It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, with every channel you turn.
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the 1966 cartoon classic, tops my Thanksgiving week prime-time program guide below. (I list mostly prime-time shows; some may repeat during the day or overnight.) It’s a warm-up for my annual comprehensive holiday program guide coming to WVXU.org next Sunday.
But this week isn’t just about “The Grinch,” “Frosty the Snowman and “The Story of Santa Claus” cartoon voiced by Ed Asner and Betty White.
The ABC Family channel (before it’s rebranded “Freeform” TV on Jan. 1), TBS and AMC fill nights with many favorites: “Cinderella,” “Toy Story,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Finding Nemo,””Monsters Inc.,” “Gone With The Wind” and the original 1990 “Home Alone.” You’ll also find Nicollette Sheridan’s “The Christmas Spirit” filmed in Lebanon in 2013, and Arlo Guthrie’s 50th anniversary “Alice’s Restaurant” concert.
Here are the specials I’ll be watching this week:
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: (6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today, TBS): Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 cartoon. If you miss it, “The Grinch” airs on NBC in December.
Frosty the Snowman (8 p.m. Saturday, Ch 12, CBS): “Frosty” and “Frosty Returns” air back to back Saturday, and again on CBS in December.
Cinderella (4:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1:45 p.m. Thursday, ABC Family): Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! A rare TV appearance of Disney’s 1950 animated musical, which was nominated for three Academy Awards.
Watch for my big list Sunday, Nov. 29!
SUNDAY NOV. 22
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (6:30 p.m., TBS): Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 classic cartoon.
An Elf’s Story: The Elf on a Shelf (7 p.m., TBS): An elf helps a boy believe in Christmas.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (7:30 p.m., TBS): Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 classic cartoon.
Merry Matrimony (8 p.m., Hallmark): New. Brie (Jessica Lowndes) organizes a Christmas wedding party for her old boyfriend.
The Wizard of Oz (8 p.m., TBS): Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man and Lion are off to see the wizard again.
Toy Story (8 p.m., ABC Family): Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) save the day, to infinity and beyond!
MONDAY NOV. 23
Toy Story 2 (6:30 p.m., ABC Family): Woody is stolen by a toy collector.
Home Alone (7 p.m., AMC) Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) outwits Christmas thieves in 1990.
Finding Nemo (8:30 p.m., ABC Family): Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) helps a lost clownfish.
Home Alone (9:30 p.m., AMC): Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) outwits Christmas thieves in 1990.
TUESDAY NOV. 24
Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown (8 p.m., Ch 12.2, CW): Kevin Frazier from “Entertainment Tonight” (and former Fox 19 sports anchor) looks at the 12 best holiday commercials.
’Tis The Season For Love (8 p.m. Hallmark): New. A struggling actress (Sarah Lancaster) hides her Broadway failure from old high school friends.
WEDNESDAY NOV. 25
Cinderella (4:30 p.m., ABC Family): Disney’s 1950 animated classic. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!
Thanksgiving with Cantus (6 p.m., 90.9 WGUC-FM): The men’s vocal ensemble group talks about the holiday, music and food.
Monsters Inc. (6:30 p.m., ABC Family): Two monsters harbor a young girl in the power plant.
Gone with the Wind (7 p.m. AMC) A Southern belle (Vivien Leigh) struggles during the Civil War.
The Making of 'The Wiz Live!' (8 p.m., Ch 5, NBC): NBC gives viewers a peek of its live musical on Dec. 3 starring Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, UzoAduba, David Alan Grier, Ne-Yo, Stephanie Mills and Shanice Williams.
Once Upon A Holiday (8 p.m., Hallmark): New. A royal princess (Briana Evigan) hides her identity from a blue collar worker.
Ratatouille (8:30 p.m., ABC Family): Remy the rat dreams of being a French chef.
SNL Thanksgiving (9 p.m., Ch 5, NBC): Clips from “Saturday Night Live” Thanksgiving comedy.
THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving Parade (9 a.m., Ch 5, 12, NBC, CBS): Live from New York.
Feast for the Ears (10 a.m., 90.9 WGUC-FM): Mark Perzel presents a cornucopia of Copland, Vivaldi, Beethoven and other classical favorites.
Turkey Confidential (noon, 91.7 WVXU-FM): Lynne Rossetto Kasper helps public radio listeners with their cooking problems in a live two-hour special.
National Dog Show (noon, Ch 5, NBC): John O’Hurley hosts the annual purebred canine competition.
Cinderella (1:45 p.m., ABC Family): Disney’s 1950 animated classic. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!
Monsters Inc. (3:45 p.m., ABC Family): Two monsters harbor a young girl in the power plant.
Ratatouille (6 p.m., ABC Family): Remy the rat dreams of being a French chef.
Giving Thanks 2015 (6 p.m., 90.9 WGUC-FM): John Birge’s annual Thanksgiving stories and music.
All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration (8 p.m., Ch 19, Fox): Actress Hilary Swank hosts the second annual special celebrating rescue dogs.
The 12 Gifts of Christmas (8 p.m., Hallmark): A young artist (Katrina Law) falls in love while doing Christmas shopping for a busy advertising executive.
Planes (8:45 p.m., ABC Family): Dusty the crop duster competes against the world’s best planes.
Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Concert (8 p.m., Ch 48): Guthrie performs “Alice’s Restaurant” and other hits from his early career.
Queen City Balladeers 50th Anniversary Concert (10 p.m., CET Arts Ch 48.3): Folk music concert taped in 2013.
FRIDAY NOV. 27
The Christmas Spirit (8 a.m., Hallmark): Nicollette Sheridan stars in this movie filmed in Lebanon in 2013 as a ghost trying to kill a project that would ruin her hometown.
Tarzan (3:30 p.m., ABC Family): Oscar-winning animated feature with voices of Tony Goldwyn, Brian Blessed, Minnie Driver and Rosie o’Donnell.
Planes (5:30 p.m., ABC Family): Dusty the crop duster competes against the world’s best planes.
Home Alone (6 p.m., AMC) Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) outwits Christmas thieves in 1990.
The Hunger Games (7:45 p.m., ABC Family): Katniss and Peeta compete in the annual games.
Fountain Square Tree Lighting (7 p.m., Ch 5): Live broadcast of tree lighting ceremony.
Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town (8 p.m., Ch 9, ABC): Animated. Fred Astaire narrates the story of Kris Kringle.
The National Dog Show (8 p.m., Ch 5, NBC): Repeat of John O’Hurley hosting annual purebred canine competition earlier today.
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (8 p.m., Ch 12.2, CW): Animated. Elmo Shropshire narrates a cartoon about his novelty song.
Crown For Christmas (8 p.m., Hallmark): New. A former maid (Danica McKellar) becomes governess for a rebellious young princess.
Home Alone (8:30 p.m., AMC) Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) outwits Christmas thieves in 1990.
Kung Fu Panda Holiday (9 p.m., Ch 12.2, CW): Animated. Will Po, the Kung Fu Panda, skip his father’s party to host a Winter Festival banquet?
Merry Madagascar (9:30 p.m., Ch 12.2, CW): Animated. The penguins save Christmas after Santa crashes on Madagascar.
SATURDAY NOV. 28
The Incredibles (6:30 p.m., ABC Family): A seemingly ordinary family has incredible super powers.
Wreck-It Ralph (9 p.m., ABC Family): A video game bad guy wants to be a hero.
Frosty the Snowman (8 p.m., Ch 12, CBS): Animated. Jimmy Durante narrates the 1969 cartoon based on the popular Christmas song.
A Christmas Detour (8 p.m., Hallmark): New. A woman (Candace Cameron Bure) flying to New York is stranded in a Buffalo airport hotel.
Frosty Returns (8:30 p.m., Ch 12, CBS): Animated. Jonathan Winters narrates the cartoon about Frosty (John Goodman) and the Winter Carnival threatened by a snow removal spray.
Home Alone (8:30 p.m., AMC) Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) outwits Christmas thieves in 1990.
The Story of Santa Claus (9 p.m., Ch 12, CBS): Cartoon about toymaker Nicholas “Santa” Claus (Ed Asner) and his wife (Betty White) delivering toys to orphans.