Parents turn the tables on their teen-age son in Fox holiday comedy

Fed up with feeling they’re only needed for food and money, the parents in a new holiday comedy decide to run away from home.

Fox’s The Day My Parents Ran Away shows the Millers (Matt Frewer and Blair Brown) turning the tables on their teen-age son by fleeing the nest first.

Their errant offspring, Matt (Robert Jayne), is every parent’s nightmare, the definition of the obnoxious teen: lazy, sloppy and irresponsible, caring nothing about school and caring less to discuss things with his folks.

Despite attempts at reconciliation, the Millers leave Matt behind with the keys to the house and a credit card.

Turning the house initially into one big party, Matt slowly learns a lesson about responsibility and love.

“The movie is basically about empowerment,” says Martin Mull, who plays the iconoclastic Norman Roberts, a mysterious “parent finder.”

“The kid has taken that one step too far. We all kind of live under the belief that parents love unconditionally and will stick it out no matter what. But these parents say ‘Basta! We’re out of here and leave the kid in the lurch, which he at first finds delightful and then he realizes he’s contributed to his own demise and that freedom comes full circle.”

“The Day My Parents Ran Away” airs Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox. For ages 8 and up.

MORE FAMILY SHOWS

2 Protect Our Planet Special: Eco-Kids Action! (Sunday 4-4:30 p.m. KCBS) promises “fun-filled” activities and profiles kids who take action to protect our planet. The program, which is part of KCBS’ ongoing environmental campaign, presents an eco-quiz and gives hints to help families be more eco-smart. For ages 6 and up.

After George is promoted, he uncovers sabotage in Jetsons: The Movie (Sunday 7-8:30 p.m. NBC), which leads the family on a space-age adventure. For ages 2 and up.

Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore star in Steven Spielberg’s classic E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial (Sunday 8:30-11 p.m. NBC), about everyone’s favorite alien who ends up stranded on Earth and seeks help from a young boy. For ages 4 and up.

Natalie Cole and Any Williams are among the performers in A Musical Christmas at Walt Disney World (Saturday 9-10 p.m. ABC). For ages 10 and up.

CBS will rebroadcast O Pioneers! (Saturday 9-11 p.m.), a “Hallmark Hall of Fame” presentation starring Jessica Lange. David Strathairn, Heather Graham, Josh Hamilton and Leigh Lawson co-star in this drama based on Willa Cather’s classic 1913 novel about the hardships and rewards of prairie life. For ages 8 and up.

This week’s annual rebroadcast of holiday offerings on the Disney Channel include: A Disney Channel Christmas (Sunday 7-8:30 p.m.); The Bestest Present (Sunday 8:30-9 p.m.); The Boy Who Dreamed Christmas (Monday 12:30-1 p.m.); Christmas Candlelight Ceremony (Monday 10:35 p.m.-11:05 p.m.); Raggedy Ann and Andy: The Great Santa Claus Caper (Tuesday 6:30-7 p.m.); The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (Tuesday 7-8 p.m.); The Year Without Santa Claus (Tuesday 8-9 p.m.); The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold (Wednesday 12-12:30 p.m.); Teddy Bears Christmas (Wednesday 2-2:30 p.m.) and A Disney Christmas Gift (Wednesday 7-8 p.m.). For ages 2 and up.