Hollywood may be on strike. But the holidays are not.
So—as our gift to you—here's a list of a few festive favorites and new classics to make your season merry and bright.
We hope it keeps you caroling all the way to New Year's night.
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
Jimmy Durante narrates this 1969 fave, in which a discarded silk top hat ignites a fight between a washed-up stage magician and a group of schoolchildren after it magically brings a snowman ( voiced by Jackie Vernon ) to life. ( CBS; Fri., Dec. 7, at 8 p.m. )
FROSTY RETURNS
There's still magic in that old silk hat as Frosty ( voiced by John Goodman ) continues his adventures and skates on the edge of danger in this 1992 animated musical special, narrated by Jonathan Winters. ( CBS; Fri., Dec. 7, at 8:30 p.m. )
DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Every Who down in Whoville likes Christmas a lot. … But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, did not! Jim Carrey plays the dastardly do-badder in this 2000 live-action adaptation of Dr. Suess' popular 1966 book. Also starring are Christine Baranski, Jeffrey Tambor, Molly Shannon and Taylor Momsen. ( ABC; Sat., Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. )
HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS
Holy Mario Lopez and Melissa Joan Hart! In this romantic comedy, Clarissa snaps and kidnaps A.C. Slater after a series of personal letdowns. At the very least, it'll bring back fond memories of 1991. ( ABC Family; Sun., Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. )
I WANT A DOG FOR CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!
Blockhead takes the backseat in this Peanuts Christmas special, allowing the often-overlooked ReRun—younger brother of Linus and Lucy—to take center stage. When Snoopy can't fit ReRun into his busy holiday schedule, he invites his brother Spike to help his human friend fill up on seasonal cheer. ( ABC; Mon., Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. )
LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: RED HOT HOLIDAY STOMP
Live from Frederick P. Rose Hall, Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and special guests kick off PBS' holiday programming with an evening of joyous music and storytelling featuring jazz musicians who bring Big Easy-style holiday cheer to the Big Apple. ( PBS; Mon., Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. )
SHREK THE HALLS
Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz reprise their roles as America's favorite ogre family in an all-new yuletide tale. Also featuring the voices of Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Antonio Banderas as Puss In Boots, this soon-to-be Christmas classic finds Shrek channeling the holiday spirit as only an ogre can. But as the putrid patriarch plans for a cozy family celebration, his friends make sure that it's one he won't easily forget. ( ABC; Tues., Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. )
WINNIE THE POOH AND CHRISTMAS TOO!
Pooh and Piglet retrieve a letter to Santa, but while trying to add some forgotten Christmas wishes, their plans go amiss. Honored by TV Guide as the 'most lushly animated' holiday program of all time, this prime-time special was nominated for a 1992 Emmy Award in the Outstanding Children's Program category. ( ABC; Tues., Dec. 11, at 8:30 p.m. )
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
A misanthropic drummer boy meets three wise men on his way to Bethlehem—the city, not the bar. ( ABC Family; Thurs., Dec. 13, 7 p.m. )
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman—played by the late, great Jimmy Stewart—by showing him what life would've been like if he was never born. ( NBC; Fri., Dec. 14, at 8 p.m. )
SNOWGLOBE
Sometimes singer Christina Milian somehow magically transports herself from the real world into the idyllic setting of her grandmother's snow globe, where she meets her love interest. Don't count on her to 'Dip It Low.' ( ABC Family; Sat., Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. )
TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Jack Skellington of Halloween Town plots to kidnap Santa Claus and become the overlord of Christmas. And the box office, considering that this film has been repackaged and re-released in theaters four separate times over the past 14 years. ( Starz; Sun., Dec. 16, at 11:50 a.m. )
CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR
European singing sensation Sissel joins the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square for this annual presentation which will feature traditional Christmas songs and Norwegian folk tunes. ( PBS; Wed., Dec. 19, at 9 p.m. )
CHRISTMAS AT ST. OLAF: WHERE PEACE AND LOVE AND HOPE ABIDE
This Christmas special will feature the celebrated choirs and orchestra of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. ( PBS; Wed., Dec. 19, at 10 p.m. )
9TH ANNUAL A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Inspirational stories about adoption will be enhanced by performances by Sheryl Crow, James Blunt, Carole King, John Legend and Reba McEntire, among others. ( CBS; Fri., Dec. 21, at 8 p.m. )
ELF
After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community as a result of his shambling stature, a man raised as a tiny toymaker at the North Pole is sent to the United States in search of his true identity. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, the oversized elf. ( CBS; Sat., Dec. 22, at 8 p.m. )
ELMO'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
When the 10 numbered boxes to Stiller the Elf's magical Christmas Counter-Downer become lost, the arrival of Christmas is impeded. Can Elmo and Abby find the missing boxes and restore the big countdown in time? The obvious guess is yes. Unless, of course, the Muppets recently adopted a sordid sense of humor. ( ABC; Sun., Dec. 23, at 7 p.m. )
CHRISTMAS AT BELMONT
American Idol finalist Melinda Dolittle hosts this program that will feature a Christmas repertoire ranging from traditional carols to classical masterworks to light-hearted secular songs. ( PBS; Mon., Dec. 24, at 10 p.m. )
WALT DISNEY WORLD CHRISTMAS DAY PARADE
Hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa at Walt Disney World and Ryan Seacrest at Disneyland, this holiday tradition promises to be bigger than ever with new floats, characters and performances. Making the way down Main Street USA will be a show-stopping Dancing with the Stars number featuring Joey Fatone, Drew Lachey and a cast of professional dancers, as well as scheduled appearances by Miley Cyrus, Josh Groban, Jonas Brothers and many more. ( ABC; Tues., Dec. 25, at 10 a.m. )
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
Edmund Gwenn stars as Kris Kringle, who, with the help of a young Natalie Wood, convinces the world that he's the real deal. ( RetroPlex; Tues., Dec. 25, at 8 p.m. )
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC NEW YEAR'S EVE:
JOSHUA BELL'S ROMANTIC VIOLIN
Philharmonic music director Lorin Maazel conducts the orchestra in a program of romantic showpieces featuring Bell, including Kreisler's Liebesleid and Liebesfreud, Saint-Saens' Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Ravel's Tzigane and Schubert's Ave Maria. ( PBS; Mon., Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. )
DICK CLARK'S PRIMETIME NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE 2008
Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark will co-host the 35th edition of America's signature Times Square sendoff. Expect an evening of celebration and performances by some of today's hottest hitmakers. ( ABC; Mon., Dec. 31, at 10 p.m. )
FROM VIENNA: THE NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION 2008
This time-honored holiday tradition returns to Vienna's Musikverein for its 24th annual New Year's Day celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic and host Walter Cronkite. ( PBS; Tues., Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. )
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