Next on ‘Accidentally on Purpose’: It Happened One Christmas

It’s time to meet the parents during “It Happened One Christmas,” the fresh December 14 episode of CBS’ Accidentally on Purpose.

Jenna Elfman/Accidentally on Purpose

The parents in question are Billie’s, who she suspects won’t react too well to the news that she’s living with her baby daddy Zack.

So, while Billie tries to hide that critical detail from her parents Lara (Worst Week’s Nancy Leneham) and Edward (Hunter’s Fred Dryer) in order to avoid ruining the Christmas festivities, Abby’s husband Nick tries to win over the sisters’ father by impressing him.

Sneak a quick peek at “It Happened One Christmas” in the following promo.

Accidentally on Purpose airs Mondays on CBS at 8:30pm ET.

Photo: Jenna Elfman (Newscom)

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Next on ‘How I Met Your Mother’: Last Cigarette Ever

Acting veteran and playwright Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray, Torch Song Trilogy) guest stars on the brand-new December 14 episode of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother called “Last Cigarette Ever.”

How I Met Your Mother

But he doesn’t play an actual character. Instead, he provides the voice for what Lily sounds like when she’s smoking, and if you’ve heard Fierstein’s distinctive voice, you know how surreal that’s gonna be.

The episode follows the gang as the members do their darnedest to stop smoking. Meanwhile, Robin finds herself at odds with a new colleague at work, who doesn’t have the best outlook on life.

Check out the promo for “Last Cigarette Ever” below.

How I Met Your Mother airs Mondays on CBS at 8pm ET.

Photo: Jason Segel, Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan, and Neil Patrick Harris (Newscom)

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Californication: ‘Mia Culpa’ Finale Preview

Showtime’s Californication presents its third-season finale “Mia Culpa” on December 13.

David Duchovny/Californication

As the hit comedy’s current run draws to a close, the Moody family prepares to relocate to the Big Apple.

However, before the move takes place, Hank gets more than his fair share of torment when (1) Becca reveals a personal anecdote about her earlier sex life, (2) Mia (Madeline Zima, Heroes) shows up with her shady boyfriend and manager Paul (James Frain, The Tudors), and (3) Mia and Paul’s unexpected publicity stunt forces him to reveal his big secret to Karen.

As for Charlie, Sue Collini offers him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become her agent, which might make him feel a little better about the prospect of breaking up with Marcy forever.

Preview “Mia Culpa” in the following two sneak peeks: Footloose and Fancy Free (Hank and Karen are invited to Mia’s book signing) and My Memoir (Sue Collini asks Charlie to act as her agent).

Californication airs Sundays on Showtime at 10pm ET.

Photo: David Duchovny (Mark Seliger/Showtime)

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Brothers: ‘Christmas’ Photos

The second new December 13 episode of Fox’s Brothers is “Christmas,” which airs at 7:30pm ET.

Michael Strahan, Daryl ''Chill'' Mitchell/Brothers 1.11

The holiday-themed episode features returning guest stars Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris) as Adele’s sister Cynthia, Lenny Clarke (Rescue Me) as Cynthia’s husband Lenny, and Steve Schirripa (The Sopranos) as Mike’s agent Louie. Woot!

Adele and Coach play relationship therapists when Lenny arrives out of the blue after Cynthia takes a solo trip to Mexico. And if trying to help her sister and brother-in-law reconcile isn’t enough trouble for Adele, she also has to deal with her holiday plans possibly getting ruined when Mike and Chill have to work.

Preview “Christmas” in the following photos.

Lenny Clarke/Brothers 1.11
Lenny Clarke

Lenny Clarke, CCH Pounder, Carl Weathers/Brothers 1.11
Lenny Clarke, CCH Pounder, and Carl Weathers

CCH Pounder, Carl Weathers/Brothers 1.11
CCH Pounder and Carl Weathers

Steve Schirripa, Michael Strahan, Daryl ''Chill'' Mitchell/Brothers 1.11
Steve Schirripa, Michael Strahan, and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell

Brothers airs Sundays on Fox at 7pm ET.

Photos: Ray Mickshaw/FOX (top) and Joel Warren/FOX

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Brothers: ‘Snoop Returns’ Photos

Hip-hop recording artist Snoop Dogg returns to reprise his role as shady Cousin Kenny on “Snoop Returns,” the first of two new back-to-back December 13 episodes of the Fox sitcom Brothers.

Michael Strahan, Snoop Dogg, Carl Weathers/Brothers 1.10

Also making a cameo appearance as himself is football commentator and two-time Super Bowl winner Jimmy Johnson, former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Cousin Kenny helps Coach’s brother Maurice (Fox claims the actor is former star football player Fred Williamson, but preview photos show Antonio Fargas of Everybody Hates Chris and Starsky and Hutch) get released from jail, which prompts concern from Adele when the ex-convict arrives to stay with them. To her surprise, however, Maurice turns out to be a changed person.

Elsewhere, Johnson stops by the Trainor’s restaurant to discuss football, and Mike tries to hook up with a new waitress (Trauma’s Ryan Michelle Bathe) at the establishment.

Preview “Snoop Returns” in the photos below. Looks like series regular Daryl “Chill” Mitchell took a break from the camera since he’s only in the last pic.

CCH Pounder, Carl Weathers, Snoop Dogg/Brothers 1.10
CCH Pounder, Carl Weathers, and Snoop Dogg

CCH Pounder, Carl Weathers/Brothers 1.10
CCH Pounder and Carl Weathers

Antonio Fargas, Carl Weathers/Brothers 1.10
Antonio Fargas and Carl Weathers

Carl Weathers, Snoop Dogg, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan, Daryl ''Chill'' Mitchell/Brothers 1.10
Carl Weathers, Snoop Dogg, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan, and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell

Brothers airs Sundays on Fox at 7pm ET.

Photos: Ray Mickshaw//FOX

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So Long, ‘Flight of the Conchords’

The bad news for fans of the quirky HBO comedy Flight of the Conchords dropped on December 10. That’s when the series’ creators published a post on their website announcing the end of the show after just two seasons.

Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie/Flight of the Conchords

The series hasn’t been canceled by its home network HBO, however. Instead, the cancellation comes courtesy of the show’s New Zealand-based co-creators and stars Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie and co-creator and director James Bobin.

Said the three in a joint statement: “[W]e’ve noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won’t be returning for a 3rd season. We’re very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended. We’d like to thank everyone who helped make the show and also everyone who watched it. While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue to exist.”

The announcement doesn’t reveal exactly why Clement, McKenzie, and Bobin have decided to walk away from a well-received albeit cult show, but The Hollywood Reporter attributes the premature goodbye to the fact that all three still live in New Zealand, which makes filming a series for American television more difficult.

Not that many television actors and showrunners have the luxury of calling it quits on their own terms, and not that many would end their own show even if they could. So, I guess you could call this a brave choice. Fans will surely understand, and as the guys said themselves, they’ll still exist in real life.

Photos: Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (Newscom)

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The League: ‘The Shiva Bowl’ Finale Preview

FX’s newest original comedy The League closes its six-episode rookie season on December 10 with the finale “The Shiva Bowl.”

Jon Lajoie, Mark Duplass, Stephen Rannazzisi, Paul Scheer, Nick Kroll/The League

While Taco impresses by getting a “real” job…

His pals attempt to hide the title Shiva Bowl trophy from its rightful owner, a former high school classmate.

A brief sneak peek for the episode follows. And, no, FX hasn’t announced a second-season renewal for the comedy yet, so stay tuned.

I stand corrected. FX announced late today that The League will return next summer with a second season of 13 episodes. Good for the cast and crew and fans!

The League airs Thursdays on FX at approximately 10:30pm ET.

Photo: Jon Lajoie, Mark Duplass, Stephen Rannazzisi, Paul Scheer, and Nick Kroll (F. Scott Shafer/FX)

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It’s Always Sunny: ‘The Gang Reignites the Rivalry’ Finale Preview

It’s a fifth-season finale for the FX sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia when it presents the new December 10 episode “The Gang Reignites the Rivalry.”

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Scrooge types will be especially happy to hear that the finale doesn’t have a Christmas theme. Ah, sweet relief.

Instead, the episode focuses on the Paddy’s Pub gang’s immense happiness when they learn a ten-year ban has been lifted, enabling them to compete in the local flip cup tournament Flipadelphia once again.

The only problem is that they now have to get their former rivals — who’ve moved on and grown up — pissed off enough to show up and take them on.

Sneak a peek at the episode in the following short preview.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs Thursdays on FX at 10pm ET.

Photo: FX

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30 Rock: ‘Secret Santa’ Preview

I promise this isn’t an error. The fresh December 10 Christmas episode of 30 Rock has the same exact title as the Office episode that precedes it: “Secret Santa.” Don’t ask me why.

30 Rock

Film actress Julianne Moore (Freedomland, Hannibal, Boogie Nights) guest stars on this version as the long-ago high school object of Jack’s affections.

Jack has the unexpected chance to hook up with her again when he discovers her profile while wetting his feet on an online social networking website.

Meanwhile, Liz attempts to find the ideal gift for hard-to-please Jack, Kenneth struggles with resistance from his colleagues when he tries to arrange a Secret Santa gift exchange, and Jenna is dismayed to learn her Christmas solo may not be so solo this year.

Take a look at the lone sneak peek for the episode below, which features Liz and Jack.

30 Rock airs Thursdays on NBC at 9:30pm ET.

Photo: Mary Ellen Mathews/NBC

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The Office: ‘Secret Santa’ Preview

Uh-oh! Office drone Oscar is crushing on somebody during The Office’s brand-new December 10 episode “Secret Santa.”

The Office

While we wait patiently to learn who that special someone is, he and his colleagues prepare for the annual office Christmas party.

As expected, tension eventually develops when Michael gets angry about Jim letting Phyllis play Santa. Also, Jim and Dwight band together to get their officemates in the mood for the holidays in the face of Dunder Mifflin’s difficulties.

NBC has piled on the previews again, giving fans five sneak peeks to sample. Check ‘em all out below.

The Office airs Thursdays on NBC at 9pm ET.

Photo: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

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