This sounds like the title of the worst holiday movie ever: “COVID Conquers Christmas.”
Fortunately, it didn’t work out that way. TV people adapted, adjusted, improvised. In quantity, we’ll have about the usual number of Christmas shows – somewhere between a zillion and way too many.
And in quality? We’ll notice some changes, right away on Thanksgiving Day. One “parade” (on NBC) will only ba a block long, with some of the music acts taped in advance; the other (on CBS) will mix new music with clips of past parades. At night on ABC, Derek and Julianne Hough (shown here) will start with a new song-and-dance number … then simply show ones from past specials.
That notion – highlights from the pre-COVID years – will show up elsewhere. The CW network will have two nights of past clips – the “Hollywood Christmas Parade” and the “Jingle Ball.” It will also have a new “Jingle Ball” … but with performances from home.
Some shows simply work far in advance. This year’s Tabernacle Choir concert – an epic event – was taped a year ago.
Others had to improvise. One movie, according to thewrap.com, came up with a new plan for a COVID Christmas kiss: It inserted Plexiglass between the two, then removed it via video tricks.
Still, it’s a large – and quite cheery – list, full of music, movies and more.
This list (subject to late changes) is for the 30 days from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It doesn’t include the holiday episodes of regular shows. For TV movies, it only includes new ones … but there are plenty of those. On one packed night (Dec. 6), cable has five new Christmas movies.
This also includes lots of theatricals (movies that played in theaters first) and cartoons. Most are reruns and we stick to the key ones. Here we go:.
PARADES
– Nov, 26: “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” 9 a.m. to noon ET, NBC, repeating 2-5 p.m. (check local lisitngs for PT and MT). t’s not quite a parade, but there will be floats and balloons on a one-block stretch in front of the NBC cameras. There will be performances by casts of four musicals – “Hamilton,” “Mean Girls” and the Temptations and Alanis Morrissette shows – and by others, including Dolly Parton, Patti LaBelle, Bebe Rexha, Sofia Carson, Leslie Odom Jr., the Muppets, Jimmy Fallon with the Roots and even a “Nutcracker” ballerina.
– Nov. 26: “Thanksgiving Day Celebration,” 9 a.m. to noon ET, CBS (check local lisitngs for PT and MT). This views previous parades, plus new performances by the casts of “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Come From Away”; Mickey Guyton does “O Holy Night” and Maddie & Tae do “Merry Married Christmas.”
– Dec. 4: “The Hollywood Christmas Parade Greatest Moments,” 8-10 p.m., CW. There’s no parade this year, so here are some memories.
– Dec. 25: Disney “Christmas Day Parade,” 10 a.m. to noon, ABC. Alongside the Disney World parade, we see songs taped at park locations.
GRINCHY THINGS
– Nov. 27: “How the Grinch Stole Christimas,” the animated gem, 8 p.m., NBC; also, 7 p.m., Dec. 6, TBS; 8 p.m. Dec. 13, TBS; 8 p.m. Dec. 19, TNT; 8 p.m. Dec. 25, NBC.
– Dec. 2: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000), the Jim Carrey movie, 3:45 p.m., Freeform; also on Freeform, 3:55 p.m. Dec. 5, 4:05 p.m. Dec. 11, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 14; then 8:30 p.m. Dec. 25, NBC.
– Dec. 9: “Grinch, The Musical,” 8-10 p.m., NBC; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 21. Matthew Morrison stars in a stage production from London.
– Dec. 18: “The Grinch” (animated Benedict Cumberbatch film), 9 p.m., Dec. 19, Freeform; also 6:35 p.m., Dec. 19).
OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS.
– Nov. 27: “Frosty the Snowman,” 8 p.m., CBS (followed by its lame sequel at 8:30). Also, “Frosty” is on Freeform: 8:45 p.m. Dec. 5; 5:05 p.m. Dec. 6; 4:50 p.m. Dec. 19; 3:25 p.m., Dec. 20; 8:15 p.m. Dec. 24; 4:30 p.m., Dec. 25.
– Nov. 28: The two “Robbie the Reindeer” films on CBS — “Hooves of Fire” at 8 p.m. and “Legend of the Lost Tribe” at 8:30. Both ripple with droll British wit.
– Dec. 1: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,”8-9 p.m., CBS; also, on Freeform: 7:40 p.m. Dec. 5; 5:40 p.m. Dec. 6; 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19; 4 p.m., Dec. 20; 8:50 p.m., Dec. 24; 5 p.m., Dec. 25.
– Dec. 4: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – like “Grinch,” one of TV’s all-time great moments – reaches Apple TV+. Non-subscrbers can catch it online, Dec. 11-13, and on PBS Kids and many PBS stations (check local listings) at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13.
– Dec. 17: “How Murray Saved Christmas,” 9 a.m., Dec. 17. This is filled with wonderfully witty sogs, so you might want to record it. The first airing is the night of Dec. 2 (technically, the morning of Dec. 3) at 4:55 a.m. Others are on the nights of Dec. 9, 16 and Dec. 21, each at 5 a.m.
CLASSIC MOVIES
(Not all have Christmas themes, but they’re shown as family films during the holidays)
– Nov. 26: “The Wizard of Oz,” 8 and 10:15 p.m. ET, TBS; then on TNT: 8:30 and 10:45 p.m., Dec. 19; 9 p.m., Dec. 25; also, 8 and 10:15 p.m., Dec. 28.
– Dec. 20: “The Sound of Music,” 7-11 p.m., ABC.
– Dec. 23: “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944). 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies (covers many seasons, but it’s a gorgeous musical in which Judy Garland introduces “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”)
– Dec. 24: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), 8-11 p.m., NBC.
– Dec. 24: “The Greatest Showman,” 8-10 p.m., ABC.
“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”
– Dec. 1: Jim Carrey version (2009), 11 a.m., Freeform; also, 11 a.m. Dec. 2; 4 p.m. Dec. 3; 12:15 p.m. Dec. 6; 2 p.m., Dec. 9; 11:55 p.m., Dec. 12; noon Dec. 13; 8:25 p.m., Dec. 15; 4 p.m. Dec. 17; 12:15 p.m., Dec. 18; 2:20 p.m., Dec. 22;
– Dec. 4: “Scrooged,” a modern comedy with Bill Murray as the Ebenezer-type, 8 p.m., AMC; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 15; 6 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Dec. 16; 10 p.m. Dec. 17; 6 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Dec. 21.
– Dec. 22: Patrick Stewart version (1999), superbly filmed and performed, 8 and 10 p.m., TNT.
– Dec. 24: Reginald Owen version (1938), midnight ET, Turner Classic Movies.
MOSTLY MUSIC
– Nov. 26: “Magical Holiday Celebration,” 9-11 p.m., ABC. Derek and Julianne Hough will do an opening number, then host with Trevor Jackson (of “Grown-ish”). They’ll introduce numbers from the previous four specials, including Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, OneRepublic, Ciara, Pentatonix Andrea Bocelli, Boyz II Men, Aloe Blacc, Becky G and “Frozen” stars, Idina Menzel and Kirsten Bell.
– Nov. 28: “All-Star Nickmas Spectacular,” 9 p.m., Nickelodeon. Includes music by Ne-Yo, Jo Jo Siwa and That Girl Lay Lay, plus Gabriel Iglesias, Jay Pharoah, Trevor Noah, more.
– Nov. 30:”Disney Holiday Singalong,” 8 p.m., ABC. The first two editions were surprise ratings hits, with stars singing from their homes. This edition has Katy Perry, BTS, Ciara, Michael Buble, Andrea Bocelli, Adam Lambert, Leslie Odom Jr., Pink, Kerry Washington and Chloe x Halle. Also, dancer Derek Hough, his fiancee Hayley Erbert and his sister, singer-dancer Julianne Hough. And three companies – Broadway’s “Lion King” and “Aladdin” and a touring “Frozen” – link for “Let It Go.”
– Nov. 30: “CMA Country Christmas,” 9-11 p.m., ABC. There’s no audience this year, so the show will pretend to be at the home of Thomas Rhett, his wife Lauren and their daughters. Performers include Tim McGraw, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady Antebellum, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Little Big Town and Darius Rucker with Lindsey Stirling.
– Dec. 1: “Our OWN Christmas,” 9 p.m, Oprah Winfrey Network. The Clark Sisters and other gospel stars – Kierra Sheard, Eric Campbell, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Le’Andrea Johnson and more.
– Dec. 2: “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” 8-10 p.m., NBC.
– Dec. 2: “Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” 10 p.m., NBC.
— Dec. 3: “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Greatest Moments,” 8 p.m., CW. Highlights fom 25 years of pop concerts.
– Dec. 3: “Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir” rerun of the 2018 concert with Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville, 8 p.m. ET, BYUTV (cable or www.byutv.org). Reruns at 11 p.m. ET Dec. 20; the 2019 concert with Kristen Chenoweth is 8 p.m. ET Dec. 10.
– Dec. 3: “The Voice Holiday Celebration,” 8 p.m., NBC. Performances by the current and past judges and others connected to the show.
– Dec. 3: “My Gift,” any time, HBO Max. Carrie Underwood sings with her own band and with an orchestra led by Ricky Minor, her friend since his days as “American Idol” music director. She does a new duet with John Legend … and does “Little Drummer Boy” with her 5-year-old son.
– Dec. 4: “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special,” any time, Apple TV+. Guests include people from music (Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande), comedy (Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner) and dance (Misty Copeland). Also appearing are Carey’s twins, Moroccan and Monroe.
– Dec. 6: “A Holly Dolly Christmas,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. It’s a Dolly Parton concert.
– Dec. 6: “Christmas Under the Stars” concert with Lauren Daigle, the Grammy- and Dove-winnner, 9 p.m., BYUTV.. Also, 8 p.m. Dec. 12, 7 p.m. Dec. 17, 7 p.m. Dec. 24, 5 p.m. Dec. 25. Past “Stars” specials have Train (7 p.m. Dec. 1), Amy Grant/Michael W. Smith (7 p.m. Dec. 4), Vocal Point (7 p.m. Dec. 9). and John Legend (8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 25).
– Dec. 11: “High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special,” any time, Disney+. This wins the longest-title award, anyway. The fictional series follows a school production of “High School Musical.” Now – between the first and second seasons – cast members sing holiday songs.
– Dec. 14: “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball,” 8 p.m., CW. This time the music will be at-home, from Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Lewis Capaldi and more.
– Dec. 14: “Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir,” 9-10 p.m., PBS; reruns 9 p.m. Dec. 24 (check local listings). Kelli O’Hara sings, backed by the massive Tabernacle Choir. Richard Thomas does readings.
– Dec. 15: “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas,” 8 p.m. Dec. 15, PBS; also, 9 p.m. Dec. 18, 10:30 p.m. Dec. 25 (check local listings). The Ella Fitzgerald Foundation organizes this concert, with Vanessa Williams (who hosts), Norm Lewis, Dee Dee Bridgewater and more.
– Dec. 15: “Christmas at Belmont,” 9 p.m., PBS (check local listings). This is the 2019 special, with Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans, plus a choir, orchestra and Belmont University students.
– Dec. 17: Here’s a 90-minute version of the Tabernacle Choir concert with O’Hara and Thomas, 8 p.m. eT, BYUTV. Also, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23, 11 a.m. Dec. 25.
– Dec. 20: “Garth and Tricia Live: A Holdiay Event,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, the husband-wife country stars, perform in their home studio, taking requests in advance. That’s similar to a concert they did early in the COVID shutdown, but now with a Christmas emphasis.
– Dec. 20: “A Home For the Holidays,” 9:30 p;m, CBS. Gayle King hosts an hour of adoption stories, plus music by Josh Groban, Miranda Lambert, Andrea Bocelli, Meghan Trainor and Leslie Odom Jr.
COMEDY, MAGIC, etc.:
– Dec. 2: “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas,” 7 a.m. Dec. 3, Freeform.
– Dec. 9: “Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown,” 9 p.m.., CW; also, 9 p.m. Dec. 21.
– Dec. 10: “The Substitute,” 8:30 p.m., Nickelodeon. Going undercover as a substitute teacher, Gabriel Iglesias tells kids about the “true history” of holiday traditions.
– Dec. 11: “Holiday House Party,” 8 p.m., Dec. 11, Disney Channel. The channel’s stars do sketch comedy, from their homes.
– Dec. 16: “Penn & Teller: Merry Fool Us,” 9-10 p.m., CW.
– Dec. 16: “Saturday Night Live Christmas Special,” 9-11 p.m., NBC; also, 9 p.m. Dec. 22.
– Dec. 17: “All That,” 8:30 p.m., Nickelodeon. Christmas sketches and music by Pentatonix.
– Dec. 20: “Masters of Illusion Christmas Magic,” 8-9 p.m., CW.
ANIMATED MOVIES
– Dec. 9: “The Star” (2017), with animals on the first Christmas, 4 p.m., Freeform; also, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10; 11 p.m., Dec. 18; 7:30 a.m. Dec. 19;.
– Dec. 10: “The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow,” 10 a.m., Dec. 17, AMC,
– Dec. 12: The three “Toy Story” films run at 4:50, 6:50 and 8:55 p.m. on Freeform.
– Dec. 15: “The Magic Snowflake” (2013), a French film, re-voiced in English, about Nicholas before he became Santa, 10:30 a.m., Freeform.
– Dec. 18-19: “The Grinch,” see “Grinchy Things,” above.
– Dec. 21: “Nativity Story,” 9 a.m., AMC.
MORE KEY CARTOONS
– Nov. 26: “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” 8 p.m., ABC.
– Nov. 26: “Toy Story That Time Forgot,” 8:30, ABC; also, on Freeform: 11:25 p.m. Dec. 12, 9:30 a.m. Dec. 13.
– Nov. 27: “Santas Claus is Comin’ to Town,” 8-9 p.m., ABC. Also on Freeform: 6:35 p.m. Dec. 5,; 4
p.m. Dec. 6; 2:20 p.m. and 12:55 a.m., Dec. 20; 10:50 p.m., Dec. 23; 9:55 p.m. Dec. 24;
– Nov. 27: “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” 8-9 p.m., CW; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 21.
– Nov. 27: “Minions Holiday Special” (it’s new), 8:30 p.m., NBC.
– Nov. 27: “The Story of Santa Claus,” 9-10 p.m., CBS.
– Nov. 29: “Disney Prep & Landing” and its sequel, 7 and 7:30 p.m., ABC. Also, the second one is on Freeform, 10:30 p.m. Dec. 15.
– Nov. 29: “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas,” 8:30 p.m., Fox.
AND MORE CARTOONS
– Dec. 3: Some of “The Simpsons” Christmas episodes, 11 a.m., Freeform; also, 7 a.m. Dec. 10; 7 a.m. Dec. 12; 7 a.m. Dec. 17; 1 a.m., the night of Dec. 18; 7 a.m., Dec. 20; 12:30 a.m., the night of Dec, 22; 7 a.m. and midnight, Dec. 24; 7 a.m. Dec. 25.
– Dec. 3: “Little Drummer Boy,” 11:30 a.m., Freeform; also, 7:30 a.m. Dec. 19;
– Dec. 5-6, 17-18: Here are AMC marathons of animation, especially from Rankin Bass, the company that’s known for “Rudolph” and “Frosty,” but also did a cascade of others. On Dec. 5, that’s 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., then that night, 12:30-6 a.m. On Dec. 6, it’s 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., then midnight to 6 a.m. Then it’s 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Dec. 18.
– Dec. 6: “An Elf on the Shelf,” 7:30 p.m., TBS; also, 8:30, Dec. 13.
– Dec. 11: “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” 6:45 p.m. Dec. 11, AMC; also, 6:45 p.m. and midnight Dec. 17.
– Dec. 14: “All I Want For Christmas is You” (Mariah Carey), 9:15 a.m., AMC.
– Dec. 15: “Nestor, the Long-Eared Donkey,” 9 a.m., AMC.
– Dec. 19: “Kung Fu Panda Christmas, 7 a.m., Dec. 19, Freeform.
– Dec. 22: “Santa’s Apprentice” (French, dubbed into English), 7 a.m., Freeform.
NEW TV MOVIES
– Nov. 26: “Christmas by Starlight,” 8 p.m., Hallmark.
– Nov. 27: “Dear Christmas,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Five Star Christmas,” 8 p.m., Hallmark.
– Nov. 28: “Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Christmas Waltz” (Lacey Chabert), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “USS Christmas,” 10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
– Nov. 29: “A Royal Christmas Engagement,” 7 p.m., Ion (also, 9 p.m. Dec. 5, 3 p.m. Dec. 13, 5 p.m. Dec. 24); “Once Upon a Main Street,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “If I Only Had Christmas” (Candace Cameron Bure), 8 p.m., Hallmark.
– Nov. 30: “The Christmas Listing,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
– Dec. 3: “Mistletoe Magic,” 10 p.m. ET, UpTV (also, 5 p.m. Dec. 6; 9 p.m. Dec. 20).
– Dec. 4: “Godmothered,” any time, Disney+. A novice godmother (Jillian Bell) finds a letter from a 10-year-old girl … who’s now a 40-year-old (Isla Fisher), finding happiness elusive. “Too Close For Christmas,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
– Dec. 5: “Dashing Home for Christmas,” 7 p.m. ET, Dec. 5, UpTV (also, 7 p.m. Dec. 11; 5 p.m. Dec. 13; 10 p.m. Dec. 15; 3 p.m. Dec. 20; 7 p.m. Dec. 22); “Let’s Meet Again Christmas Eve,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing” (Holly Robinson Peete), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “A Little Christmas Charm,” 10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
– Dec. 6: “Christmas on the Range,” 7 and 11 p.m. ET, UpTV (also, 10 p.m. Dec. 17; 5 p.m. Dec. 20); “Christmas Together,” 7 p.m., Ion (also, 9 p.m. Dec. 12, 3 p.m. Dec. 20, 3 p.m. Dec. 25); “Christmas Ever After,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Christmas She Wrote” (Danica McKellar), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Time For Us to Come Home for Christmas” (produced by Blake Shelton, as was a similarly titled movie last year), 10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
– Dec. 7: “The Santa Squad,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
– Dec. 11: “Inn Love by Christmas,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
– Dec. 12: “Beaus of Holly,” 7 p.m., Ion (also, 9 p.m. Dec. 20, 3 p.m. Dec. 24); “The Christmas Setup,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Cross Country Christmas” (Rachael Leigh Cook), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “A Glenbrooke Christmas,” 10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
– Dec. 13: “A Christmas Princess,” 7 and 11 p.m. ET, UpTV (also, 11 p.m. Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Dec. 21); “The Christmas Sitters,” 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Ion (also, 5 p.m. Dec. 20, 3 p.m. Dec. 25); “A Sugar & Spice Holiday,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Christmas Comes Twice” (Tamera Mowrey-Housley, accidentally rides a time-traveling carousel), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Unlucky Christmas,” 10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
– Dec. 14: “Lonestar Christmas,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
– Dec. 18: “Christmas on the Menu,” 8 p.m., Liretime.
– Dec. 19: “Christmas at Rosemont,” 7 and 9 p.m., UpTV ET; “A Christmas Exchange,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Christmas Carousel” (Rachel Boston helps a prince), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Swept Up By Christmas,” 10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
– Dec. 20: “Love, Light, Hanukkah!” (Mia Kirshner learns via DNA that she has Jewish roots), 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Project Christmas Wish,” 10 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
– Dec. 22: “The Christmas High Note,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
– Dec. 23: “Christmas at the Castle,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
– Dec. 25: “My Sweet Holiday,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.
SOME MORE MOVIES
– Already available: Hallmark Movies Now has 23 Christmas movies, bearing such titles as “Annie Claus Is Coming to Town” and, of course, “A Husband For Christmas.” Three involve royalty. One of the best is Doris Roberts in the Debbie MacComber tale, “Call Me Mrs. Miracle.”
– Dec. 11: Three exceptionally good Christmas movies are back-to-back on Freeform – “Snow” (2004) at 8 a.m., “Snow 2” (2008) at 10 and the unrelated “Snowglobe” (2007) at noon. “Snow” is also on the night of Nov. 30, at midnight.
MORE CHRISTMAS CLASSICS
– Dec. 1: “Miracle on 34th Street,” the Richard Attenborough/Mara Wilson version (1994), 1 p.m., Freeform. (Reruns 11 a.m. Dec. 2; 1:35 p.m. Dec. 16; 10:30 a.m., Dec. 17; 11:20 p.m., Dec. 19; 9:30 a.m., Dec. 20; 12:30 p.m., Dec. 21; 8:30 a.m., Dec. 22.)
– Dec. 19: “A Night at the Movies,” 10:45 a.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies; also, 1:45 a.m. the night of Dec. 22. Looks at classic Christmas movies and scenes.
– Dec. 19: “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947), 6 p.m., ET Turner Classic Movies; also, 8 p.m., Dec. 24.
– Dec. 22: “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945), 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movie; also, 6 p.m. Dec. 24.
“THE SANTA CLAUSE”
– Dec. 2: All three movies run on Freeform at 6:25 p.m.(1994), 8:30 p.m. (2002) and midnight (2006). They’re also back-to-back starting at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 4; 12:30 p.m. Dec. 10; 10:05 a.m. Dec. 12; 7:15 p.m. Dec. 13; 4:15 p.m. Dec. 16; 2:20 p.m. Dec. 18; 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21; 1:30 p.m. Dec. 23 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 25.
– Dec. 5: The first two are 9:20 and 11:30 p.m., Freeform; also, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7.
– Dec. 6: The third is 11:55 p.m., Freeform; also, 6:15 p.m. Dec. 8.
MORE KEY MOVIE MEMORIES
– Dec. 1: “Fred Claus” (2007), 5 p.m., AMC; also, midnight, Dec. 3; 10 p.m., Dec. 4; midnight, Dec. 8; 10 p.m. , Dec. 9; 10 p.m. Dec. 15; 3 p.m. Dec. 16; 10 p.m. Dec. 22; 3:30 p.m. and midnight, Dec. 23.
– Dec. 1: “The Polar Express” (2004), 7:30 p.m., AMC; also, 6 p.m. Dec. 2; 10 p.m., Dec. 8; 4 p.m., Dec. 9; 8 p.m. Dec. 11; 10 p.m. Dec. 14; 4 p.m. Dec. 15; 8 p.m. Dec. 17; 6 p.m. Dec. 18; 10 p.m. Dec. 23.
– Nov. 26: “Christmas Vacation” (1989), 8 p.m., AMC; also, 6 p.m. Nov. 27; 8 and 10:15 p.m., Dec. 2; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Dec. 5; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Dec. 10; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Dec. 16.
– Dec. 3: “Elf” (2003), 8 and 10 p.m., AMC; also, 8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 6; 8 p.m., Dec. 8; 6 p.m., Dec. 9; 6 p.m. Dec. 15; 8 p.m., Dec. 23.
– Dec. 4: “A Christmas Story” (1983), 8 p.m., TBS; also, 6 p.m. Dec. 5; then on TNT, 8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 21; then a 24-hour marathon every two hours, starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 24 on TBS and 9 p.m. Dec. 24 on TNT.
– Dec. 7: “Love, Actually” (2003), 3:30 p.m., Freeform; also, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8., Freeform; then 10 p.m. Dec. 18, AMC; 5 p.m. Dec. 22, AMC.
MOVIES WITH GOSPEL MUSIC
– Dec. 4: “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996), 8:05 a.m. Dec. 4, Freeform; also, 7 a.m. Dec. 5. Whitney Houston adds music to the fantasy tale “The Bishop’s Wofe” (1947). The original (1947) is 6 p.m. ET Dec. 19 and 8 p.m., Dec. 24 on Turner Classic Movies.
– Dec. 9: “Joyful Noise,” 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., AMC. It’s an OK movie about a small church choir, boosted by the immense talent of Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan.
RELIGIOUS
– Dec. 1: “Veni Domine: Advent & Christmas at the Sistine Chapel,” 6 a.m. ET, Ovation.
– Dec. 13: “Christmas With The Chosen,” 8-10 p.m. ET BYUTV; also 2 p.m. Dec. 20. It’s the Christmas story with music by Mandisa, For King and Country, Zach Williams and more.
– Dec. 24: Mass from St. Basilica, 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., NBC; also, CBS tends to have a Protestant service on Christmas Eve (check local listings for both).
– ALSO: See “animated movies,” above.
DRAMAS
– Dec. 6: “Call the Midwife” reruns its two previous Christmas specials at 8 and 9:30 p.m., PBS (check local listings); its new special is 9 p.m. Dec. 25.
– Dec. 19: “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries: Murder Under the Mistletoe,” 1 p.m. ET, Ovation.
– Dec. 24: “Murdoch Mysteries: A Merry Murdoch Christmas,” 6 p.m., Ovation (al ETso, 6 a.m. Dec. 25).
NON-FICTION:
– Nov. 26: “12 Dates of Christmas” dating show, HBO Max; the first three episodes air Nov. 26, followed bt three on Dec. 3 and the final two Dec. 10.
– Dec. 3: “Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic 2,” 10:30 a.m., Freeform.
– Dec. 4: “Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic,” 7 a.m., Freeform.
– Dec. 5: “The Art of Holidays,” 11 a.m. Dec. 5, Ovation; also 6:30 a.m. Dec. 19.
– Dec. 10: “Silent Night: A Song For the World,” 8-10 p.m., CW; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 23.
“NUTCRACKER” VARIATIONS
– Already available: “A Nutcracker Christmas,” Hallmark Movies Now. A ballerina is about to go onstage, when she learns that her sister has died. She vows never to dance again, until …
– Also already available: The Ovation network has three international productions on its web site. That’s ovationtv.com/watch/battle-of-the-nutcrackers/
– Nov. 27: “Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker,” any time, Netflix. The documentary follows Debbie Allen and her dance academy students, shaping her re-imagined production.
– Nov. 27: “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” 11:55 p.m., Freeform; also, 7 a.m. Nov. 28. Directors Lasse Hallstrom and Joe Johnston create a fantasy film that’s gorgeous visually, but with a so-so story.
– Dec. 15: Ballet West, 7 p,m. ET, BYUTV; also 7 a.m. ET Dec. 25.
COMPETITIONS
– Nov. 26: “Craftopia” holiday specials, any time, HBO Max.
– Nov. 26: “Top Elf,” 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Nickelodeon, through Dec. 17. The show (which started Nov. 19) has kids compete to be chosen by Santa as his best elf.
– Dec.4: “Holiday Magic Quest,” 8 p.m., Disney. The channel’s stars face challenges and obstacles inside Disney World after dark.
– Dec. 6: “Challenge Accepted: Disney Channel’s Epic Holiday Showdown,” 7 p.m., Disney. The channel’s young stars try to to save Christmas for Santa.
– Dec. 9, 16 and 23: “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Each hour, Carter Oosterhouse or Taniya Nayak looks at four homes with spectacular decorations, then chooses a winner.
– Dec.11, 18, 25: “The Christmas Caroler Challenge,” 8-10 p.m., CW.
HOMES AND DECORATIONS AND SUCH
– Nov. 27; Dec. 4, 11, 18: “The Biggest Little Christmas Showdown,” 9 p.m., HGTV. Miniaturists have a tournament.
– Dec. 6: “Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic,” 7 a.m., Freeform. Also, 7 a.m. Dec. 11.
– Dec. 11: “My Lottery Dream House: Holiday Extravaganza,” 8 p.m., HGTV. David Bronfeld show holiday decorating on a non-lottery budget.
– Dec. 18: “You’ll Be Home for Christmas,” 10 p.m., HGTV, Albie Mushaney doubles (or triples) as a strongman, a real-estate agent and a Santa impersonator. Here, he tries to get first-time buyers into a home by Christmas, adding cookies, cocoa and a decorated tree.