Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Holiday TV Viewing Guide

Every year the Christmas season rolls around, and every year I have no idea where or when all my favorite holiday specials are airing. So in the seasonal spirit of giving, I thought I would help us all out and provide a handy Holiday TV Viewing Guide to assist you in navigating through all the classic Christmas movies, cartoons, and live specials.

Too make it easier, I've broken the guide down by week and have put an asterisk (*) by the brand new offerings (there are some programs that air more than once so I've listed each airing in case you miss the first one). Also, I've tried to maintain a certain standard of quality, so if you want to waste your time trying to find Jingle All the Way or Christmas with the Kranks, you're on your own.

For me personally, my Can't Miss Favorites include National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and It's a Wonderful Life, my ABSOLUTE Can't Miss Favorites are the first and second Home Alone films, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and the crown jewel, A Christmas Story (I will literally watch it all the way through multiple times during TBS' 24 hour marathon on Christmas Day.

What are your favorites? If you can't find one of your classics on the list, just let me know and I will track it down for you... just not Jingle All the Way or Christmas with the Kranks.

Happy viewing!



DECEMBER 1-5

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Nightly Dec. 1 – Dec. 4, AMC

*Disney's Prep & Landing: Tuesday, Dec. 1, ABC

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Wednesday Dec. 2, CBS

Christmas in Rockefeller Center: Wednesday, Dec. 2, NBC

The Polar Express: Thursday, Dec. 3, ABC Family

Home Alone: Friday, Dec. 4, FX

White Christmas: Saturday, Dec. 5, AMC



DECEMBER 6-12

Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special: Monday, Dec. 7, FOX

Twas the Night Before Christmas: Monday Dec. 7, ABC Family

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town: Monday Dec. 7, ABC

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Tuesday, Dec. 8, ABC

Mickey's Christmas Carol: Tuesday Dec. 8, ABC Family

The Year Without a Santa Claus: Tuesday Dec. 8, ABC Family

Miser Brothers' Christmas: Tuesday Dec. 8, ABC Family

Shrek the Halls: Wednesday Dec. 9, ABC

*Yes, Virginia: Friday Dec. 11, CBS

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Friday Dec. 11, NBC

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Saturday Dec. 12, CBS

It's a Wonderful Life: Saturday Dec. 12, NBC

The Christmas Shoes: Saturday Dec. 12, Lifetime Movie Network



DECEMBER 13-19

Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas: Monday, Dec. 14, ABC

Home Alone 2: Tuesday, Dec. 15, ABC Family

Saturday Night Live Christmas 2009: Thursday, Dec. 17, NBC

Frosty the Snowman: Friday Dec. 18, CBS

Frosty Returns: Friday Dec. 18, CBS

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Saturday, Dec. 19, NBC



DECEMBER 20-25

Christmas in Washington: Sunday, Dec. 20, TNT

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Wednesday Dec. 23, ABC

A Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill: Wednesday Dec. 23, CBS

Miracle on 34th Street: Wednesday Dec. 23, ABC Family

It's a Wonderful Life: Thursday Dec. 24, NBC

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Thursday Dec. 24, ABC

A Christmas Story: 24-hour marathon starts Thursday Dec. 24, TBS

2 comments:

Just Being Josh said...

Just saw this from TVGuide.com:

The president's address (tonight, Dec. 1) led ABC to push its hourlong block of A Charlie Brown Christmas and Prep & Landing to Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the same time

Robbie said...

I don't see one of the all-time Christmas classics on your list - "The Bishop's Wife" starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. It was released in 1947 and for whatever reason, usually receives very little airplay. But trust me, it is a classic story for Christmas with a great message in the midst of it. We were blessed to find a $9.99 DVD of it a few years ago and that is one of our Christmas day traditions - watching the "The Bishop's Wife". And yes, "The Preacher's Wife" with Denzel Washington from a few years back is supposed to be an updated version, but I wouldn't know, I haven't seen it, and don't plan to! Don't know why they would think they could update a classic!