Whether itâs timeless classics, new specials or movies with a holiday theme, thereâs plenty to watch on television to get you into the yuletide cheer between today and Dec. 25. More programming will likely be added at a later date, and times are subject to change, so check the daily TV grids in the Portland Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegramâs weekly On Screen TV book for updates.
MONDAY, Nov. 29, 2010
2 a.m. Hallmark: âSilent Nightâ (2002) Stars Linda Hamilton, Matthew Harbour. On Christmas Eve, a woman and her son welcome American and German soldiers into their cottage during World War II.
4 a.m. Hallmark: âOne Magic Christmasâ (1985) Stars Mary Steenburgen, Harry Dean Stanton. A guardian angel helps a poor, weary woman whose family faces eviction at the holidays.
6 a.m. Hallmark: âA Christmas Visitorâ (2002) Stars William Devane, Meredith Baxter. Grieving over a sonâs death in the Gulf War, a family meets a stranger who rekindles the holiday spirit. Airs again at midnight.
10:45 a.m. Encore: âTrapped in Paradiseâ (1994) Stars Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz. Overly kind townspeople prevent bank robbers from escaping.
5 p.m. FX: âDeck the Hallsâ (2006) Stars Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick. Neighbors in a New England town go to war after one adorns his house with enough Christmas lights to make it visible from space.
7 p.m. ABC Family: âThe Dog Who Saved Christmasâ (2009) Stars Dean Cain, Gary Valentine. A crafty canine jumps to the rescue when two bumbling thieves target his masterâs home during the holidays.
7 p.m. Lifetime: âComfort and Joyâ (2003) Stars Nancy McKeon, Dixie Carter. Knocked unconscious in a car accident, a woman awakens to learn she is married and has two children.
8 p.m. AMC: âScroogedâ (1988) Stars Bill Murray, Karen Allen. A ruthless TV-network chief meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come. Airs again at 10 p.m.
8 p.m. Hallmark: âChristmas in Canaanâ (2009) Stars Billy Ray Cyrus, Zak Ludwig. A white boy and a black schoolmate become friends when their respective father and grandmother force them to spend time together.
9 p.m. ABC Family: âThe Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacationâ (2010) Stars the voices of Paris Hilton, Mario Lopez. A French poodle must save the day when inept thieves strike during the holidays.
9:30 p.m. Channel 8-WMTW: âCMA Country Christmasâ (2010) Country music stars share their favorite holiday traditions and memories.
9:30 p.m. Hallmark: âThe Christmas Choirâ (2008) Stars Jason Gedrick, Rhea Perlman. A homeless man inspires a workaholic accountant to start a choir at a shelter.
TUESDAY
2 a.m. Hallmark: âNaughty or Niceâ (2004) Stars George Lopez, Lisa Vidal. A Chicago shock jockâs new persona has an impact on a young listener with a life-threatening illness.
4 a.m. Hallmark: âThe Christmas Choirâ (2008) Stars Jason Gedrick, Rhea Perlman. A homeless man inspires a workaholic accountant to start a choir at a shelter.
6 a.m. Hallmark: âThe Night They Saved Christmasâ (1984) Stars Jaclyn Smith, Art Carney. An elf warns an Arctic oil-station family that Christmas Eve drilling could destroy Santaâs toy factory.
6 a.m. HBO: âJingle All the Wayâ (1996) Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad. A crazed postman, a tough policeman and a shady Santa impede a workaholic seeking a coveted toy for his son.
7:30 a.m. HBO: âHome Aloneâ (1990) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci. Accidentally left by his Paris-bound family, an 8-year-old makes mincemeat of two burglars in the house.
8 a.m. Hallmark: âEbbieâ (1995) Stars Susan Lucci, Jeffrey DeMunn. The ghosts of Christmases past, present and future visit a heartless CEO in a version of Dickensâ âA Christmas Carol.â Airs again at 6 p.m.
4 p.m. Hallmark: âMs. Scroogeâ (1997) Stars Cicely Tyson, Katherine Helmond. A contemporary version of Dickensâ âA Christmas Carolâ features a female Ebenita Scrooge.
8 p.m. Channel 6-WCSH: âChristmas in Rockefeller Centerâ (2010) The 78th annual tree-lighting ceremony takes place in New York; Natalie Morales and Al Roker host. Musical guests include Mariah Carey, Susan Boyle, Sheryl Crow and Josh Groban.
8 p.m. Channel 8-WMTW: âDr. Seussâ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!â (1966) Boris Karloff narrates the classic animated tale.
8 p.m. Channel 13-WGME: âRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeerâ (1964) Burl Ives narrates this classic animated tale about Santaâs sleigh guide.
8 p.m. Disney: âThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clauseâ (2006) Stars Tim Allen, Martin Short. Scott Calvin, aka Santa, contends with visiting in-laws and a scheme by mischievous Jack Frost to freeze him out of Christmas.
8 p.m. AMC: âScroogedâ (1988) Stars Bill Murray, Karen Allen. A ruthless TV-network chief meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come. Airs again at 10 p.m.
8 p.m. Hallmark: âAll I Want for Christmasâ (2007) Stars Gail OâGrady, Robert Mailhouse. A boy asks contest organizers to find a new husband for his widowed mother.
8 p.m. History: âThe Real Story of Christmasâ (2010) Early tales of Santa Claus and Ebenezer Scrooge join accounts of Christmas traditions.
8:30 p.m. Channel 8-WMTW: âShrek the Hallsâ (2007) The ogreâs holiday plans go awry when Donkey and the gang join festivities.
10 p.m. Hallmark: âWhat I Did for Loveâ (2006) Stars Jeremy London, Dorie Barton. An urban lawyer faces his toughest jury yet when he goes home for Christmas with his country-girl fiancee to meet her parents.
Midnight Hallmark: âA Season for Miraclesâ (1999) Stars Carla Gugino, David Conrad. A woman tries to save her sisterâs children from foster care by taking them to a small town where she is mistaken for a missing heiress.
WEDNESDAY
12:01 a.m. History: âThe Real Story of Christmasâ â Early tales of Santa Claus and Ebenezer Scrooge join accounts of Christmas traditions.
2 a.m. Hallmark: âThe Christmas Giftâ (1986) Stars John Denver, Jane Kaczmarek. An architect and his daughter visit a Colorado town where everyone believes in Santa Claus.
4 a.m. Hallmark: âErnest Saves Christmasâ (1988) Stars Jim Varney, Douglas Seale. Nitwit Ernest bails out Santa Claus, who is in Florida on a deadline to recruit a new Santa.
4:30 a.m. Channel 11-WENH: âOrla Fallonâs Celtic Christmasâ (2010) The singer and harpist performs with special guests. Airs again at 10 p.m.
6 a.m. Hallmark: âMs. Scroogeâ (1997) Stars Cicely Tyson, Katherine Helmond. A contemporary version of Dickensâ âA Christmas Carolâ features a female Ebenita Scrooge.
6:50 a.m. Encore: âNothing Like the Holidaysâ (2008) Stars John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez. Secret revelations, major life-changes and inevitable bickering mark a Chicago familyâs Christmas reunion. Airs again at 2:35 p.m.
8 a.m. Hallmark: âKarrollâs Christmasâ (2004) Stars Tom Everett Scott, Verne Troyer. A greeting-card writer wants to renew his grouchy neighborâs holiday spirit after a misguided visit from Christmas ghosts.
9 a.m. Cinemax: âFour Christmasesâ (2008) Stars Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon. When their plans for a holiday getaway fall apart, a couple must spend Christmas Day trudging to a quartet of family get-togethers.
4 p.m. Hallmark: âThe Christmas Cardâ (2006) Stars Ed Asner, John Newton. Home on leave, a soldier visits a small town and falls for the woman who wrote a well-wishing card to the troops. Airs again at 10 p.m.
6 p.m. Hallmark: âA Season for Miraclesâ (1999) Stars Carla Gugino, David Conrad. A woman tries to save her sisterâs children from foster care by taking them to a small town where she is mistaken for a missing heiress.
8 p.m. ABC Family:Â âDr. Seussâ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!â (2000) Stars Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor. A curmudgeon living atop Mount Crumpit sets out to quash the yuletide preparations of the Christmas-loving Whos of Whoville. Anthony Hopkins narrates.
8 p.m. AMC: âScroogedâ (1988) Stars Bill Murray, Karen Allen. A ruthless TV-network chief meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come. Airs again at 10 p.m.
8 p.m. Hallmark: âThe Town Christmas Forgotâ (2010) Stars Lauren Holly, Rick Roberts. A stranded family helps residents of a small town organize a Christmas pageant.
THURSDAY
3 a.m. Channel 11-WENH: âOrla Fallonâs Celtic Christmasâ (2010) The singer and harpist performs with special guests.
4 a.m. Channel 11-WENH: âCeltic Thunder Christmasâ (2010) The group performs holiday standards and originals, including âLet It Snow.â
6 a.m. Hallmark: âSilver Bellsâ (2005) Stars Anne Heche, Tate Donovan. A teenage runaway connects his widowed father and a woman who lost her husband during a past Christmas holiday. Airs again at 4 p.m.
8 a.m. Hallmark: âFinding John Christmasâ (2003) Stars Valerie Bertinelli, Peter Falk. With help from a photographer, a nurse searches for a former firefighter who may be her long-lost brother.
6 p.m. ABC Family: âA Flintstone Christmasâ (1978) Fred and Barney help save Christmas when Santa falls from a roof and sprains his ankle.
6 p.m. Hallmark: âThe National Treeâ (2009) Stars Andrew McCarthy, Kari Matchett. A man and his son embark on a cross-country road trip to transport a Christmas tree to Washington, D.C.
7 p.m. ABC Family: âThe Santa Clauseâ (1994) Stars Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold. An adman takes over for the bearded, big-bellied fellow after a rooftop mishap on Christmas Eve. Airs again at 9 p.m.
8 p.m. Channel 8-WMTW: âSanta Claus Is Cominâ to Townâ (1970) A mailman (the voice of Fred Astaire) explains Santa in this animated classic.
8 p.m. AMC: âScroogedâ (1988) Stars Bill Murray, Karen Allen. A ruthless TV-network chief meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come. Airs again at 10 p.m.
8 p.m. Hallmark: âThe Santa Suitâ (2010) Stars Kevin Sorbo, Jodie Dowdall. A corporate bigwig learns valuable lessons when Santa Claus transforms him into his look-alike. Airs again at 10 p.m.
Midnight Hallmark: âWhen Angels Come to Townâ (2004) Stars Peter Falk, Katey Sagal. A holiday angel finds his job is in jeopardy when his supervisor arrives to punish him for contacting the wrong family.
FRIDAY
2 a.m. Hallmark: âThe National Treeâ (2009) Stars Andrew McCarthy, Kari Matchett. A man and his son embark on a cross-country road trip to transport a Christmas tree to Washington, D.C.
6 p.m. ABC Family: âThe Polar Expressâ (2004) Stars the voices of Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter. Animated. The conductor of a train to the North Pole guides a boy who questions the existence of Santa Claus. Airs again at 8:30 p.m.
8 p.m. Channel 11-WENH: âCeltic Thunder Christmasâ (2010) The group performs holiday standards and originals, including âLet It Snow.â
8:23 p.m. ABC Family: âPlutoâs Christmas Treeâ (1952) Classic Disney animated short has Pluto the dog battling chipmunks Chip and Dale over a Christmas tree.
10 p.m. TCM: âIt Happened on 5th Avenueâ (1947) Stars Don DeFore, Ann Harding. A hobo shares a New York mansion with a veteran and others who need a wintertime place to stay.
SATURDAY
1 a.m. Channel 11-WENH: âCeltic Thunder Christmasâ (2010) The group performs holiday standards and originals, including âLet It Snow.â
7 a.m. ABC Family: âThe Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacationâ (2010) Stars the voices of Paris Hilton, Mario Lopez. A French poodle must save the day when inept thieves strike during the holidays.
8 a.m. Hallmark: âThe Good Witchâs Giftâ (2010) Stars Catherine Bell, Chris Potter. A criminal threatens the Christmas Eve wedding of an enchanting witch and a police chief.
9 a.m. Channel 11-WENH: âRick Stevesâ European Christmasâ (2010) Rick Steves visits seven European cultures at Christmastime.
9 a.m. TCM: âA Christmas Carolâ (1938) Stars Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart. Ebenezer Scrooge meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come in the best-known adaptation of this classic Dickens tale.
10 a.m. Hallmark: âSanta Jrâ (2002) Stars Lauren Holly, Judd Nelson. A public defender tries to help Saint Nickâs son after he is accused of stealing Christmas presents.
11 a.m. Lifetime: âIf You Believeâ (1999) Stars Ally Walker, Hayden Panettiere. As a highly stressed book editor nears a breakdown, her inner child appears in order to help her find the joys of Lifetime.
11 a.m. WTBS: âSurviving Christmasâ (2004) Stars Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini. A lonely man returns to his childhood home and celebrates the holiday with the strangers who live there.
8 p.m. Hallmark: Christine Taylor (âZoolanderââ) stars in this new holiday tale as a jaded magazine writer whoâs assigned to do a story on a small townâs resident Santa. Sheâs had no Christmas spirit since her husband died on Christmas Eve. Repeats at 10 p.m.
Midnight Hallmark: âDebbie Macomberâs Mrs. Miracleâ (2009) Stars James Van Der Beek, Erin Karpluk. A single man hires a nanny to help him care for his 6-year-old twins.
DEC. 5
1 p.m. Lifetime: âA Holiday to Rememberâ (1995) Stars Connie Sellecca, Randy Travis. Returning to her South Carolina hometown reunites a recently divorced mother with her first love.
2 p.m. ION: âA Golden Christmasâ (2009) Stars Andrea Roth, Bruce Davison. A special dog helps a woman reunite with a friend that she met as a child.
2 p.m. Hallmark: âDebbie Macomberâs Call Me Mrs. Miracleâ (2010) Stars Doris Roberts, Eric Johnson. A new employee saves a department store in trouble during the Christmas season.
2:30 p.m. MPBN: âCeltic Thunder Christmasâ (2010) The group performs holiday standards and originals, including âLet It Snow.â
3 p.m. Lifetime: âHome for the Holidaysâ (2005) Stars Sean Young, Perry King. A loving aunt struggles to adopt her young relatives after their parents die in a car accident.
4 p.m. ION: âChristmas Townâ (2008) Stars Nicole de Boer, Patrick Muldoon. A woman discovers the spirit of Christmas while visiting her estranged father in a town that is decked out for the holidays.
4 p.m. Hallmark: âEloise at Christmastimeâ (2003) Stars Julie Andrews, Sofia Vassilieva. A 6-year-old girl tries to reunite a young woman with a former boyfriend before she marries another.
4:30 p.m. Channel 11-WENH: âRadio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettesâ (2010): The dancers celebrate the holiday season; highlights include â12 Days of Christmasâ and âParade of the Wooden Soldiers.â
5 p.m. TOON: âOlive, the Other Reindeerâ (1999) Learning that one of Santaâs reindeer is injured, a determined dog tries to save Christmas in this animated tale.
6 p.m. ION: âThe Christmas Clauseâ (2008) Stars Lea Thompson. Stressed-out from work and family, a successful lawyer wishes that her vision of a new life would come true.
6 p.m. TOON: âGrandma Got Run Over by a Reindeerâ (2000) Grandmother goes missing on Christmas Eve in this animated special derived from a popular song.
6 p.m. Hallmark: âThe Most Wonderful Time of the Yearâ (2008) Stars Henry Winkler, Brooke Burns. A snowbound stranger brightens the holidays for a retired police officer and his niece.
6 p.m. USA: âElfâ (2003) Stars Will Ferrell, Bob Newhart. An elf adopted by Santa Claus seeks out his real family in this comedy.
7 p.m. TOON: âTom & Jerry: A Nutcracker Taleâ (2007) Jerry wishes for his chance to dance. Animated.
7 p.m. Lifetime: âThe Christmas Shoesâ (2002) Stars Rob Lowe, Kimberly Williams. A workaholic attorney rediscovers the true meaning of love and the holiday season after he crosses paths with a boy.
8 p.m. HGTV: âCelebrity Holiday Homesâ (2010): Sherri Shepherd (âThe Viewââ), Brooke Burke (âDancing With the Starsââ) and country music star Trisha Yearwood open their homes to HGTV designers.
8 p.m. Hallmark: âFarewell Mr. Kringleâ (2010) Stars Christine Taylor, Chris Wiehl. A widowed magazine writer travels to the town of Mistletoe to meet a Santa Claus impersonator. Airs again at 10 p.m. and midnight.
9 p.m. MPBN: âOrla Fallonâs Celtic Christmasâ (2010) The singer and harpist performs with special guests.
11 p.m. ABC Family: âTim Burtonâs The Nightmare Before Christmasâ (1993) Stars the voices of Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon. The Pumpkin King gives the yuletide season a touch of Halloween in an animated tale from the mind of Tim Burton.
DEC. 6
4 a.m. Hallmark: âThe Angel of Pennsylvania Avenueâ (1996) Stars Diana Scarwid, Robert Urich. Three Depression-era kids ask President Hoover to free their unjustly jailed father for Christmas.
6 a.m. Hallmark: âThe Night They Saved Christmasâ (1984) Stars Jaclyn Smith, Art Carney. An elf warns an Arctic oil-station family that Christmas Eve drilling could destroy Santaâs toy factory.
4 p.m. Hallmark: âA Christmas Carol: The Musicalâ (2004) Stars Kelsey Grammer, Jason Alexander. Grammer stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in this musical adaptation of the classic Dickens tale.
6 p.m. Hallmark: âCall Me Clausâ (2001) Stars Whoopi Goldberg, Nigel Hawthorne. When Lucy Cullins, a successful but cranky home shopping network producer, hires an actor named Nick to play Santa Claus, she gets more than she bargained for.
7 p.m. ABC Family: âRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toysâ (2001) When the Evil Toy Maker takes all of Santaâs toys, itâs up to Rudolph and his friends to save Christmas.
Time TBA Travel Channel: âAnthony Bourdain: No Reservationsâ (2010): Anthony and his friend Michael Ruhlman plan to throw a potluck dinner, but a series of mishaps lands them in a Chinese restaurant with celebrity chefs Mario Batali and David Chang, Duff Goldman (âAce of Cakesââ), and rocker Ted Nugent.
DEC. 7
8 p.m. ABC Family: âFrostyâs Winter Wonderlandâ (1976) Frosty gets married in this animated sequel to the 1969 holiday classic.
Time TBA ABC: âA Charlie Brown Christmasâ (1965) One of the most beloved Christmas specials of all time. Charlie Brown struggles to get the gang together for a holiday play and finds the true spirit of Christmas in this animated classic.
Time TBA ABC Family: âMickeyâs Christmas Carolâ (1983) Disneyâs animated version of the Dickens tale features Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit and Scrooge McDuck as, naturally, Mr. Scrooge.
DEC. 8
4 p.m. Hallmark: âNaughty or Niceâ (2004) Stars George Lopez, Lisa Vidal. A Chicago shock jockâs new persona has an impact on a young listener with a life-threatening illness.
DEC. 9
6 p.m. ABC Family: âRudolphâs Shiny New Yearâ (1976) Rudolph has to find the baby new year before midnight Dec. 31 in this sequel to the 1964 animated classic.
8 p.m. ABC Family: âSanta Claus is Cominâ to Townâ (1970) A mailman (the voice of Fred Astaire) explains Santa in this animated classic.
9 p.m. ABC Family: âThe Year Without a Santa Clausâ (1974) Santa decides to take a year off to nurse a cold, and itâs up to two elves to change his mind. Animated.
Time TBA ABC Family: âA Miser Brothersâ Christmasâ (2008) Sequel to âThe Year Without a Santa Clausâ finds the Miser Brothers â Heat Miser and Cold Miser â forced to work together after accidentally hurting Santa.
Time TBA ABC: âShrek the Hallsâ (2007) The ogreâs holiday plans go awry when Donkey and the gang join festivities.
DEC. 10
8 p.m. TBS: âFred Clausâ (2007) Stars Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti. Santaâs older brother, Fred, has a gambling problem. Nick agrees to pay off Fredâs debt if he helps prepare for Christmas. Airs again at 10:30 p.m.
8 p.m. TCM: âA Christmas Carolâ (1938) Stars Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart. Ebenezer Scrooge meets the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet to come in the best-known adaptation of this classic Dickens tale.
9:30 p.m. TCM: âScroogeâ (1970) Stars Albert Finney, Alec Guinness. Musical version of the Dickens tale.
8 p.m. ABC Family: âThe Santa Clausâ (1994) Stars Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold. An adman takes over for the bearded, big-bellied fellow after a rooftop mishap on Christmas Eve.
DEC. 11
3:30 a.m. TCM: âSanta Clausâ (1959) Stars Jose Elias Moreno. Santa enlists Merlin to help him save Christmas from the devil in this bizarre comedy.
6 p.m. TV Land: âNational Lampoonâs Christmas Vacationâ (1989) Stars Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid. Everything goes wrong for the Griswold family as they try to have an old-fashioned family Christmas.
8 p.m. NBC: âItâs a Wonderful Lifeâ (1946) Stars James Stewart, Donna Reed. Widely considered to be the greatest holiday film of all time. Stewart stars as George Bailey, a savings-and-loan operator whoâs shown by an angel what the world would be like without him one Christmas Eve.
8 p.m. Hallmark: New drama returns Jacqueline Bisset to the role of wealthy grandmother Isabella Crawford. She goes to Ireland with her granddaughter Tilly (Catherine Steadman), a writer, to ask an old friend (Robert OâMahoney) for help getting Tillyâs work published. Repeats at 10 p.m..
8 p.m. CBS: âFrosty the Snowmanâ (1969) Frosty comes to life with the aid of a magical hat, which its former owner wants back badly in this animated classic.
8:30 p.m. CBS: âFrosty Returnsâ (1992) A new product threatens to eliminate all snow â and with it, Frosty. Animated.
9 p.m. CBS: âThe Flight Before Christmasâ (2008) A young reindeer who suffers from vertigo learns to overcome his fear in this animated special.
Time TBA ABC Family: âUnaccompanied Minorsâ (2006) Stars Dyllan Christopher, Tyler James Williams, Gia Mantegna. A group of minors bond while snowed in at a midwestern airport and ultimately create a makeshift holiday themselves.
DEC. 12
8 p.m. ABC Family: âChristmas Cupidâ (2010) Dickens meets romantic comedy in this new holiday tale, which stars Christina Milian (âLove Donât Cost a Thingââ) as a high-powered Hollywood publicist unlucky in love. A visit from a recently deceased client (Ashley Benson, âPretty Little Liarsââ) leads to encounters with the ghosts of her ex-boyfriends from the past, present and future.
Time TBA ABC Family: âSanta Babyâ (2006) Stars Jenna McCarthy, George Wendt. Mary, Santaâs daughter, runs her own marketing and business advice company, and tries to use her business tactics on the elves.
Time TBA ABC Family: âSanta Baby 2: Christmas Maybeâ (2009) Stars Jenny McCarthy, Kelly Stables. Mary returns to take over the reigns of the Christmas sleigh from her dad.
DEC. 13
Time TBA HGTV: âWhite House Christmas 2010â (2010) Dozens of volunteers help transform the historical home with traditional, eco-friendly Christmas decorations.
Time TBA ABC: âMariah Carey: Merry Christmasâ (2010) The singer performs selections from her latest holiday release, âMerry Christmas II You,ââ and holiday classics.
DEC. 15
Time TBA FX: âDeck the Hallsâ (2006) Stars Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick. Neighbors in a New England town go to war after one adorns his house with enough Christmas lights to make it visible from space.
DEC. 17
8 p.m. TNT: âChristmas in Washingtonâ (2010): This annual musical gala is a must-attend for the president, first lady and other D.C. VIPs.
8 p.m. CBS: âYes, Virginiaâ (2010) New animated Christmas special, based on the 1897 true story of the most famous newspaper editorial of all time.
8:30 p.m. CBS: âFrosty the Snowmanâ (1969) Frosty comes to life with the aid of a magical hat, which its former owner wants back badly in this animated classic.
9 p.m. CBS: âFrosty Returnsâ (1992) A new product threatens to eliminate all snow â and with it, Frosty. Animated.
Time TBA ABC Family: âA Very Brady Christmasâ (1988) Stars Florence Henderson, Robert Reed. The Brady Bunch reunites for the holidays.
DEC. 18
Time TBA TNT: âA Christmas Storyâ (1983) Stars Peter Billingsly. Holiday cult classic about a young boy who will stop at nothing to get his dream toy for Christmas: a B.B. gun.
Time TBA ABC: âI Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!â (2003) ReRun, the younger brother of Lucy and Linus, wants to adopt Snoopyâs brother, Spike.
Time TBA ABC Family: âLittle Drummer Boyâ (1968) Animated tale about an orphaned drummer boy who attends the birth of Jesus.
Time TBA ABC Family: âLittle Drummer Boy: Book IIâ (1976) The drummer boy struggles to protect a bellmakerâs great silver bells from seizure by Roman soldiers.
Time TBA ABC Family: âNestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkeyâ (1977) Animated special about a small donkey with very long ears that keep getting him into trouble.
Time TBA ABC Family: ââTwas the Night Before Christmasâ (1974) Animated classic about a young mouse who tries to save Christmas by fixing the town clock after insulting Santa.
Time TBA ABC Family: âPinocchioâs Christmasâ (1980) Itâs Pinocchioâs first Christmas, and he sells the book Geppetto gives him for present money, but Cat and Fox trick him out of it. Animated.
Time TBA ABC Family: âRudolph and Frostyâs Christmas in Julyâ (1979) Rudolph and Frosty team up to save Christmas⊠again.
DEC. 19
Time TBA FX: âChristmas With the Kranksâ (2004) Stars Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd. With their daughter away, her parents decide to skip Christmas until she decides to come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate the holidays at the last minute.
Time TBA ABC Family: âRichie Richâs Christmas Wishâ (1998) Stars David Gallagher, Eugene Levy. After getting blamed for spoiling Christmas, the richest kid in the world wishes heâd never been born.
Time TBA ABC Family: âA Dennis the Menace Christmasâ (2007) Stars Maxwell Perry Cotton, Robert Wagner. Mr. Wilson is Scrooge in this adaptation of Dickensâ âA Christmas Carol.â
Time TBA ABC Family: âHome Alone 4â (2002) Stars French Stewart, Mike Weinberg. Kevin tries to reunite his separated parents while dealing with an old nemesis.
DEC. 20
8 p.m. PBS: âChristmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Renee Fleming and Claire Bloomâ (2010) The renowned choir is joined by opera superstar RenĂ©e Fleming and acclaimed British actress Claire Bloom.
Time TBA ABC Family: âPhineas and Ferb Christmas Vacationâ (2009) Characters from the Disney TV series celebrate the holidays.
Time TBA ABC Family: âSanta Buddiesâ (2009) Puppies from the popular Disney âBuddiesâ video franchise celebrate Christmas.
DEC. 21
6 p.m. ABC Family: âMiracle on 34th Streetâ (1947) Stars Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood. Holiday classic about a department store Santa who tries to convince a little girl that Santa exists.
DEC. 22
10 p.m. ABC Family: âThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clauseâ (2006) Stars Tim Allen, Martin Short. Santa (Allen) must contend with a jealous Jack Frost (Short), who wants to take over Christmas.
DEC. 23
Time TBA Comedy Central: âJeff Dunhamâs Very Special Christmas Specialâ (2008) Comedian Dunham celebrates Christmas with his puppet friends.
DEC. 24
Time TBA Comedy Central: âA Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of Allâ (2008) Stephen Colbert hosts his first holiday special with help from guests Elvis Costello, Toby Keith and Willie Nelson.
8 p.m. TBS: âA Christmas Storyâ (1983) Stars Peter Billingsly. TBS begins its annual 24-hour marathon of this holiday cult classic about a young boy who will stop at nothing to get his dream toy for Christmas: a B.B. gun.
9 p.m. PBS: âChristmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Renee Fleming and Claire Bloomâ (2010) The renowned choir is joined by opera superstar RenĂ©e Fleming and acclaimed British actress Claire Bloom.
8 p.m. NBC: âItâs a Wonderful Lifeâ (1946) Stars James Stewart, Donna Reed. Widely considered to be the greatest holiday film of all time. Stewart stars as George Bailey, a savings-and-loan operator whoâs shown by an angel what the world would be like without him one Christmas Eve.
DEC. 25
Noon ABC: âDisney Parks Christmas Day Paradeâ (2010) A holiday tradition continues with this yearâs edition of the bicoastal celebration.
3:45 a.m. TBS: âSurviving Christmasâ (2004) Stars Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini. A lonely man returns to his childhood home and celebrates the holiday with the strangers who live there. Airs again at 10:15 p.m.
5 p.m. TCM: âKing of Kingsâ (1961) Stars Jeffrey Hunter, Siobhan McKenna. Epic retelling of Christâs life and the effects of his teachings on those around him.
Time TBA TV Land: âNational Lampoonâs Christmas Vacationâ (1989) Stars Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid. Everything goes wrong for the Griswold family as they try to have an old-fashioned family Christmas.
Time TBA ABC Family: âHome Alone: Lost in New Yorkâ (1992) Stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. Kevin McCallister (Culkin) encounters his old foes while celebrating the holidays in New York City.
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