Freeform will look to reach its young millennial audience beyond primetime with its first ever late night show, one of several news series, movies and specials announced as part of its 2016-17 programming slate, the network said in advance of its New York upfront presentation Thursday.

Three months after changing its name and brand from ABC Family, Freeform officials said it plans to offer new original content that reaches young viewers to air alongside its lineup of existing shows like Pretty Little Liars,Young & Hungry, Baby Daddy, Shadowhunters and Switched at Birth.

“Freeform is a brand built for the fresh taste of a modern generation who value open-mindedness, fluidity, immediacy and who don’t like to be fenced-in,” said Freeform president Tom Ascheim in a statement. “As we continue to evolve and deliver on our brand promise, it’s important that we put our audience at the center of everything we do and connect with them in all the places they are and in the ways they prefer – on our cable network, in the digital space and with ‘Freeform Fest’ IRL (in real life).”

Among the new shows the network will look to roll out over the next few months is Later Bitches, a half-hour comedic talk show focusing on pop culture featuring as yet named female hosts. The Daily Show producers Jennifer Flanz and Elise Terrell will consult on the series, which is described as late-night talk meets Sex and the City.

Freeform will team with Marvel Comics to develop a new series Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, which chronicles two teenagers involved in an interracial romance who find themselves burdened and awakened to newly acquired superpowers while falling in love. Other new shows include Famous In Love, starring Bella Thorne as an ordinary college student who has to deal with a new life after getting a big role in a Hollywood blockbuster; and Issues, which takes a behind the scenes look at a women’s magazine based on the life of Cosmopolitan editor in chief Joanna Coles.

On the non-scripted series front, the network in August will launch Cheer Squad, which follows the World Cheerleading Champion Great White Sharks cheerleading squad; and Freeform Presents: Snapshot,” a two one-hour documentaries focusing on big pop culture moments from the producers of “30 for 30” and ESPN Films.

A list of new Freeform series appears below:

Drama

The Deep

In the mermaid-obsessed sea town of Bristol Cove, everyone’s lives will change when actual mermaids come ashore, causing sides to be taken, loyalties to be tested and a war between man and mermaid to begin.  Executive producers include Eric Wald, Dean White, Brad Luff, RD Robb and Nate Hopper.

Hunted

From executive producer Mila Kunis, “Hunted” centers on Valerie who escapes prison to prove she did not murder her husband. While the police hunt for her and attempt to prove her family helped her escape, Valerie fights to exonerate herself – but is she really innocent?  Along with Kunis, Ed Bernero and Hugh Sterbakov executive-produce.

Lore

A sci-fi drama from executive producer McG, “Lore” tells the story of the lone survivor of an ancient race of paranormal beings who is abducted and forced to put his extraordinary abilities to work for the government. When an old nemesis resurfaces, this arrangement turns into an uneasy alliance, and the only hope for survival in a dangerous world of mystery and magic. The series is written by Zack Stentz (“Thor”) and executive-produced by McG, Mary Viola, Zach Stentz, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross.

Misfits

A drama based on a hit British series, a group of twenty-somethings are exposed to a mysterious chemical, and subsequently develop peculiar superpowers. The series is from ABC Signature Studios and executive-produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.

New People

Executive-produced by Joel Silver and writer/director Don Roos, in association with Lionsgate, this dramedy focuses on a middle class family who adopted identical twin boys at birth. One is all boy, one grew up trans. The series is inspired by the book “Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family.”

Nine Years Under

From executive producer Will Packer, “Nine Years Under” tells the story of a law school grad who blows off the bar exam to take a job at a funeral home after the sudden death of her mother.  Along with Packer, Korin Huggins executive-produces. 

Rising

Executive-produced by Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefey and Aaron Kaplan, this drama is set in a low-income Latino neighborhood, and is told through the eyes of an 18-year-old girl destined for greatness. Ana Cobarrubias will be a consultant on the project. 

Comedy

Alone Together

From The Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, two misfits from different backgrounds try to make their way into the vain and status-obsessed culture of Los Angeles. Along the way, they find salvation in their male/female, strictly platonic friendship.

Made in LA

From executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, along with Mila Kunis, “Made in LA” is a half-hour comedy set in the world of fashion, centering on two friends who join their different skill sets to become fashion entrepreneurs. The series is loosely inspired by the creators of fashion label Juicy Couture and the authors of “The Glitter Plan.” The series is from ABC Signature Studios.

Paige One

Elizabeth Banks executive-produces this single-camera comedy that follows the insulated life of a children’s book author who hates children. Her life is turned upside down when her brother shows up on her door with his two young daughters.  The show comes from Warner Horizon TV, and executive producers Banks, Max Handelman and Susan Jaffee. 

Young & Hungry Spinoff

A spinoff of the network’s popular sitcom “Young & Hungry” executive produced by and starring Ashley Tisdale as Logan Rawlings.

Movies

Greek: The Reunion

The characters from “GREEK” return to Cypress Rhodes University for their five-year reunion. It will be executive-produced by Shawn Piller, Lloyd Segan and Patrick Sean Smith.

Angry Angel

From executive producer Will Gluck, a disgruntled angel tries to make it back into heaven after being kicked out.

Short-Form Development Projects

Just Josh

This docuseries follows professional dancer Josh Horner as he gives unconventional crash courses in dancing for special events.

My Boyfriend is a Robot

A romantic fish-out-of-water comedy centering on the relationship between a girl and her boyfriend – who happens to be a robot. The project is from executive producers Deb Spera and Maria Grasso.

Open Roads

Focusing on nonprofit organization Open Roads, which provides filmmaking wilderness camps for high school students, this docuseries follows campers’ experiences in the wild, making documentaries, and creating new relationships. Viewers will also get to see completed documentaries from the Open Roads campers.

Untitled Punam Patel Project

Comedienne Punam Patel hosts this unconventional interview-based show. Each episode finds Punam tucking in a celebrity/person of influence into bed, using children’s stories as a launching pad for fun and personal conversation topics. 

Rio Squad (working title)

In a collaboration with ESPNW, “Rio Squad” (working title) highlights four uniquely powerful female athletes who have dedicated their lives to being the best at their sport. It follows these women as they pursue their dreams, prepare for the Summer Games, and demonstrate that a female hero doesn’t have to take the shape of a princess.

School of Doodle

A series of short videos acquired from School of Doodle, an organization that creates inspiring content for girls and women. This series will celebrate the arts and provide the audience the tools to turn creative potential into success. 

ABC Entertainment president Paul Lee has stepped down from that position, replaced by Channing Dungey, Disney Media Networks co-chairman and president Ben Sherwood said in a statement.

Dungey, who was instrumental in the development and success of such hits as “Scandal,” “Criminal Minds,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Quantico,” “Army Wives” and “Once Upon A Time,” will now report directly to Sherwood. In addition, Patrick Moran, executive vice president, ABC Studios, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations, and report directly to  Sherwood.

 “Channing is a gifted leader and a proven magnet for top creative talent, with an impressive record of developing compelling, breakthrough programming that resonates with viewers,” Sherwood said in a statement. “We thank Paul for his many accomplishments at ABC and his devotion to the ABC brand, and we wish him continued success in the future.”

Prior to this announcement, Dungey was executive vice president, Drama Development, Movies & Miniseries, ABC Entertainment Group. In this position she oversaw the development and production of all drama pilots, movies & miniseries and the launch of new series for ABC Entertainment.

“I’m thrilled and humbled that Ben has entrusted me with this tremendous opportunity. And I am truly grateful to Paul for being a valued mentor and friend,” Dungey said in a statement. “I’ve had the great honor of working alongside the talented team at ABC for many years and look forward to starting this exciting new chapter with them.”

Lee was named president of ABC Entertainment in 2010 after joining ABC Family (now FreeForm) in 2004.  He had previously been CEO of BBC America.

“Leading ABC has been a fantastic experience,” Lee said in a statement. “I'm especially proud of the incredible team I built and the strategic, creative vision we established and successfully executed for both the network and studio. Together, we've transformed ABC into one of the strongest brands in television, with shows like ‘Scandal,’ ‘Blackish,’ ‘Once Upon a Time,’ ‘How to Get Away with Murder,’ ‘The Goldbergs,’ ‘Revenge,’ ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ ‘Quantico,’ ‘Fresh Off the Boat,’ and ‘American Crime’. I wish Channing and Patrick all the best.”

The reinvention of niche cable networks looking to better position themselves in a crowded and competitive marketplace has been commonplace over the past few years.

At last week’s Television Critics Association press tour, three familiar cable-network brands joined the reinvention movement by announcing sweeping changes in their operating strategies to meet the demands of a new television world.

National Geographic Channel promised that its on-air programming will not look the same one year from now as it seeks to take the brand to the next level within the entertainment arena.

Much bigger premium series, specials and documentaries featuring big-name talent will be the new face of Nat Geo, CEO Courteney Monroe said. The goal is to get to the same level as other entertainment-based networks without losing the value and appeal of the overall National Geographic brand.

Top-echelon networks TNT and TBS will go through a “full reinvention” over the next three years, TBS and TNT president and Turner Entertainment chief creative officer Kevin Reilly said at TCA. By adding quality original content, improving the consumer viewing experience, creating a new business paradigm for the networks that will include limiting the ad load in original shows, and investing in overall growth, Reilly said he hopes to change Turner’s struggling ratings fortunes.

ABC Family will go one step further. Starting later this month, it will abandon it’s 15-year moniker for a new one, Freeform. The network hopes the name will better reflect its mandate to reach young millennials with its drama and comedy programming.

The common denominator with all the networks is a decline in primetime ratings in 2015 compared with the previous year, with TNT and ABC Family suffering double-digit dips. The networks find themselves playing the reinvention game amid a shifting television landscape that is chasing viewers not chained to the small tube for their viewing options.

Get more news from #TCA16 here.

Pasadena, Calif. -- ABC Family’s name conversion to Freeform won’t hurt the network by losing its name identification with parent Disney/ABC, according to Tom Ascheim, president of the network.

Ascheim, speaking at the network’s Television Critics Association tour press conference, said the Freeform name was chosen after extensive research with its core “becomers” audience which ranges from high school age to late 20’s.

While ABC/Disney name offers distinct brand identity, Ascheim said it was more important to provide a name that its audience can better identify with.

“We believe that we will still enjoy all the great benefits that comes from being with the Disney/ABC company … we will enjoy the great neighborhood that we live in,” he said. “But for our young audience it's important for them to feel like they discovered something on their own. Detatching ourselves from hallowed brands felt like a way to make sure newness and freshness were part of the qualities that make Freeform special.”

Ascheim added that while change it never easy, the network’s appeal to its viewers though original series such as Pretty Little Liars and new shows such as dramas Recovery Road and Shadowhunters will help make the name transition easier.

 “We asked questions about what names feel good – Freeform best responded against all of them,” Ascheim said. “People don’t like change – the question is is it a name you love by itself. We will use the power of what is consistent with ABC Family to make sure that all the love that they have for ABC Family transfers over to Freeform.”

The network Tuesday will celebrate the debut of the Freeform name with a day long virtial social media event that will include a Social DNA Project with Twitter; a live stream of events via Periscope; a Vine booth; a BuzzFeed Facebook Live chat and a custom Pretty Little Liars Facebook icon; Instagram content and talent takeovers; and a Pretty Little Liars Snapchat filter, said network executives.

CNN was the most watched cable network in primetime last week, bolstered by its Republican Presidential debate coverage.

The cable news network averaged 2.7 million viewers for the week of Dec. 14 to Dec. 20, paced by the 18.1 million viewers who tuned in to see CNN’s coverage of the Dec. 15 Republican Presidential debate, according to Nielsen.

Sports-themed networks held the next two spots, with ESPN finishing second with 2.4 million viewers and NFL Network pulling into third with 1.8 million viewers. Holiday-themed programming helped push Hallmark Channel (2 million viewers) and ABC Family (1.9 million) into fourth and fifth place respectively.

Fox News and USA Network (tied with 1.7 million viewers), TBS (1.5 million), and Discovery Channel and TNT (tied with 1.4 million) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

Fox News and Nickelodeon were the co-leaders among cable networks on a 24-hour basis, with Disney Channel a distant third, said Nielsen.

Most Watched Cable TV Shows During The Week Of Dec. 14-Dec. 20

DateShowNetworkTotal Viewers

12/15 Nevada GOP Debate                         CNN                            18.1 million

12/15 Nevada GOP Debate Pre-Show        CNN                            15.3 million

12/14 Monday Night Football NYG-Miami ESPN                           11.5 million

12/15 Anderson Cooper 360                      CNN                              9.1 million

12/19 Thursday Night Football (NYJ-Dal) NFLN                             7.4 million

12/17 Thursday Night Football (TB-STL)  NFLN                             5.9 million

12/15 Preliminary Nevada GOP Debate    CNN                              5.8 million

12/20 Movie: Christmas Land                     Hallmark                      4.2 million

12/14 WWE Monday Night Raw                 USA Network              4.0 million

12/19 Movie: A Christmas Melody             Hallmark                      3.9 million

Source: Nielsen

Amid the multitude of female-skewing holiday movies and specials airing in December, networks such as WE tv and Oxygen are giving viewers the gift of new, original regularly scheduled programming.

Women-targeted programmers said they aren’t afraid of competing against one-off holiday movies — and they’re eager to take advantage of reruns airing on broadcast networks.

“There are a lot of Christmas movies and Christmas specials, but that’s not for everybody,” Jerry Leo, executive vice president, program strategy, Lifestyle Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, said. “I think the reality fan is still looking for other options.”

Two new reality series on NBCU’s Oxygen — Finding My Father, which tracks young women searching for their biological dads; and Rich in Faith, which follows Pastor Rich Wilkerson of Vous Church in Miami and his wife, DawnChere — both fit into the religious, heartwarming, family themes of the Christmas holiday, Leo said. In prior years, new seasons of Project Runway and The Real Housewives of Atlanta drew big numbers against holiday fare, he added.

“Hopefully the holidays will actually help us by creating that kind of environment and vibe for the shows,” Leo said.

WE tv last week launched the fourth seasons of two popular reality series, Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars and Tamar and Vince, the Braxton Family Values spinoff.

The holiday season provides a great opportunity to siphon off viewers who have been watching broadcast TV, WE tv president Marc Juris said. “On Thursday, when [ABC’s] Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder are in reruns, maybe 5 million women become available.”

Launching new and returning shows in December also allows the network to promote its January fare, he said. The network on Jan. 7 will debut reality series Growing Up Hip Hop. On Jan. 8, Ex Isle, starring Carmen Electra, will show individuals how to get over an ex.

“We want to use every opportunity in a crowded marketplace to bring in new viewers and to re-establish ourselves with our super-fans,” Juris said.

Still, women-targeted networks will face tough competition from holiday fare on Hallmark Channel and ABC Family.

ABC Family, with its “25 Days of Christmas” programming stunt, was easily the most watched network among women 18- 49, women 25-54 and women 18-34 during the first week of December (Nov. 30 to Dec. 6).

Undaunted, Leo said Oxygen plans to run its original content each week throughout the holiday season without any breaks.

“We don’t take our foot off the gas for even one week during the holidays,” he said. “If you’re into the storyline, you want to stay with it.”

ABC Family has greenlit a new drama pilot from producer I. Marlene King (Pretty Little Liars), network officials said.

The new series, Famous In Love, is based on a novel by Rebecca Serle and stars Bella Thorne, said network officals. The series will be produced by Warner Horizon Television and executively produced by Dan Farah (The Shannara Chronicles) and Miguel Arteta (The Carrie Diaries).

“We could not be more excited to extend our relationship with hitmaker I. Marlene King,” said Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development. “With Famous In Love, Marlene takes us behind the scenes of young Hollywood to tell a sexy, soapy tale about what it’s like to make a movie – and fall in love – in LA.  We are also thrilled to welcome the talented Bella Thorne to our network and cannot wait to get started on our next can’t-miss show.” 

The announcement follows ABC Family's greenlighting of a new series featuring Nicki Minaj.

ABC Family’s long-running drama series Pretty Little Liars drew 3.1 million viewers Tuesday as viewers tuned in for a much-anticipated character reveal.

The summer season finale for the series, which finally revealed the identity of “A”,  pulled in its best audience in 18 months and ranks as the series’ second most watched summer finale on record in the network’s core 18-34 and 18-49 demos, according to network officials.

 Summer to date, Pretty Little Liars is cable most watched series among  Women 18-34 and Females 12-34 and is the top scripted cable TV series among  Adults 18-34 and Viewers 12-34, said the network.

On the social media front, the Pretty Little Liars finale was the most tweeted TV series telecast of thus far this summer and the third most tweeted cable TV series episode on record, generating more than  1.6 million tweets, which were seen by a Twitter TV audience of 6.2 million unique users and generated over 68 million Twitter TV impressions, according to Nielsen.

The episode easily topped HBO’s Hark Knocks: Training Camp With the Houston Texans, which reached a Twitter TV audience of nearly 2 million unique users, said Nielsen.

Fox Broadcasting’s 2015 MLB All-Star Game telecast hit a home run on Twitter last night, drawing more than 600,000 Tweets, according to Nielsen’s daily Twitter TV Ratings report.

The game, which the American League won 6 to 3 over the National League, drew 606,000 tweets reaching more than 7 million unique Twitter users topping all sports and entertainment programming for the night, according to Nielsen.

ABC Family’s drama series Pretty Little Liars was the most tweeted entertainment program of the night generating 149,000 tweets reaching 1.4 million unique Twitter users, according to the report

ABC Family will bring back its procedural drama series Stitchers for a second season, the network said Tuesday.

Stitchers, which follows a young woman recruited into a covert government agency to be ‘stitched’ into the minds of the recently deceased to help solve crimes, will end its freshman campaign Aug. 4, according to the network. The series premiered last month with 1.2 million viewers, according to ABC family.

“Fans are enjoying the camaraderie of the Stitchers team and a lead character that is unapologetically smart, focused and a great role model to young women,” said Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, ABC Family in a statement. “We look forward to seeing more of the Stitchers team tackling diverse cases as they unravel the mystery behind the program’s creation.”

ABC Family has greenlit a one-hour drama series pilot Guilt, its fourth pilot order in recent months.

The crime epic will revolve around a London-based American who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her roommate, according to network officials. The series is written, created and executive-produced by Kathryn Price (The Game Plan) and Nichole Millard (The Game Plan), with Steve McPherson also serving as executive producer.

“Guilt is a sophisticated, sexy and suspenseful crime epic that will have audiences captivated week-to-week,” said Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, ABC Family. 

Guilt follows on the heels of other ABC Family pilot orders including Stay, Beyond and Gorgeous Morons.

ABC Family’s new sci-fi procedural series Stitchers averaged 1.28 million viewers in its series debut, the network said Wednesday. (To read the MCN review of the show, click here.)

The series, in which a secret governmental agency uses a young woman to hack into the brains of dead people to help solve crimes, finished as cable’s second biggest launch of the 2014/15 season among females 12-34 behind AMC’s Better Call Saul, according to ABC Family.

Stitchers benefited from its lean-in, the sixth season debut of Pretty Little Liars which averaged 2.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen. The premiere was slightly below last year’s season five premiere episode, which drew 2.7 million watchers.

Pretty Little Liars also drew strong numbers in key demos including females 12-34 (1.2 million viewers), adults 18-34 (945,000), adults 12-34 (1.4 million), women 18-49 (1.1 million) and adults 18-49 (1.3 million), according to Nielsen.

As millennials grow older, ABC Family is shifting its focus to a younger-skewing ‘becomers’ with a lineup of unscripted and scripted series that will allow the network to offer year-long original programming, the network said prior to its upfront presentation Tuesday in New York.

ABC Family president Tom Ascheim told Multichannel News that the network’s millennial target audience it began targeting a decade ago is now growing older – in five years millennials will be less than half of the network’s core 12-34 demo – so the network will focus on what it defines as ‘becomers’ who are just beginning to enter key stages of their lives.

“That keeps us tightly focused on the audience and the journey of that audience – it informs our programming and our marketing,” Ascheim said.

He added that the network’s “family” brand is targeted to young adult audience. “The focus is on viewers in our sweet spot, with a median age in the 20’s,” he said.  

The network is more than doubling its original content, which includes unscripted programming as well as scripted dramas and comedies, according to Karey Burke, ABC Family executive vice president of programming and development.

“We’re making more programming that has a becomer lens on it,” she said.

Among the new series set to launch this summer are Job or No Job, which follows one young adult to his/her first journey to land a job and Becoming Us, which centers on a teenager who is learning to live with his dad becoming a woman. The shows will join previously announced new summer shows Monica the Medium, Startup U,Next Step Realty: NYC, Kevin From Work and Stitchers.

Show in development for ABC Family include Hearts and Clubs, from executive producer Christina Aguilera about young performers working in Las Vegas; Famous In Love, starring Bella Thorne and based on the novel by Rebecca Serle; Sold Out, about a young band hitting the road for their first-ever tour;  I Am Maker, a docu-series that follows up and coming Youtube sensations living together and mentored by celebrity talent, Shadowhunters, a supernatural drama which follows an 18-year old who discovers she comes from a family of human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons and You Got To Work It, from actress Eva Longora that follows eight unemployed girls vying for seven job opportunities in seven industries.

Earlier this month the network said it will develop pilots for scripted series Gorgeous Morons and Beyond.

On the specials front, the network will develop We Heart Disney, a music spectacular featuring today’s biggest pop stars and classic Disney songs.

Disney is officially letting blockbuster Frozen go onto television. 

The animated movie, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in 2014, will premiere on all Disney ABC Television Group networks starting February 2016. 

It will appear on the Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, ABC Family and ABC. 

ABC Family continues to add to its original programming lineup with the greenlighting of two new pilots, the network said Friday.

The comedy Gorgeous Morons focuses on the lives of two handsome but simple brothers who take in a brilliant female literature PhD, said network officials. The series is produced by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky (The Office, Bad Teacher,) alongside former The Office head writer Danny Chun, said network officials.

Supernatural series Beyond, created, written and executive produced by Adam Nussdorf (Once Upon a Time in Wonderland), follows a young man who wakes up from a coma after 12 years and discovers new supernatural abilities that propel him into the middle of a dangerous conspiracy.

 “Quality comedies and epic adventures are key elements of our programming strategy," said Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development in a statement. "The teams behind these pilots have a history of creating amazing series in those genres, and I am thrilled to have them creating for ABC Family."

ABC Family will add three new unscripted series to its lineup, the network announced Wednesday.

The series are Startup U, which follows a group of entrepreneurial millennials as they embark on a semester at Draper University in Silicon Valley; Next Step Realty: NYC, a business based docu-series following employees of Next Step Realty; and Monica the Medium, which follows a junior at Penn State navigating friends, family, relationships while serving as a medium that can talk to  dead people.

“ABC Family will become a brand known as much for character driven docu-dramas as we are for our character driven scripted dramas and comedies,” said Tom Ascheim, President ABC Family in a statement. “This summer will be chock-full of unscripted fare on the network as we build momentum with these three new series.”

ABC Family will continue to build its comedy series lineup with a new series Kevin From Work, said network officials.

The single-camera, half-hour series stars Noah Reid (Backpackers) as Kevin, a young man who professes his love for co-worker Audrey (Paige Spara) in a letter before taking a job oversees, but finds himself having to return to his old job with his feelings for Audrey now exposed.

The series will debut later this summer, according to ABC Family. Kevin From Work joins Baby Daddy, Young & Hungry and Melissa & Joey on ABC Family’s comedy series slate.

“Single camera represents the evolution of our comedy brand,“ said Karey Burke, executive vice president, programming & development for ABC Family in a statement. ”Kevin From Work is an endearingly awkward love story – this time from the guys’ point of view.”

ABC Family has renewed its hit comedy series Baby Daddy for a fifth season, the network announced Friday.

The series, which stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Tahj Mowry, Derek Theler, Melissa Peteran and Chelsea Kane, will end its fourth season March 18, the network said. Baby Daddy ranks as cable TV’s top series on Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. among Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Females 12-34, and is the most watched original cable TV telecast in Women 18-49.

“Comedy is an important part of ABC Family's make-up,” said Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming & Development in a statement. "We’re excited to see where Dan (Berendsen, Creator/Executive Producer) takes these lovable characters and look forward to more great comedy from the cast."

ABC Family has named Kary McHoul senior vice president of programming and development for the network’s unscripted division, the network said Thursday.

McHoul, who most recently served as a consultant for new media company pioneers but is best known for creating Nigel Lythgoe Productions –- the company behind American Idol -– will oversee unscripted development for the millennial-targeted network. McHoul also served an an exeuctive at Fox and E!.

“Kary is simply the best in the business. She has an incredible track record of creating, packaging and launching hit shows across genres and platforms. She knows how to capture an audience, and we are honored that she has chosen to lead our charge into unscripted series programming. I had the pleasure of working with Kary during her tenure at FOX, and am thrilled to be reunited with her here at ABC Family,” said Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development for ABC Family.

ABC Family has greenlit a new drama series Recovery Road from Pilgrim Studios, said network officials.

The series is based on the popular young adult novel by Blake Nelson and focuses on a teenage girl dealing with addiction, said network officials. This announcement comes on the heels of the network's recently announced pick-up of the docu-series My Transparent Life.

The series is the first scripted series greenlit by ABC Family executive vice president of programming and development Karey Burke since she joined the company in October.

“ABC Family is best known for its ground-breaking original series and Recovery Road is right in our wheel-house,” Burke said in a statement. “This series will explore relevant social issues for our audience and shine a light on addiction. It’s a powerful addition to our line up and the strong, authentic characters are sure to resonate with our audience.”   

The pilot for Recovery Road was written by Bert V. Royal (Easy A) and Karen DiConcetto (Ruby & The Rockits), who will also serve as executive producers, alongside Craig Piligian (Abducted: The Carlina White Story) and Beth Miller (Revenge of the Bridesmaids) from Pilgrim Studios and Danielle VonZerneck (Left to Die).

You know Rudolph and Frosty and Elf, and the Grinch and Scrooge and Snoopy, but do you recall … ever seeing so many shows before Christmas? Ever?

With Santa’s arrival nearly a month away, the cable box is stuffed like a stocking with more holiday shows than ever before, and many of them are completely new originals.

Take Hallmark Channel’s Nov. 29 debut of Christmas Under Wraps — one of 12 original holiday films airing on the network in November and December — about a big-city surgeon who falls in love with a handsome small-town local and has to make a life-changing decision that will forever alter her future Christmases.

While some may yawn at the saccharine story line, the show delivered a rare ratings gift for Hallmark: A network-record 5.8 million viewers, besting such highly-touted original cable films as Syfy’s Sharknado 2: The Second One.

IT STARTED ON HALLOWEEN

For Hallmark and several other networks, cable’s holiday-movie season — which began in earnest Halloween night with Hallmark Movies and Mysteries debuting the 2008 original film Our First Christmas, up against slasher movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Saw — is already spreading a lot of ratings cheer.

Nearly 30 original holiday films are slated to air from November through Christmas on cable networks ranging from Hallmark Channel to new entrants like BET — as well as hundreds of classic holiday chestnuts such as Miracle on 34th Street and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation airing on dozens of other networks.

Hallmark’s ratings success with Christmas Under Wraps — second only to the 6 million viewers garnered by Lifetime’s Flowers in the Attic for top audience honors among original cable movies this year — is just the tip of the ratings iceberg.

UP’s Nov. 30 The Tree That Saved Christmas — one of six original movies premiering this season — reached more viewers in the network’s adult and female 25-54 target demos than any show in the network’s 10-year history.

Lifetime has already generated more than 1 million viewers for two of its holiday-related movies, with two more films slated to premiere over the next week. Network executives said viewers yearning for family-friendly programming, as well as a growing desire to escape the negative drumbeat of current events this year, have tuned to holiday films in a big way.

“Probably 90% of these Christmas movies are about family and relationships and lack a lot of the cynicism that’s in other entertainment programming,” Tanya Lopez, senior vice president of original movies for Lifetime, said. “With everything negative that’s going on, people want to go to their happy place, where it feels like comfort food.”

Indeed, the protests over police shootings in Ferguson, Mo., and New York, as well as ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, have had a positive ratings effect on heart-warming, and family-friendly Holiday programming.

“Typically, holiday programming is positive, and I think that when people have their gatherings and they’re looking for something to watch, everyone in the family can watch a holiday program,” D’Angela Proctor, senior vice president of programming and production for TV One, said. The network this past Saturday aired Second Chance Christmas, a touching family-themed movie which the network was hoping to pull in viewers beyond its target 25-54 African-American audience.

No brand is more synonymous with holiday fare as Hallmark, and viewers are flocking to the network and its sister service Hallmark Movies and Mysteries in record-breaking fashion. With more than half of its 12 original movies premiering since Nov. 1, Hallmark is on a record breaking ratings pace, according to Crown Media Family Networks president and CEO Bill Abbott.

Riding the sleigh of Christmas-themed content last month, Hallmark averaged 1.8 million primetime viewers in November, fourth best among all cable networks.

Four of its original Christmas films — Northpole (4 million viewers), The Christmas Shepherd (4.1 million viewers), A Royal Christmas (4.4 million) and Christmas Under Wraps (5.8 million) — rank among the top 10 most watched movies on cable in 2014.

Abbott said both networks have stepped up the production quality of its holiday movies as well as the movies’ star power — Rob Morrow, Alan Thicke, Robert Wagner, Jill St. John and Jane Seymour are a few of the notables appearing in this year’s Hallmark holiday films — which has translated into big ratings gains.

SETTING A FESTIVE MOOD

“We are an oasis, especially given the tough images that people have seen over the past couple of weeks,” Abbott said. “But I believe that we’ve upped the ante on our content, and that is fueling the success that we’re experiencing.”

Other networks are hoping to appeal to diverse viewers and millennials with its holiday fare. BET on Tuesday will debut its first original holiday comedy fi lm, A Very Larry Christmas, starring Tatyana Ali, Loretta Devine and Charles S. Dutton.

Lifetime looked to tap young women along with its core 25-54 female audience with its Nov. 22 En Vogue Christmas. The movie, which stars the members of ’90 s R&B group En Vogue as they reunite to raise money for a struggling family nightclub during the holiday season, drew 1 million viewers in its Nov. 22 premiere, according to the network.

A second Lifetime film, Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever starring the popular Scrooge-like Internet feline, averaged 1.7 million viewers in its Nov. 29 premiere.

Lifetime’s Lopez said with the glut of holiday programming in the marketplace, it’s important to break through the cookie-cutter, romantic holiday drama model in order to reach younger viewers.

“What we were putting out there is a variety of Christmas-themed movies to see if there was a younger audience available,” Lopez said.

ABC Family decided to forgo orignal Christmas movies altogether and instead will look to reach its target millennial audience through holiday-themed episodes of its most popular scripted series as part of its annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming stunt. The Fosters, Switched at Birth, Pretty Little Liars, Chasing Life, Melissa & Joey and Baby Daddy are set to air Christmas episodes this week (Dec. 8-10).

VERY SPECIAL EPISODES

While it’s very common for networks to produce holiday specials for its top shows to generate high ratings, ABC Family executive vice president of strategy and programming Salaam Coleman Smith said the network will also use the specials as a way to promote the upcoming fall season for many of the shows.

“The holiday season is really important to our millennial audience because holidays combine nostalgia with family and festivity,” she said. “We felt there was a real opportunity to create holiday specials for our originals and to create a platform for their January launches.”

With nearly 1,500 hours of holiday fare scheduled this season between the Hallmark Channels, ABC Family, Lifetime and UP alone, Abbott said he does have some concerns about genre overkill.

“There is a limit and I think we’re getting there,” Abbott said. “If you look at the radio model you see not everyone converts to Holiday music 24/7, so certainly there’s a finite amount of programming people want to tune into. But our brand gives us so much of an advantage and allows us to continue to grow.”

Santa, of course, will come down the chimney in many ways during ABC Family's annual stunt, but the "25 Days of Christmas" gambit will feature holiday-themed episodes of four of the network's key original drama series for the first time.

Running from Dec. 1-25, this year's “25 Days of Christmas” will feature the holiday-episode debuts of Pretty Little Liars, The Fosters, Switched at Birth and Chasing Life during the week of Dec. 8. They will join holiday versions of comedies Melissa andJoey and Baby Daddy.

 The holiday cheer continues with the network television premieere of Arthur Christmas, featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie and Jim Broadbent as Santa, on Dec. 6 at 9 p.m.  (ET/PT) and the ABC Family debut of the new special Toy Story That Time Forgot the following night at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, Dec. 21, the network will air a Rankin Bass holiday classics marathon featuring such beloved programs as The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and The Year Without a Santa Clause.

Theatrical tinsel will come in the form of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.), Elf (that night at 8 p.m.) and a The Santa Clause double feature on Dec. 2.

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS day-by-day programming highlights include*:

Monday, December 1

(4:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979)

Pardon-Me-Pete the Groundhog tells the story of how Jack Frost briefly became human and helped a knight win his lady love. (Animated)

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

Fred Astaire narrates this tale of Kris Kringle (voice of Mickey Rooney), a young man who starts a gift factory where he builds toys and gives them to all the local children, earning him the name Santa Claus. (Animated)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

The comic misadventures of the beleaguered Griswold family continue as America’s most dedicated dad (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 Griswold’s fire. (Live Action) 

(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) ELF

Buddy (Will Ferrell) grew up in the North Pole, never realizing he was not a Christmas Elf like all of his friends.  When he finds out the truth, he sets out for New York City to find the father he never knew.  But Buddy isn’t used to the big city, and New York has never seen anyone like Buddy! (Live Action) 

(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, a divorced father whose strained relationship with his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) begins to mend only after a bizarre twist of fate transforms him into the new Santa. (Live Action)

(12:00–1:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN Encore Presentation

(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979) Encore Presentation

Tuesday, December 2 

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Rudolph’s magical glowing nose is not only helpful at Christmas, but also in the heat of summer when Rudolph and his friend, Frosty the Snowman, are called in to rescue a struggling circus at a special July 4th benefit. (Animated)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) ELF

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

THE SANTA CLAUSE DOUBLE FEATURE!

(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE

Holiday magic mixes with comical chaos as Tim Allen reprises his role of Scott Calvin, aka Santa, as he juggles a full house of family and the mischievous Jack Frost (Martin Short) - whose chilling Santa-envy has him trying to take over the “big guy’s” holiday. (Live Action)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) PRANCER

A young girl reawakens the Christmas spirit in her town when she becomes convinced a wounded reindeer is actually Santa’s reindeer Prancer. (Live Action)

Wednesday, December 3

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) PRANCER

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Live Action)

(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

The Academy Award® -winning team of Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for the inspiring tale of a young boy and the magical train he boards to the North Pole. Based on the beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. (Animated) 

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS

The Brady family reunites for Christmas and prays for a holiday miracle when Mike Brady (Robert Reed) is involved in an accident. (Live Action)

Thursday, December 4

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR

Santa sends Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to find Baby New Year, who has run away from Father Time. (Animated)

(6:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

Based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Phyllis McGinley’s children’s book, Mrs. Claus narrates this memorable classic about the time she almost donned her husband’s famous red suit. (Animated)

(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

See Wednesday, December 3 for description. (Animated)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

The classic tale of a miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts who attempt to help him change his life and embrace the holidays. (Animated)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SNOW

In a reinvention of the Santa Claus myth, this original ABC Family holiday movie finds Nick (Tom Cavanagh) reluctantly taking over the family business at the North Pole and, in the process of trying to bring back the spirit of Christmas they lost long ago, finds his true love. (Live Action)

Friday, December 5

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(8:00–10:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Jim Carrey stars as the title character who tries to ruin Christmas for all the Whos of Whoville in this live-action adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss children’s story. (Live Action)

(10:30–11:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(11:30 PM–2:00 AM ET/PT) – 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! (Live Action)

Saturday, December 6

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

All Ethan (Ethan Embry) and his younger sister Hallie (Thora Birch) want for Christmas is for their parents to get back together.  The children concoct a scheme to make their holiday wish come true–and with the help of mice, an ice-cream truck, a few telephone calls and the magic of Santa–their plan might just work!  (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) A DENNIS THE MENACE CHRISTMAS

Dennis tries to spread the Christmas spirit to his grumpy neighbor Mr. Wilson (Robert Wagner) and receives some help from the Angel of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. (Live Action)

(11:00 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS

See Friday, December 5 for description. (Live Action)

(1:30-2:00 PM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND

Everyone’s favorite snowman, Frosty, plans to marry, but not if the evil Jack Frost can help it. Can the children save Frosty from being frozen lifeless and get him to the church on time? (Animated) 

(2:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Live Action)

(4:00-6:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

See Friday, December 5 for description. (Live Action)

(6:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY 3

In the third installment of the beloved film series, Andy is growing up and decides to put away his toys for good, except for Woody (voice of Tom Hanks).  But the gang accidentally ends up among the toys at a daycare center, run by the ruthless teddy bear Lotso (voice of Ned Beatty).  It’s up to Woody to rescue his friends and return them home!  (Animated)

(9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS - Network Television Premiere!

How does Santa deliver all those presents on one night?  With a team of Christmas elves, and one high tech operation, and the entire Claus family’s help!  However, after a present is lost on Christmas Eve, Santa’s youngest son Arthur teams up with an elf for an urgent mission to make sure a little girl receives a special gift.  (Animated)

(11:00 PM–1:00 AM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE Encore Presentation

(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979)

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Animated)

Sunday, December 7

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) A DENNIS THE MENACE CHRISTMAS

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Live Action)

(9:00-9:30 AM ET/PT) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Based on the Christmas song, the “Little Drummer Boy” tells the story of Aaron, a poor boy who cannot afford to buy a present for baby Jesus and instead plays a special song for him on his drums. (Animated)

(9:30 AM–11:30 AM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Animated)

(11:30 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Animated)

(1:30-3:30PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)

Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) was always too busy to spend time with his son Charlie. But when he dies in a car accident, Jack finds himself back to life in the form of a snowman! (Live Action)

(3:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE

See Tuesday, December 2 for description.  (Live Action)

(5:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY 3

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Animated)

(8:00–8:30 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT – ABC FAMILY PREMIERE

During a post-Christmas play date, the “Toy Story” gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It's all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie's room. (Animated)

(8:30–10:30 PM ET/PT) ELF

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(10:30–11:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT Encore Presentation

(11:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

Monday, December 8

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) ELF

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE FOSTERS – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!

As Callie and Jude spend their first Christmas with the Fosters, Callie feels the sting of still being an official foster kid, while Jude’s guilt over having been adopted has him overcompensating.

(9:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) SWITCHED AT BIRTH – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!

As the Kennish and Vasquez families prepare to celebrate Christmas in their traditional ways, Bay and Daphne find themselves living each other’s lives as if the switch never happened.

(10:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Animated)

(12:00–1:00 AM ET/PT) THE FOSTERS – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE Encore Presentation

(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SWITCHED AT BIRTH – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE Encore Presentation

Tuesday, December 9

(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Animated) 

(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

Charles Dickens’s famous story is retold with Mickey as Bob Cratchit, Uncle Scrooge as Ebenezer Scrooge, Goofy as Jacob Marley’s ghost, and Donald as nephew Fred. (Animated)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) THE LITTLE MERMAID

Ariel (Jodi Benson) is a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid enchanted with all things human. Disregarding her father’s order to stay away from the world above the sea, she swims to the surface and, in a raging storm, rescues the prince of her dreams. Determined to be human, she strikes a bargain with the devious sea witch, Ursula (Pat Carroll), and trades her fins and beautiful voice for legs. 

(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) PRETTY LITTLE LIARS – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!

Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer look to clear Spencer’s name and prove a connection between Alison and Bethany, while Alison gets a glimpse at the past, present and future by a ghostly presence.

(9:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) CHASING LIFE - NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!

April’s grandparents (guest stars Ed Asner and Marion Ross) stir up trouble when they pay a visit and the Carvers celebrate an early family Christmas.

(10:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(12:00–1:00 AM ET/PT) PRETTY LITTLE LIARS – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE Encore Presentation

(1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) CHASING LIFE – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE Encore Presentation

Wednesday, December 10

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE LITTLE MERMAID

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(6:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) BABY DADDY

Ben takes drastic measures to get Emma a much sought after toy for her first Christmas.

(7:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) MELISSA & JOEY

Jaime Pressly drops by as Mel’s sister Meredith, who comes home from prison on furlough to celebrate Christmas with the kids and Mel, and seems unruffled by Joe's obvious animosity towards her.

(8:00–8:30 PM ET/PT) MELISSA & JOEY – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!

Mel and Joe are about to celebrate their first Christmas as a couple, which leads to a competition over whose family ornament should take the top spot on the tree.

(8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) BABY DADDY – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE!

Ben’s holiday season is going horribly wrong and he wishes there was no such thing as Christmas. But when Ben’s wish comes true and the holiday vanishes, he also erases Emma’s existence, since he met her mother at a Christmas Eve party. Can Ben get his loved ones to believe in Christmas and bring Emma back before it’s too late?

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(12:00–12:30 AM ET/PT) MELISSA & JOEY – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE Encore Presentation

(12:30–1:00 AM ET/PT) BABY DADDY – NEW HOLIDAY EPISODE Encore Presentation

Thursday, December 11

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)

See Sunday, December 7 for description. (Live Action)

(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1, for description. (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) SCROOGED

A comedic take on Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol.” A television executive (Bill Murray) who exploits the holidays in order to boost ratings, is haunted by three ghosts. (Live Action)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) THE MISTLE-TONES

In the ABC Family original holiday movie, Holly (Tia Mowry) is devastated when she is turned down for a spot in the Christmas singing group The Snow Belles.  So she forms her own group, the Mistle-Tones, and challenges her rival Marci (Tori Spelling) and The Snow Belles to a Christmas Eve sing-off!  (Live Action)

Friday, December 12

(4:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1979)

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Animated)

(5:30–7:30 PM ET/PT) SCROOGED

See Thursday, December 11, for description. (Live Action)

(7:30–9:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994)

A young girl is reluctant to believe in Santa Claus, despite the appearance of a jovial man who claims to be the real thing. (Live Action) 

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS

Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez star in ABC Family’s original holiday tale about a desperate young woman who kidnaps a handsome guy to take home to her parents at Christmas to prove how well she’s doing with her life. (Live Action)

Saturday, December 13

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) UNLIKELY ANGEL

When diva country singer Ruby Diamond (Dolly Parton) is unexpectedly killed in a car accident, she is denied access into heaven because of her selfish ways.  If she reunites the Bartilson family, who have been torn apart ever since Mrs. Bartilson died, by midnight on Christmas Eve, she will become an angel. (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) THE MISTLE-TONES

See Thursday, December 11 for description. (Animated)

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE 3

Eight year old Alex is home sick from school when he must outwit a gang of thieves who are targeting his neighborhood searching for a specific toy car, which Alex has!

(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) PRANCER

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Live Action)

(3:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994)

See Friday, December 12 for description. (Live Action)

(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(10:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Animated)

(11:00–11:30 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(11:30 PM–2:00 AM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS

See Friday, December 5, for description. (Live Action)

Sunday, December 14

(7:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994)

See Friday, December 12 for description. (Live Action)

(9:30–11:30 AM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(11:30 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)

See Sunday, December 7 for description. (Live Action)

(1:30–4:00 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS

See Friday, December 5, for description. (Live Action)

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(6:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

See Friday, December 5 for description. (Live Action)  

(9:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Encore Presentation

Monday, December 15

(4:30–7:00 PM ET/PT) WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

The holder of a Golden Ticket wins a trip to where the world’s most wonderful sweets are made, in the mysterious chocolate factory of Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder). (Live Action)

(7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’SPREP & LANDING

The half-hour holiday special reveals the never-before-told tale of an elite unit of Elves known as Prep & Landing, who are responsible for preparing all of the homes for Santa before the big guy arrives.  Featuring the voices of Dave Foley and Sarah Chalke. (Animated)

(7:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’SPREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS. NICE

Prep & Landing Elves Wayne and Lanny are back to save the day when someone threatens to put the whole world on Santa’s Naughty List. Featuring the voices of Dave Foley, Chris Parnell, and Rob Riggle.  (Animated)

(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

See Wednesday, December 3 for description. (Animated)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BABY

In this ABC Family original holiday movie, Mary Class (Jenny McCarthy) is a highly driven business executive whose great success is acknowledged by everyone but her father, who just happens to be Santa Claus (George Wendt). (Live Action)

Tuesday, December 16

(2:00–4:30 PM ET/PT) WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

See Monday, December 15 for description. (Live Action)

(4:30-6:30 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Animated)

(6:30–8:30 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

See Wednesday, December 3 for description. (Animated)

(8:30–11:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is shocked when his Christmas wish – that his family would leave him alone – comes true when he is inadvertently left behind from a holiday vacation. But now there are two ruthless burglars targeting Kevin’s neighborhood, and it’s up to him to defend his house and catch the thieves! (Live Action) 

(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BABY 2: CHRISTMAS MAYBE

In this ABC Family original movie, Jenny McCarthy reprises her role as Mary Class, Santa’s daughter, who is faced with a decision when her father decides to leave her in charge of the family business.  Also starring Paul Sorvino and Dean McDermott. (Live Action)

Wednesday, December 17

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) HOLIDAZE

In this ABC Family original movie starring Jennie Garth and Cameron Mathison, Melody Gerard is unhappy when her boss sends her to her sleepy hometown to convince the reluctant townspeople to allow them to build a new discount store.  Desperate to get out of town and back to her “real” life, Melody takes a spill and wakes up in an alternate universe where she never left home.

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BABY

See Monday, December 15 for description. (Live Action)

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA BABY 2: CHRISTMAS MAYBE

See Tuesday, December 16 for description. (Live Action)

(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(3:00–4:30 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S TWICE UPON A CHRISTMAS

Mickey and friends return to tell five more tales of holiday spirit and Christmas cheer. (Animated)

(4:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(5:30–6:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Animated)

(6:30–9:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

See Tuesday, December 16, for description.  (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) CHRISTMAS CUPID

In this ABC Family original movie, Christina Milian stars as high powered Hollywood publicist, Sloane, who finds herself haunted by the ghost of her recently departed infamous client, Caitlin (Ashley Benson), in a modern day take on Charles Dickens’ holiday classic story of A Christmas Carol. (Live Action)

Thursday, December 18

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) CHRISTMAS CUPID

See Wednesday, December 17 for description. (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) UNLIKELY ANGEL

See Saturday, December 13 for description. (Live Action)

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS

Starring Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, the ABC Family original holiday movie follows a young woman who re-lives the same first date on Christmas Eve over and over again until she learns to open up her world to new things and stop living in the past. (Live Action)

(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS

See Friday, December 12 for description. (Live Action)

(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) PRANCER

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Live Action)

(5:00–6:30 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

Kelsey Grammer narrates three charming Christmas tales with a Mickey Mouse twist, including the Christmas classic The Gift of the Magi, starring Mickey and Minnie Mouse. (Animated)

(6:30–8:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(8:30–11:00 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS

See Saturday, December 5, for description. (Live Action)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS

See Friday, December 12 for description. (Live Action)

Friday, December 19

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) DESPERATELY SEEKING SANTA

In this ABC Family Original movie, an ambitious marketing executive gets more than she bargained for when she decides to run a “Sexy Santa” contest to replace the typical mall Santa, and the winner turns out to be more than just a handsome face.

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) UNACCOMPANIED MINORS

Wilmer Valderrama stars in this holiday romp set in the Unaccompanied Minors Room, an airport holding cell for dozens of stranded, parent-free kids from all over the country. (Live Action)

(11:00–11:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(11:30 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) PRANCER

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Live Action)

(1:30–3:30 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST (1998)

See Sunday, December 7 for description. (Live Action)

(3:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) FRED CLAUS

See Friday, December 5, for description. (Live Action)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

See Tuesday, December 16, for description.  (Live Action)

(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) ELF

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Live Action)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SCROOGED

See Thursday, December 11, for description. (Live Action)

Saturday, December 20

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) THE DOG WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS VACATION

Christmas chaos ensues in the ABC Family original movie “The Dog Who Saved Christmas,” when the Bannister family adopts a misguided guard dog, Zeus (voiced by Mario Lopez), to try and keep their home safe from neighborhood prowlers. (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS

When Puppy Paws, the feisty son of Santa Paws, forgets the true meaning of the season, it’s up to the Buddies to remind him that Christmas is not about what you get; it’s about what you give. (Live Action)

(11:00 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Animated)

(2:00–4:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

See Tuesday, December 16, for description.  (Live Action)

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1, for description. (Live Action)

(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) ELF

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(8:00–10:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

See Friday, December 5 for description. (Live Action)

(10:30 PM–1:00 AM ET/PT) HOME ALONE Encore Presentation

(1:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) A MISER BROTHERS’ CHRISTMAS

Starring Mickey Rooney, “A Miser Brothers’ Christmas” tells the story of how Santa throws out his back, potentially spoiling Christmas for boys and girls all over the world. (Animated)

Sunday, December 21

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS

See Saturday, December 20, for description.  (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Animated)

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) RICHIE RICH’S CHRISTMAS WISH

Richie Rich (David Gallagher) gets more than he bargained for when Professor Keanbean (Eugene Levy) invents a wishing machine that magically transports Richie to an alternate universe where his nasty cousin Reggie Van Dough rules with an iron fist. (Live Action)

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS MARATHON!

(1:00-1:30 PM ET/PT) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

See Sunday, December 7 for description. (Animated)

(1:30-2:00 PM ET/PT) NESTOR, THE LONG EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY

“Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey” tells the story of the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem. (Animated)

(2:00-3:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(3:00–4:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

See Monday, December 1, for description. (Animated)

(4:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(5:00–7:30 PM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

See Friday, December 5 for description. (Live Action)

(7:30–10:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

See Tuesday, December 16, for description.  (Live Action)

(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

See Wednesday, December 3 for description. (Animated)

Monday, December 22

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) RICHIE RICH’S CHRISTMAS WISH

See Sunday, December 21 for description. (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) A DENNIS THE MENACE CHRISTMAS

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Live Action)

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) UNLIKELY ANGEL

See Saturday, December 13 for description. (Live Action)

(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) SNOWGLOBE

In the ABC Family original movie, a mystical snow globe transports Angela (Christina Milian), who longs for the perfect Christmas away from her boisterous family, into an idyllic Christmas winter wonderland. (Live Action)

(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) THE MISTLE-TONES

See Thursday, December 11 for description. (Live Action)

(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(5:30-6:30 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(6:30–7:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

See Monday, December 1 for description. (Animated)

(7:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOT

See Sunday, December 7 for description. (Animated)

(8:30–10:30 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(10:30-11:00 PM ET/PT) TOY STORY THAT TIME FORGOTEncore Presentation

(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

See Tuesday, December 2 for description. (Animated)

Tuesday, December 23

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

See Thursday, December 18 for description. (Live Action)

(8:30–10:30 AM ET/PT) CHRISTMAS CUPID

See Wednesday, December 17 for description. (Live Action)

(10:30 AM–12:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA BABY

See Monday, December 15 for description. (Live Action)

(12:30–2:30 PM ET/PT) SANTA BABY 2: CHRISTMAS MAYBE

See Tuesday, December 16 for description. (Live Action)

(2:30–4:30 PM ET/PT) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS

See Friday, December 12 for description. (Live Action)

(4:30-5:00 PM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) THE SANTA CLAUSE

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

See Tuesday, December 16, for description.  (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

 See Wednesday, December 3, for description. (Animated)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Animated)

Wednesday, December 24

(7:00-7:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(7:30–9:30 AM ET/PT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

See Saturday, December 6 for description. (Animated)

(11:00 AM-1:00 PM) SNOW

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Live Action)

(1:00 PM-3:00 PM ET/PT) JACK FROST

See Sunday, December 7 for description. (Live Action)

(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) THE POLAR EXPRESS

See Wednesday, December 3 for description. (Animated)

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

See Tuesday, December 16, for description.  (Live Action)

(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1, for description. (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) ELF

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) SCROOGED

See Thursday, December 11, for description. (Live Action)

Thursday, December 25

(7:00–7:30 AM ET/PT) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(7:30–8:00 AM ET/PT) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

See Sunday, December 21 for description. (Animated)

(8:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) NESTOR, THE LONG EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY

See Sunday, December 21 for description. (Animated)

(8:30–9:00 AM ET/PT) ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Actor Joel Grey narrates this animated holiday special adapted from the famous poem by Clement Moore. (Animated)

(9:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

See Tuesday, December 9 for description. (Animated)

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE

See Tuesday, December 16, for description.  (Live Action)

(1:00-2:00 PM ET/PT) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(2:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

See Monday, December 1, for description. (Animated)

(3:00–4:00 PM ET/PT) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

See Thursday, December 4 for description. (Animated)

(4:00–4:30 PM ET/PT)  DISNEY’SPREP & LANDING

See Monday, December 15 for description. (Animated)

(4:30–5:00 PM ET/PT) DISNEY’ SPREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS. NICE

See Monday, December 15 for description. (Animated)

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION

See Monday, December 1, for description. (Live Action)

(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) ELF

See Monday, December 1 for description.  (Live Action)

(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) HOME ALONE Encore Presentation

(12:00 AM–2:00 AM ET/PT) HOME ALONE 3

See Saturday, December 13, for description.  (Live Action)

ABC Family has renewed its original series Chasing Life for a second season, the network said Thursday.

The one-hour drama will return with an all-new Christmas-themed episode Dec. 9 as part of the network’s 25 Days of Christmas programming event. The series stars Italia Ricci as an aspiring journalist who finds out she has cancer.

"Through the laughter and the tears, our audience has connected with the characters and relationships in Chasing Life and we are thrilled to continue telling April’s courageous story,” said Karey Burke, ABC Family executive vice president of programming and development in a statement. Chasing Life has found a home here.”

ABC Family will delve into the procedural drama arena with its new drama Stitchers, the network announced Monday.

Stitchers, written by Jeffrey A. Schechter (Overruled!),  follows a young woman recruited into a covert government agency to be ‘stitched’ into the minds of the recently deceased and using their memories to investigate murders. The pilot was written by Schechter, who will executive produce alongside Jonathan Baruch and Rob Wolken.

“Stitchers is new ground for us and I’m excited to bring procedurals to the network,” said Tom Ascheim, President, ABC Family in a statement. “We think our fans will love the intricate mysteries that Stitchers will solve week to week as much as they love our relationship-driven dramas.”

The network also greenlit a second season of its comedy Young & Hungry (pictured), which stars Emily Osmet. Young & Hungry ranks as basic cable’s #1 telecast in its time period in Adults 18-34, and Women 18-34, as well as other key demos.

In other network news, ABC Family has cancelled its freshman comedy series Mystery Girls, starring Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth. The network also said it would not pick up its tennis-themed pilot  Unstrung, but has not made a decision on pilot Recovery Road.