New specials and movies mix with the long-running classics
Deck the halls and rev up your DVR. The blizzard of holiday-themed TV fare is about to begin.
As usual, programmers are making merry with a lineup full of specials, gooey movies and animated treats that mark the so-called most wonderful time of the year.
To help you keep up, we’ve made a list — and checked it twice — of the notable shows airing after Thanksgiving and through New Year’s Eve. Be aware that many programs re-air multiple times. With a few exceptions, we have listed only the initial telecasts.
MORE: Here are the 13 best Christmas episodes from TV series available for streaming
If you don’t spot a favorite here, consult your listings. Our roundup starts with fresh programming and is followed by a list of air dates for the perennials.
These are parades, celebrations, countdowns and tune-filled variety specials:
Nov. 23
“The Soul & Spirit of Christmas” — Cece and BeBe Winans and others belt out time-honored classics. (8 p.m., GetTV).
Nov. 28
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” — The big tree in the Big Apple gets lit, with performances by Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, John Legend, Martina McBride, Pentatonix, Kellie Pickler and more. (8 p.m., NBC).
“A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy” — John Legend and Chrissy Teigen celebrate the season with family and celebrity friends. (10 p.m., NBC).
Nov. 29
“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. (9 p.m., ABC).
Dec. 2
“National Christmas Tree Lighting” — The big spruce at the White House gets the merry-and-bright treatment, with musical performances. (10 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. (10 p.m., ABC).
Dec. 3
“Pop Up Santa Holiday Special” — Santa, along with celebrity helpers, brings surprises and holiday cheer (including a home giveaway) to those who need it. (9:30 p.m., Freeform; re-airs 8 a.m. Dec. 4; 11 a.m. Dec. 11; 7 a.m. Dec. 20).
Dec. 4
“Saturday Night Live Best of Christmas” — Two hours of holiday-themed sketches from “SNL.” (9 p.m., NBC).
Dec. 8
“Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic” — Love birds get hitched during stunning ceremonies at Disney World. (8 p.m., Freeform; re-airs 11 a.m. Dec. 10; 1 p.m. 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. (8 p.m., ABC; re-airs 8 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. (8 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. (9 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. (8 p.m., The CW).
Dec. 16
“iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018” — Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Camilla Cabello and others celebrate the season with musical performances. (8 p.m., The CW; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 25).
Dec. 17
“Christmas at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” — Sutton Foster joins the choir on an array of holiday tunes. (9 p.m., PBS; re-airs 9 p.m. Dec. 22 and 24).
Dec. 18
“Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2018” — Kevin Frazier leads viewers through a dozen great ads. (8 p.m., The CW).
“Greatest Holiday Video Countdown” — A showcase of video greeting cards from around the world. (9 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. (8 p.m., CBS).
Dec. 23
“Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic” — Magicians show off their tricks. (8 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. PT/ 10 a.m., ET, ABC).
“Call the Midwife Holiday Special” — A new nun and four Chinese orphans arrive unexpectedly at Nonnatus House, causing both joy and chaos. (9 p.m., PBS).
We can’t list every holiday TV movie — Hallmark alone has produced 37 this year. But here are a few that caught our eye:
Nov. 23
“Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe” — Darcy (Lacey Chabert) heads home for the holidays and runs into her future soulmate. (8 p.m., Hallmark).
Nov. 24
“Christmas Everlasting” — Patti LaBelle is among the cast of this film, based on the novel “The Second Sister” by Marie Bostwick. (8 p.m., Hallmark).
Nov. 25
“Jingle Belle” — Tatyana Ali plays a hot-shot jingle writer who returns to her small home town to help with its Christmas concert. (8 p.m., Lifetime).
“The Truth About Christmas” — A political consultant has a life-changing run-in with a toy store Santa. (9 p.m., Freeform).
Nov. 30
“A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding” — A sequel to last year’s “A Christmas Prince” starring Rose McIver and Ben Lamb. (Netflix).
“A Very Nutty Christmas” — An overworked bakery owner (Melissa Joan Hart) gets help from a guy (Barry Watson) who just might be the Nutcracker Prince. (8 p.m., Lifetime).
Dec. 2
“Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve” — In this sequel to “Life-Size,” Tyra Banks plays a doll that comes to life to help guide a toy company CEO. (9 p.m., Freeform).
Dec. 8
“Homegrown Christmas” — Lori Loughlin and Victor Webster play high school sweethearts who reconnect when they plan a Christmas dance. (8 p.m., Hallmark).
Dec. 15
“A Gingerbread Romance” — Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Duane Henry get all sweet on each other as they build life-size gingerbread houses. (8 p.m., Hallmark).
These programs deal mainly with food and home decor:
Nov. 26
“The Great Christmas Light Fight” — Watch those power bills soar as Clark Griswold wannabes throw down in an over-the-top home-decorating contest. (8 p.m., ABC).
Dec. 6
“The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition” — Sugar rush! Ten amateur bakers compete to see whose tasty treats reign supreme. (9 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. (9 p.m., PBS).
These are new specials and films aimed at kids from 1 to 92:
Nov. 22
“The Christmas Chronicles” — Kurt Russell plays Santa Claus in this movie about two kids who crash his sleigh and nearly derail Christmas. (Netflix).
Nov. 25
“SpaceBob MerryPants” — SpongeBob and his pals take a trip to the moon with the help of Santa Claus. (11 a.m., Nickelodeon).
Nov. 30
“Angela’s Christmas” — An animated tale based on the children’s book by Frank McCourt (“Angela’s Ashes”) about the power of family. (Netflix).
Dec. 2
“The Doc McStuffins Christmas Special” — Doc and the toys travel back in time to the North Pole to save Christmas.
