‘Tis the season to binge watch

Old-timers might recall when Christmas was a day, or maybe 12 days. Now it’s a marathon..

Back in 1996, the Family Channel created “25 Days of Christmas.” Since then, the channel has changed its name three times and has decided 25 days aren’t nearly enough. Now it’s called Freeform and started it “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” on Sunday (Nov. 18).

By then, the Hallmark Channel has already shown two new Christmas movies. It has 20 more this season ... plus another 15 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Still, the real rush starts with the parades on Thanksgiving morning. Here’s a list of the key things – new TV movies, specials and cartoons, plus reruns of a few of the key cartoons and movies.

Everything is subject to change and to extra details. A few networks have said when their new shows will rerun, but many haven’t; two (Fox and NBC) – have been slow with any specifics. Still, here’s a guide to what’s set so far, for a busy (and long) Christmas TV season.

Parades

• Macy’s parade, 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 22, NBC. It’s the 92nd year for the parade, which has 12 bands, 26 floats, 59 balloons and 1,200 dancers and cheerleaders. NBC, with the “Today” people, also plans music by John Legend, Martina McBride, Diana Ross, Leona Lewis, Pentatonix and more.

• Same parade, 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, CBS. This network has Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight hosting, with the casts of the Tony-winning “Dear Evan Hansen” and the new “King Kong” musical.

• Hollywood Christmas Parade, 8-10 p.m. Dec. 14, CW. Nancy O’Dell is grand marshal. Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams host, with music on two stages.

• Christmas Day Parade, 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 25, 9-11 a.m. in other time zones, ABC. Jordan Fischer, Sarah Hyland and Jesse Palmer host in the Disney parks. There’s music by Fisher, Gwen Stefani, Andrea Bocelli (alone and with his son Matteo), Brett Eldredge, Aloe Blacc, Maddie Poppe, Olivia Holt, Dcappella and Why Don’t We.

Cartoon classics

•“How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, NBC. Also, 8 p.m. Dec. 6 on TBS, followed by “Elf on the Shelf” at 8:30. Dr. Seuss and Chuck Jones created one of TV’s all-time greats.

•“Frosty the Snowman,” 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, CBS, with its sequel, “Frosty Returns,” at 8:30. They’re also at 9 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 8.

•“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” 8-9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, CBS; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 8.

•“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” 8 p.m. Dec. 6; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 20. Like “Grinch,” this is one of the all-time best. Rounding out the hour are short bits adapted from the “Peanuts” comic strip.

“A Christmas Carol”

• “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” 9 a.m. Dec. 5, Freeform; also, 7 a.m. Dec. 6 and Dec. 15; 7:30 a.m. Dec. 18; 11 a.m. Dec. 21. It’s a gorgeous half-hour.

•“A Christmas Carol” (1938), 8:30 a.m. Dec. 2, Turner Classic Movies; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 16 and 6 p.m. Dec. 24. Reginald Owen stars.

•“Disney’s Christmas Carol” (2009), 9:50 p.m. Dec. 7, Freeform; also, 2:20 p.m. Dec. 8; 9 p.m. Dec. 12; 9:15 p.m. Dec. 15; 5:10 p.m. Dec. 17; 4:10 p.m. Dec. 24; 12:40 p.m. Dec. 25.

Comedy

•“I Love Lucy Christmas Special,” 8-9 p.m. Dec. 14, CBS. Here are two classic episodes, with color added by computer. There’s a Christmas one that’s included each year, followed by a newly colorized one, with the men and women trying to prove they could have survived in the pioneer days.

•“The Dick Van Dyke Show – Now In Living Color,” 9-10 p.m. Dec. 14, CBS. This isn’t really about Christmas, but makes a cozy companion to Lucy, with two colorized episodes.

•“Greatest Holiday Commercials,” 8 p.m. Dec. 18, CW. At 9 is “Greatest Holiday Video Countdown.”

Mostly music

•“The Soul & Spirit of Christmas,” 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, GetTV (via digital and cable) , rerunning at 10 p.m. and midnight; many more reruns, starting with 10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, rerunning at 1 a.m. CeCe and BeBe Winans lead a gospel-star line-up singing holiday classics; others are Anthony Hamilton, Take 6, Karyn Hawthorne and Kyla Jade. Except for this new special, GetTV sticks to old shows – including the Christmas specials of decades past.

•“Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” Wednesday, Nov. 28, NBC, with details pending.

•“A Legendary Christmas,” 10 pm. Wednesday, Nov. 28, NBC. John Legend does songs from his new album, in an hour that includes his wife Chrissy Teigen and others.

•“Magical Holiday Celebration,” 9-11 p.m. Nov. 29, ABC. Jordan Fisher and Sarah Hyland host from Disney World, with Jesse Palmer in Disneyland. Performers include Fisher, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor (joined by Brett Eldredge for one song), Aloe Blacc, Maddie Poppe, Why Don’t We and a duet with Andrea Bocelli and his son Mateo.

•“Christmas Holiday Party,” 8 p.m. Dec. 1, Disney (but Nov. 23 on the DisneyNOW app). Fisher hosts with the “Coop & Cami” kids, with music by Stefani, Elderdge, Asher Angel and Meg Donnelly.

•“CMA Country Christmas,” 8-10 p.m. Dec. 10, ABC; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 22. Reba McEntire hosts, with people from Nashville (Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Brett Eldredge, Dustin Lynch, Old Dominion) and beyond – Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Lindsey Stirling.

•“Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas,” 8 p.m. Dec. 10, Hallmark. Grant is joined by her husband Vince Gill, plus Kellie Pickler and Michael W. Smith.

•“iHeartRadio Jingle Ball,” 8-9:30 p.m. Dec. 16, CW; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 25. Performers include Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Camilla Cabello, many more.

•“Christmas at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir,” 9 p.m. Dec. 17, PBS; also, 9 p.m. Dec. 24 and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 25 (check local listings). Sutton Foster, a two-time Tony-winner, sings; Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey”) does a reading.

•“A Home For the Holidays,” 8-9 p.m. Dec. 21, CBS. It’s the 20th year for this special, which mixes top singers (still pending) with warm stories about adoption.

More specials

•“A Happy & Friends Yule Log,” concludes at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The 24-hour marathon has adoptable kittens and puppies. plus ducks, bunnies and a piglet.

• National Christmas Tree lighting, with music, 10 p.m. Dec. 2, Ovation and Reelz. It’s a living tree, a Colorado blue spruce, surrounded by 56 smaller trees representing each state and territory.

•“Pop Up Santa Holiday Special,” 9:30-11 p.m. Dec. 3, Freeform; also, 8 a.m. Dec. 4; 11 a.m. Dec. 11; 7 a.m. Dec. 20. Feel-good surprises range from a military base to a children’s hospital to an epic family reunion. Ballerina Misty Copeland and former football star DeMarco Murray help.

•“Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic,” 8 p.m. Dec. 8, Freeform; also, 11 a.m. Dec. 10; 1 p.m. Dec. 19. One wedding at Disney World has a Mary Poppins theme; another has a performance by Martina McBride. Allison Holker and Stephen “tWitch” Boss host this one and “Pop Up Santa.”

•“Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic,” 8 p.m. Dec. 23, CW. Guests include magicians (Jonathan Pendragon, Murray SawChuck, etc.) and Christmas Choir.

More cartoons

•“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” 8-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, ABC. Young Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney) finds his goal in life. It’s also on Freeform at 4:05 p.m. Dec. 5; 4:25 p.m. Dec. 8; 9:30 a.m. Dec. 9; 11 a.m. Dec. 16; 11:30 a.m. Dec. 21; 12:40 p.m. Dec. 25.

•“Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” 8-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, CW; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 19.

•“Trolls Holiday,” 8:30 p.m., Nov. 23, NBC. Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake star.

•“Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, CBS; with its sequel at 8:30. These are drolly clever British shows, re-dubbed by American actors.

•“The Story of Santa Claus,” 9-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, CBS. Ed Asner is Santa.

•“Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” 8 p.m. Nov. 29, ABC; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 19. This debuted last year, with songs from the “Frozen” stars – Josh Gad, Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel.

•“Toy Story That Time Forgot,” 8:30 p.m. Nov. 29, ABC; also, 11:45 a.m. Dec. 23, Freeform. During a play date, the toys are stranded with some delusional action figures.

•“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas,” 1:05 p.m. Dec. 2, Freeform; also, 7 a.m. Dec. 3; 1:30 p.m. Dec. 12; 7:30 a.m. Dec. 15; 8:30 a.m. Dec. 20; 7 a.m. Dec. 21.

• “Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too,” 8:30 a.m. Dec. 3, Freeform; also, 7:30 a.m. Dec. 8; 7 a.m. Dec. 9; 7 a.m. Dec. 11; 10:30 a.m. Dec. 21.

• “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas,” 3 p.m. Dec. 12; also, 9 a.m. Dec. 15; 10 a.m. Dec. 20; 8:30 a.m. Dec. 21; 11 a.m. Dec. 24; 8 a.m. Dec. 24.

•“Disney Prep & Landing,” 8 p.m. Dec. 13, ABC, with its sequel at 8:30; also, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 23. On Freeform, they’re at 2:25 and 2:55 p.m. Dec. 22 and 7 and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 25. These look at the high-tech crew that prepares each of Santa’s stops.

•“Shrek the Halls,” 8:30 p.m. Dec. 19, ABC. The good-hearted ogre tries to understand the holiday.

•“I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown,” 8-9 p.m. Dec. 21, ABC.

Home and food shows

•“Holiday Baking Championship” and “Christmas Cookie Challenge,” 9 and 10 p.m. Mondays, Food Network.

•“Holiday Wars” and “Holiday Gingerbread Showdown,” 8 and 9 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 25), Food Network

•“The Great Christmas Lights Fight,” 8-10 p.m. Mondays, ABC, Nov. 26, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17, plus an “all-stars” special at 10 p.m. Dec. 10 and 9 p.m. Dec. 21. In each hour, four homes compete with mega-displays; a judge (Taniya Nayak or Carter Oosterhouse) chooses a winner.

• Holiday cooking specials with country stars, noon Dec. 1 (Trisha Yearwood) and Dec. 2 (Martina McBride), Food Network.

•“The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition,” 8-10 p.m. Thursdays, ABC, starting Dec. 6; opener reruns at 8 p.m. Dec. 8. Judges include a Spice Girl (Emma Bunton) and “Spice” Adams.

•“A Hearty Holiday Feast,” 9 p.m., Dec. 18, PBS. Lidia Bastianich tries Midwestern traditions.

•“Gingerbread Giants,” 9 p.m. Dec. 23, Food Network

Movies

A few films that originally showed in theaters have now become big at Christmas time. Some have Christmas themes, some don’t, but all make popular holiday viewing:

•“The Wizard of Oz” (1939), 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22, TBS; also, 5:45 p.m. Nov. 23.

•“Love, Actually” (2003), 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, TBS; also, 5 p.m Dec. 1 and 9; 8 p.m. Dec. 21; 10 a.m. Dec. 22.

•“Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944), noon Dec. 1, Turner Classic Movies; also, 8 p.m. Dec. 16; 6 p.m. Dec. 24. Judy Garland stars in this one (singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”) and “Oz.”

•“The Sound of Music” (1965), 7-11 p.m. Dec. 16, ABC.

•“Holiday Inn” (1942), 8 p.m. Dec. 8, Turner Classic Movies. It’s the black-and-white film in which Bing Crosby introduced “White Christmas.” He repeated it in “White Christmas” (1954) on Netflix.

•“Beauty and the Beast” (1991), 8-10 p.m. Dec. 24, ABC.

•“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), 8-11 p.m. Dec. 24, NBC.

•“A Christmas Story” (1983), 8 p.m. Dec. 24, TBS; then 10 p.m., midnight, etc., for 24 hours.

New TV movies (the top prospects)

•“Christmas Everlasting,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, Hallmark. Lucy returns to her home town, harboring guilt. From the presigious “Hallmark Hall of Fame,” this stars Tatyana Ali, Dondre Whitfield, Dennis Haysbert and Patti LaBelle.

•“The Truth About Christmas,” 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, Freeform; also noon Dec. 3; 11 a.m. Dec. 13; 11:55 p.m. Dec. 21. Can truth and politics co-exist? A political consultant is running her boyfriend’s mayoral campaign. A confrontation with a toy-store Santa leaves her unable to resist spilling the truth.

•“Life-Size 2,” 9 p.m. Dec. 2, Freeform; also, 12:40 p.m. Dec. 9; 11:55 p.m. Dec. 15; 1:30 and 11:25 p.m. Dec. 20; 11:55 p.m. Dec. 23. Back in 2000, “Life-Size” had a sweet kid (Lindsay Lohan, then 13) bring her doll (Tyra Banks) to life. Now the sequel has Lohan in support, Banks as the doll and Francia Raisa as a young toy-company CEO who needs some guidance.

•“No Sleep Til Christmas,” 9 p.m. Dec. 10, Freeform; also, 11 a.m. Dec. 13. The husband-and-wife Annables (Dave and Odette) play insomniac strangers.

•“‘Call the Midwife’ Holiday Special,” 9-10:0 p.m. Dec. 25, PBS (check local listings). On Christmas Day, British TV has special versions of top shows. In this one, a new nun brings four Chinese orphans.

More new TV movies (November)

•“Christmas at the Palace,” 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22, Hallmark. A skating choreographer bumps into Alexander, unaware he’s royalty – dubbed by some “The Grinch King.”

•“Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe,” 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, Hallmark. Returning home fo Christmas, Darcy (Lacey Chabert) must plan a charity event with her former rival.

•“Poinsettias for Christmas,” 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, Lifetime. Ellie’s father (John Schneider) asks her to rush home for an emergency: The family business has a contract to provide thousands of poinsettias for the annual parade ... but so far, the flowers haven’t turned red. Doesn’t anyone have spray paint?

•“Every Day is Christmas,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, Lifetime. Toni Braxton plays a workaholic who ignores love – then gets a Christmas visit. Gloria Reuben and Michael Jai White co-star.

•“Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Returning home to sell their late parents’ home, siblings sift the belongings and find a surprise.

•“Christmas Harmony,” 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, Lifetime. Kelly Jakle plays (yes) Harmony.

•“A Shoe Addict’s Christmas,” 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, Hallmark. On Christmas Eve, Noelle (Candace Cameron Bure) is accidentally locked inside the department store where she works. Soon, she’s visited by the spirits of Christmases past, present and future.

•“Jingle Belle,” 8 p.m. Nov. 25, Lifetime. Returning home to write music for the Christmas pageant, Isabelle (Tatyana Ali) is startled to find that the show is directed by her old duet partner.

•“Christmas Cupid’s Arrow,” 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, Ion. It’s a variation on “Cyrano de Bergerac.”

•“Christmas Perfection,” 10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, Lifetime. An American woman wakes up in an Irish village.

•“A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding,” Nov. 30, Netflix. This is a sequel to last year’s success.

•“A Very Nutty Christmas,” 8 p.m. Nov. 30, Lifetime. There’s a guy in Melissa Joan Hart’s house who may be the Nutcracker Prince.

And more new ones (December)

There are a lot here, so we’ll bunch them by date:

• Dec. 1: “Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “A Twist of Christmas,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Welcome to Christmas,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

• Dec. 2: “Christmas Catch,” 7 p.m., UP; “Merry Wish-mas,” 7 p.m., TV One; “A Majestic Christmas,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “The Christmas Pact,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Northern Lights of Christmas,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; “A Wedding for Christmas,” 9 p.m., Ion.

•Dec. 7: “Christmas Lost and Found,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.

• Dec. 8: “Santa’s Boots,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Homegrown Christmas,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Memories of Christmas,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; “Rent-an-Elf,” 9 p.m., Ion.

• Dec. 9: “Christmas With a Prince” (there are lots of princes during holidays), 7 p.m., UP; “Christmas Wonderland,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “A Christmas in Tennessee,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Once Upon a Christmas Miracle,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; “A Snow White Christmas,” 9 p.m., Ion.

• Dec. 14: “Christmas Around the Corner,” 8 p.m., Lifetime.

• Dec. 15: “A Gingerbread Romance,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Christmas Pen Pals,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (with Josh Henderson as a country star, based on Blake Shelton’s song); “Country Christmas Album,” 9 p.m., Ion.

• Dec. 16: “Coins for Christmas,” 7 p.m., TV One; “Christmas on Holly Lane,” 7 p.m., UP; “Hometown Christmas,” 8 p.m., Lifetime; “Entertaining Christmas,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Reunited at Christmas,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; “A Christmas in Royal Fashion” (yes, there’s another prince), 9 p.m., Ion.

• Dec. 22: “Jingle Around the Clock,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Small Town Christmas,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

• Dec. 23: “Hometown Holiday,” 7 p.m., UP; “Christmas Made to Order,” 8 p.m., Hallmark; “Christmas Bells are Ringing,” 9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.