Kevin Costner narrates The First Christmas on ABC and West Wing returns to Netflix in full

On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, ABC will broadcast the two-hour special “Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas,” narrated by the Yellowstone actor. The program mixes documentary, dramatic reenactments and historical analyzes about the journey of Maria and José until the birth of Jesus, highlighting trials such as the journey to Belém and the escape to Egito. Dirigido by David L. Cunningham, the content aims to rescue the original meaning of Natal amidst seasonal commercial productions.

Costner, who grew up participating in Christmas reenactments at his church, shares personal reflections on faith and adversity, inspired by his childhood as a child pastor. The special features actors such as Gia Patel as Maria and Ethan Thorne as José, as well as contributions from theologians from different Christian traditions.

• Main elements of the program: stagings faithful to biblical texts, first-person narration and historical context from the 1st century to the 19th century.
• Time: 8/7c on ABC, streaming on Hulu starting December 10.
• Target audience: families looking for reflective content during the holidays.

NCIS Triangle: Origins Tests Gibbs’s Loyalties

The fall season finale of NCIS: Origins, titled “End of the Diane announces a job offer to Los Angeles and invites Gibbs to join her, while Lala deals with recovering from a car accident and the loss of a confidential informant who was shot.

The plot explores Gibbs’s legendary reticence, which complicates his personal and professional relationships. Producers Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North highlight the agent’s internal conflict, divided between commitment and loyalty to the NIS team in Camp Pendleton. The episode ends with a twist: Gibbs and Diane impulsively marry in Las Vegas after reconciliation, paving the way for their future divorce in the series’ canon.

The series returns on February 24, 2026, focusing on the evolution of Gibbs’s trust in figures like Dwayne Pride.

Gaines expand Fixer Upper into the mountains

Chip and Joanna Gaines premiere the limited series Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House on Magnolia Network and HGTV at 9/8c on December 9, 2025. The three weekly episodes cover challenges such as high altitude, deliveries on snowy roads and visits from wild animals, including bears.

The property, purchased as a holiday home, integrates multigenerational elements to bring together the Gaines family. Joanna describes the project as a “full circle moment”, with daughter Ella participating for the first time. Produzida by Blind Nil, the series maintains the franchise’s signature humor and heart, streaming on HBO Max and Discovery+ on the same day.

• Scheduled episodes: Premiere on December 9th, followed by December 16th and 23rd.
• Innovations: adaptations for six-month snow and local materials resistant to the alpine climate.
• Motivation: expansion of the Gaines’s passion for renovations to new geographic horizons.

Animated classics heat up NBC’s lineup

NBC begins its holiday programming on December 9, 2025 with classic animation at 8/7c. Frosty the Snowman, from 1969, tells the story of a snowman who comes to life with a magic hat, narrated by Jimmy Durante. The 25-minute special is followed by Shrek the Halls at 8:30/7:30c, a 2007 production featuring the green ogre in a chaotic celebration.

At 9/8c, the network airs the encore of 2024’s A Motown Christmas, hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey, featuring performances of soul hits. ABC complements with CMA Country Christmas at 10/9c, hosted by Lauren Daigle and Jordan Davis, repeating the 2025 special. Esses content reinforces family traditions, with Frosty available on Peacock for reruns.

West Wing returns to streaming with epic marathon

All seven seasons of The West Wing arrive on Netflix on December 9, 2025, after a five-year absence. The Aaron Sorkin series, originally aired from 1999 to 2006 on NBC, follows the government of President Jed Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen. With 154 episodes, the idealized political drama won 26 Emmys, including four consecutive awards for best drama in the first seasons.

The cast includes Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford, who recently reunited in The Diplomat, another Netflix production. The license coincides with negotiations by Netflix to acquire Warner Bros., but the content remains on HBO Max. Fãs highlight the fast pace of dialogue and topics such as government ethics and electoral campaigns.

The addition expands the platform’s political catalog, alongside titles like The Diplomat, and attracts new viewers in the midst of real elections.

Sports and investigative highlights of the day

Jimmy V Classic takes place on Madison Square Garden at 6:30 pm ET on ESPN, with college basketball doubleheaders: The event raises funds for cancer research in honor of coach Jim Valvano.

On CBS, NCIS investigates an Serviço Secreto shooting at 8/7c, with the team testing an AI chatbot from Departamento from Justiça as a partner. Às 9/22c, NCIS: Sydney hunts a true crime fan after the murder of an American sailor, the subject of a podcast.

Streaming options beyond open TV

Masaka Kids: The film inspires with stories of overcoming and global connections.

Vanguard comes to Viaplay in five parts, a Swedish drama based on the life of Jan Stenbeck, who took over the family empire after a dispute and revolutionized Nordic media. Comparado to Succession, explores corporate ambitions and legacies.

State of Happiness ends its third season on MHz Choice, a Norwegian series set in the oil industry of the 1980s, with plots about economic evolution and personal dilemmas. Roofman premieres on Paramount+, with Channing Tatum as a McDonald’s thief who hides in a store Toys “R” Us, in a factual plot.

Frontline presents the 40-minute report “Status: Venezuelan” on PBS at 10/9c, in partnership with ProPublica, about a Venezuelan family in Flórida navigating volatile immigration policies.