY'S SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) This is the classic animated Disney film that started it all. Snow White lives with her stepmother, the evil Queen. Jealous of Snow White's beauty, she orders her death, but the Huntsman warns her and she flees into the forest. There she meets seven dwarves who take her in, but the Queen discovers her whereabouts and shows up in disguise with a poisoned apple that sends her into a sleeping curse. Will Snow wake up and go on to be the "fairest of them all?"
Monday, November 28
(5:30 - 8:00 p.m. EST) FRED CLAUS Santa's estranged older brother Fred (Vince Vaughn) has reluctantly agreed to visit his family at the North Pole for Christmas. But when their longtime rift threatens Christmas for everyone, it's up to Fred to prove that he is a true Claus and save the holidays!
(8:00 - 11:00 p.m. EST) THE HOLIDAY - FREEFORM PREMIERE Two women on opposite sides of the globe, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) and Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) find themselves in a similar predicament. Desperate for a change of scenery, the women meet on the internet and swap houses for the Christmas holiday discovering that a change of address really can change your life. "The Holiday" repeats on Tuesday, November 29 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
(12:00 - 2:00 a.m. EST) SCROOGED (1998) A comedic take on Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol," the film stars Bill Murray who plays a television executive exploiting the holidays in order to boost ratings, but is then haunted by three ghosts.
Tuesday, November 29
(12:00 - 2:00 a.m. EST) JINGLE ALL THE WAY High-powered businessman Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is hard at work taking last-minute Christmas orders from customers, forcing him to miss yet another one of son Jamie's (Jake Lloyd) karate awards ceremonies. But Howard will make it up to Jamie... he'll buy him the toy on every child's list to Santa and the hottest action figure of the season - Turbo Man! Unfortunately, Howard is facing one BIG problem: It's Christmas Eve and Turbo Man has been sold out since Thanksgiving. But to Howard, this is war - and he's determined to win... no matter what! "Jingle All The Way" repeats on Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Wednesday, November 30
(9:00 - 11:00 p.m. EST) NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION The comic misadventures of the beleaguered Griswold family continue in this latest "Vacation" outing. This time America's most dedicated dad, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is determined to stay at home to create "the most fun-filled old fashioned family Christmas ever" -- but life has a particular way of throwing wet logs on Clark's fire.
(12:00 - 2:00 a.m. EST) DECK THE HALLS Steve (Matthew Broderick) gets into an increasingly absurd war with his new neighbor Buddy (Danny DeVito) when Buddy decides to decorate his home with enough Christmas lights to be seen from space.
About Freeform
Part of the Disney|ABC Television Group, Freeform connects to audiences and goes beyond entertainment with bold original programming and immersive social engagement. The network delivers a unique mix of quality original and acquired series, plus fan favorite movies and the holiday events "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." The Freeform app is a service that allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access via a wide array of devices.
------------- END of PRESS RELEASE -------------
What do you think of Freeform's Countdown --- to the Countdown??? (the annual used-to-be ABC Family "25 days of Christmas" countdown!) There are old & new movies sprinkled in with a few Holiday specials!
Please share your thoughts in the comments below!!!
