1) “A Christmas Story” (1983), 8 p.m., TBS, 9 p.m., TNT. In Ralphie’s 1940s world, winter is precarious. Santas are scary (shown here) … tongues get stuck on metal poles … and kids want BB guns, despite warnings that they’ll shoot an eye out. All of this is wryly recalled in the script by Jean Shepherd, who also narrates. Alternately warm and cynical, it’s rerun every two hours on the Turner stations, for 24 hours. This time, they stagger the starts, so you can catch the beginning at the top of any hour.
2) “A Christmas Story Live,” 8-10 p.m., Fox. Yes, it’s the same story, with music. This Broadway show (from the “Greatest Showman” and “Dear Evan Hansen” composers) was done live on Fox and is rerun here. Matthew Broderick narrates as the adult Ralphie, with Chris Diamantopoulos and Maya Rudolph as his eccentric parents.
3) Cartoons, all day. The Rankin/Bass company made a few Christmas classics and a lot of so-so shows. The latter ones rerun from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on AMC; the classics? Freeform has “Frosty” at 8:20 p.m., “Rudolph” at 8:50 and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” at 9:55. In revised plans, ABC also has “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” at 8 p.m.
4) More movies. NBC has “It’s a Wonderful Life,” from 8-11 p.m.; there’s more: Freeform has “Arthur Christmas” at 11:30 a.m., “Santa Clause” and its sequel at 1:30 and 3:35 p.m. and Jim Carrey’s “Grinch” at 5:40. AMC has “Polar Express” at 5, “Elf” at 7 p.m., “Christmas Vacation” at 9. Turner Classic Movies has “Meet Me in St. Louis” at 10 p.m. ET. And “A Christmas Carol” – the Muppets at 10 p.m. on Disney XD, the 1938 one at midnight ET on TCM, the ‘51 one all night on Fox Movies.
5) And music. Many PBS stations fill the night with music, including reruns of the Belmont University and Tabernacle Choir concerts. ABC, with its late switch, reruns “CMA Country Christmas” from 9-11 p.m. And music is key to the religious services: At 11:30 p.m., NBC has Mass at St. Peter Basilica. At 11:35, CBS is at Duke University Chapel, which has choirs, three organs and a 16-piece orchestra.