Charlie Brown, Rudolph, The Grinch, Frosty, Prancer, White Christmas,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “A Christmas Story”…. Yep, they’re all here.
Linus and Lucy, Lucy and Desi, and the “Little Drummer Boy” too.
My annual holiday programming guide below is back and bigger than ever -- since it includes Christmas and Hanukkah specials airing on public radio, here at the new home for my Media Beat blog.
Print it out. Post it on the fridge.
Put stars by your favorites so you can spend another Christmas with the Kranks, the Griswolds, the Brady bunch, Tim Allen, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart or Old Fezziwig.
I don’t want you to miss “A Christmas Carol,” however you like it: With Jim Carrey, Bill Murray, George C. Scott, Reginald Owen, Albert Finney, Alistair Sim, Mickey Mouse or Mr. Magoo.
Not into the Ghosts of Christmas Past?
You’ll find new shows this year -- such as Mariah Carey’s “A Christmas Melody” (Dec. 19) filmed here last month – and others not specifically holiday programs: NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” (Thursday); CBS’ “Sinatra 100 – An All-Star Grammy Concert” with modern interpretations of Frank Sinatra’s hits (Dec. 6); Fox’s salute to “TV’s Funniest Animated Stars” (Dec. 7); NBC’s “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” film about Dolly’s childhood (Dec. 10); and WCET-TV’s repeat of “Lumenocity 2015: Masters & Dreamers” (Dec. 12 and 20).
You’ll also find a couple of old family favorites: The 1995 original “Toy Story” and “The Muppet Movie” from 1979.
And now here comes what I call the Santa clause: Remember, I mostly list prime-time shows. Some may repeat during the day or overnight. I can’t list ALL channels, so check on-screen guides for shows not on my list. And don’t blame me when the networks change their TV schedules on short notice, as they tend to do.
Too many choices? Here are the five shows to watch this week:
A Charlie Brown Christmas (9 p.m. Monday, Ch 9, ABC): The night starts with ABC’s 50th anniversary musical salute to the iconic Charles M. Schulz cartoon at 8 p.m.
Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer (8 p.m Tuesday, Ch 12, CBS).
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (9 p.m. Wednesday, Channel 5, NBC).
The Wiz Live! (8 p.m. Thursday, Channel 5, NBC).
It’s A Wonderful Life (8 p.m. Saturday, Channel 5, NBC).
Have a holly jolly Christmas!
