Sure, you’ve got the old standbys. It’s a Wonderful Life. Frosty. Rudolph.
They’re worth watching again, but so are some other specials, films and movie marathons. We’ve compiled a list–and checked it twice–of this season’s other holiday highlights.
Friday, Nov. 30
CBS, 8 p.m.: Frosty the Snowman
Jimmy Durante narrates this animated holiday staple about a snowman who comes to life and befriends a group of kids who then must save Frosty from the evil Professor Hinkle.
CBS, 8:30 p.m.: Frosty Returns
This time around, Jonathan Winters narrates Frosty’s adventures in a town preparing to rid itself of snow.
Saturday, Dec. 1
CBS, 8 p.m.: Rugrats: The Santa Experience
Is there such a thing as “the perfect Christmas?” The Rugrats search for the answer.
CBS, 8:30 p.m.: Rugrats Chanukah
The gang learns about the meaning of Chanukah when Grandpa Boris puts on a play about the holiday.
Sunday, Dec. 2
TNT, 8 p.m.: Call Me Claus
Whoopi Goldberg stars as a busy TV exec who must give up life in the fast lane to become the next Santa Claus.
Monday, Dec. 3
TOON, 7 p.m.: Grinch Week Marathon
From Dec. 3 through Dec. 6, the holiday TV classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas will air at the 7 p.m. timeslot.
Tuesday, Dec. 4
CBS, 8 p.m.: Home for the Holidays with Martha Stewart
Isabella Rossellini and Francis Ford Coppola join Martha in preparing holiday recipes and creating Christmas-themed crafts.
Thursday, Dec. 6
ABC, 8 p.m.: A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Peanuts gang questions the true meaning of Christmas in this touching, animated must-see. (Also airs Sunday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m.)
Friday, Dec. 7
TOON, 8 p.m.: A Johnny Bravo Christmas
This new Johnny Bravo special finds the Primped One on a journey to the North Pole to personally deliver his letter to Santa. Unexpectedly, he runs into Donny Osmond along the way.
TOON, 8:30 p.m.: 12 Tiny Christmas Tales
A grandmother, pestered by her grandchildren, recalls 12 holiday-inspired tales. But the stories she relates aren’t exactly what the kiddies want to hear.
Saturday, Dec. 8
TOON, 10 a.m.: 12-Hour Christmas Party
Twelve hours of Christmas cartoons bring us such specials as The Smurfs Christmas Special, a Scooby-Doo episode titled The Nutcracker Scoob and much, much more.
Sunday, Dec. 9
ABC, 7 p.m.: Jingle All the Way
It may be Christmas, but capitalism is still going strong, as Arnold Schwarzenegger embarks on a perilous mission to buy the hottest toy of the season for his son.
Friday, Dec. 14
CBS, 9 p.m.: The Christmas Secret
Rescued by a flying reindeer as a boy, a talented scientist dedicates his life to proving that reindeer can indeed take flight–and learns some important lessons along the way.
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Saturday, Dec. 15
NICK, 2 p.m.: Holiday Marathon
Special holiday episodes of such shows as Rugrats, CatDog and Hey, Arnold! will be shown.
CBS, 8 p.m.: The Story of Santa Claus
In this animated special, a meager toy maker pursues his wish to give every child in the world a gift at Christmastime. He goes on to a bit of fame.
TOON, 9 p.m.: Flintstones Christmas Carol
It’s Christmas in Bedrock and Fred is the town’s Scrooge in this stone-age adaptation of Dickens’ classic.
NBC, 9 p.m.: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The Griswolds decide to celebrate Christmas at home–but visiting relatives and some pesky neighbors make the holidays a holy mess.
Sunday, Dec. 16
ABC, 7 p.m.: Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
Pooh sends Santa a letter that gets whisked away by the wind, forcing him to seek out Santa and personally deliver his message.
TNT, 8 p.m.: Christmas in Washington
Taped at the historic National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., Reba McEntire hosts this special which features appearances by President and Mrs. Bush, Tony Bennett, Charlotte Church, Mandy Moore and others.
CBS, 9 p.m.: A Town Without Christmas
Emmy winner Patricia Heaton stars in this romantic special about two journalists who fall in love while trying to locate a child who wrote a distressing letter to Santa.
TNT, 9 p.m.: A Christmas Carol
Patrick Stewart stars as Scrooge in this very true-to-form 1999 retelling of Dickens’ tale.
Monday, Dec. 17
TOON, 8 a.m.: Yogi Bear Holiday Marathon
Visit Jellystone National Park at Christmastime, as several holiday-themed episodes and specials featuring Yogi dominate the day.
HBO, 7:30 p.m.: ‘Twas the Night
This musical journey takes a look back at the most memorable holiday songs in history, including tunes celebrating Chanukah and Kwanzaa. The night’s highlight is a special 1971 reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by trumpeter Louis Armstrong.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
CBS, 9 p.m.: The Sons of Mistletoe
Roma Downey stars in this story of a boys foster home in danger of being shut down when it’s taken over by less than sympathetic new management.
Friday, Dec. 21
CBS, 8 p.m.: A Home for the Holidays with Mariah Carey
Destiny’s Child, Mandy Moore and others join Carey in this holiday tribute to adopted children.
Saturday, Dec. 22
TOON, 9 p.m.: Yogi’s First Christmas
Yogi and Boo Boo must thwart the evil plans of a man attempting to take the fun out of Christmas.
Sunday, Dec. 23
CBS, 9 p.m.: One Special Night
On a wintry night, two strangers stranded by a blizzard realize that fate has brought them together.
MTV2, Time TBA: Yule Bangin’: 12 Days to Play
For 12 days, MTV2 celebrates the season with this new contest which allows viewers to win high-end, music-related merchandise. The lucky recipients will have their prizes hand-delivered to them in their hometowns by members of the band P.O.D. (Date subject to change.)
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Monday, Dec. 24
TCM, 6 a.m.: 24-Hour Christmas Movie Marathon
During the marathon, viewers can catch showings of 1938’s A Christmas Carol, 1945’s Christmas in Connecticut, 1949’s Little Women and others.
TOON, Noon: 24-Hour Christmas Party
Enjoy an entire day’s worth of animation, featuring such specials as A Jetsons Christmas Carol, an obscure holiday episode of the ’80s series Pac-Man and much, much more.
AMC, 3:45 p.m.: Christmas Eve
A woman must reunite with her three estranged sons on Christmas Eve in order to protect her fortune from a conniving nephew.
AMC, 5:30 p.m.: The Great Christmas Movies
This documentary, hosted by Shirley Jones, examines Hollywood’s depictions of the holidays through the years, showing clips from It’s a Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause and other films.
AMC, 8 p.m.: Miracle on 34th Street Marathon
If you just can’t get enough of the original film, AMC’s showing the classic back-to-back for 24 hrs.
Tuesday, Dec. 25
TBS, 8 a.m.: Christmas with the Duke Marathon
Spend Christmas day with John Wayne, as seven of his most memorable films–including The Quiet Man and The Shootist–will be shown.
ABC, 10 a.m.: Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade
Filmed in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa host this spirited parade which will honor the life and legacy of Walt Disney.
Saturday, Dec. 29
TOON, 9 p.m.: The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus
An abandoned baby boy is raised by a magical nymph and grows up to become an important savior of humanity.
Monday, December 31
ABC, 10 p.m.: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
Ring in the New Year with Dick and a handful of hot musical acts in Manhattan’s Times Square. Dick will also celebrate the special’s 30th consecutive year on the air.
