ALL I WATCH FOR CHRISTMAS
When to see Grinch, Frosty, more holiday TV
Agreat Christmas song can l ead to a great Christmas TV special, and the latest ditty to take the leap is Mariah Carey’s modern classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The singer herself narrates the animated story of her younger self determined to prove she deserves a puppy under the tree. It’s available for streaming on Amazon Prime, on demand and on Blu- ray and DVD. ¶ Meanwhile, on broadcast and cable, TV’s old Christmas favorites are joined by a few new specials this year:
FRIDAY, NOV. 24
“Frosty the Snowman” ( 7 p. m., WBBMChannel 2): A magician’s hat brings the buttonnosed fella to life. Followed by the sequel “Frosty Returns” at 7: 30. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” ( 7 p. m., WMAQ- Channel 5): Animated classic about a mean one trying to ruin Whoville’s holiday. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” ( 7 p. m., WLS- Channel 7) The Burgermeister Meisterburger’s ban on toys converts a young dogooder into Santa.
SATURDAY, NOV. 25
“Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire” ( 7 p. m., WBBM- Channel 2) Rudolph’s son might not get in shape soon enough to join Santa’s team.
SUNDAY, NOV. 26
“Switched for Christmas” ( 7 p. m., Hallmark) In one of 21 new Hallmark holiday movies this season, Candace Cameron Bure plays estranged identical twins who swap lives.
MONDAY, NOV. 27
“CMA Country Christmas” ( 7 p. m., WLSChannel 7) Reba McEntire hosts a celebration featuring performances by Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini and Lady Antebellum. “A Very Pentatonix Christmas” ( 9 p. m., WMAQ- Channel 5) The a cappella group headlines a special featuring guests Jay Leno, Jennifer Hudson and Darci Lynne Farmer. TUESDAY, NOV. 28 “Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer” ( 7 p. m., WBBM- Channel 2): Rudy wants to fit in, Yukon wants to find gold and Hermey wants to be a dentist.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” ( 7 p. m., WMAQ- Channel 5) Helping light the New York tree are Brett Eldredge, Leslie Odom Jr. and Gwen Stefani. THURSDAY, NOV. 30 “A Charlie Brown Christmas” ( 7 p. m., WLS- Channel 7): Overwhelmed by the season’s greed, the blockhead takes charge of a holiday pageant.
FRIDAY, DEC. 1
“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” ( 7 p. m., WPWR- Channel 50): A boy must find his missing granny on Christmas Eve. SATURDAY, DEC. 2 “The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival” ( 4 p. m., WLS- Channel 7) Highlights from the Nov.
18 parade illuminating Michigan Avenue.
SUNDAY, DEC. 3
“Nutcracker: The Motion Picture” ( 3 p. m., WGN- Channel 9) An adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday ballet based on a production by the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
MONDAY, DEC. 4
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” ( 7: 50 p. m., Freeform) Clark Griswold ( Chevy Chase) and family play host to a flock of relatives.
TUESDAY, DEC. 5
“Polar Express” ( 7: 55 p. m., Freeform) A boy is invited along on a rail journey to the North Pole.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6
“Elf ” ( 7: 50 p. m., Freeform): A man brought up at Santa’s workshop ( Will Ferrell) searches for his identity in New York.
THURSDAY, DEC. 7
“Shrek the Halls” ( 7 p. m., WLSChannel 7): For his kids’ sake, the ogre pretends to love Christmas.
FRIDAY, DEC. 8
“Scrooge” ( 7 p. m., WGN- Channel 9) Dean Richards hosts a “Family Classics” presentation of the 1951 Dickens adaptation starring Alastair Sim.
SATURDAY, DEC. 9
“It’s a Wonderful Life” ( 7 p. m., USA) An angel- to- be shows a small- town dad ( James Stewart) how much he has mattered.
SUNDAY, DEC. 10
“The Greatest Story Ever Told” ( 1 p. m., WGN- Channel 9) A grand- scale telling of the life of Jesus ( Max von Sydow), from the Nativity to the Resurrection.
MONDAY, DEC. 11
“The Year Without a Santa Claus” ( 1: 40 p. m., Freeform) The Miser brothers and Saint Nick’s exhaustion imperil the holiday.
TUESDAY, DEC. 12
“Gwen Stefani’s You Make It Feel Like Christmas” ( 9 p. m., WMAQ- Channel 5) The No Doubt singer is joined by Blake Shelton, Chel- sea Handler, Seth MacFarlane and Ne- Yo.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13
( 8 p. m., TNT) Patrick Stewart plays Scrooge in this 1999 adaptation of the Dickens classic.
“A Christmas Carol” THURSDAY, DEC. 14
“Taraja’s White Hot Holidays” ( 7 p. m., WFLD- Channel 32) “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson welcomes performers including Chaka Khan, Fergie, Salt- N- Pepa and the Ying Yang Twins. “Showtime at the Apollo: Christmas” ( 8 p. m., WFLD- Channel 32) Steve Harvey hosts a night of holiday music from artists including Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, Fifth Harmony and DMX.
FRIDAY, DEC. 15
“A Holiday Affair” ( 9 p. m., TCM) A widowed single mom ( Janet Leigh) is wooed by a stiff suitor as well as a handsome rogue ( Robert Mitchum).
SATURDAY, DEC. 16
“Miracle on 34th Street” ( 7 p. m., AMC) The classic about a man ( Edmund Gwenn) claiming to be the real Santa marks its 70th anniversary.
SUNDAY, DEC. 17
“A Christmas Story Live!” ( 6 p. m., WFLD- Channel 32) Maya Rudolph and Matthew Broderick star in a live musical about Ralphie’s quest for a BB gun.
MONDAY, DEC. 18
“A Christmas Carol” ( 9: 30 p. m., AMC) Spirits i ntroduce Scrooge ( George C. Scott) to the joys of the season in this 1984 rendition.
TUESDAY, DEC. 19
“A Home for the Holidays” ( 7 p. m., WBBM- Channel 2) Musical performance by top artists highlight this look at successful adoptions.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20
“Scrooged” ( 7 and 9 p. m., AMC) A cynical TV executive ( Bill Murray) visits his past, present and future.
THURSDAY, DEC. 21
“Wheaton College Christmas Festival” ( 8 p. m., WTTW- Channel 11) The school’s Concert Choir, Men’s Glee Club, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Women’s Chorale tell the Nativity story in song.
FRIDAY, DEC. 22
“I Love Lucy Christmas Special” ( 7 p. m., WBBM- Channel 2) In colorized episodes, Lucy and Ricky reminisce at the holidays and disagree about how much to spend at a fashionable boutique.
SATURDAY, DEC. 23
“White Christmas” ( 9: 15 a. m., AMC) A song- and- dance team ( Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye) help the owner of a Vermont inn.
CHRISTMAS EVE
“Bozo, Gar & Ray” ( 1 p. m., WGN- Channel 9): With the stop- motion classics “Hardrock, Coco and Joe,” “Suzy Snowflake” and “Frosty the Snowman.” “It’s a Wonderful Life” ( 7 p. m., WMAQChannel 5) See Dec. 9. “A Christmas Story” ( 7 p. m., TNT) Will the Red Ryder BB gun really shoot Ralphie’s eye out? ( Repeats for 24 hours.)
CHRISTMAS DAY
“Christmas Midnight Mass” ( midnight, WGN- Channel 9) Live coverage of Catholic mass at Holy Name Cathedral.