Watching in a winter wonderland…
THE CRUSH OF HOLIDAY-INFUSED TV VIEWING KICKS OFF THIS WEEK
Whether it’s ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas, Fa-La-La Lifetime or another catchy name the networks come up with to package their holiday viewing, one thing is for sure: There’s no shortage of yuletide-inspired movies, specials and animated features to enjoy on TV.
In addition to hours of classic animated favorites from Rankin/Bass, the annual TBS 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story,” two showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” on NBC and other returning favorites, there are plenty of new gifts this season.
The Hallmark Channel debuts a new holiday movie every Saturday through the end of the year; ABC Family has brought back those mischievous animated brothers Heat Miser and Snow Miser; and Lifetime debuts two holiday movies in December.
The yuletide spirit will be evident on television starting on Thanksgiving Day. Following is a snapshot of holiday viewing highlights. Since everything is subject to change, be sure to check TV listings.
CLASSICS
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”: 8 p. m. Dec. 8 and 16 on ABC.
“A Christmas Carol” (1938): 4:45 p. m. Dec. 20, 6:15 a. m. Dec. 24 on TCM.
“A Christmas Story”: 8, 10 p. m. Dec. 3 on TNT; 24-hour holiday marathon starts at 8 p. m. Dec. 24 on TBS.
“The Bells of St. Mary’s”: 8 p. m. Dec. 11, 2:30 p. m. Dec. 20 on TCM.
“The Bishop’s Wife” (1947): 11:30 p. m. Dec. 10; 8 p. m. Dec. 19 and 6 p. m. Dec. 24 on TCM.
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” (animated) 8:32 p. m. Dec. 1 on ABC.
“Frosty the Snowman”: 8 p. m. Dec. 12 on CBS. “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland”: 7 p. m. Dec. 5; 7 a. m. and 4:30 p. m. Dec. 13; 3 p. m. Dec. 24 on Family.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”: 8 p. m. Dec. 13 and 24 on NBC.
“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947): 2 p. m. Thursday on NBC.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”: 8 p. m. Dec. 3 on CBS.
“White Christmas”: 9 p. m. Saturday and Dec. 19 on Lifetime; 6, 9 p. m. Dec. 23 and noon Dec. 25 on Family.
“The Year Without a Santa Claus”: 8 p. m. Dec. 11; 7 p. m. Dec. 13; 11 a. m. and 11 p. m. Dec. 21; 6 p. m. Dec. 24 on Family.
SPECIALS
“A Colbert Christmas”: 11:30 p. m. Thursday, Comedy Central.
“Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special”: 10 p. m. Friday, Comedy Central.
“Larry the Cable Guy’s Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza”: 10 p. m. Dec. 2, CMTV.
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center”: 8 p. m. Dec. 3, NBC.
“Faith Hill, Joy to the World”: 9 p. m. Dec. 4, 8 a. m. Dec. 21, CMTV. Musical special.
“Greatest Holiday Moments: 8 p. m. Dec. 5, NBC. Countdown of the best TV specials and films.
“Greatest Holiday Songs”: 8 p. m. Dec. 12, NBC. Countdown of best songs.
“Santa’s Funniest Moments”: 9 p. m. Dec. 9, 9:30 p. m. Dec. 17, MYTV.
“Macy’s Presents Little Spirit: Christmas in New York,” 8 p. m. Dec. 10, NBC. Animated special with songs by Duncan Sheik.
“The Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa”: 8 p. m. Dec. 17, NBC.
“The White House Christmas,” 9 p. m. Dec. 17, HGTV.
“Christmas in Washington 2008”: 8 and 11 p. m. Dec. 17, TNT. Stars sing for the president and first lady.
“10th annual A Home for the Holidays”: 8 p. m.
Dec. 23, CBS. Faith Hill hosts special on
adoption with other musical guests.
Yule Log: 9 p. m. Dec. 24 through Dec. 25, WGN. Let the burning yule log lend atmosphere to your home.
PREMIERES
“A Miser Brothers’ Christmas” (animated): Heat Miser and Snow Miser, the weather-controlling brothers from the animated Rankin/Bass classic, “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” star in their own holiday special. This time, they try to help save Chrismas after Santa hurts his back. Premiere: 8 p. m. Dec. 13, Family. Also: 7 p. m. Dec. 19, noon Dec. 21 and 7 p. m. Dec. 24.
“The Christmas Choir”: A workaholic accountant is inspired to start a choir at a homeless shelter where he learns the meaning of the holidays and the importance of second chances. Jason Gedrick and Rhea Perlman star. Premiere: 9 p. m. Dec. 6, Hallmark. Also: 9 p. m. Dec. 18, Hallmark.
“Christmas in Wonderland”: A family facing hard times finds a bag of money at the mall and are soon pursued by two bumbling counterfeiters. Patrick Swayze, Carmen Electra, Chris Kattan and Tim Curry star. Premiere: 8, 10 p. m. Dec. 20, Family. Also: 11 a. m. Dec. 24.
“Cranberry Christmas” (animated): Mr. Whiskers tries to keep the local skating bog from the clutches of the mean Cyrus Grape in this new special based on the popular children’s book. Features two new songs by Barry Manilow. Premiere: 7:30 p. m. Dec. 8, Family. Also: 12:30 p. m. Dec. 13.
“A Kiss at Midnight”: A personal matchmaker (Faith Ford) tries to prove her old-fashioned way is the best way by signing up for a Web dating service with unexpected results. Cameron Daddo, Hal Linden and Dyan Cannon co-star. Premiere: 9 p. m. Dec. 27, Hallmark.
“Moonlight & Mistletoe”: Hard times fall on Santaville, a year-round yuletide village run by a widower (Tom Arnold). When his daughter (Candace Cameron Bure) returns home to help, she rediscovers the joys of Santaville and the meaning of the holidays. Christopher Wiehl and Barbara Niven co-star. Premiere: 9 p. m. Saturday, Hallmark. Also: 9 p. m. Dec. 5 and 11; 11 p. m. Dec. 19 and 5 p. m. Dec. 20.
“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”: Henry Winkler plays a former cop who brings a handsome fellow traveler (Warren Christie) along on a holiday visit to see his niece (Brooke Burns), a busy single mom. Premiere: 9 p. m. Dec. 13, Hallmark. Also: 9 p. m. Dec. 19 and 24; 2 p. m. Dec. 25.
“Our First Christmas”: Steven Eckholdt and Julie Warner star as newlyweds trying to get their blended families together for their first Christmas. John Ratzenberg and Dixie Carter co-star. Premiere: 9 p. m. Dec. 20, Hallmark. Also: 5 p. m. Dec. 21 and 9 p. m. Dec. 25.
“Snow 2 Brain Freeze”: The ever-likable Tom Cavanagh reprises his role as Nick Snowden, AKA Santa, who loses his memory right before Christmas. Ashley Williams co-stars. Premiere: 8, 10 p. m. Dec. 14, Family. Also: 9 p. m. Dec. 17 and 1 p. m. Dec. 20. See how Nick’s adventures began with the original “Snow,” airing at 6 p. m. Dec. 14 on Family.
“Will You Merry Me?”: A young couple brings their parents together for the first time in celebration of their engagement. But will their differing religious backgrounds and holiday traditions cause too much stress to overcome? Area native Wendie Malick stars along with Cynthia Stevenson, Tommy Lioutas and Vicky Krinsky. Premiere: 9 p. m. Dec. 13, Lifetime. Also: 7 p. m. Dec. 25.
“A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride”: Luke Perry and Joanna Garcia conspire to stop the impending marriage of their parents with unexpected romantic complications. Helen Shaver and Kenneth Walsh co-star. Premiere: 9 p. m. Dec. 20, Lifetime. Also: 9 p. m. Dec. 25.
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