Let it show, let it show, let it show
Published 9:00 pm Monday, November 28, 2005
Now that the turkey and stuffing are about gone, it must be time to start looking out for those holiday TV shows that make the season complete.
Whether it’s Jimmy Stewart’s beaming smile, little Ralphie’s dream of a Red Ryder BB gun, Charlie’s Brown sad and bare tree or Rudolph’s quest to save Christmas, those classic programs never fail to remind us what time of year it is.
Maybe you’re in the mood for something new, such as NBC’s “The Happy Elf,” an animated new special starring Harry Connick Jr., or a modern-day favorite, such as Jim Carrey’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” or a musical or parade extravaganza.
Here’s a slew of highlights, broken down by four categories: Classics, Modern Favorites, New Entries and Holiday Bashes. Each category’s listings are in order of their first airing of the season, and include repeats. A few might be listed twice if they are appearing on different channels.
Victor Balta, Herald TV columnist
“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 8 p.m. Wednesday
“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” KOMO-TV, Channel 4, 8 p.m. Friday
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” KOMO-TV, Channel 4, 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 8 p.m. Dec. 16
“Festival of Shorts No. 13,” a compilation of MGM’s holiday shorts including “Jackie Cooper’s Christmas Party,” “Silent Night,” “Loew’s Christmas Greeting,” “Holiday Greetings 1941” and “Mario Lanza Christmas Trailer,” Turner Classic Movies (TCM), 5:30 a.m. Dec. 8, 9:30 a.m. Dec. 17, 5:30 a.m. Dec. 23
“A Christmas Carol,” the 1938 version of the Charles Dickens masterpiece, starring Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge and Gene Lockhart as Bob Cratchit, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), 10 a.m. Dec. 10 and 10 p.m. Dec. 23
“Christmas in Connecticut,” TCM, 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 10 p.m. Dec. 24
“A Christmas Story,” TCM, 4 p.m. Dec. 11 and 8 p.m. Dec. 22
“Lawrence Welk Christmas Show,” KCTS, Channel 9, 6 p.m. Dec. 17
“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” ABC Family, 7 p.m. Dec. 19
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” KING-TV, Channel 5, 8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 8 p.m. Dec. 24
“Frosty the Snowman,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17
“Rudolph’s Shiny New Year,” ABC Family, 7 p.m. Dec. 22
“Holiday Affair,” TCM, 10 p.m. Dec. 22 and 10 a.m. Dec. 24
“Great Performances: The Nutcracker from the Royal Ballet,” KCTS, Channel 9, 12:30 p.m. Dec. 23, 9 p.m. Dec. 24 and noon Dec. 25
“Happy Holidays: The Best of the Andy Williams Christmas Shows,” KCTS, Channel 9, 5 p.m. Dec. 24
“Lawrence Welk Family Christmas,” KCTS, Channel 9, 6 p.m. Dec. 24
“A Christmas Story,” TBS, repeats for 24 hours, starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 24
“Christmas at the Hollywood Palace,” a compilation of memorable holiday moments from the series, “The Hollywood Palace” variety show that aired in the 1960s. It includes performances by Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Bob Newhart, The Lennon Sisters and the Kukla, Fran and Ollie puppet act, KCTS, Channel 9, 2 p.m. Dec. 25
Holiday Classics Marathon, including “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland,” “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “The Year Without a Santa Claus” and “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year,” ABC Family, 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday
“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” ABC Family, 8 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Dec. 19
Holiday Classics Marathon, including “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus,” “The Story of the First Christmas Snow,” “Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey,” “Pinocchio’s Christmas,” “Jack Frost,” “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland,” ” ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” ABC Family, 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday
“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys,” ABC Family, 9 p.m. Dec. 7 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” ABC Family, 8 p.m. Dec. 8
“Jack Frost,” Michael Keaton’s 1998 film about an inattentive father who dies in a car accident and returns a year later as a snowman with a last chance to make things right with his kids, ABC Family, 8 p.m. Monday
“I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown,” KOMO-TV, Channel 4, 8 p.m. Dec. 9
“Prancer,” ABC Family, 8 p.m. Dec. 9
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Jim Carrey’s take on Dr. Seuss’ classic story, KOMO-TV, Channel 4, 8 p.m. Dec. 10
“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” The WB, Channel 10, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11
Holiday Classics Marathon, including “Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey,” “The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” and “The Year Without a Santa Claus” ABC Family, 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 13
“The Santa Clause,” Tim Allen takes a turn as the man in the red suit in this 1994 film, KOMO-TV, Channel 4, 8 p.m. Dec. 15
“Snow,” ABC Family, 8 p.m. Dec. 15
“Jingle All the Way,” Sinbad and Arnold Schwarzenegger are out to find that hot holiday gift, ABC Family, 8 p.m. Dec. 16
“A Scooby Doo Christmas,” The WB, Channel 10, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 16
“Frosty Returns,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17
“Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 9 p.m. Dec. 17
“Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 9:30 p.m. Dec. 17
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” ABC Family, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 18, and 8 p.m. Dec. 22
“Samantha: An American Girl Holiday,” The WB, Channel 10, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” KING-TV, Channel 5, 8 p.m. Dec. 18
“Arthur’s Perfect Christmas,” KCTS, Channel 9, 7 a.m. Dec. 20, 4 p.m. Dec. 23 and 8 a.m. Dec. 25
“Eloise at Christmastime,” ABC Family, 8 p.m. Dec. 20
“A Very Brady Christmas,” The original Bradys are back together in this 1988 made-for-TV holiday favorite, ABC Family, 8 p.m. Dec. 21 and noon Dec. 25
“A Chanukah Celebration,” KCTS, Channel 9, 1 p.m. Dec. 24, 4 a.m. Dec. 27 and 7 p.m. Dec. 28
Holiday Classics Marathon, including “Jack Frost,” “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland,” ” ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” “The Year Without Santa Claus” and “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, ABC Family, 6 to 11 p.m. Dec. 24
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Jonathan Taylor Thomas is all grown up as a college kid trying to get home for the holidays in this 1998 movie, KOMO-TV, Channel 4, 9 p.m. Dec. 24
“Elmo’s World: Happy Holidays,” KCTS, Channel 9, 7 a.m. Dec. 25
“Chanukah on Planet Matzah Ball,” KCTS, Channel 9, 9 a.m. Dec. 25
“Chanukah Stories,” KCTS, Channel 9, 9:30 a.m. Dec. 25
“The Barra MacNeils’ Cape Breton Christmas,” KCTS, Channel 9, 11 a.m. Dec. 25
“Finding John Christmas,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 9 p.m. Dec. 25
“Felicity: An American Girl Adventure,” The WB, Channel 10, 8 tonight and 8 p.m. Sunday
“Great Things About the Holidays,” Bravo counts down the top 100 best things about the holidays with in this pop-culture savvy, VH1-style four-hour special, Parts 1 and 2, Bravo, 9 and 10 p.m. Thursday
“Great Things About the Holidays,” The countdown continues, Parts 3 and 4, Bravo, 9 and 10 p.m. Friday
“The Happy Elf,” Harry Connick Jr. stars in this new hourlong animated special about a clumsy elf who wants to bring Christmas cheer to the sad town of Bluesville, KING-TV, Channel 5, 8 p.m. Friday
“Rick Steves’ European Christmas,” Edmonds-based travel expert takes journey through Bath, Paris, Oslo, Nurnberg, Salzburg and Tuscany. Steves explores the origins of some holiday festivities and curious holiday facts, including why England’s Oliver Cromwell outlawed Christmas and how Charles Dickens brought it back, noon Saturday, 2 p.m. Dec. 11, 7 p.m. Dec. 22 and 6 p.m. Dec. 25
“A Very Barry Christmas,” ABC Family, 9 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Dec. 20
“Chasing Christmas,” ABC Family, 8 p.m. Sunday
“Dear Santa,” An hourlong reality special where Fox sets out to grant some Christmas wishes, KCPQ, Channel 13, 8 p.m. Dec. 9
“Three Wise Guys,” USA, 9 p.m. Dec. 10
“Christmas in Boston,” ABC Family, 8 p.m. Dec. 14 and 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Dec. 17
“Meet the Santas,” Hallmark Channel, 9 p.m. Dec. 17
“The Christmas Blessing,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 9 p.m. Dec. 18
“Nativity: The Art and Spirit of the Creche,” a new PBS documentary looks at the art, history and spirituality behind one of Christianity’s most-recognized symbols, with an array of Nativity scenes collected from all over the world, KCTS, Channel 9, 7 p.m. Dec. 24
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” KING-TV, Channel 5, 8 p.m. Wednesday
“Christmas in Washington,” TNT, 8 p.m. Dec. 14
“The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Extravaganza,” KCTS, Channel 9, 10 p.m. Dec. 19, 2 a.m. Dec. 23 and 11 p.m. Dec. 24.
“The 7th Annual: A home for the Holidays,” KIRO-TV, Channel 7, 8 p.m. Dec. 21
“Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves,” KCTS, Channel 9, 9 p.m. Dec. 21 and 2 a.m. Dec. 25
“A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway,” KCTS, Channel 9, 10 p.m. Dec. 21, 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and 3 a.m. Dec. 25
“Great Performances: Renee Fleming: Sacred Songs and Carols,” KCTS, Channel 9, 3 p.m. Dec. 24
“L.A. Holiday Celebration 2005,” discover the diversity of Los Angeles with a holiday backdrop as Elayne Boosler hosts a celebration that includes performers of African, Asian, European, Middle Eastern and Hispanic backgrounds, KCTS, Channel 9, 10 a.m. Dec. 25 and 3 a.m. Dec. 28
“Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade,” KOMO-TV, Channel 4, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 25
