Courtesy Rick Goldschmidt
What To Know
- This week offers a variety of classic Christmas movies on TV, including favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, and Home Alone, to help viewers get into the holiday spirit.
- Special highlights include the free streaming of A Charlie Brown Christmas, the animated classic Frosty the Snowman, and a star-studded Motown Christmas special featuring legendary performers.
There’s only 16 shopping days left until Christmas, so you have just a hair over two weeks to get in the holiday spirit. And if lights, carols, boughs of holly and egg nog a-plenty alone aren’t quite doing the job, you have plenty of classic Christmas movies to choose from this week, from stalwarts like It’s a Wonderful Life to more modern additions to the holiday canon like While You Were Sleeping and Elf. Plus, this weekend, you can stream A Charlie Brown Christmas for free — the only time all year when it will be available for free to people who don’t have an Apple TV subscription.
Classic Christmas Movies & TV Highlights on Monday, December 8
The Waltons’ Homecoming
The CW, 8pm
Tom Griscom/The CW
John-Boy (Logan Shroyer) embarks on a life-altering journey to find his father on Christmas Eve in this 2021 TV movie, which reimagines the 1971 TV movie that first introduced America to the Waltons family.
Primetime Movies
5pm The Polar Express (2004, Children) Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter AMC
5:40pm Eight Crazy Nights (2002, Comedy) Adam Sandler, Jackie Titone GSHW2
6pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Comedy-drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed E!
ELF, Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, 2003, (c) New Line/courtesy Everett Collection
7pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
9pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Comedy-drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed E!
11pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
11:35pm Reindeer Games (2000, Crime drama) Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise SHOWXHD
Classic Christmas Movies & TV Highlights on Tuesday, December 9
Frosty the Snowman
NBC, 8pm
Courtesy Rick Goldschmidt
Jimmy Durante narrates this classic animated musical special, with Jackie Vernon providing the voice of the “jolly, happy soul” whose old silk hat full of magic brings him to life.
A Motown Christmas
NBC, 9pm
Hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey, this two-hour special celebrates Motown’s renowned legacy and showcases legends from that recording label performing holiday favorites along with Hitsville U.S.A. classics. Some of today’s biggest stars will also be on hand to perform exclusive solos, unexpected duets and group medleys. Performers include Robinson, Bailey, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Temptations, BeBe Winans, Ashanti, Pentatonix and more.
Primetime Movies
6pm Field of Dreams (1989, Fantasy) Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan BBCA
6:05pm 12 Days of Christmas Eve (2004, Drama) Steven Weber, Molly Shannon MVIES
6:15pm Home for the Holidays (1995, Comedy) Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr. MGM
6:25pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002, Family) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell FREEFORM
Everett Collection
7pm Home Alone (1990, Family) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FX
8pm Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987, Comedy) Steve Martin, John Candy AMC
8pm Santa’s Slay (2005, Comedy) Bill Goldberg, Douglas Smith STZC
9:30pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FX
9:45pm Scrooged (1988, Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen MGM
Classic Christmas Movies & TV Highlights on Wednesday, December 10
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
The CW, 8pm
Warner Home Video/Courtesy: Everett Collection.
Based on the hit song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, this goofy and heartwarming adventure features young Jake Spankenheimer on the quest of a lifetime to track his missing grandma down on Christmas Eve to prove that Santa Claus is indeed real. Michele Lee provides the voice of Jake’s greedy Cousin Mel, and recording artist Elmo Shropshire provides the narration.
Primetime Movies
5:40pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
8:20pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Children) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor FREEFORM
10pm Reindeer Games (2000, Crime drama) Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise FLIX
10:15pm Scrooged (1988, Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen AMC
10:20pm Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001, Children) Simon Callow, Kate Winslet HDNETMV
10:52pm Bad Santa (2003, Comedy) Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox HBOZ
Classic Christmas Movies & TV Highlights on Thursday, December 11
Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors
The CW, 8pm
Based on the inspiring true story of living legend Dolly Parton’s remarkable upbringing, this once-in-a-lifetime movie takes place inside the tight-knit Parton family as they struggle to overcome devastating tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith and a raggedy patchwork coat that helped make Parton who she is today. The film stars Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Rick Shroeder and Gerald McRaney.
Primetime Movies
5:45pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
6:14pm Sleepless in Seattle (1993, Romance-comedy) Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan STZK
6:30pm Surviving Christmas (2004, Comedy) Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini FLIX
6:50pm Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986, Children) Hugh Bigney, Vanessa Sharp HDNETMV
8pm Ernest Saves Christmas (1988, Children) Jim Varney, Douglas Seale FLIX
8pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Comedy-drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed USA
8:55pm Babes in Toyland (1986, Children) Pat Morita, Drew Barrymore HDNETMV
11pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Comedy-drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed USA
11pm The Godfather, Part II (1974, Crime drama) Al Pacino, Robert Duvall SHO
11:15pm Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986, Children) Hugh Bigney, Vanessa Sharp HDNETMV
Classic Christmas Movies & TV Highlights on Friday, December 12
Primetime Movies
6pm Eight Crazy Nights (2002, Comedy) Adam Sandler, Jackie Titone FAMZ
6pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
6:21pm When Harry Met Sally… (1989, Romance-comedy) Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan STZC
7pm Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001, Children) Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint E!
7pm Home Alone (1990, Family) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
8pm Ebenezer (1997, Drama) Jack Palance, Rick Schroder GRIT
8pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
8pm Sleepless in Seattle (1993, Romance-comedy) Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan STZC
8:45pm Trading Places (1983, Comedy) Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy IFC
Everett Collection
9:25pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
10pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
10:30pm Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002, Children) Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint E!
11pm While You Were Sleeping (1995, Romance-comedy) Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman POP
Classic Christmas Movies & TV Highlights on Saturday, December 13
A Charlie Brown Christmas
streaming for free all day Dec 13 & 14, Apple TV
Apple has retained control of the entire Peanuts catalog until 2030, which means none of the Charlie Brown specials will likely air on TV until then — but on December 13 and 14, viewers can access A Charlie Brown Christmas for free, with no subscription, through the Apple TV website or app.
Dick Van Dyke 100th Birthday
TCM, beginning at 12pm
It’s a jolly holiday for the legendary entertainer, who turns 100 today! Celebrate Dick Van Dyke’s centennial milestone with some of his most memorable films, starting with 1963’s Bye Bye Birdie, where Van Dyke plays struggling songwriter Albert Peterson alongside Psycho‘s Janet Leigh. Then fly to England to join Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in fantastical musical adventures in the 1964 hit film Mary Poppins, as he portrays charming chimney sweep Bert. Follow it up with 1968’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang — here, Van Dyke is a widower father named Caractacus Potts who creates oddball inventions including a fancy vehicle, the film’s namesake, which becomes the source of the family’s marvelous adventures.
Fitzwilly
FMC, 8pm
So much more than just a funny name, this 1967 heist comedy stars Dick Van Dyke as loyal butler Claude Fitzwilliam, who is devoted to serving Miss Victoria Woodworth (Edith Evans). So devoted that when Miss Vicki is left penniless by her father, Fitzwilly and other members of the household staff band together to commit creative crimes to keep their beloved employer a member of the New York elite. As the hilarious capers unfold throughout the Christmas season, Fitzwilly even falls in love with Miss Vicki’s new, unsuspecting secretary, Juliet Nowell (Get Smart‘s Barbara Feldon, in her first film role!).
Primetime Movies
5pm The Santa Clause (1994, Family) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold FX
6pm Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987, Comedy) Steve Martin, John Candy AMC7pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002, Family) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell FX
8pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan BBCA
8pm Meet Me in St. Louis (1944, Musical) Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien MVIES
8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
8:25pm Die Hard (1988, Action) Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman FXM
10pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan BBCA
10:15pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
11pm Gremlins (1984, Fantasy) Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates SUNDANCE
11pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Children) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor FX
Classic Christmas Movies & TV Highlights on Sunday, December 14
Christmas Movie Marathon
MOVIES!, beginning at 12pm
Four festive flicks air back-to-back in this holiday block, which begins across the pond with 1951’s British classic A Christmas Carol starring Scottish actor Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. Then it’s back to the U.S. for a looser adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic from 1979, An American Christmas Carol, with Henry Winkler as business tycoon Benedict Slade, who is visited by three apparitions in Depression-era New Hampshire. Afterward, catch 1984’s The Night They Saved Christmas, where Santa (Art Carney) must prevent an oil company from blowing up the North Pole. Finally, Angela Lansbury stars as the titular Mrs. Santa Claus in the 1996 family film.
Primetime Movies & More
11am Happy Days, “Christmas Time” MeTV
11:30am Laverne & Shirley, “Friendly Persuasion” MeTV
12-1pm A Very Merry Bugs Bunny Christmas MeTV
2pm The Beverly Hillbillies, “The Christmas Present” MeTV
2:30pm The Beverly Hillbillies, “Week Before Christmas” MeTV
3-5pm A Very Brady Christmas MeTV
5pm The Love Boat, “The Christmas Presence” MeTV
5pm Gremlins (1984, Fantasy) Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates SUNDANCE
5:10pm A Christmas Carol (1951, Fantasy) Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison FXM
6pm Meet Me in St. Louis (1944, Musical) Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien TCM
7pm Home Alone (1990, Family) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FX
7pm The Polar Express (2004, Children) Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter AMC
(c)Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection
7pm M*A*S*H, “Death Take a Holiday” MeTV
7:15pm Reindeer Games (2000, Crime drama) Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise SHOWXHD
7:15pm The Santa Clause (1994, Family) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold FREEFORM
7:30pm M*A*S*H, “’Twas the Day After Christmas” MeTV
8pm All In the Family, “Edith’s Crisis of Faith (Pt 1)” MeTV
8:30pm All In the Family, “Edith’s Crisis of Faith (Pt 2)” MeTV
9pm Good Times, “Penny’s Christmas” MeTV
9pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
9:25pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002, Family) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell FREEFORM
9:30pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FX
9:30pm Good Times, “Traveling Christmas” MeTV
10:49pm Casablanca (1942, Drama) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman 5MAX
10:50pm Christmas With the Kranks (2004, Comedy) Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis HBOC
11pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TBS
11pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
11pm Surviving Christmas (2004, Comedy) Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini VH1
