Christmas TV specials: Dec. 20-25

SUNDAY, DEC. 20

Noon (HALL) “Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue” Children ask President Hoover to pardon their dad (Robert Urich) for Christmas.
1 p.m. (LIFE) “The Road to Christmas” A woman (Jennifer Grey) hitchhikes to her Christmas Eve wedding.
1:30 p.m. (FAM) “Home Alone 4” Kevin tries to reunite his separated parents.
2 p.m. (Ch 54) “Rick Steves’ European Christmas”
2 p.m. (TOON) “Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas” animated.
2 p.m. (WGN) “The Man Who Saved Christmas” Inventor A.C. Gilbert (Jason Alexander) discovers his holiday spirit during World War I.
3 p.m. (FX) “Deck the Halls” Neighbors (Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick) clash over light displays.
3 p.m. (LIFE) “Secret Santa” A cynical reporter (Jennie Garth) wants to expose Santa.
3 p.m. (TOON) “A Johnny Bravo Christmas” Animated.
4 p.m. (TOON) “Powerpuff Girls: ’Twas the Fight Before Christmas” Animated.
4:40 p.m. (Ch 48) “Cincinnati High Notes: A Holiday Celebration” Five local choirs perform contemporary and traditional songs.
5 p.m. (LIFE) “Call Me Claus” Santa asks a TV producer (Whoopi Goldberg) to replace him.
5:30 p.m. (TOON) “A Scooby-Doo Christmas” Animated. headless snowman haunts Winter Hollow.
6 p.m. (HALL) “Our First Christmas” Newlyweds (John Ratzenberger, Dixie Carter) gather their families for the holidays.
6 p.m. (WGN) It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” Kermit tries to save his theater from demolition.
8 p.m. (Ch 64) “Star64 Holiday Carols” Twenty area high school choirs perform Christmas songs on Fountain Square.
8 p.m. (Ch 48) “Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone” Winte in Yellowstone National Park.
8 p.m. (Ch 9) “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” Jack Frost (Martin Short) tries to prevent Christmas.
8 p.m. (AMC) “A Christmas Carol” George C. Scott as Scrooge.
8 p.m. (HALL) “The Three Gifts” Three orphaned boys stay with a couple (Dean Cain, Jean Louisa Kelly) for the holidays.
8 p.m. (TNT) “Christmas in Washington 2009” With Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland, Rob Thomas and Usher.
8:10 p.m. (DISN) “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas” Disney cartoons.
9 p.m. (TCM) “King of Kings” The life of Jesus Christ (Jeffrey Hunter).
9 p.m. (TNT) “The Nativity Story” Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) gives birth to Jesus.
10 p.m. (Ch 43) “Mary and Joseph: A Story of Faith” Starring Blanche Baker and Jeff East.

MONDAY, DEC. 21

7 p.m. (FAM) “Santa Baby” A businesswoman (Jenny McCarthy) helps Santa.
8 p.m. (Ch 9) “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!” Lucy’s family wants a dog.
8 p.m. (AMC) A Christmas Carol” George C. Scott as Scrooge.
8 p.m. (DISN) “The Polar Express” A train conductor takes a boy to the North Pole.
8 p.m. (HALL) “All I Want for Christmas” A boy wants to find a mate for his widowed mother (Gail O’Grady).
10 p.m. (HALL) “Finding John Christmas” A nurse (Valerie Bertinelli) searches for her brother.
10:30 p.m. (AMC) “Holiday Inn” Entertainers (Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire) perform “White Christmas” and other tunes at a resort.

TUESDAY, DEC. 22

7 p.m. (TLC) “More Crazy Christmas Lights” Big light displays.
8 p.m. (Ch 19) “Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special” With Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley and David Cook.
8 p.m. (DISN) “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Halloween king Jack tries to spoil Christmas.
8 p.m. (FX) “Home Alone” Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) outwits Christmas thieves.
8 p.m. (HALL) “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” An uncle (Henry Winkler) tries to be a holiday matchmaker.
9 p.m. (Ch 48) “Frontline: From Jesus to Christ, The First Christians” Second of two parts.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “Undercover Christmas” A FBI agent brings his star witness (Jami Gertz) to his parents’ home.
10 p.m. (Ch 14) “Urban Nutcracker: Anatomy of a Ballet” A multi-ethnic dance team perform the holiday classic.
10 p.m. (Ch 43) “Jesus: The Movie” Producer John Heyman re-creates the story of Jesus in Israel.
10.p.m. (HALL) “When Angels Come to Town” An angel (Peter Falk) could lose his job.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23

7 p.m. (FAM) “Miracle on 34th Street” The 1994 version with Richard Attenborough as Santa.
8 p.m. (Ch 48) “Christmas at Belmont” New concert with Trisha Yearwood.
8 p.m. (Ch 9) “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 classic cartoon.
8 p.m. (DISN) “Eloise at Christmastime” Eloise (Sofia Vassilieva) interferes with a yuletide ceremony.
8 p.m. (FX) “Deck the Halls” Neighbors (Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick) clash over light displays.
8 p.m. (HALL) “Silver Bells” A teen-age runaway connects with a widow (Anne Heche).
8 p.m. (HIS) “Cristmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas” Christmas celebrations around the world.
8 p.m. (LMN) “Comfort and Joy” An unconscious woman (Nancy McKeon) awakes to find she is married with two children.
8 p.m. (TNT) “A Christmas Carol” Patrick Stewart as Scrooge.
8:30 p.m. (TBS) “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” The Paynes cancel a Hawaiian holiday.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “Holiday Switch” A woman (Nicole Eggert) things she married the wrong man.
10 p.m. (FAM) “The Polar Express” A train conductor takes a boy to the North Pole.
10 p.m. (HALL) “A Season for Miracles” A woman (Carla Gugino) takes in her sister’s kids.
10 p.m. (TNT) “The Nativity Story” Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) gives birth to Jesus.

THURSDAY, DEC. 24

7 p.m. (FAM) “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” Rudolph rescues the New Year baby.
7:30 p.m. (Ch 48) “Cincinnati High Notes: A Holiday Celebration” Five local choirs perform contemporary and traditional songs.
7:45 p.m. (DISN) “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” Jack Frost (Martin Short) tries to prevent Christmas.
8 p.m. (Ch 5) “It’s a Wonderful Life” An angel helps a suicidal man (James Stewart).
8 p.m. (AMC) “White Christmas” Friends (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye) plan a holiday show.
8 p.m. (FAM) “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.” Narrated by Fred Astaire.
8 p.m. (Ch 48, 16) “Faith Hill, Joy to the World” Holiday music.
8 p.m. (Ch 64) “The Hollywood Christmas Parade” With Grand Marshal Susan Lucci.
8 p.m. (TBS) “A Christmas Story” A boy (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun for Christmas.
8 p.m. (TCM) “Remember the Night” An attorney (Fred MacMurray) falls in love with a Christmas shoplifter (Barbara Stanwyck).
8:30 p.m. (TVL) “The Cosby Show” Elvin plays an elf at the hospital.
9 p.m. (FAM) “The Year Without a Santa Claus” Animated.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “12 Men of Chrstmas” A marketing executive (Kristin Chenoweth) recruits firefighters for a beefcake calendar fund-raiser.
10 p.m. (Ch 64) “Star64 Holiday Carols” Twenty area high school choirs perform Christmas songs on Fountain Square.
10 p.m. (Ch 48) “Christmas at St. Olaf” Music from St. Olaf College in Minnesta.
10 p.m. (FAM) “A Miser Brothers’ Christmas” Animated. Feuding brothers save Christmas after Santa hurts his back.
10 p.m. (TBS) “A Christmas Story” A boy (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun for Christmas.
10 p.m. (TVL) “Roseanne” A Christmas Eve snowstorm scatters the Conners.
10 p.m. (TVL) “Roseanne” The Conners’ tacky decorations.
10:45 p.m. (AMC) “White Christmas” Friends (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye) plan a holiday show.
11:35 p.m. (Ch 5) Christmas Eve Mass. From the Vatican.
Midnight (Ch 19) “Gospel Superfest Holiday Jam”
1 a.m. (Ch 5) “Paul Dixon Show” Repeat of 1969 chicken wedding.
2 a.m. (Ch 5) “Avco Hour of Stars” WLWT-T singers at 1974 Ohio State Fair.
3 a.m. (Ch 5) “WLWT Remembers Bob Braun” From 2001.

FRIDAY, DEC. 25, 2009

9 a.m. (Ch 19) “Christmas at Washington National Cathedral” Live commercial-free broadcast.
10 a.m. (Ch 9) “Disney Christmas Day Parade”
10 a.m. (Ch 19) “March of the Wooden Soldiers” Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Toyland.
10 a.m. (Ch 64) “Star64 Holiday Carols” Twenty area high school choirs perform Christmas songs on Fountain Square.
10 a.m. (TBS) “A Christmas Story” A boy (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun for Christmas.
10 a.m. (TVL) “All In The Family” A draft dodger visits.
10:30 a.m. (DISN) “Little Einsteins” The Christmas wish.
11 a.m. (AMC) “Holiday Inn” Entertainers (Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire) perform “White Christmas” and other tunes at a resort.
11a.m. (DISN) “My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas Movie” Animated.
11 a.m. (WGN) “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” Kermit tries to save his theater from demolition.
11:30 a.m. (TVL) “Sanford & Son” Fred becomes a scrooge.
Noon (Ch 5) “Ruth Lyons Special” Hosted by Bob Braun in 1981.
Noon (Ch 19) “Nutcracker: The Motion Picture” Performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet. 1986
Noon (DISN) “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” Jack Frost (Martin Short) tries to prevent Christmas.
Noon (HALL) “Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle” A widower’s twins love their new nanny (Doris Roberts).
Noon (TBS) “A Christmas Story” A boy (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun for Christmas.
12:15 p.m. (TCM) “Christmas in Connecticut” A writer (Barbara Stanwyck) arranges a fake family for herself.
12:30 p.m. (Ch 5) “Ruth Lyons: A Living Legend” Hosted by Bob Braun in 1983.
12:30 p.m. (Ch 14) “Arthur’s Perfect Christmas” Animated.
12:30 p.m. (LIFE) “Frasier” Frasier and Niles argue over hosting Christmas.
1 p.m. (SPIKE) “Bad Santa” A criminal (Billy Bob Thornton) plays Santa.
1 p.m. (TVL) “Three’s Company” The Ropers Christmas party.
1:15 p.m. (AMC) “Santa Claus: The Movie” An elf (Dudley Moore) foils a toy maker’s scheme.
1:30 p.m. (TVL) “The Brady Bunch” Carol loses her voice.
1:55 p.m. (DISN) “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” Snowed in at the hotel for Christmas.
2 p.m. (Ch 19) “Christmas Carol: The Movie” with Nicolas Cage and Kate Winslet.
2 p.m. (HALL) “Meet the Santas” A couple (Steve Guttenberg, Crystal Bernard) marry on Christmas Eve.
2 p.m. (LMN) “Under the Mistletoe” A woman (Jaime Ray Newman) is tricked into entering a dating contest.
2 p.m. (TBS) “A Christmas Story” A boy (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun for Christmas.
2 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Christmas in Hooterville.
2:30 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Granny pursues Sam Drucker while spending Christmas in Hooterville.
3 p.m. (COM) “Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! Stephen Colbert’s 20008 special.
3 p.m. (LIFE) “The Road to Christmas” A woman (Jennifer Grey) hitchhikes to her Christmas Eve wedding.
3 p.m. (SPIKE) “Bad Santa” A criminal (Billy Bob Thornton) plays Santa.
3 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” The Clampetts work at a Beverly Hills department store before Christmas.
3:30 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Clampetts get expensive gifts from Mr. Drysdale.
3:30 p.m. (AMC) “All I Want for Christmas”A brother and sister scheme to get their divorced parents back together.
3:30 p.m. (DISN) “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Halloween king Jack tries to spoil Christmas.
4 p.m. (Ch 19) “Jingle All the Way” Dads (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad) fight for a Turbo Man toy.
4 p.m. (FAM) “Miracle on 34th Street” The 1994 version with Richard Attenborough as Santa.
4 p.m. (HALL) “Mr. St. Nick” Santa’s son (Kelsey Grammer) would rather party than help dad.
4 p.m. (LMN) “Holiday Wishes” A rich girl switches bodies with an orphan.
4 p.m. (TBS) “A Christmas Story” A boy (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun for Christmas.
4 p.m. (WGN) “The Man Who Saved Christmas” Inventor A.C. Gilbert (Jason Alexander) discovers his holiday spirit during World War I
4 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Clampetts fly home for Christmas.
4:30 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Clampetts’ West Virginia Christmas with Cousin Pearl.
4:30 p.m. (TCM) “Holiday Affair” A widow (Janet Leigh) is torn between two lovers
5 p.m. (Ch 43) “Mary and Joseph: A Story of Faith” Starring Blanche Baker and Jeff East.
5 p.m. (TVL) “Gunsmoke” Christmas with seven orphans.
5 p.m. (LIFE) “Eve’s Christmas” A businesswoman (Elisa Donovan) wishes upon a Christmas Eve star.
5 p.m. (SPIKE) “Bad Santa” A criminal (Billy Bob Thornton) plays Santa.
5:30 p.m. (AMC) “Prancer” An injured reindeer brings hope to a child.
6 p.m. (HALL) “The National Tree” A man (Andrew McCarthy) drives a Christmas tree to Washington DC.
6 p.m. (LMN) “Call Me Claus” Santa asks a TV producer (Whoopi Goldberg) to replace him.
6 p.m. (TBS) “A Christmas Story” A boy (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun for Christmas.
6 p.m. (TVL) “Little House on the Prairie” The Ingalls are snowed in for Christmas.
6:45 p.m. (DISN) “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” Disney holiday cartoons.
7 p.m. (TVL) “Andy Griffith” Jail Christmas party.
7 p.m. (Ch 19) “Family Guy” The Griffins spend Christmas Eve at the mall.
7 p.m. (Ch 64) “The Office” Employees plan a Benihana Christmas.
7 p.m. (LIFE) “Secret Santa” A cynical reporter (Jennie Garth) wants to expose Santa.
7 p.m. (SPIKE) “Bad Santa” A criminal (Billy Bob Thornton) plays Santa.
7:30 p.m. (FX) “Home Alone” Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) outwits Christmas thieves.
7:30 p.m. (TVL) “Sanford and Son” Fred becomes a miserable scrooge.
8 p.m. (TVL) “M*A*S*H” Hawkeye’s Christmas letter.
8 p.m. (Ch 5) “Saturday Night Live Christmas 2009” Holiday skits from past years.
8 p.m. (AMC) “A Christmas Carol” George C. Scott as Scrooge.
8 p.m. (HALL) “The Three Gifts” Three orphaned boys stay with a couple (Dean Cain, Jean Louisa Kelly) for the holidays.
8 p.m. (USA) “Elf” An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family.
8:05 p.m. (DISN) “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas” Disney cartoons.
8:30 p.m. (TVL) “M*A*S*H” Father Mulcahy’s Christmas letter to his sister.
9 p.m. (Ch 48) “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” With Brian Stokes Mitchell.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage” A young artist (Jared Padalecki) paints a mural of his hometown.
9:30 p.m. (FX) “Deck the Halls” Neighbors (Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick) clash over light displays.
10 p.m. (Ch 48, 16) “Faith Hill, Joy to the World” Holiday music.
10 p.m. (Ch 43) “The Greatest Story Ever Told” The life of Jesus Christ (Max von Sydow).
10 p.m. (HALL) “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” A student (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) heads home for Christmas.
10 p.m. (LMN) “A Boyfriend for Christmas” A lonely woman (Kelli Williams) finds love.
10:30 p.m. (AMC) “Holiday Inn” Entertainers (Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire) perform “White Christmas” and other tunes at a resort.