Holiday TV schedule: Air dates for new and old favorites

Posted: 11/27/2013 12:00:00 PM PST

Updated: 11/27/2013 02:54:10 PM PST

Brace yourself for the annual holiday TV blizzard.

As usual, programmers are making merry with an onslaught of season offerings. The snowball gets rolling on Friday with several animated favorites, including a visit from Mr. Grinch. And from there on through Christmas, expect your TV set to be overrun by familiar faces -- Charlie Brown, Frosty and Rudolph -- as well as plenty of new movies and variety specials.

Some of the notables:

Music, comedy and good cheer

'CMA Country Christmas' -- Jennifer Nettles, Trace Adkins, Sheryl Crow, Rascal Flatts and others help ring in the holidays. (9 p.m. Dec. 2, ABC)

'Christmas in Rockefeller Center' -- Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, the Goo Goo Dolls and others light up the big tree in the Big Apple. (8 p.m. Dec. 4, NBC)

'SNL Christmas Special' -- A compilation of fan-favorite holiday sketches from 'Saturday Night Live.' (9 p.m. Dec. 4, NBC)

'The Sound of Music Live!' -- Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer get their von Trapp on in a live reboot of the classic musical. (8 p.m. Dec. 5, NBC)

'Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale' -- The pop star's first holiday special features tunes off her new Christmas album. (10 p.m. Dec. 11, NBC).

'A Home for the Holidays With Celine Dion' -- The singer hosts a celebration of adoption and foster care. (8 p.m. Dec. 18, CBS)

'Michael Bublé's 3rd Annual Christmas Special' -- The crooner and his guests belt out holiday favorites. (10 p.m. Dec. 18, NBC)

'Christmas in Washington' -- Demi Lovato, Diana Ross and Scotty McCreery are among the performers in this annual benefit concert attended by the president and first lady. (8 p.m. Dec. 20, TNT)

'I Love Lucy Christmas Special' -- Two newly colorized episodes, including the seldom-seen 'Christmas Episode' and 'Lucy's Italian Movie,' are scheduled to air. (8 p.m. Dec. 20, CBS)

Holiday movie comfort food

'Dear Secret Santa' -- Tatyana Ali stars as a woman whose life changes after she receives a Christmas card from a secret admirer. (8 p.m. Nov. 30, Lifetime)

'Let It Snow' -- Alan Thicke and Candace Cameron Bure play Scrooge-like corporate executives who take over a ski lodge. (8 p.m. Nov. 30, Hallmark)

'The Christmas Spirit' -- A journalist (Nicollette Sheridan) falls into a coma after a car accident, but her spirit lives on. (8 p.m. Dec. 1, Hallmark)

'Hallmark Hall of Fame's Christmas in Conway' -- A husband (Andy Garcia) plans a romantic holiday staycation for his wife (Mary-Louise Parker). (9 p.m. Dec. 1, ABC)

'Christmas in the City' -- A department store consultant (Ashanti) causes a stir when she replaces Santa with a hunky male underwear model. (8 p.m. Dec. 7, Lifetime)

'Holidaze' -- A corporate workaholic (Jennie Garth) reconnects with her childhood sweetheart (Cameron Mathison). (8 p.m. Dec. 8, ABC Family)

'Christmas on the Bayou' -- 'One Tree Hill' stars Hilarie Burton and Tyler Hilton reunite in this holiday romance. (8 p.m. Dec. 14, Lifetime)

'Hats Off to Christmas!' -- Haylie Duff plays a small-town widowed mom who falls for a business tycoon. (8 p.m. Dec. 14, Hallmark)

A rundown of returning specials and movies, including the usual chestnuts:

Nov. 29

'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (8 p.m., ABC)

'Hoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas' (8 p.m., CBS)

'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' (8 p.m., The CW)

'Shrek the Halls' (8:30 p.m., ABC)

'The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story' (8:30 p.m., CBS)

Nov. 30

'The Flight Before Christmas' (8 p.m., CBS)

'The Story of Santa Claus' (9 p.m., CBS)

Dec. 2

'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (8 p.m., ABC)

'The Santa Clause' (8 p.m., ABC Family)

Dec. 3

'Scrooged' (8 p.m., ABC Family)

Dec. 4

'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' (10 p.m., ABC Family)

Dec. 5

'The Polar Express' (7 p.m., ABC Family)

Dec. 6

'Frosty the Snowman' (8 p.m., CBS)

'Yes, Virginia' (8:30 p.m., CBS)

Dec. 7

'The Story of Santa Claus' (9 p.m., CBS)

Dec. 10

'The Year Without a Santa Claus' (9 p.m., ABC Family)

'Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town' (10 p.m., ABC Family)

Dec. 13

'White Christmas' (7 p.m., AMC)

Dec. 14

'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' (8 p.m., CBS)

'It's A Wonderful Life' (8 p.m., NBC; Re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 24).

'Frosty Returns' (9:30 p.m., CBS)

Dec. 16

'Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas' (9 p.m., Fox)

'DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury' (9:30 p.m., Fox)

Dec. 18

'Mickey's Christmas Carol' (7:30 p.m., ABC Family)

Dec. 24

'A Christmas Story' (24-hour marathon, 8 p.m., TBS)

(Note: Some of the vintage holiday programs will have multiple airings. For specific times and days, consult your listings.)

Follow Chuck Barney at Twitter.com/chuckbarney and Facebook.com/bayareanewsgroup.chuckbarney.