TV AND RADIO

Holiday TV guide 2020: When to watch holiday classics or cozy up to new gems

Mike Hughes
Special to Cincinnati Enquirer
A notable scene from "A Christmas Story." You know it.

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 morning.

That’s when a mega-parade is supposed to boom through New York. Instead, the floats will only travel one block, for the cameras of NBC, which taped music numbers in advance; CBS also taped numbers and will show highlights from past parades,

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.

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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 overpacked 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:

The Thanksgiving turkey leads off the parade on Central Park West at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York in 2019.

PARADES

– Nov, 26: “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” 9 a.m. to noon, NBC, repeating 2-5 p.m. It’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. “The National Dog Show” follows at noon, repeating at 8 p.m. Saturday.

– Nov. 26: “Thanksgiving Day Celebration,” 9 a.m. to noon, CBS. 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.

"How The Grinch Stole Christmas" starring Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen

GRINCHY THINGS

– Nov. 27: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 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.

Frosty and his friends set off on a whirlwind adventure in search of the North Pole in "Frost the Snowman," the classic animated musical special.

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-subscribers can catch it online, Dec. 11-13.

– Dec. 17: “How Murray Saved Christmas,” 9 a.m., Dec. 17. This is filled with wonderfully witty songs, 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., 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. 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. 20: “The Sound of Music,” 7-11 p.m., ABC.

– Dec. 23: “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944). 8 p.m. 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.

Frank Cross (Bill Murray) encounters a playfully vicious fairy (Carol Kane) in "Scrooged."

“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, Turner Classic Movies.

ABC kicks off the holidays with the “Magical Holiday Celebration.“

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”). After that new opener, the siblings will 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 the “Frozen” stars, Idina Menzel and Kristen 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 three 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 from 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-winner (who’s also in “Grace Notes” at 7 p.m.), 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., BYUTV. Also, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23, 11 a.m. Dec. 25.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, the husband-wife country stars, perform in their home studio, taking requests in advance for "A Holiday Event."

– Dec. 20: “Garth and Tricia Live: A Holiday 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,” previously listed.

– Dec. 21: “Nativity Story,” 9 a.m., AMC.

"Olaf's Frozen Adventure."

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: “Santa 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;

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.

Lacey Chabert seems to be ever-present in the list of holiday movie stardom. See her in "Christmas Waltz" this year.

– 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., 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., 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., 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., 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., Lifetime.

– Dec. 19: “Christmas at Rosemont,” 7 and 9 p.m., UpTV; “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.

Tim Allen learns he just got a new gig in the holiday comedy "The Santa Clause."

“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.

Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) goes all out for the holiday in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

– 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.

“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 ...

– 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., BYUTV; also 7 a.m. 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 with 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.