The term “overdoing it” does not exist in Carol Wendelson’s vocabulary when it comes to Christmas. As this week’s episode of “Great News” amusingly illustrates, she likes to control the holiday, believing the only way to celebrate it is to achieve perfection. She sets the table for Christmas dinner a week in advance, then closes off the dining room with crime-scene tape. She rewraps presents if the paper seams don’t line up. When her daughter,ꦅ Katie (Briga Heelan), has to work on Christmas at her television job, mom brings Christmas to the TV station, showing up with a box of decorations. While doing the office tree, Carol takes a fall, passes out and meets the modern-day equivalent of Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” ghosts — three figures who convince her to dial it back and spend more time with loved ones.
Veteran actress Andrea Martin, 70, who plays Ca🥃rol, spoke to The Post about the similarities between herself and her character and why she’s going to Tina Fey’s place Sunday night.
Can you describe Carol’s approach to the holidays?
She’s very obsessed with perfection. This is really exaggerated. How can anybody be that obsessive? That said, I am running out to buy candy canes. Who am I kidding? My kids are 34 and 36. I really understand where’s she’s coming from. I grew up in Portland, Maine, and🐭 holidays were very important. It was a big event to be inside bꩲy the fire.
Did you have any input on the decorations used in the episode?
No. I did have a say💎 in what Carol was going to wear. I wore a headband with antlers attached in one scene. In another scene, I had little earrings with Santa Clauses on them and pants with snowflakes on them. I’m going to go out later wearing snowman earrings.
What will you be doing on Christmas?
My younger son, ꦕJack, is coming from LA. My son Joe will be in Poland with his wife. My sister will make French toast out of brioche and maybe we’ll see a movie. We have dinner reservations at Cafe Luxembourg. It will be a cozy Christmas.
What do you watch on TV?
On Sunday, I am going ✤to Tina Fey’s home to watch “A Christmas Story Live!” Every year for the la💧st three years we watch the live musicals together. I loved “The Sound of Music Live!” Carrie Underwood did an incredible job as that little nun. She’d never acted in a musical. I thought she was amazing.
And here’s what else to watch this week:
Gunpowder
Monday, 10 p.m., HBO
Series premiere. “Game of Thrones” hunk Kit Harington stars in this three-night series as his ancestor Robert Catesby, a nobleman who tried to blow up the House൩ of Lords during the post-Elizabethan rule of King James I (Derek Riddell), when English Catholics were persecuted. The action starts when a Jesuit priest is executed by the King’s men and Catesby resolves to defend his faith by any means necessary.
Major Crimes
Tuesday, 9 p.m., TNT
Episode 100. The division uncovers a series of sexual assaults against servers from a local restaurant. One theor💎y about the perp gathers steam — until an unexpected twist throws Major Crimes off course and Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) off balance.
Peaky Blinders
Friday, Netflix
Season premiere. The arrival of a mysterious letter on Christmas Eve convinces Thoꦚmas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) that the Peaky Blinders gang is in danger of annihilation and that he should vacate his country house. Adrien Brody and Tom Hardy co-star.
A Christmas Story Live!
Sunday, 7 p.m., Fox
The musical version of the 1983 film that starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker comes to T⭕V, with a talented cast featuring (clockwise from top left) Chris Diamantopoulos, Maya Rudolph, Andy Walken and Tyler Wladis. The music is by the “La La Land” duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
SWAT
Thursday, 10 p.m., CBS
A drug cartel out to kill whoever stole their gold bars forces Hondo (Shemar Moore, below center) and his team to work on Christmas. Meanwhile, Jessica (Stephanie Sigman, below right) draws the attention of the police commission when she approaches its president😼 with her ideas on how to improve the SWAT division.
Kevin Can Wait
Monday, 8 p.m., CBS
While Vanessa (Leah Remini) and the Gable family gatherꦑ around the Christmas tree, Vanessa and Kevin (Kevin James) re♍minisce about their first patrol together. Co-starring Taylor Spreitler.
Young Sheldon
Thursday, 8:30 p.m., CBS
George Sr. (Lance Barber) strikes a dea⛄l with Sheldon (🐬Iain Armitage, below) to tutor Georgie (Montana Jordan) when poor grades threaten to keep him from playing football.
