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2016 Christmas TV Guide

6 min read

A guide to new and returning Christmas specials, TV movies and holiday-themed episodes.

Looking to get into the Christmas spirit? Just turn on the TV.

This holiday season, some of your favorite shows, TV specials and Christmas movies are making their way to the small screen. This year’s TV holiday line-up is full of Christmas classics, festive specials and a few new, original movies. Curl up with the family (and some hot chocolate) and enjoy.

Wednesday, Dec. 7^th

The Polar Express (Freeform, 5 p.m. EST)
The Santa Clause (Freeform, 7 p.m. EST)
Elf (Freeform, 9 p.m.)

Thursday, Dec. 8

Toy Story That Time Forgot (ABC, 8 p.m. EST) – Your favorite Toy Story characters return for this holiday special that features Trixie the triceratops (Kristen Schaal) on her own journey.
Taraji’s White Hot Holidays (Fox, 8 p.m. EST) – Empire’s Taraji P. Henson hosts a star-studded night filled with caroling and classic holiday songs from some of music’s biggest names including Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott and more.
Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
Deck the Halls (Freeform, 5 p.m. EST)
Elf (Freeform, 7 p.m.)

Saturday, Dec. 10

It’s a Wonderful Life (USA, 8 p.m. EST) – The Christmas classic is back to remind us of the importance of family.
A Nutcracker Christmas (Hallmark, 8 p.m. EST) – When her niece is cast in The Philadelphia Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker, a jaded ex-ballerina is forced to come to terms with the life and love she left behind.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (TBS, 7:30 p.m. EST)
The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story (TBS, 8 p.m. EST)

Sunday, Dec. 11

Frozen (ABC, 8 p.m. EST)
Love You Like Christmas (Hallmark, 8 p.m. EST) — Maddie, a high-powered marketing executive, is on her way to a client’s wedding but her plans are derailed by car trouble. When a fork in the road leads her to Christmas Valley, a town in love with Christmas, an unexpected encounter and a group of strangers that start to feel like family will have her questioning what she’s really been missing in life.
The Sound of Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9 p.m. EST) — During the Christmas season a high school music teacher is hired by a handsome widower to give music lessons to his teenage daughters. Their lives are turned around for the better as the family grows closer and learns the importance of love, friendship and the meaning of Christmas.

Monday, Dec. 12

The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC, 8 p.m. EST)
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (CW, 8 p.m. EST)
Greatest Holiday Commercials: Countdown 2016 (CW, 9 p.m. EST)
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) (TCM, 8 p.m. EST)

Tuesday, Dec. 13

The Middle: 2016 Christmas Special (ABC, 8 p.m. EST)
American Housewife: Krampus Katie (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
The Real O’Neals – The Real Christmas (ABC, 9:30 p.m. EST)
Elf (Freeform, 7 p.m. EST)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 9 p.m. EST) — The Griswold family goes overboard for the holidays in this 1989 holiday hit.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

The Goldbergs – Han Ukkah Solo (ABC, 8 p.m. EST)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (AMC, 8 p.m. EST)
A Pentatonix Christmas Special (NBC, 8 p.m. EST) — The Grammy-winning a cappella group sing some of their favorite holiday tunes with help from Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire.
Speechless – C-H-O-Choir (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
Black-Ish – Just Christmas, Baby (ABC, 9:30 p.m. EST)
Arthur Christmas (Freeform, 7 p.m. EST)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (TNT, 8 p.m. EST)
The Santa Clause (Freeform, 9 p.m. EST)

Thursday, Dec. 15

The Santa Clause (Freeform, 7 p.m. EST)

Four Christmases (AMC, 8 p.m. EST)
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2016 (CW, 8 p.m. EST) – The 90-minute concert takes place at Madison Square Garden and features performances from Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, The Chainsmokers, Fifth Harmony and Diplo.
Disney Prep & Landing (ABC, 8 p.m. EST)
Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
The Shop Around the Corner (1940) (TCM, 8 p.m. EST)
Christmas in Connecticut (1945) (TCM, 10 p.m. EST)
The Search for Santa Paws (Freeform, 9 p.m. EST)

Friday, Dec. 16

Deck the Halls (AMC, 8 p.m. EST)
The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (CW, 8 p.m. EST) – Olivia Newton-John acts as the grand marshal for this year’s holiday march.
Dr. Ken – A Park Family Christmas (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
Jingle All the Way (Freeform, 5:30 p.m. EST)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 7:35 p.m. EST)
The Polar Express (Freeform, 9:45 p.m. EST)

Saturday, Dec. 17

A Christmas Carol (AMC, 8 p.m. EST)
I Want a Dog For Christmas: Charlie Brown! (ABC, 8 p.m. EST) – Say hello to Lucy and Linus’ lovable but rambunctious little brother. Rerun, in this modernized Peanuts holiday special.
My Christmas Love (Hallmark, 8 p.m. EST) — A hopeless romantic who can’t ever seem to give a guy a real chance begins receiving each of the “12 Days of Christmas” as gifts anonymously at her door. As she tries to figure out who is sending the gifts, she begins to believe that the mystery suitor could finally live up to her expectations.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Home Alone Double Feature (AMC, 8 p.m. EST)
Sleigh Bells Ring (Hallmark, 8 p.m. EST) — Recently divorced, Pauline struggles to get into the holiday spirit while heading up her hometown Christmas parade. With the help of a Christmas sleigh and a handsome woodworker, Pauline is destined to turn her luck around, rekindle her holiday spirit and even find time for love.
A Christmas to Remember (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 8 p.m. EST) — A harsh TV personality needs a break from her own life, so she hops into a car and drives to a small town mountain retreat. On her way there, a blizzard veers her off the road and she crashes. When she comes to, she has complete amnesia and a friendly passerby takes her in.
Elf (Freeform, 9:50 p.m. EST)

Monday, Dec. 19

The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC, 8 p.m. EST)
Elf (Freeform, 6:50 p.m.)
America’s Got Talent Christmas Special (NBC, 8 p.m. EST)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 8:55 p.m. EST)

Tuesday, Dec. 20

Terry Crews Saves Christmas (CW, 8 p.m. EST) — On each episode, comedic actor Terry Crews will visit real people who aren’t great at celebrating the holidays and teach them how to step up their games in a festive way.
The Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown (CW, 9 p.m. EST)
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (Freeform, 4:30 p.m. EST)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (Freeform, 5:35 p.m. EST)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 6:40 p.m. EST)
The Santa Clause (Freeform, 8:50 p.m. EST)