Thursday, Dec. 01, 2011

A stocking-full of must-see holiday TV

We’ve sifted through the menagerie of winter holiday TV programming to pick out our favorites, so mark your calendars and set your DVRs for these surefire yuletide chestnuts, all leading up to the Christmas Day marathon of “A Christmas Story.”

TODAY

8 p.m., ABC/WPDE, “Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town”

Featuring the stop-motion Claymation of Rankin & Bass, this is a quirky retelling of the Santa Claus myth, seeming to follow German traditions as Kris Kringle overcomes an evil ruler and delivers toys to children all over the world. Lots of fantasy elements in this 1970 made-for-TV classic, including the nasty Burgermeister and the Winter Warlock. Vocal talent includes Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney.

SATURDAY

8 p.m., NBC/WMBF, "It's a Wonderful Life"

Jimmy Stewart portrays downtrodden banker George Bailey in one of Hollywood’s most beloved holiday films, in "It's a Wonderful Life." Facing financial ruin on Christmas Eve, Bailey contemplates suicide and wishes he'd never been born. When Clarence, a guardian angel hoping to earn his wings, shows Bailey what life in Bedford Falls would be like without him, he realizes what a wonderful life he truly has. Also starring Donna Reed, Henry Travers and Lionel Barrymore, this Frank Capra film flopped at the box office at the time of its release, but is now considered a Yuletide classic.

MONDAY

8 p.m., ABC/WPDE, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

This one seems particularly relevant with recent Black Friday madness and retailers putting out holiday merchandise earlier and earlier each year. While many complain Christmas is much too commercial, Charlie Brown and the gang step in to remind viewers what the holiday season is really all about. First broadcast in 1965, this classic animated special follows Charlie as he searches for true meaning beneath the tinsel and twinkling lights, in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Discouraged, he seeks advice from Lucy, who urges him to direct the school play. Thanks to his friend Linus and a small baby tree, Charlie realizes the spirit of Christmas doesn't come in a shiny wrapped package, but exists in the hearts of all who believe. It has also coined the pop culture phrase, “Charlie Brown Tree,” to describe scrawny-looking, overpriced Christmas Trees. And if you don’t tear up during Linus’ Christmas pageant rehearsal retelling of the birth of Jesus, you have no heart.

TUESDAY

8 p.m., NBC/WMBF “A Michael Bublé Christmas”

Grammy-winning crooner Michael Buble shows off his vocal stylings as host of this Christmas variety special, in "A Michael Buble Christmas." The Canadian singer has been a Yuletide favorite since the release of his 2003 holiday album "Let It Snow," and he's still going strong with this year's "Christmas." He'll perform some hits from the new holiday release, and welcomes fellow celebs Justin Bieber and Kellie Pickler to the stage. The one-hour program also features sketch comedy segments, including one with Oscar the Grouch, who offers his opinions on the holidays.

WEDNESDAY

9 p.m., ABC FAMILY, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

Doesn’t everybody think about this absurd flick when it’s time to get out the holiday lights and put them on the exterior of your home?

You certainly don’t want to pull a Clark Griswold and light up more than your house. An in-his-prime Chevy Chase is back as the bumbling head of the Griswold clan that plays host to numerous dysfunctional relatives (including the insane Cousin Eddie played by Randy Quaid) during the Christmas holidays. Full of quotable lines, such as this diatribe by Clark: “Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.” We’re pretty sure some of that will be bleeped out on ABC Family.

THURSDAY, DEC. 8

9 p.m., SYFY, "Elf"

Will Ferrell pokes fun at the lighter side of the holidays in a Christmas comedy with real heart. The "Saturday Night Live" alum portrays Buddy, an average-sized person who was raised as an elf after he climbed into Santa's toy bag as an infant. However, living at the North Pole is tough for Buddy because of his size and he soon learns he's really a human, not an elf, in "Elf." Hilarious holiday hijinks ensue when Buddy decides to return to the place of his birth – New York City – in the hopes of finding his real family. Ed Asner, Bob Newhart and James Caan also star.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

8 p.m., CBS/WBTW, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”

A holiday song comes to life in the timeless 1964 stop-motion animated special about a misfit reindeer with a red nose, in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Everyone in Christmastown is thrilled when Donner, Santa's lead reindeer, has a son. Worried his son will be ridiculed for his unusual red nose, Donner hides the little buck's snout under an uncomfortable cover. But when the truth comes to light, Rudolph and his elf friend Hermey decide to run away. Featuring the voice of folk singer Burl Ives as the snowman narrator, "Rudolph" is the longest-running Christmas TV special.

TUESDAY, DEC.13

6:30 p.m., ABC FAMILY, “Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special”

Jack Black is back as the loveable-yet-bumbling panda warrior Po in "Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special." Dustin Hoffman co-stars as the voice of Master Shifu, who tasks Po with hosting the annual Winter Feast at the Jade Palace. Although the palace ceremony is a prestigious event that all the Kung Fu masters of China attend, Po wishes he could spend the holidays with his father. As his father prepares to feed the townsfolk who have nowhere else to go, Po must decide what is truly important to him and ultimately must listen to his heart.

SATURDAY, DEC. 17

1 p.m., ABC FAMILY, “A Miser Brothers Christmas”

Why do two nasty brothers get their own holiday special? Because bad is good, right?

It's up to brothers Heat Miser and Snow Miser to come together and help save Christmas.

SUNDAY, DEC. 18

4:05 p.m., TNT, "Four Christmases"

This 2009 comedy stars Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn as a couple struggling to spend Christmas with all four of their divorced parents.

WEDNESDAY, DEC.21

7 p.m., ABC FAMILY, “Disney's Prep and Landing”

Santa Claus may make it look easy year after year, but it takes a lot of preparation and organization to deliver toys around the globe in just one night. "Prep and Landing" brings viewers behind the scenes as highly skilled elves prep each and every house for Santa's arrival. One such elf, Wayne, has been looking forward to a big promotion, but his hopes are dashed when his partner gets the promotion and he's assigned to train Lanny, a rookie. Bitter, Wayne slacks off, and the results are disastrous. Determined to make things right, Wayne tries to save Christmas for one little boy and redeem himself.

SATURDAY, DEC. 24

8 p.m., ABC/WPDE, “Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

Forget rubber-faced Jim Carrey, go back to the source material with the classic animation and groovy soundtrack. The miserly Grinch plots to steal Christmas away from the perpetually positive Whos in a holiday special that has stood the test of time, "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name, the 1966 animated short stars Boris Karloff as the Grinch in one of his final roles. Legendary animator Chuck Jones directed the film about the miserable creature who disguises himself as St. Nick and sneaks into Whoville to load up his sleigh with all of the town's Christmas presents, decorations and food, even the roast beast. In the end, however, it's the Grinch who learns a valuable lesson about true Christmas spirit.

SUNDAY, DEC. 25

6 a.m., WTBS, "A Christmas Story"

As millions awaken to open presents and begin cooking holiday feasts, TBS serves up a traditional all-day marathon of this Yuletide classic based on the memoirs of humorist Jean Shepherd, in "A Christmas Story." Set in 1940s small-town Indiana, the film follows 9-year-old Ralphie, a typical American boy who deals with bullies, homework and family drama. He dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, and when his parents refuse to buy him one, he turns to Santa to get his special gift. Meanwhile, Ralphie's parents fight over a lamp, and his little brother Randy spends most of his time hiding under the sink.

- Weekly Surge Editor Kent Kimes contributed to this report