From standalone holiday-themed episodes of Eureka, Warehouse 13 and – for the first time – Haven, to a Syfy original Saturday night movie, to its second annual Countdown to Christmas and a host of new and returning winter series, Syfy is staking claim to the season.
Details on a wealth of good stuff follow the jump.
Highlights of Syfy’s Countdown to Christmas Week
For the second straight Christmas season, Syfy will present special, stand-alone holiday episodes of its hit scripted series Eureka, Warehouse 13 — and for the first time — Haven.
The episodes will premiere Tuesday, December 6 from 8-11PM (Eureka at 8PM, Warehouse 13 at 9PM and Haven at 10PM) during Syfy’s second annual Countdown to Christmas Week.
In Eureka’s “Do You See What I See,” the quaint town of geniuses is transformed into animated versions of themselves. Sheriff Carter (Colin Ferguson) and Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) are secretly planning the perfect holiday surprise for their kids. But a mysterious kaleidoscopic wave of color crashes over Eureka, leaving the entire town and its inhabitants animated. Leading production and entertainment company Curious Pictures will produce the animation featured in the episode, which will be broken up into different styles including Anime, claymation, animation inspired by the Looney Tunes cartoons and modern cg. The episode features a stellar line up of guest stars lending their voices to a variety of characters, including Emmy Award-winner Jim Parsons, Edward James Olmos, Chris Parnell and Matt Frewer.
In Warehouse 13’s “The Greatest Gift,” Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) is hit in the head by an artifact and wakes up to a life where he was never born. Pete must hunt down and persuade the Warehouse team (none of whom recognize him) to go on this life or death mission with him to vanquish a long dead nemesis from the past to get everyone’s lives back. This episode takes a page from It’s a Wonderful Life and The Greatest Gift, which is the short story on which the iconic movie was based. As he did last year, showrunner Jack Kenny directed the holiday episode.
In Haven’s “Silent Night,” Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) begins seeing Christmas decorations mysteriously popping up all over Haven in the middle of July yet nobody else, including Nathan (Lucas Bryant), seem to feel anything is unusual. Yet, when Haven residents start disappearing into thin air, Audrey convinces Nathan they must find a way to stop it.
Neverland — Sunday, December 4 at 9PM & Monday, December 5 at 9PM (ET/PT) – This original prequel to author J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan sweeps in time from the turbulent seas of the pirates of the Caribbean and the back alleys of Dickensian London to a world of pure imagination. The film stars Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man) as James Hook, Oscar nominee Keira Knightley as the voice of Tinker Bell, Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Captain Elizabeth Bonny, Oscar nominee Bob Hoskins as Smee (who previously played the character in Steven Spielberg’s feature Hook), Raoul Trujillo (Tin Man) and Charlie Rowe (Pirate Radio) as one of literature’s most cherished characters, Peter Pan. Neverland is produced by Dublin-based Parallel Films on behalf of MNG Films, in association with Syfy and Sky Movies HD, and will be distributed by RHI Entertainment.
Ghost Hunters – Wednesday, December 7 at 9PM – Jason and Grant hunt for the ghosts of Christmas past in this special holiday edition.
Saturday Original Movie Snowmageddon – Saturday, December 10 at 9PM – Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) David Cubitt (Medium) and Magda Apanowicz (Caprica) star in the story about a mystical snow globe that makes very bad things happen in the real world when it is shaken.
Highlights of Syfy’s 2012 Winter Programming Schedule (All ET/PT)
JANUARY
MERLIN (SEASON FOUR PREMIERE)
Friday, January 6 at 10PM — The fourth season finds Camelot on the brink of a Golden Age of magic, mystery and action-adventure. With Morgana now a dangerous outcast, Merlin must use all his powers to ensure Arthur fulfills his destiny as the Once and Future King. Colin Morgan returns as Merlin alongside Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Angel Coulby as Gwen and Katie McGrath as Morgana. Anthony Head reprises his role as King Uther and Richard Wilson as Gaius.
GHOST HUNTERS (SEASON EIGHT PREMIERE)
Wednesday, January 11 at 9PM — On Wednesday nights at 9PM for over seven years, Ghost Hunters has set the standard for paranormal series, offering viewers spine-tingling cases from the files of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) – led by Rhode Island plumbers Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson.
FACE OFF (SEASON TWO PREMIERE)
Wednesday, January 11 at 10PM – The hit reality-competition series set in the magical world of top-notch special effects and make-up artistry returns for a second season featuring 14 aspiring special effects make-up artists competing for their shot at make-up-effects stardom and the chance to breakout in the competitive field. This season, contestants will re-imagine iconic characters from the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” create a waterproof sea creature, bring to life terrifying phobias and craft an elaborate body painting challenge that must incorporate two live models.
Judging the series is multiple Academy Award-winner Ve Neill, famed special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick and director and creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos. McKenzie Westmore hosts the series. The season also contains a number of guest appearances including Vivica Fox, musical artist Asher Roth and noted horror makeup artist Tom Savini.
BEING HUMAN (SEASON TWO PREMIERE)
Monday, January 16 at 9PM – Being human: nobody ever said it was easy. But when you’re a ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf, like the three twenty-something roommates of Being Human, it may be completely impossible. The second season of Syfy‘s hit drama picks up where the explosive season finale left off. Aidan tries to steer a leaderless Boston while resisting his deadlier vampire instincts, as he finds himself tempted and tormented by a figure from his past. Sally must face the consequences of missing her door, while figuring out how to navigate life on earth as a ghost. Werewolf Josh searches for a cure for his condition while struggling to maintain his relationship with Nora and, like the rest of his roommates, trying to build a future for himself beyond simply being a monster.
LOST GIRL (NEW SERIES)
Monday, January 16 at 10PM — Lost Girl stars supernatural seductress Bo (played by Anna Silk/The Ghost Whisperer), a Succubus (a powerful female entity in folklore) who feeds off sexual energy. Raised by human parents, Bo had no reason to believe she was anything other than the girl next door — until she “drained” her first boyfriend to death. Bo discovers she is one of the Fae, creatures of legend and folklore, who pass as humans while feeding off them in secret. Bo decides to take the middle path between humans and the Fae while embarking on a personal mission to unlock the secrets of her origin, protecting humans along the way. Zoie Lambert co-stars as “Lauren” and Emmanuelle Vaugier guest stars as “The Morrigan,” the leader of the Dark Fae.
FEBRUARY
GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL (SEASON 2.5 PREMIERE)
Tuesday, February 22 at 9PM — Ghost Hunters International features a squad of paranormal investigators who use their principles of scientific techniques to explore some of the most legendary haunted spots around the world. Each week the team travels to the far corners of the globe, searching for answers to bizarre supernatural mysteries. The team of investigators is led by Barry FitzGerald and Kris Williams and also stars Joe Chin, Susan Slaughter, Paul Bradford and Scott Tepperman.
MARCH
MONSTER MAN (NEW SERIES)
March — Monster Man goes behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most respected monster prop building workshops. For more than thirty years, when studios have wanted a bizarre creature or out-of-this world alien, they’ve turned to Cleve Hall and his very unique family business. Only the horrifying monsters they build match the craziness of this extremely talented family. Monster Man stars Cleve Hall, his daughters Constance and Elora Hall, his ex-wife, Sonja Maddox-Hall, best friends, Roy Knyrim and Johnny Saiko, as well as office manager, Cindy Miller.