We don’t watch a lot of TV at our house (Sam watches none at all) so we miss commercials advertising the Christmas specials. Every year, I miss my old favorites because I forget to check the listings and see when they’re on. This year, not only have I looked ahead at the listings, but I’m posting them here so you don’t have to look for them too!
I’ve limited my list to the good old classics we grew up with, and to ones being played on the major networks (for those of us who don’t have hundreds of cable or satellite channels to choose from). Here’s what’s on from now (tonight, in fact!) through the first week of December. I’ll add listings for the rest of December when they come out. All times are Eastern, so double-check your local listings if you’re in another time zone.
Some of you have kids who are old enough to watch these with you (maybe for the first time)! For the rest of us, it’s just fun to feel like a kid again. 
Enjoy!!
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Tue, Nov 27, 8:00pm/ET on ABC: Charlie Brown Christmas (The best Christmas special of all time. If you miss it tonight, you can catch it again on Dec 3.)
Wed, Nov 28 8:30pm/ET on ABC: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Yes, the classic animated version, NOT the live action movie with Jim Carrey.)
Fri, Nov 30 8:00pm/ET on ABC: The Polar Express (A newer movie, of course. Don’t expect anything earth-shattering, but this does have some good animation. Break out the popcorn, candy canes, and hot chocolate for a family movie night!)
Mon, Dec 3, 8:00pm/ET on ABC: Charlie Brown Christmas (I’ll say it again. Best. Christmas. Special. Ever.)
Tue, Dec 4 8:00pm/ET on CBS: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (The old stop-motion animated favorite. Who can forget Yukon Cornelius? Or that cuddly Abominable Snowman?)
Wed, Dec 5 8:00pm/ET on ABC: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (Not my favorite, but still a classic, narrated by Fred Astaire.)
Fri, Dec 7 8:00pm/ET on CBS: Frosty the Snowman (“Happy Birthday!” Need I say more?)
UPDATE: (added Dec 09 - sorry for taking so long!)
Here are three more listings, including two of my favorite Christmas movies. The cartoon network and classic movie channels might have more available, but this is what I’ve found on the basic channels:
Fri, Dec 14 8:00pm/ET on NBC: It’s a Wonderful Life
Wed, Dec 19 8:00pm/ET on CBS: Frosty the Snowman
Fri, Dec 21 8:00pm on MyTV: White Christmas!!
3 Comments
thanks for this! i’ve been too lazy (probably not the word — distracted? busy? tired?) to look these up but have thought of it from time to time . . .
what about white christmas? holiday inn? are those on any we-don’t-have-good-cable networks?
for frosty, don’t you mean “Birthday Happy!” Ha ha
You rock! I have 5 kids and work and when I get home I make dinner and am helping with homeowrk… Thank you for the info cause it makes our Christmas that much more special! Keep it coming and Thanks a ton! Smoovy