Holiday highlights on the tube

  • By Chuck Barney Contra Costa Times
  • Sunday, November 27, 2011 6:37pm
  • Life

Here are the highlights of television’s holiday-themed programs airing between now and Christmas. Some of these shows will have repeat airings. For those times, as well as other programs, consult your listings:

“Shrek the Halls”: The cranky swamp ogre struggles to get into the Christmas spirit. (8:30 p.m. Monday, ABC).

“The Santa Claus”: Tim Allen dons the red suit and fluffy beard. Chaos ensues. (7 p.m. Dec. 1, ABC Family).

“Good Luck, Charlie, It’s Christmas”: Chaos breaks out as the Duncan family gets separated on a holiday road trip. Disney Channel).

“A Princess for Christmas”: A reclusive English duke (Roger Moore) attempts to reconnect with his estranged American relatives. (8 p.m. Dec. 3, Hallmark Channel).

“Prep &Landing: Naughty vs. Nice”: The adventures continue for elves Lanny and Wayne who try to thwart a naughty computer hacker out to spoil Christmas. (8:30 p.m. Dec. 5, ABC).

“The Polar Express”: Tom Hanks is the conductor on a magical train bound for the North Pole. (8:30 p.m. Dec. 5, ABC Family).

“A Christmas Carol”: Reginald Owen plays the miserable miser in this 1938 version of the Dickens classic. (9:45 p.m. Dec. 5, TCM).

“Miracle on 34th Street”: A department store Santa restores our faith in humanity. (Noon Dec. 6, TCM).

“A Miser Brothers’ Christmas”: A sequel to 1974’s “A Year Without a Santa Claus.” (10 p.m. Dec. 8, ABC Family).

“Frosty Returns”: A newly invented snow-removal spray threatens our favorite snowman. (8:30 p.m. Dec. 9, CBS).

“Yes, Virginia”: A curious, letter-writing girl questions the existence of Santa Claus. (9 p.m. Dec. 9, CBS).

“The Flight Before Christmas”: A young reindeer yearns to become an expert flier just like his dad. (9 p.m. Dec. 10, CBS).

“Annie Claus Is Coming to Town”: Santa’s daughter (Maria Thayer) takes a trip to sunny Southern California. (8 p.m. Dec. 10. Hallmark Channel).

“12 Dates of Christmas”: Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar star in a romantic comedy about a woman who continually relives the same first date on Christmas Eve. (8 p.m. Dec. 11, ABC Family).

“Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas”: There’s trouble in the arctic when Sid accidentally destroys Manny’s favorite holiday decorations. (9 p.m. Dec. 16, Fox; Premiered Nov. 24).

“The Story of Santa Claus”: Animated saga traces the early days of the jolly big man. (9 p.m. Dec. 17, CBS).

“Christmas Comes to Canaan”: Billy Ray Cyrus stars in this sequel to a popular 2009 film. (8 p.m. Dec. 17, Hallmark Channel).

“Christmas in Rockefeller Center”: Tony Bennett, Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Faith Hill and others light the big tree in the Big Apple. (8 p.m. Nov. 30, NBC).

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