BY CHUCK BARNEY, THE MERCURY NEWS
They’re the gifts that keep giving — evergreen holiday TV specials and movies that have become annual fixtures on our screens. Fixtures like “Frosty the Snowman,” which turns 50-years-old this year (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” have been around even longer).
Here’s a rundown of returning programs. Be aware that many of them will air multiple times. With a few exceptions, we have listed only the initial telecasts. (Consult your daily listings for more details):
Nov. 28
- “The 93rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (9 a.m., NBC; re-airs at 2 p.m.)
- “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” (8 p.m., ABC)
Nov. 29
- “The Polar Express (7 p.m. & 9 p.m., AMC)
- “Frosty the Snowman” (8 p.m., CBS)
- “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (8 p.m., The CW; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 18)
- “Frosty Returns” (8:30 p.m., CBS)
Nov. 30
- “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (5:45 p.m. & 11 p.m., AMC)
- “Elf” (7 p.m. & 9 p.m., AMC)
- “It’s a Wonderful Life” (8 p.m., NBC; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 24; Will also air at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 on USA Network)
- “Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire” (8 p.m., CBS)
- “Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe” (8:30 p.m., CBS)
- “The Story of Santa Claus” (9 p.m., CBS)
Dec. 1
- “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (6 p.m. & 8:15 p.m., AMC)
- “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (8 p.m., ABC)
- “Christmas with the Kranks” (10:30 p.m., AMC)
Dec. 2
- “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (8 p.m., CBS)
Dec. 3
- “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (8 p.m., NBC; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 25)
Dec. 4
- “87th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (8 p.m., NBC)
Dec. 5
- “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (8 p.m., ABC)
- “A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special” (9 p.m., NBC; re-airs 9 p.m. Dec. 23)
- “Miracle on 34th Street” (10 p.m., AMC)
Dec. 12
- “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” (8 p.m., ABC)
- “Toy Story That Time Forgot” (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Dec. 13
- “The 88th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade” (8 p.m., The CW)
Dec. 14
- “DreamWorks Trolls Holiday” (8:30 p.m., NBC)
Dec. 16
- “Greatest Holidays Commercials Countdown” (9 p.m., The CW; re-airs 9 p.m. Dec. 24)
- “Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Kristin Chenoweth” (9 p.m, PBS)
Dec. 17
- “Shrek the Halls” (9:30 p.m., ABC)
Dec. 18
- “Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic 2019” (9 p.m., The CW)
Dec. 19
- “Disney Prep & Landing” (8 p.m., ABC)
- “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball” (8 p.m., The CW; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 25)
- “Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice” (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Dec. 20
- “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” (8 p.m., CBS)
Dec. 22
- “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown” (7 p.m., ABC)
- “A Home for the Holidays With Idina Menzel” (9 p.m., CBS)
Dec. 24
- “A Christmas Story” 24-hour marathon (8 p.m., TBS)
Dec. 25
- “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” (9 a.m., PT and CT; 10 a.m. ET, ABC)
- “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” — Jim Carrey film (8:30 p.m., NBC)
- “Call the Midwife Holiday Special” (9 p.m., PBS)
Dec. 26
- “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown” (8 p.m., ABC)
Dec. 31
- “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2020” (8 p.m., ABC)
- “A Toast to 2019!” (8 p.m., NBC)
- “NBC New Year’s Eve Special” (10 p.m., NBC)
