Winter Holiday/Christmas programming has become a month-long proposition, kicking in right after Thanksgiving. ABC Family ("25 Days of Christmas"), Lifetime, Hallmark, TV Land (see Sunday, the 11th) and Cartoon Network are especially milking the season of Good Cheer for all its worth.
The following is an attempt at something approaching a comprehensive holiday programming schedule for the week - I'll endeavor to fill in more details as we ho-ho-ho along:
Saturday, Dec. 3
9 a.m. (Hallmark) One Christmas.
11 a.m. (Hallmark) One Magic Christmas.
Noon (ABC Family) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July. (1979) Jules Bass/Arthur Rankin Jr. team up Frosty and Rudolph. Voices of Red Buttons, Ethel Merman. Animated.
2 p.m. (ABC Family) The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. (1985) To be granted immortality, Santa Claus must justify it. Based on a novel by L. Frank Baum.
3 p.m. (ABC Family) The Story of the First Christmas Snow. (1975) Story of the young shepherd Lucas.
(CMT) 20 Merriest Christmas Videos.
3:30 p.m. (ABC Family) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. ABC Family
4 p.m. (ABC Family) Pinocchio's Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas shines through for Pinocchio when he tries to earn money for Gepetto's gift.
5 p.m. (ABC Family) Jack Frost. (1979) Jack strikes a deal with Father Winter that if he defeats a villainous giant, he will become visible to the beautiful and human Elisa, he also helps a couple find true love - rather convoluted.
6 p.m. (i/PAX) Mary Christmas.
(ABC Family) Frosty's Winter Wonderland.
6:30 p.m. (ABC Family) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Mice, clockmaker, Christmas imperiled by despondent Santa Claus, once again. Dude should consider anti-despressants.
7 p.m. (ABC Family) Rudolph's Shiny New Year. Not an A-lister.
7:30 p.m. (CMT) Christmas Comes to Willow Creek (1987, drama). John Schneider, Tom Wopat. Feuding brothers join forces to transport Christmas gifts to a bedridden friend's Alaskan hometown. CMT
8 p.m. (ABC Family) Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. The classic and imaginative "explanation" of the Santa Claus traditions with Mickey Rooney as the renegade toy-pusher and Fred Astaire as suave narrator.
9 p.m. (ABC Family) A Very Barry Christmas. Australian Outback gamekeeper Barry Buckley and Santa unwittingly trade lives in a Christmas mix-up.
10 p.m. (ABC Family) The Year Without a Santa Claus. Shirley Booth sings and narrates as Mrs. Claus with Mickey Rooney as lethargic and disspirited Santa Claus - vaudevillian Heat- and Snow-Miser songs are vicious ear worms.
11 p.m. (ABC Family) The Little Drummer Boy. (1968) An orphaned drummer boy meets three wise men on their way to Bethlehem - intense and powerful with melifluous narration by Greer Garson and sublime music by Vienna Choir Boys.
Article comments
1 - Martin
Nice list! Have you heard of an animated Christmas special called Night The Animals Talked? It is from around 1970 and was shown again in the late 90s. Do you know if ANYONE plans to air it this season? My wife has been wanting to see it again and it is not an easy on to find.
Thanks for the list any any help you might have.
- Martin
2 - Eric Olsen
thanks Martin, appreciate the feedback!
I am working on a schedule for the rest of the month and will keep an eye out for it
3 - Bill
Does anyone know where I Can find a copy of "The Night the Animals talked?"
Great list by the way.
4 - christmaskitty
Thank you for this great list. My kids will love this holiday TV "bible" Will you be posting all of the holiday shows for the upcoming weeks? Thanks again and God Bless!
5 - Angie
TERRIFIC! I found the movie I wanted, with the schedule for recording it. Now, if one of the networks would show "A Wish for Wings That Work," a rare jem with Opus and Bill, I would have my Christmas wish!!
6 - Chris
Ooooops!! BIG problem here. I just checked AMC's TV schedule and they will not be showing "Christmas Carol" at all. Your schedule shows multiple showings on AMC. What happened?
7 - fig newton
is "A Wish For Wings That Work" showing up anywhere in December ? Thank you so much!