Emma’s Must-Sees for December 2025

In elementary school I had a project where each student was assigned a different winter holiday to research and present about. I am reminded of this project every December as people come together to observe these important celebrations. Our December schedule highlights some of these holidays, including A Celebration of Hanukkah, the Call the Midwife Holiday Special, and Karamu: Feast for the Seventh Day. In the seasonal spirit of community I also recommend two locally relevant programs, Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink and Judging Juries, which both highlight groups of people coming together to address social issues.

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This is probably one of the most relevant, timely documentaries we’ve ever aired. Monterey journalist Julie Reynolds investigates how hedge fund Alden Global Capital is gutting local newspapers, including shuttering the Oakland Tribune, and her findings spark rebellions in newsrooms across the country as they try to save community reporting and protect free speech. It’s inspiring to watch newsrooms come together and find innovative ways to continue producing local journalism with limited resources but tons of passion and knowhow. It reminds me of the often referenced Mr. Rogers’ advice to “look for the helpers” during times of crisis. Local news might be facing grave challenges, but there are people across the country working to keep it alive.

Airs on KQED 9 on Tuesday December 2 at 9:30pm. Streaming for free on the PBS App now.

I didn’t grow up observing Hanukkah, I mostly heard about the holiday second hand through friends and neighbors sharing their celebrations. So I learned a lot from this new program, A Celebration of Hanukkah. The documentary explores everything about the holiday, from its food, history and traditions to how it’s celebrated today. I especially loved the interviews with children about their experiences with Hanukkah. I laughed out loud when a little kid mixed up sour cream with mayonnaise when describing what he ate with latkes. This program is as informative as it is entertaining, and I recommend watching on an empty stomach. I think it’s physically impossible to see the footage of donuts and latkes frying and not need to eat one immediately.

Airs on KQED PLUS on Sunday December 7 and KQED 9 on Monday December 15 at 9pm with other encores throughout the month. Streaming on the PBS App with KQED Passport December 1.

Mary Poppins was one of my favorite films growing up, and I’m sure I’m not alone! So for me Dick Van Dyke will always be Bert, dancing with penguins and singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” but of course he has had numerous iconic roles, including Bye Bye Birdie and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The beloved actor will be celebrating his 100th birthday December 13, and this new American Masters program is the perfect way to honor his legacy. With a career spanning eight decades, Dick Van Dyke’s story is also the story of showbiz across the years. The film has never-before-seen footage, home movies, and interviews with modern comedic stars who were inspired by his work. It’s full of music, joy, and dance — just like Dick Van Dyke himself.

Airs on KQED 9 on Friday December 12 at 9pm and PLUS on Thursday December 18 at 7pm, as well as additional daytime encores. Streaming for free on the PBS App starting December 12.

The aptly named Happiness has been one of my favorite new shows. I can’t watch it without having a huge smile on my face the whole time. A musical-comedy series from New Zealand, Happiness follows disgraced Broadway director Charlie as he’s forced to return to his hometown and help his mother Gaye, at the local community theater. Fans of Under the Vines will see some familiar faces, with Rebecca Gibney and Harry McNaughton starring as Gaye and Charlie. I love any story about a band of misfits working together to put on a show, so this program was a natural fit for me. The holiday season can be hectic, but this show is the perfect chance to settle down, relax and laugh with your family.

Airs on KQED 9 starting on Sunday December 14 at 8pm, encore on PLUS starting Wednesday December 17 at 10:30pm. Binge the whole season on the PBS App with KQED Passport December 14.

I am pretty squeamish about labor scenes in television or movies, so I’ll admit it took me a while to get on board the Call the Midwife train. But the lovely characters and warm heart of the show won me over in the end and now the Call the Midwife Holiday Special has become one of my favorite traditions. This year, the senior members of Nonnatus House travel to Hong Kong on a mercy mission while the younger midwives must cope in London alone. All the while, Sister Julienne decides to embrace change and see what love can do. I might still watch any birth scene with my eyes closed but nothing puts me in a better mood than catching up with these nuns.

Airs on KQED 9 on Thursday December 25 at 8pm with an encore at 10pm. Or stream for free on the PBS App the same night.

My dream has always been to be a guest on Finding Your Roots — if only to learn if I’m secretly related to any past celebrity guests! I really see Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as a critical pillar of the public media world. It’s the 25th anniversary of the first PBS documentary produced by Professor Gates and to celebrate is this new retrospective that explores his work over the past five years as well as the historic events and reckonings on racial injustice that took place across the nation. I have loved so many of Professor Gates’ programs: from tuning in every week to Finding Your Roots or really delving into American history with Making Black America: Through the Grapevine and this show celebrates all his fantastic work throughout the years.

Airs on KQED 9 on Friday December 26 at 8pm. Coming soon to the PBS App. 

A local program that exposes how racial discrimination continues to shape jury selection. A San Francisco initiative, Be the Jury, demonstrated the power of change by raising juror compensation.

Airs on KQED 9 on Tuesday December 2 at 9pm.

Based on real-life stories of doctors in the Australian outback. In the new season, Pete has hidden himself away in Adelaide a year after his suspension.

Airs on KQED 9 on Thursday December 4 at 8pm. Binge the whole season early on the PBS App with KQED Passport starting November 27.

Filmed live at New York’s Town Hall and featuring the American Pops Orchestra, this star-studded concert celebrates the women who have defined Broadway and those shaping its future.

Airs on PLUS on Thursday December 11 at 9pm. Coming soon to the PBS App.

I’m so lucky to share a name with this iconic Jane Austen heroine, and I love all interpretations of the novel. This 1996 adaptation starring Gwyneth Paltrow is no exception.

Airs on KQED 9 on Saturday December 13 at 8pm.

Enjoy Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic set in Edwardian-era London. Clara embarks on a fantastical adventure with her enchanted nutcracker featuring over 100 dancers and a magical, dreamlike realm.

Airs on KQED 9 on Tuesday December 16 at 9pm with encores throughout the month. Or stream for free on the PBS App the same night.

Explore the tradition of Kwanzaa and the feast that concludes the annual celebration. Host Sira Williams goes through the history of the holiday and the culinary traditions of West Africa.

Airs on KQED 9 on Friday December 26 at 7:30pm. Or stream for free on the PBS app now.

Looking for more programs to watch? Find our past recommendations:

November 2025
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September 2025
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