WGN AMERICA GETS INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH VERY MERRY MARATHONS AND YULETIDE CLASSICS

Programming Highlights Include "Blue Bloods," "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "'How I Met Your Mother' - Slapsgiving'" Marathons; "Bad Santa," "The Search for Santa Paws" and "The Muppet Christmas Carol"

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20, 2014 - Get into the holiday spirit with WGN America's programming slate featuring yuletide classics and fan favorites, including "Bad Santa," "The Family Man," "The Search for Santa Paws" and "The Muppet Christmas Carol," as well as very merry marathons of popular series, including "Blue Bloods" and "How I Met Your Mother."

Following is WGN America's 2014 holiday programming schedule:

Thursday, November 27, 2014

· McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade (9:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. CT)

Chicago's 81st annual Thanksgiving parade kicks off the 2014 holiday season on historic State Street with giant balloons, spirited marching bands, high-stepping equestrians, fabulous floats, performance groups, and celebrities including Grand Marshal Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Colin Egglesfield ("Rizzoli & Isles", "The Client List"), U.S. Little League National Champions Jackie Robinson West, Karolyn Grimes ("It's a Wonderful Life") and Yuri Sardarov ("Chicago Fire"). WGN's Mark Suppelsa and Micah Materre host coverage with Amy Rutledge.

· "Blue Bloods" Thanksgiving Marathon (12:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. CT)

Invite the Reagan family over to feast on a seven-episode "Blue Bloods" Thanksgiving Marathon, kicking off with "Thanksgiving" -- When a young woman commits suicide, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Jackie (Jennifer Esposito) suspect foul play. Meanwhile, Frank (Tom Selleck) and Mayor Poole (David Ramsey) butt heads over a threat to the city.

· "America's Funniest Home Videos" Thanksgiving Marathon (7:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. CT)

The whole family can dig in when WGN America serves six hours of "America's Funniest Home Videos" in a Thanksgiving Marathon.

Friday, November 28, 2014

· "How I Met Your Mother 'Slapsgiving'" Marathon (8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT)

Thanksgiving may be over, but we can still be grateful for the extra servings of laughter from the gang with the "How I Met Your Mother 'Slapsgiving'" Marathon, featuring seven "Slap Bet"-dedicated episodes.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

· "Bad Santa" (8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT)

You'd better watch out -- in one of the holiday season's darkest and most beloved comedies, Santa Claus Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his Little Helper, Marcus (Tony Cox), are coming to town - as costumed criminals who team up every year to use their disguises to rob mall stores blind. The plan seems to go off without a hitch - until they run into a wisecracking store detective (Bernie Mac) and a kid who's convinced Willie is the real Santa Claus. Sunday, December 14, 2014

· "Bad Santa" (10:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. CT) Sunday, December 21, 2014

· "The Search for Santa Paws" (3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT) When Santa loses his memory, it's up to his new best friend, talking pup Paws, to save St. Nick and show the world what Christmas is all about in this Disney holiday favorite.

· "Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups" (5:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. CT)

The mischievous talking Santa Pups stow away on Mrs. Claus' sleigh to visit the children of Pineville, but something goes terribly wrong - the Christmas spirit begins to disappear. Now the Santa Pups and Mrs. Claus must race to save Christmas around the world in this magical, heart-warming tale brimming with hope and holiday cheer.

· "Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" (7:05 p.m. ET / 6:05 p.m. CT)

Christmas cheer turns into holiday chaos when Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), aka Santa, invites his in-laws for a visit and must simultaneously contend with Jack Frost's (Martin Short) scheme to take over the North Pole. Scott, his family and Head Elf Curtis must join forces to foil the nefarious plot.

· "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (9:10 p.m. ET / 8:10 p.m. CT)

"The Muppet Christmas Carol" is sure to put you in a holiday spirit that will stay with you long after the season ends. Enjoy the incredible spectacle of Kermit the Frog as Bob Crachit, Miss Piggy as Emily Crachit and Michael Caine as Scrooge.

Monday, December 22, 2014

· "How I Met Your Mother 'Christmas'" Marathon (8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT)

'Tis the season for Ted, Barney and the gang with WGN America's six-hour "'How I Met Your Mother' Christmas" Marathon.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

· "America's Funniest Home Videos" (9:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. CT)

Ring in Christmas Eve with a morning full of "America's Funniest Home Videos."

· "The Search for Santa Paws" (2:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. CT)

· "Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups" (4:05 p.m. ET / 3:05 p.m. CT)

· "The Muppet Christmas" (6:10 p.m. ET / 5:10 p.m. CT)

· "Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" (8:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. CT)

· "The Family Man" (10:20 p.m. ET / 9:20 p.m. CT)

Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) is a single, high-powered Wall Street executive whose life is turned upside down one Christmas Eve when he stumbles into a life-or-death situation and wakes up in an alternate suburban universe, married to Kate (Téa Leoni), the college sweetheart he forfeited for his career. When Jack makes the horrifying discovery that his former life no longer exists, he finds himself at a crossroad where he must choose between his career and the woman he loves.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

· "America's Funniest Home Videos" Christmas Marathon (9:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. CT)

Spread the holiday cheer with an all-day "America's Funniest Home Videos" Christmas Marathon.

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WGN America and Tribune Studios

WGN America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company, is nationally distributed in 72 million homes via cable, satellite and telco, with entertainment programming including the original, scripted series "Salem," "Manhattan" and "Outsiders," along with first-run syndicated series, blockbuster movies and live sports. Through Tribune Studios, the creative development arm of Tribune Media, original content is produced for WGN America and Tribune local stations nationwide. Follow the network on Twitter @wgnamerica. For additional information, please visit www.wgnamerica.com.