HOLIDAY TV: Pour the eggnog and set the DVR
You know Rudolph and Frosty. George Bailey. The Grinch. “Home Alone” and the Griswolds will do in a pinch.
But do you recall … the one where Mrs. Claus runs off to Las Vegas to answer a little girl’s Christmas wish, Santa thinks she’s left him because he forgot their 500th wedding anniversary, so he and an elf with a bit of a gambling problem head to the Strip where Santa gets punched and thrown in jail, a sleazy casino manager gets Mrs. Claus drunk and tries to take advantage of her and the elf falls in love with a hooker?
No?
Boy, does Lifetime have something in store for you!
“Finding Mrs. Claus” (9 p.m. Dec. 2), starring Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, is one of seven new Lifetime holiday movies waiting in the wings.
Not to be outdone, the Hallmark Channel also is debuting seven original Christmas flicks.
And that’s in addition to the old reliables, from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to various incarnations of “A Christmas Carol,” that will be taking over your television for the next month.
Here’s a look at some – yes, there really are many, many more than this listing could hold – of this year’s holiday movies and specials. And, as always, times and dates are subject to change.
FRIDAY
8 p.m.: “Frosty The Snowman” (KLAS-TV, Channel 8)
8 p.m.: The novelty tune comes to life in “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (KVCW-TV, Channel 33)
8:30 p.m.: “Frosty Returns” (Channel 8)
9 p.m.: Harry Connick Jr. provides narration and the soundtrack to the animated “The Happy Elf” (Channel 33)
9:30 p.m.: Plankton unleashes a jerktonium-laced fruitcake in “It’s a SpongeBob Christmas!” (Channel 8)
SATURDAY
8 p.m.: “Rod Stewart: Merry Christmas, Baby” (KLVX-TV, Channel 10)
8 p.m.: “Little Women” gets a modern spin in “The March Sisters at Christmas” (Lifetime)
8 p.m.: Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross (“Family Ties”) reunite in “Naughty or Nice” (Hallmark)
SUNDAY
7 p.m.: Danica McKellar finds “Love at the Christmas Table” (Lifetime)
8 p.m.: Joey Lawrence gets a fake girlfriend to appease his family in “Hitched for the Holidays” (Hallmark)
TUESDAY
9:30 p.m.: “Rod Stewart: Merry Christmas, Baby” (Channel 10)
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m.: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (KTNV-TV, Channel 13)
8 p.m.: “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (KSNV-TV, Channel 3)
9 p.m.: “Saturday Night Live Christmas” (Channel 3)
DEC. 1
12:30 p.m.: Richard Attenborough stars in 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (Channel 3)
8 p.m.: Will Ferrell runs amok in “Elf” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: A relationship that began as a bet turns real in “A Bride for Christmas” (Hallmark)
10 p.m.: “Elf” (ABC Family)
DEC. 2
8:30 a.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (ABC Family)
5 p.m.: “Elf” (ABC Family)
5:15 p.m.: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black star in “The Holiday” (TBS)
7 p.m.: Jim Carrey goes green in the live-action “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star in “Four Christmases” (TBS)
8 p.m.: A boy awaits an organ transplant in “The Christmas Heart” (Hallmark)
9 p.m.: “Finding Mrs. Claus” (Lifetime)
9:30 p.m.: The live-action “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (ABC Family)
10 p.m.: “Four Christmases” (TBS)
DEC. 3
1 a.m.: “The Holiday” (TBS)
5 p.m.: Cartoon mice save the day in “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” (ABC Family)
5:30 p.m.: “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (ABC Family)
6:30 p.m.: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family)
10 p.m.: “Blake Shelton’s Not-So-Family Christmas” (Channel 3)
10 p.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family)
DEC. 4
4:30 p.m.: “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (ABC Family)
5:30 p.m.: “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
7:30 p.m.: “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Channel 8)
8 p.m.: “Elf” (ABC Family)
10 p.m.: Vince Vaughn saves Christmas as Santa’s estranged older brother in “Fred Claus” (ABC Family)
DEC. 5
12:30 a.m.: “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” (ABC Family)
2:30 p.m.: “Fred Claus” (ABC Family)
5 p.m.: “Elf” (ABC Family)
7 p.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
9 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
12 a.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
DEC. 6
4 p.m. “Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July” (ABC Family)
6 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: Jim Carrey gets his Scrooge on in “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
10 p.m.: “Elf” (ABC Family)
12 a.m.: “Elf” (ABC Family)
DEC. 7
3 p.m.: “Elf” (ABC Family)
5 p.m.: “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
7 p.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
9 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family)
DEC. 8
1:30 p.m.: “Fred Claus” (ABC Family)
4 p.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
6 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: An advertising executive falls for a mannequin in “Holly’s Holiday” (Lifetime)
8 p.m.: Andrew McCarthy takes dance lessons for the perfect proposal in “Come Dance With Me” (Hallmark)
9 p.m.: A young reindeer searches for his father in the animated “The Flight Before Christmas” (Channel 8)
DEC. 9
7 a.m.: “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (ABC Family)
11 a.m.: Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba and Chris Brown star in “This Christmas” (TBS)
8 p.m.: An elite unit of elves prepares homes for Santa’s arrival in “Disney Prep & Landing” (Channel 13)
8 p.m.: Natalie Wood stars in 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
8 p.m.: An elf poses as a harried family’s nanny in “Help for the Holidays” (Hallmark)
8:30 p.m.: The elf unit returns in “Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice” (Channel 13)
9 p.m.: A newly single woman (Eloise Mumford) moves to a small town and opens a toy store in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s “Christmas With Holly” (Channel 13)
9 p.m.: Haylie Duff stars as a party planner in “All About Christmas Eve” (Lifetime)
10:15 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
DEC. 10
2 a.m.: “This Christmas” (TBS)
5 p.m.: “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
6 p.m.: “The Hollywood Christmas Parade” (Hallmark)
6:30 p.m.: “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” (ABC Family)
7 p.m.: Heat Miser and Snow Miser battle in “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
8 p.m.: Mickey Rooney voices Kris Kringle in “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (ABC Family)
9 p.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
10 p.m.: “Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays” (Channel 3)
10:15 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
DEC. 11
5 p.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
7 p.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
8 p.m.: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (Channel 13)
9 p.m.: Nathan Lane and Uma Thurman co-star in “A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa” (Channel 33)
9 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family)
10:15 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
DEC. 12
5 p.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
7 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
9 p.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family)
10:15 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
DEC. 13
7 p.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “Christmas in the White House” (Channel 3)
8 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
9 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
10:15 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
DEC. 14
7 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
9 p.m.: “Blake Shelton’s Not-So-Family Christmas” (Channel 3)
9 p.m.: The famed editorial is at the heart of the animated “Yes, Virginia” (Channel 8)
9:30 p.m.: An elf helps a boy believe in Christmas in the animated “The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story” (Channel 8)
DEC. 15
10:30 a.m.: Siblings Snow and Heat return in “A Miser Brother’s Christmas” (ABC Family)
12 p.m.: “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” (ABC Family)
12:30 p.m.: “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” (ABC Family)
2 p.m.: “Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July” (ABC Family)
4 p.m.: “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “Elf” (Channel 8)
8 p.m.: A cash-strapped couple tries to win a radio contest in “Baby’s First Christmas” (Hallmark)
8 p.m.: A psychiatrist falls for a man who insists he’s Santa in “The Real St. Nick” (Lifetime)
10 p.m.: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (ABC Family)
11 p.m.: “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (ABC Family)
DEC. 16
1 a.m.: “A Miser Brother’s Christmas” (ABC Family)
1 p.m.: “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (ABC Family)
2 p.m.: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (ABC Family)
3 p.m.: “The Holiday” (TNT)
3 p.m.: “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
6 p.m.: “A Christmas Story” (TNT)
7 p.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” featuring Jane Seymour and Nathan Gunn (Channel 10)
8 p.m.: George C. Scott stars in 1984’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
8 p.m.: “Four Christmases” (TNT)
8 p.m.: The Rod Serling-scripted “Carol for Another Christmas” (TCM)
9 p.m.: George Wendt and Shelley Long star as Santa and Mrs. Claus in “The Merry In-Laws” (Lifetime)
9:30 p.m.: Alastair Sim stars in 1951’s “A Christmas Carol” (TCM)
10 p.m.: “Four Christmases” (TNT)
10:30 p.m.: 1984’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
12 a.m.: “A Christmas Story” (TNT)
DEC. 17
1 a.m.: Reginald Owen stars in 1938’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
2 a.m.: “The Holiday” (TNT)
7 p.m.: The live-action “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: 1984’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
8:30 p.m.: “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” (KVVU-TV, Channel 5)
10 p.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (Channel 10)
10:30 p.m.: 1984’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
DEC. 18
1 a.m.: 1938’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
3 a.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (Channel 10)
12 p.m.: “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” (ABC Family)
4:30 p.m.: “Disney Prep & Landing” (ABC Family)
5 p.m.: “Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice” (ABC Family)
5:30 p.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: William H. Macy and Whoopi Goldberg co-star in “It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” (Channel 33)
8 p.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: 1984’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
8 p.m.: Boris Karloff narrates the animated “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (Channel 13)
8:30 p.m.: Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and Puss In Boots return in “Shrek the Halls” (Channel 13)
10 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
10:30 p.m.: 1984’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
DEC. 19
1 a.m.: 1938’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
5 p.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
7 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: Nature comes alive in “Christmas In Yellowstone” (Channel 10)
9 p.m.: “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
DEC. 20
1 a.m.: “Christmas In Yellowstone” (Channel 10)
7 p.m.: “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Channel 13)
8 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
9 p.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family)
9 p.m.: Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride and Keith Urban celebrate “CMA Country Christmas” (Channel 13)
10:15 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
DEC. 21
5:45 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
7 p.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays” (Channel 3)
8 p.m.: “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!” (Channel 13)
8 p.m.: “The Happy Elf” (Channel 33)
8 p.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
8 p.m.: “Christmas in Washington” (TNT)
9 p.m.: “Christmas in the White House” (Channel 3)
9 p.m.: “Four Christmases” (TNT)
9 p.m.: “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (Channel 33)
9 p.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
9 p.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (Channel 10)
10:30 p.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
11 p.m.: “Christmas in Washington” (TNT)
DEC. 22
1 a.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
2 a.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (Channel 10)
2 a.m.: “Christmas in Washington” (TNT)
10 a.m.: “Disney Prep & Landing” (ABC Family)
10:30 a.m.: “Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice” (ABC Family)
11 a.m.: “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
12:30 p.m.: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys” (ABC Family)
2 p.m.: “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (ABC Family)
3 p.m.: “A Miser Brother’s Christmas” (ABC Family)
4 p.m.: “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (ABC Family)
5 p.m.: “Four Christmases” (TNT)
5 p.m.: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (ABC Family)
5:45 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
6 p.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
8 p.m. “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” (Channel 3)
8 p.m.: “Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice” (Channel 13)
8 p.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
8 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 2” (ABC Family)
9 p.m.: “CMA Country Christmas” (Channel 13)
9 p.m.: “WWE Tribute to the Troops” (Channel 3)
10 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family)
10:30 p.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
12 a.m.: “The Santa Clause 2” (ABC Family)
DEC. 23
1 a.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
4 a.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (Channel 10)
7 a.m.: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys” (ABC Family)
12:30 p.m.: “Fred Claus” (ABC Family)
5 p.m.: “Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration” (Channel 10)
5 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
5:45 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
7 p.m.: The live-action “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
8 p.m.: Cary Grant is sent from heaven in “The Bishop’s Wife” (TCM)
10:30 p.m.: 1994’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
DEC. 24
1 a.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
1 p.m.: “The Polar Express” (ABC Family)
1 p.m.: “The Bishop’s Wife” (TCM)
1:45 p.m.: “White Christmas” (AMC)
3 p.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
4:30 p.m.: 1984’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
5 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 2” (ABC Family)
6:30 p.m.: Laurel and Hardy star in “Babes in Toyland” (TCM)
7 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
7 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (Channel 3)
8 p.m.: “Disney Prep & Landing” (Channel 13)
8 p.m.: “24 Hours of ‘A Christmas Story’ ” (TBS)
8:30 p.m.: “Shrek the Halls” (Channel 13)
9 p.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
9 p.m. Patrick Stewart stars in 1999’s “A Christmas Carol” (TNT)
9 p.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (Channel 10)
9:15 p.m.: 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (AMC)
9:30 p.m.: Hugh Laurie lends his voice to the animated “Second Star to the Left” (Channel 33)
12 a.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (ABC Family)
DEC. 25
1 a.m.: “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (Channel 10)
4 a.m.: 1938’s “A Christmas Carol” (AMC)
7 a.m.: “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
11 a.m.: “The Santa Clause” (ABC Family)
1 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 2” (ABC Family)
3 p.m.: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (ABC Family)
5 p.m.: “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (ABC Family)
6 p.m.: “The Doctor Who Christmas Special” (BBC America)
7 p.m.: “Home Alone” (ABC Family)
8 p.m.: The animated “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (Channel 13)
8:30 p.m.: The live-action “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (Channel 13)
9 p.m.: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (ABC Family)
