This year, get into the Christmas spirit with these holiday classics and new offerings for the entire family to enjoy. From returning specials to star-studded celebrations and of course, the Freeform channel’s Christmas Countdown, here’s the festive TV lineup to help you enjoy the season:
Friday, Dec. 15
- The Shop Around the Corner (TCM, 8:00 p.m. EST) — Two coworkers at a Budapest gift shop unknowingly correspond with each other, having “met” through a lonely-hearts ad, but as the pen pals grow closer on paper, their at-work bickering drives them further apart.
- Elf (Freeform, 9:20 p.m. EST)
- Holiday Affair (TCM, 10:00 p.m. EST)
Saturday, Dec. 16
- Elf (Freeform, 7:00 p.m. EST)
- Christmas Next Door (Hallmark, 8:00 p.m. EST) — An author of bachelor lifestyle books is left in charge of his young niece and nephew for the holidays.
- Miracle on 34th Street (AMC, 8:00 p.m. EST) — A department-store Santa Claus runs afoul of the store’s nasty in-house psychiatrist and is forced to go on trial to prove he’s the real Kris Kringle.
- Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Freeform, 9:15 p.m. EST) – Jim Carrey decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville.
Sunday, Dec. 17
- A Christmas Story: Live! (Fox, 8:00 p.m. EST) – Matthew Broderick and Maya Rudolph star in the live adaptation of the beloved Christmas classic.
- Frozen (Freeform, 8:15 p.m. EST)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 10:45 p.m. EST)
Monday, Dec. 18
- The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC, 8:00 p.m. EST)
- Elf (Freeform, 9:00 p.m. EST)
Tuesday, Dec. 19
- Disney’s Prep and Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 8:50 p.m. EST)
Wednesday, Dec. 20
- Christmas With the Kranks (Freeform, 4:35 p.m. EST) – The Kranks must rush to get their home ready for the holidays in this comedy starring Tim Allen.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 6:40 p.m. EST)
- Elf (Freeform, 8:50 p.m. EST)
Thursday, Dec. 21
- Elf (Freeform, 6:40 p.m. EST)
- The Polar Express (Freeform, 8:50 p.m. EST)
- Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Freeform, 10:55 p.m. EST) – Another Rankin/Bass classic follows a young Santa Claus as he realizes his destiny.
Friday, Dec. 22
- The Santa Clause (Freeform, 7:30 p.m. EST)
- I Love Lucy Christmas Special: In Color (CBS, 8:00 p.m. EST) — The Ricardos and Mertzes decorate Lucy and Ricky’s Christmas tree and reminisce about how their lives have changed since the arrival of the Ricardos’ son, Little Ricky. Flashbacks show the night Lucy tells Ricky she is pregnant, the time Lucy shows up unexpectedly as part of a barbershop quartet, and the day Ricky and the Mertzes rehearse taking Lucy to the maternity ward.
- The Dick Van Dyke Show Christmas Special: In Color (CBS, 9:00 p.m.)
- The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (Freeform, 9:40 p.m. EST)
Saturday, Dec. 23
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 7:10 p.m. EST)
- Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Freeform, 9:20 p.m. EST)
Sunday, Dec. 24
- It’s A Wonderful Life (NBC, 8:00 p.m. EST)
- A Christmas Story (TBS, 8:00 p.m. EST)
- Elf (Freeform, 9:15 p.m. EST)
Monday, Dec. 25
- A Christmas Story Marathon (TBS, All Day)
- Babes in Toyland (TCM, 9:00 a.m. EST)
- When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree (Hallmark, 8:00 p.m. EST)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Freeform, 8:50 p.m. EST)
