Back on Thanksgiving Day, we posted a Christmas-on-TV mega-list. Now here’s a fresh version, covering only the 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 14-25). We’ve added some shows (especially in the “key movies” category, “comedy” and the new “drama” category, plus extra details on others. Here we go:
“HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS” (cartoon version)
This animated gem (shown here) remains one of TV’s two great Christmas moments. The other, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” is on Amazon Prime.
— On NBC: 8 p.m., Dec. 25.
— TBS: 10 a.m., Dec. 14; 2:45 and 3:15 p.m., Dec. 15; 10 and 10:30 p.m., Dec. 19.
— On TNT, 7 and 9:45 p.m., Dec. 15; also, 12:30 a.m.
“A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS”
Alongside “Grinch,” this is the other animated masterwork; it’s now owned by Apple TV+.
— Available to non-subscribers: Dec. 14, 15.
— Then only to subscribers, alongside other “Peanuts” cartoons, including four more Christmas ones.
“RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER”
— On Freeform: 9:20p.m., Dec. 16; 7:55 p.m., Dec. 17; 6:15 p.m., Dec. 21; 3 p.m., Dec. 22; 8 p.m., Dec. 24; 10:30 a.m., Dec. 25.
“FROSTY THE SNOWMAN”
– On Freeform: 8:45 p.m., Dec. 16; 7:20 p.m., Dec. 17; 5:40 p.m., Dec. 21; 2:25 p.m., Dec. 22; 7:30 p.m., Dec. 24; 10:30 a.m., Dec. 25.
“SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN”
— On Freeform: 10:25 a.m., Dec. 16; 6:15 p.m., Dec. 17; 4:35 p.m., Dec. 21; 1:20 p.m., Dec. 22.
MUSIC
— Already here: “A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter,” Netflix.
— Dec. 16: “Christmas at the Opry,” 8-10 p.m., NBC; also, 8 p.m., Dec. 19. There’s music from Little Big Town (the hosts), Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson and more, including vibrant gospel numbers from Kirk Franklin .
— Dec. 17: “Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir,” 8-9:30 p.m., PBS; reruns 9:30 p.m. Dec. 24 on PBS and elsewhere (see Dec. 19). Broadway’s Michael Maliakel is backed by almost 360 voices, a 150-piece orchestra and more. Also, Lesley Nicole (“Down Abbey”) tells of author Victor Hugo at Christmastime.
— Dec. 17: “The Gospel Messiah,” 9:30 p.m., PBS. Handel’s “Messiah” is entwined with jazz, gospel and R&B sounds.
— Dec. 18: “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Performers include Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor, Teddy Swims, Tate McRae, Madison Beer, Benson Boone, Twenty One Pilots and The Kid Laroi.
— Dec. 19: The Tabernacle Choir concert is 9 p.m. ET on BYUtv, where it will repeat several times, through Christmas Day..
— Dec. 19: “A Very Barry Christmas,” 10 p.m., NBC. This reruns Barry Manilow’s Las Vegas concert, with big-band backing.
— Dec. 20: “National Christmas Tree Lighting,” 8 p.m., CBS. There’s music from Mickey Guyton (who hosts), James Taylor, Trisha Yarwod, Adam Blackwood, Muni Long, Stephen Sanchez, Trombone Shorty and The War and Treaty.
— Dec. 20: “Josh Groban and Friends Go Home for the Holidays,” 9-10 p.m., CBS. The annual format includes passionate music and true stories about adoption. This time it’s been revised and will include an onstage adoption. Music is by Groban, Jennifer Hudson, Tori Kelly, James Bay and The War and Treaty.
— Dec. 24: “Gaither Vocal Band: New Star Shining,: 7 p.m. ET, UpTV.
PARADES
— Dec. 14: “Hollywood Christmas Parade,” 8-10 p.m., CW. Performers (Jon Secada. “America’s Got Talent” winner Terry Fator, “American Idol” finalists Clay Aiken and Elliot Yamin), plus nine bands, dancers, drummers, hot rods and the Los Angeles cast of “Wicked.”
— Dec. 25: “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Parade,” 10 a.m. to noon ET (but 5-7 a.m. PT and MT), ABC. Performers include Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough (the hosts) plus Elton John, Carly Pearce, John Legend, Andy Grammer, Seventeen, Pentatonix and the cast of “Descendants: The Rise of Red.”
COMEDY
— Dec. 14: “Nugget is Dead:” 8-10 p.m., CBS. After a slow start, this is a surprisingly good movie, with both humor and warmth.
— Dec. 18: “A Saturday Night Live Christmas,” 9-11 p.m., NBC, preceded at 8 p.m. by a rerun of Jimmy Fallon’s speical; also, 8-10 p.m., Dec. 23.
— Dec. 19: An hour-long “Ghosts,” 8 p.m., CBS. Jay’s hard-to-please parents arrive for the holiday.
— Dec. 19: “Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas,” 9-10 p.m., CBS; also, 9 p.m., Dec. 24. There’s stand-up comedy, plus sketches and (briefly) music from Carrie Underwood, Noah Kahan and Darius Rucker.
DRAMA
— Dec. 25: “Call the Midwife,” 8-10 p.m., PBS. The annual Christmas episode again mixes several stories, some light, some deeply emotional and even a surprisingly vibrant romance.
— ALSO: Several other British shows have Christmas episodes. They are well-made, but their stories focus on mysteries, with less attention to the holiday. Acorn adds “The Chelsea Detective” on Dec. 16; Britbox has “Sistr Boniface” on Dec. 17, “Beyond Paradise” on Dec. 25 and “Death in Paradise” on Dec. 17.
A CHRISTMAS STORY
This 1983 film manages to blend warm nostalgia and dark humor.
— Dec. 16: 7:45 p.m. and midnight, TNT.
— Dec. 24: Marathon starts at 8 p.m. on TBS and 9 p.m. on TNT; continues every two hours, until 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Dec. 25.
— Dec. 25: A sequel, “A Christmas Story Christmas,” is 9 p.m. on TNT.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
— Already here: “Scrooge: A Christmas Carol” on Netflix. The stage musical was turned into an animated movie.
— Dec. 14: Jim Carrey as Scrooge (2009), 10 a.m., Freeform. Also, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 18; 9:35 a.m., Dec. 22; 9:30 a.m., Dec. 23; 7 a.m., Dec. 25.
— Dec. 14: “Jetsons Christmas Carol,” 6:30-7 p.m., MeTV; also, 5 p.m., Dec. 24.
— Dec. 18: The Reginald Owen version (1938), 6:45 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies; also, 11:45 p.m., Dec. 24.
— Also: “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” an animated gem from 1983, is at Disney+, And Amazon Prime has “Jeff Dunham’s Scrooged Up Holiday Special,” with Dunham’s dummy characters taking al the roles.
“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” (1946)
— On NBC, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Dec. 24.
–On E: 5 and 8 p.m., Dec. 16.
“HOME ALONE” (1990)
— On ABC: 8-10 p.m., Dec, 24..
— On Freeform, with its sequel: 6:45 and 9:15 p.m., Dec. 14; 2:10 and 4:40 p.m., Dec. 15;3:35 and 6:05 p.m., Dec. 16; 1:05 and 3:35 p.m., Dec. 17; 1:05 and 3:35 p.m., Dec. 19; 5 and 7:25 p.m., Dec. 20; 11:30 .m. and 2 p.m., Dec, 21; 4:05 and 6:35 p.m., Dec. 22; 6:30 and 9 p.m., Dec. 23; 6 and 8:25 p.m., Dec. 25.
— On FX: 7 and 9:30 p.m., Dec. 15; 7 and 9:30 p.m., Dec. 21;
“GRINCH” MOVIES
— Jim Carrey as the Grinch (2000) on NBC: 8:30-11 p.m., Dec. 25.
— Carrey on Freeform: 4:05 p.m., Dec. 14; 8:20 p.m., Dec. 19; 2:25, Dec. 20; 9:15 p.m., Dec. 22; 3:50 p.m., Dec. 23;
— Benedict Cumberbatch in an animated “Grinch” on Freeform: 2:05 p.m., Dec. 14; 12:10 p.m., Dec. 15; 9 p.m., Dec. 17; 2:30 p.m., Dec. 18; 10 p.m., Dec. 20; 9:30 a.m., Dec. 21; 9 p.m., Dec. 24; 4 p.m., Dec. 25.
“THE SANTA CLAUSE” (1994)
— On ABC: 8-10 p.m., Dec. 22.
— On Freeform (with its sequels, 2002 and 2006): 7:20, 9:25 and 11:55 p.m., Dec. 15; 9 a.m., 11:05 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Dec. 16; 4:30, 6:30, and 8:55 p.m., Dec. 18;8 and 10 a.m. and 2:25 p.m., Dec. 20; 7:20, 9:25 and 11:55 p.m., Dec. 21; 1, 3 and 5:25 p.m., Dec. 24; and without the sequels, 2 p.m., Dec. 25.
— On FX (with its sequels): 4, 6 and 8 p.m., Dec. 23.
CLASSIC MOVIES
(These musicals aren’t specifically about Christmas, but people tend to watch them with families on the holidays.)
— Dec. 15: “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), 7:30 and 10:15 p.m., Dec. 15; 6:45 p.m., Dec. 24.
— Dec. 15: “The Sound of Music” (1965), 7-11 p.m., ABC.
— Dec. 20: “Meet Me in St. Louis: (1944), 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies; includes Judy Garland debuting “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
RELIGIOUS EMPHASIS
— Already here: “Mary,”on Netflix. This follows Mary and Joseph as they go on the run with their baby, eluding Herod’s men
.— Dec. 15, 22, BYUtv: Episodes of “The Chosen” – the story of Jesus and the people around him – air Sundays at 1 p.m. 4 p.m. and midnight ET.
— Dec. 15: “Christmas With ‘The Chosen,’” 7-9 p.m., CW. A story – set at the time of Jesus’ birth – is linked with seven music numbers, including one by Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo.
— Dec. 17: “Ben Hur: A Tale of Christ” (1925, silent film), 1:15 a.m. ET (technically, Dec. 18), Turner Classic Movies.
— Dec. 19: “Going My Way”(1944) and sequel, “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (1945), , 8 and 10:15 p.m., TCM. “Going My Way” also 1:30 p.m., Dec. 24.
— Dec. 21: “The Little Drummer Boy” cartoon, 7 a.m., Dec. 21, Freeform,
— Dec. 24: Christmas Mass, 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., NBC. Pope Francis, at St. Peter Basilica in Rome.
— Also: See the music category for Dec. 17, 19 and 24.
MORE CARTOONS
— Dec. 14: “A Very Merry Bugs Christmas,” 7 p.m., Dec. 14, MeTV; also, noon, Dec. 25.
— Dec. 15: “Mickey’s Twice Upon Christmas,” a compilation, 7 a.m., Freeform; als0, 8 p.m., Dec. 23, Disney Channel.
— Dec. 18: “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” 8-9 p.m., CW.
— Dec. 19: “Mickey’s Once Upon Christmas,” another compilation, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Freeform; also, 6:50 to 8 p.m. Dec. 23, Disney Channel.
— Dec. 19: “Merry Madagascar,” 10:30 a.m., Freeform; also, 7 a.m., Dec. 20.
— Dec. 23: “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” 1:40 p.m., Freeform
— Dec. 24: “Cartoon All-Stars Christmas,” 8-11 p.m., MeTV.
— Dec. 25: Cartoon marathon, 7 a.m. to noon, MeTV.
DECOR AND SUCH
— Already here: “The Great British Baking Show: Holiday,” Netflix.
— Dec. 19: “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” 8 and 9 p.m., ABC. This wraps a three-Thursday season, In each hour, we see four homes with spectacular outdoor displays. A judge (Carter Oosterhouse or Taniya Nayak) chooses a winner.
— Dec. 19, 24: “Ready, Set, Glow,” Hallmark+. Wes Brown hosts a look at spectacular holiday lights and displays. The first episode is already available.
KEY MOVIES
— Dec. 14: “The Family Man” (2000), 7 a.m., Freeform.
— Dec. 14: “Elf” (2003),” 7 p.., AMC; also, 8 p.m., Dec. 16; 6 p.m., Dec. 17; 8 and 10 p.m., Dec. 18;7 p.m., Dec. 21; “Elf,” 8 p.m., Dec.23; 6 p.m., Dec. 24;8:30 p.m., Dec. 25.
— Dec. 14: “Love, Actually” (2003), 8:30 p.m., E.
— De . 15: “Christmas Vacation: (1989), 8:15 p.m., AMC. Also, 5:45 p.m., Dec. 16; 8 p.m., Dec. 18; 5:45 p.m., Dec. 19; 9 p.m., Dec. 21; 7 and 9:15 p.m., Dec. 22; 8 and 10 p.m., Dec. 24; 6:15 p.m., Dec. 25.
— Dec. 16: “Miracle on 34th Street” (1994), with Mara Wilson in the role originated by a young Natalie Wood, 11:30 p.m., Freeform; also,710:30 a.m., Dec. 17; 7 a.m., Dec. 22.
— Dec. 20: “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945), 6 p.m., Turner Classic Movies; also, 8 p.m., Dec. 24.
— Dec. 21: “The Waltons Homecoming” (2021), 8-10 p.m., CW.
— Dec. 21: “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944), 8 p.m., TCM; also, 6 p.m., Dec. 24. It covers all the seasons, but includes Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
— Dec. 22: “A Madea Christmas” (2013), 7-9:30 p.m., CW. Madea expects to be visiting a sleepy town … then finds secrets and feuds.
— Dec. 23: “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996), 7 a.m., Turner Classic Movies. It’s a remake (adding Whitney Houston and gospel music) of “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947), which airs at 8 p.m. Dec. 22.
— Dec. 23: “Last Christmas” -(2019), a strange film, beautifully crafted; 11:40 p.m., Freeform.
NEW MINI-SERIES
— Already here: “Mistletoe Murders,” Hallmark+. This six-parter has Sarah Drew as a shop-owner, trying to clear a friend who’s accused of murder.
— Dec. 19 and 24, “Holidazed,” Hallmark+. Here are the final two episodes of a story set in a cul-de-sac. The other six are already available. Each focuses on one of the families, until the final brings them together. Veteran stars – Dennis Haysbert, Loretta Devine, John C. McGinley, Virginia Madsen – join younger ones.
— Dec. 19: “Happy Holidays From Cherry Lane,” Hallmark+. This concludes a three-parter — the others are already available — with stories in the same house, spanning 70 years in three time periods. The stars include Erica Durance, Catherine Bell and James Denton.
NEW MOVIES
— Dec. 14: “The Holiday Junkie,” 8 p.m., Lifetime. Jennifer Love Hewitt stars.
— Dec. 14: “The Santa Class,” 8 p.m., Hallmark. Taking over her dad’s Santa Claus school, someone meets a guy who seems like the real Santa.
— Dec. 14: “Mistletoe & Matrimony,” 9 p.m., Oprah Winfrey Network, A wedding-planner, timid in her own life, plans a Christmas Eve ceremony for her outgoing sister.
— Dec. 15: “A Novel Christmas,” 7 p.m. ET, UpTV.
— Dec. 15: “Christmas in Scotland,” 8 p.m. ET, Great American Family.
— Dec. 15: “Christmas on the Alpaca Farm,” 8 p.m., Lifetime. A big-city sweater designer links with a single dad who raises alpacas.
— Dec. 15: “Following Yonder Star,” 8 p.m., Hallmark. Brooke D’Orsey stars.
— Dec. 19: “Trading Up Christmas,” 8 p.m., Hallmark M&M. Italia Ricci plays someone hatching a wild trading scheme to get her sister a house.
— Dec. 21: “Get Him Back for Christmas,” 8 p.m. ET, GAF. This stars the married duo of Alex and Carlos PenaVega,
— Dec. 21: “Happy Howlidays,” 8 p.m., Hallmark. A stray dog brings together two people who are alone at Christmas. Jessica Lowndes stars opposite the winner of the “Finding Mr. Christmas” reality show.
— Dec. 21: “A Carpenter Christmas Romance,” 8 p.m., Lifetime. Sarah Drew wrote and produced the film, but doesn’t star in it.
— Dec. 21: “24-Karat Christmas,” 9 p.m., OWN. A jewelry designer accidentally gives a set of wedding bands to the wrong couple.
— Dec. 22: “North by North Pole,” 7 p.m. ET, UpTV. It’s a “Dial S mystery,” as Santa helps someone who’s struggles with the Christmas festival.
— Dec. 22: “A Royal Christmas Ballet,” 8 p.m. ET, GAF.
— Dec. 22: “Engaged by Christmas,” 8 p,m., Lifetime.