MUSIC, COMEDY AND GOOD CHEER
These are parades, celebrations, countdowns and tune-filled variety specials:
THURSDAY
“The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday
Celebration” — Break out the mouse ears. Hosts Jordan Fisher, Sarah Hyland and Jesse Palmer usher viewers through a festive celebration in the Disney theme parks. (8 p.m., ABC).
SUNDAY
“National Christmas Tree
Lighting” — The big spruce at the White House gets the merry-and-bright treatment, with musical performances. (9 p.m., Ovation and Reelz).
“The Victoria’s Secret Fashion
Show Holiday Special” — The scantily clad “Angels” take to the runway, with musical guests including Bebe Rexha, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Kelsea Ballerini, Rita Ora, Shawn Mendes and The Struts. (9 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY
“Pop Up Santa Holiday
Special” — Santa, along with celebrity helpers, brings surprises and holiday cheer (including a home giveaway) to those who need it. (8:30 p.m., Freeform; re-airs 8 a.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m. Dec. 11; 7 a.m. Dec. 20).
TUESDAY
“Saturday Night Live Best of
Christmas” — Two hours of holiday-themed sketches from “SNL.” (8 p.m., NBC).
DEC. 8
“Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings:
Holiday Magic” — Love birds get hitched during stunning ceremonies at Disney World. (7 p.m., Freeform; re-airs 10 a.m. Dec. 10; noon Dec. 19).
DEC. 10
“CMA Country Christmas” — Get your twang on as Reba McEntire hosts a special featuring performances by Tony Bennett, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Amy Grant, Diana Krall, Dustin Lynch, Martina McBride, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley, Michael W. Smith, Lindsey Stirling, The Isaacs and Brett Young. (7 p.m., ABC; re-airs 7 p.m. Dec. 22).
“Amy Grant’s Tennessee
Christmas” — The pop star gets festive with her husband Vince Gill, plus Kellie Pickler and Michael W. Smith. (7 p.m., Hallmark).
DEC. 11
“Darci Lynne: My Hometown
Christmas” — Darci Lynne Farmer, the 2017 winner of “America’s Got Talent,” celebrates the holidays Oklahoma style with her puppets and guests Kristin Chenoweth, Toby Keith, Hunter Hayes, Pentatonix and Lindsey Stirling. (8 p.m., NBC).
DEC. 14
“The 87th Annual Hollywood Christmas
Parade” — It’s a massive procession down Hollywood Boulevard, with fancy floats, marching bands, celebrities and bloated balloons. (7 p.m., The CW).
DEC. 16
“iHeartRadio Jingle Ball
2018” — Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Camilla Cabello and others celebrate the season with musical performances. (7 p.m., The CW; re-airs 7 p.m. Dec. 25).
DEC. 17
“Christmas at the Mormon Tabernacle
Choir” — Sutton Foster joins the choir on an array of holiday tunes. (8 p.m., PBS; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 22 and 24).
DEC. 18
“Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown
2018” — Kevin Frazier leads viewers through a dozen great ads. (7 p.m., The CW). “Greatest Holiday Video Countdown” —A showcase of video greeting cards from around the world. (8 p.m., The CW).
DEC. 21
“A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary” —Musical artists and other celebrities gather to raise awareness of adoption from foster care. (7 p.m., CBS).
DEC. 23
“Masters of Illusion:
Christmas Magic” — Magicians show off their tricks. (7 p.m., The CW)
DEC. 25
“Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” — A holly jolly celebration through the streets of the Disney theme parks. (9 a.m., ABC). “Call the Midwife Holiday
Special” — A new nun and four Chinese orphans arrive unexpectedly at Nonnatus House, causing both joy and chaos. (8 p.m., PBS). IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFESTYLE These programs deal mainly with food and home decor:
DEC. 6
“The Great American Baking Show: Holiday
Edition” — Sugar rush! Ten amateur bakers compete to see whose tasty treats reign supreme. (8 p.m., ABC).
DEC. 7
“Nailed It Holiday” —A holiday-themed competition for home bakers with a terrible track record described as “part competition, part hot mess.” (Netflix).
DEC. 18
“A Heartland Holiday
Feast” — Chef Lidia Bastianich journeys to small-town America to learn food traditions and celebrations. (8 p.m., PBS).
ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNGSTERS
THESE ARE NEW SPECIALS AND FILMS AIMED AT KIDS AGES 1 TO 92:
FRIDAY
“Angela’s Christmas” — An animated tale based on the children’s book by Frank McCourt (“Angela’s Ashes”) about the power of family. (Netflix).
SUNDAY
“The Doc McStuffins
Christmas Special” — Doc and the toys travel back in time to the North Pole to save Christmas. (6 p.m., Disney Junior).
HOLIDAY EVERGREENS
Here’s a list of returning specials and movies-the gifts that keep giving:
THURSDAY
“The Polar Express” (6 and 8 p.m., AMC) “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” (7 p.m., ABC; re-airs 7 p.m. Dec. 19) “Toy Story That Time
Forgot” (7:30 p.m., ABC; also 10:45 a.m. Dec. 23, Freeform)
SUNDAY
“A Christmas Carol,” 1938 version (7:30 a.m.,TCM; re-airs 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 6 p.m. Dec. 24)
MONDAY
“The Santa Claus” (6:25 p.m., Freeform)
DEC. 6
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (7 p.m., ABC; re-airs 7 p.m. Dec. 20) “Elf’s Story: The Elf on the Shelf” (7:30 p.m., TBS) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (8 p.m. TBS)
DEC. 7
“Disney’s Christmas
Carol,” 2009 (8:50 p.m., Freeform; re-airs 1:20 p.m. Dec. 8; 8 p.m. Dec. 12; 8:15 p.m. Dec. 15; 4:10 p.m. Dec. 17; 3:10 p.m. Dec. 24; 11:40 p.m. Dec. 25.
DEC. 8
“Frosty the Snowman” (8 p.m., CBS) “Frosty Returns” (8:30 p.m., CBS) “Holiday Inn” (7 p.m., TCM) “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (7 p.m., CBS)
DEC. 13
“Disney Prep & Landing” (7 p.m., ABC; re-airs 7 p.m. Dec. 23) “Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice” (7:30 p.m., ABC; re-airs 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23)
DEC. 14
“I Love Lucy Christmas Special” (7 p.m., CBS)
DEC. 19
“Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (8 p.m., The CW) “Shrek the Halls” (7:30 p.m., ABC)
DEC. 21
“I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown” (7 p.m., ABC)
DEC. 23
“A Christmas Carol,” 1951 version (8 p.m., TCM)
DEC. 24
“It’s a Wonderful Life” (7 p.m., NBC) “A Christmas Story” marathon (Begins at 7 p.m. and runs for 24 hours, TBS)
DEC. 25
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the 2000 movie (7:30 p.m., NBC)
DEC. 27
“Happy New Year, Charlie Brown” (7 p.m., ABC) “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” (8 p.m., ABC)