On TV this season
Where to find Charlie Brown and other faves.
LOS ANGELES —
Supply-chain woes are this year’s Grinch, threatening to steal gifts and good cheer. But TV is overstocked with holiday specials and rom-coms.
There’s options for watching some old favorites, such as 1965’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The Peanuts special will air on PBS and is available on Apple TV+, which acquired the classic in 2020.
Here’s a sampling of what to watch while sipping nog and nibbling on roasted chestnuts — if available on store shelves.
Movie time
“Christmas Again,” Disney Channel, today. Teenager Rowena is caught living the holiday over and over again after wishing that she could reclaim her life before her parents’ divorce. Scarlett Estevez stars.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” NBC, 8 p.m. Saturday, and Friday, Dec. 24. Jimmy Stewart stars as a despairing man who finds value in his life with the help of an aspiring angel, Clarence.
“Our Christmas Journey,” Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 10:01 p.m. Saturday. Holly Robinson Peete stars as a single mom who faces an independent new chapter for her teenage son with autism and herself. Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, are parents of a son with autism. The actor said on Twitter that “I have wanted to make a movie about an #autism family making transitions at #Christmas for a while.”
“The Christmas Thief,” ION Television, 8 p.m. Sunday. A novice private eye, home for the holidays and trying to solve burglaries blamed on Santa Claus, clashes with a local detective. Michelle Borth and Vivica A. Fox co-star.
Music specials
“Christmas Under the Stars,” BYUTV, 7 p.m. Sunday and on the BYUTV app. The a cappella group Pentatonix mixes favorite tunes and carols with songs from its new holiday album, “Evergreen.”
“Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City,” NBC, 10 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, Dec. 22. The pop singer marks the 10th anniversary of his album “Christmas” with music and comedy.
“20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir,” PBS, Monday, Dec. 13, and Friday, Dec. 24 (check local listing for times). Brian Stokes Mitchell narrates a retrospective of performances by Kristin Chenoweth, Audra Mcdonald and dozens more artists.
Stocking stuffers
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” now on Apple TV+ and on PBS, Sunday, Dec. 19 (check local listings for time). Is Christmas all about the goods or good-heartedness? The question unsettles Charlie Brown.
“A Home for the Holidays,” CBS, 9 p.m. Sunday. In the special’s 23rd annual broadcast, inspiring stories of youngsters adopted from foster care are joined with performances by pop artists.