1) “A Christmas Story” (1983) marathon, 8 p.m., TBS; 9 p.m., TNT. This modest-budgeted gem (shown here) reruns every two hours, for 24 hours. It’s filled with memories of a 1940s childhood — some of them dark, some nostalgic and many of them surprisingly funny.
2) “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), 8-11 p.m., NBC. Here’s the opposite sort of Christmas classic, filled with warmth and emotion. James Stewart plays a small-town banker who needs a guardian angel to see the worth of his life. Then (after the news, at 11:35 p.m.) NBC visits Mass at the Vatican.
3) “Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir,” 8 p.m., PBS. This superb rerun has great moments from singer Ruthie Ann Miles and narrator Dennis Haysbert, plus the powerful impact of the 360-piece chorus, peaking with Handel’s “Messiah.” There’s also a Tabernacle concert at 6:30 p.m. ET on BYUtv, followed by the “Chosen” season-finale hours at 8 and 9.
4) Cartoons, Freeform. Kids can be distracted by Rudolph, Frosty and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” at 8:15, 9:20 and 9:55 p.m. Earlier, Freeform has the original “Prep & Landing” at 10:30 a.m., followed by non-cartoons — the “Santa Clause” films at 11 a.m. and 1:05 and 3:30 p.m.
5) MORE: At 8 p.m., ABC has “Home Alone” and CBS reruns the holiday edition of “Hollywood Squares,” followed by four “Ghosts” episodes. Also, there’s “A Minecraft Movie” (2023) at 8 on HBO and a bowl game — California and Hawaii at 8 p.m. ET in (conveniently) Hawaii.