All times are eastern. Check your local listings.

Saturday, December 8

Apologies

I won't be able to do the schedule for Sunday and Monday. Try TV Guide's Holiday Guide.

Friday, December 7

Saturday

• "The Gift of the Magi" and "White Christmas" A Different World, 8 and 8:30 a.m, TBS
• "The Little Match Girl" HBO Story Book Musicals, 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., HBO Family
• Holiday Cookie Swap with Sara Moulton, 9 a.m., Food Network
• "Have Yourself a Very Winslow Christmas" Family Matters, 9 a.m., TBS
• A Flintstone Christmas, 10 a.m., Cartoon Network
• Yule Toons, 11 a.m., Cartoon Network
• Yogi's First Christmas, noon, Cartoon Network
• "Holiday Sweets" Sweet Dreams, 12:30 p.m., Food Network
  Christmas tree cupcake and cheese blintzes
• The Little Troll Prince, 2 p.m., Cartoon Network
• Smurfs Christmas, 3:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, 4 p.m., Cartoon Network
  Two hour animated version, not the Rankin/Bass half-hour.
• Holidays Unwrapped, 4 p.m., Food Network
• Food Finds Holiday Treats, 5 p.m., Food Network
• Toon Heads Christmas Special, 6 p.m., Cartoon Network
• A Different Kind of Christmas, 7 p.m., ABC Family
  A woman's political career is jeapordizes because her father claims he is Santa.
• A Christmas Story, 7 p.m., TBS
  Ralphie wants a BB gun, but everyone tells him he'll shoot his eye out.
• A Johnny Bravo Christmas, 7 p.m, Cartoon Network
• 12 Tiny Christmas Tales, 7:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
• MGM Parade episode #15, 7:30 p.m., Turner Classic Movies
  George Murphy shows clips of Judy Garland and other Christmas scenes
• A Flintstone Christmas Carol, 8 p.m., Cartoon Network
• Scrooged, 9 p.m., TNT
  John Glover and Alfre Woodard have secondary roles in this update of 'A Christmas Carol' starring Bill Murray
• "Nutcracker Scoob" Scooby Doo Mysteries, 9:30 p.m., Cartoon Network

Thursday, December 6

Friday

• The Great Christmas Movies, 5 a.m, American Movie Classics
  Shirley Jones hosts. Includes: ``It's a Wonderful Life''; ``Miracle on 34th Street''; ``The Bishop's Wife''; ``A Christmas Story''; 1926 ``Ben-Hur''; 1912 silent film ``From the Manger to the Cross.''
• "The Christmas Story" Dragnet episode #35, 5:30 a.m., TVLand
• MGM Parade episode #15, 6 a.m., Turner Classic Movies
  George Murphy shows clips of Judy Garland and other Christmas scenes
• "I'm Dreaming of a Wayne Christmas" and "The Twelve Steps of Christmas" A Different World episodes #80 and 106, 8 and 8:30 a.m., TBS
• "Blue Christmas" Picket Fences, 9 a.m., TNN
• "The Gift" Matlock episode #210, noon, TBS
• "Madeline and Santa" Madeline, 1 p.m, Disney Channel
• "A Very Nancy Christmas" Kids from Room 402, 2:30 p.m., ABC Family
• Christmas Elves, 3 p.m, ABC Family
• Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas, 6 p.m, ToonDisney
  Two adaptations of classics and one new story featuring Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
• Jack Frost, 6 p.m., ABC Family
  A silly story about Jack Frost falling in love with a girl. I like the groundhog the best.
• "Santa Claus" and "No Place Like Home for the Holidays" Roseanne, 6 and 6:30 p.m., TBS
• "Seven Days of Kwanzaa" The Proud Family Episode #119, 7 and 10 p.m, Disney
• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, 7 p.m., ABC Family
  This story explains the fictitious origins of Kris Kringle. This is my second favorite Rankin/Bass Christmas show. They do a similar show for Easter, which I think is even better.
• A Johnny Bravo Christmas, 8 p.m, Cartoon Network
• 12 Tiny Christmas Tales, 8:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
  Bizarre Christmas stories from Bill Plimpton
• The Year Without A Santa Claus, 10 p.m., ABC Family
  Not their absolutely best story, but it does have Heat Miser and Snow Miser, and they're loads of fun.

Wednesday, December 5

Thursday

• The Great Christmas Movies, 8 a.m, American Movie Classics
  Shirley Jones hosts. Includes: ``It's a Wonderful Life''; ``Miracle on 34th Street''; ``The Bishop's Wife''; ``A Christmas Story''; 1926 ``Ben-Hur''; 1912 silent film ``From the Manger to the Cross.''
• A Diva's Christmas Carol, noon, VH1
  An enjoyably bad variation on Dickens' tale, starring Vanessa Williams
• "A Very Berkeley Christmas; Counting Sheep Dogs" Bad Dog, 1 p.m., ABC Family
• "Madeline at the North Pole" Madeline Episode #312, 1 p.m., Disney Channel
• "Doug's Secret Christmas" Doug, 2 p.m., Disney Channel
• "A Kosher Christmas" Pepper Ann episode #50, 2:30 p.m., Disney Channel
• The First Christmas, 6 p.m., ABC Family
  narrated by Angela Lansbury
• Noel, 6:30, ABC Family
  Charleton Heston narrates the tale of an ornament come to life. This picture was written by Romeo Muller, who was the writer for a number of Rankin/Bass productions.
• Christmas Elves, 7 p.m, ABC Family
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 7 p.m., Cartoon Network
  Far, far superior to the Jim Carey version
• "Swiss Family Chipmunks; Santa Harry" Alvin & The Chipmunks, 7:30 p.m, Cartoon Network
• "Very CatDog Christmas" CatDog episode #40, 8:30 p.m., Nickelodeon
• The Christmas List, 9 p.m, Fox Family
  Mimi Rogers gets everything on her list, but did she really want it?
• Holiday Cookie Swap with Sara Moulton, 10 p.m., Food Network

Tuesday, December 4

Wednesday

• "Christmas Goose in Neches, TX" Food 911, 1 a.m., Food Network
• "A Beary Bear Christmas" Bear in the Big Blue House, 6:30 a.m., Disney Channel
• "Madeline's Holiday with Mr. Grumpy" Madeline Episode #139, 1 p.m., Disney Channel
• The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold, 6 p.m., ABC Family
  A bainsidhe wants the leprechauns' gold.
• Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, 6:30 p.m., ABC Family
  An absolutely marvelous retelling of the birth of Jesus from the perspective of Mary's ride. One of the few Rankin/Bass holiday productions to deal directly with the religious story.
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 7 p.m., Cartoon Network
  Far, far superior to the Jim Carey version
• Christmas comes to Pacland, 7:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
  Pac-man, Ms. Pac-man, and Baby Pac meet Santa Claus.
• The Christmas Path, 9 p.m, ABC Family
  Santa sends an angel to restore a young man's faith in Christmas.
• A Diva's Christmas Carol, 9 p.m., VH1
  An enjoyably bad variation on Dickens' tale, starring Vanessa Williams
• "Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo" South Park episode #110, 10:30 p.m, Comedy Central

Monday, December 3

Tuesday

• Scrooged, 2:30 a.m., TNT
  John Glover and Alfre Woodard have secondary roles in this update of 'A Christmas Carol' starring Bill Murray
• The Great Christmas Movies, 10:30 a.m, American Movie Classics
  Shirley Jones hosts. Includes: ``It's a Wonderful Life''; ``Miracle on 34th Street''; ``The Bishop's Wife''; ``A Christmas Story''; 1926 ``Ben-Hur''; 1912 silent film ``From the Manger to the Cross.''
• The Christmas Wife, 4 p.m., HBO Plus
  Widower invites mysterious woman into his home, rather than face Christmas alone.
• "Anti-Claus is Coming to Town" Big Wolf on Campus, 4:30 p.m., ABC Family
  Our heroes save Christmas from Santa's evil brother Roger.
• Red boots for Christmas, 7 p.m., ABC Family
  A shoemaker is upset by Christmas. The show has a slightly more Christian focus than some of the others I've recommended.
• "Santa's Little Helper" Boy Meets World episode #12, 6:30 p.m., Disney
  Cory tries to do something nice for his best friend Shawn, and misunderstanding breaks out
• Frosty's Winter Wonderland, 6:30 pm., ABC Family
  Frosty finds a mate
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 7 p.m., Cartoon Network
  Far, far superior to the Jim Carey version
• The First Christmas, 7:30 p.m., ABC Family
  narrated by Angela Lansbury
• The Smurfs' Christmas, 7:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, 8 p.m., ABC Family
• A Very Thornberry Christmas The Wild Thornberrys episode #40, 8:30 p.m., Nickelodeon
• "Borrowed Hearts: A Holiday Romance, 9 p.m., ABC Family
  Perhaps a bit treacly, but it stars Eric McCormack and features Hector Elizondo
• "Christmas Goose in Neches, TX" Food 911, 10:30 p.m., Food Network

Friday, November 30

Monday

• Food Finds: Holiday Treats, 1 a.m, Food TV
• From Martha's Kitchen, 2 a.m., Food TV
• "Merry Christmas, Little Bill" Little Bill episode #222, 12 and 3 p.m., Nickelodeon
• "Christmas With the Addams Family" The New Addams Family episode #28, 4 p.m, ABC Family
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 7 p.m., Cartoon Network
  Far, far superior to the Jim Carey version
• "Nutcracker Scoob" Scooby Doo Mysteries episode #8413, 7:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
• Twas the Night Before Christmas, 8:30 p.m., ABC Family
• "Patchy the Pirate Presents the SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special" SpongeBob SquarePants Episode #028, 8:30 p.m., Nickelodeon.
• Scrooged, 10:15 p.m., TNT
  John Glover and Alfre Woodard have secondary roles in this update of 'A Christmas Carol' starring Bill Murray

Sunday

• The Canadian Brass: A Christmas Special" Breakfast with The Arts, 8 a.m., A&E
• Two Fat Ladies Christmas Special II and Carribean Christmas Special, 10 and 10:30 a.m., Food Network
• The Naked Chef Christmas in New York, 11 a.m., Food Network Jamie Oliver keeps all his clothes on, but he's also rather charming and sweet, and has a lovely British accent.
• From Martha's Kitchen, noon, Food TV
• Donner, 1 p.m., ABCFamily
  "A troubled reindeer tries to save Christmas from disaster. " (tv.yahoo.com)
• "Santa's Little Helper" Boy Meets World episode #12, 1 and 4 p.m., Disney
  Cory tries to do something nice for his best friend Shawn, and misunderstanding breaks out
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town, 5 p.m., ABC Family
• "Heck of a Hanukkah" Even Stevens episode #117, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., Disney Channel
• Must Be Santa, 6 p.m., ABC Family
• Emeril's Happy, Happy Holidays, 8 and 11 p.m., Food Network
  Normally, I detest Emeril, but this show features The Boys Choir of Harlem.
• Miracle on 34th Street (1994 remake), 8 and 10 p.m, ABC Family
• Holidays Unwrapped, 9 p.m and midnight, Food Network
• Christmas: Behind the Traditions, 9 p.m. and midnight, HG TV
  History behind wrapping paper, egg nog, and other Christmas commonplaces
• Food Finds: Holiday Treats, 10 p.m, Food TV
• Call me Claus 10 pm and midnight, TNT

Saturday

• The Great Christmas Movies, 7:15 a.m, American Movie Classics
  Shirley Jones hosts. Includes: ``It's a Wonderful Life''; ``Miracle on 34th Street''; ``The Bishop's Wife''; ``A Christmas Story''; 1926 ``Ben-Hur''; 1912 silent film ``From the Manger to the Cross.''
• Donner, 10 a.m., ABCFamily
  "A troubled reindeer tries to save Christmas from disaster. " (tv.yahoo.com)
• "Anti-Claus is Coming to Town" Big Wolf on Campus, 12 p.m., ABC Family
  Our heroes save Christmas from Santa's evil brother Roger.
• Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer, 1 p.m., ABC Family
  based on the book.
• "Compassion" Adventures from the Book of Virtues Episode #38, 1:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., PBSKids
• Frosty's Winter Wonderland, 1 pm., ABC Family Frosty finds a mate
• Twas the Night Before Christmas, 2:30 p.m., ABC Family
• Pinocchio's Christmas, 3 PM, ABC Family
  based on the novel by Carlo Collodi
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, 4 and 11 p.m, ABC Family
  Two hour animated movie, not the Rankin Bass half hour.
• A Diva's Christmas Carol, 4 p.m., VH1
  An enjoyably bad variation on Dickens' tale, starring Vanessa Williams
• The Naked Chef Christmas in New York, 4 p.m., Food Network Jamie Oliver keeps all his clothes on, but he's also rather charming and sweet, and has a lovely British accent.
• The First Christmas, 5 p.m., ABC Family
  narrated by Angela Lansbury
• "Santa's Little Helper" Boy Meets World episode #12, 5 p.m., Disney
  Cory tries to do something nice for his best friend Shawn, and misunderstanding breaks out
• Two Fat Ladies Christmas Special and Carribean Christmas Special, 5 and 5:30 p.m., Food Network
• "Miracle on 34th Street" Backstory, 5:30 p.m. and midnight, American Movie Classics
• Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, 6 p.m., ABC Family
  An absolutely marvelous retelling of the birth of Jesus from the perspective of Mary's ride. One of the few Rankin/Bass holiday productions to deal directly with the religious story.
• The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold, 6:30 p.m., ABC Family
  A bainsidhe wants the leprechauns' gold.
• "Christmas…A Time for Joy" Gaither Gospel Hour, 7 p.m., PAX
• "The Santa Experience" and "Chanukkah" Rugrats, 8 and 8:30 p.m., CBS
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town, 8 p.m., ABC Family
• Decadent Desserts with Jacques Torres, 9 p.m., Food Network
• The Year Without a Santa Claus, 9 p.m. and midnight, ABC Family
  I find this to be one of the weakest Rankin-Bass specials, but it does have the fantabulous Snow Miser and Heat Miser.
• Jack Frost, 10 PM, ABC Family
  1998 Michael Keaton film