TV

TV holiday specials

By
Social Links for Andrea Morabito
Published Dec. 16, 2013, 2:16 a.m. ET
Charlie Brown and his pals search for holiday meaning on "A Charlie Brown Christmas." United Feature Syndicate/ABC

With many of your favorite TV shows on hiatus for the holidays, the networks are breaking out the Christmas specials to tide viewers over through the New Year.

Whether classic movies, animated specials or Christmas concerts are your thing, there’s enough seasonal cheer on the schedule to warm even a Grinch’s heart. So pour a mug of eggnog, cozy up to the tree and ring in the holiday in front of the tube.

Monday, Dec. 16

  • “T.I. & Tiny: Holiday Hustle Special,” 8 p.m., VH1. An animated T.I., Tiny and their six kids travel from Atlanta to the North Pole in hopes of saving Christmas after Santa disappears just days before.
  • “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas,” 9 p.m., Fox. Sid the Sloth and crew accidentally destroys Santa’s workshop on Christmas Eve and must orchestrate a Christmas miracle.
  • “Dreamworks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury,” 9:30 p.m., Fox. The villagers of Berk are saddened when all of the dragons mysteriously fly away during the winter holidays.

Wednesday, Dec. 18

  • “A Home for the Holidays with Celine Dion,” 8 p.m., CBS. Dion, Ne-Yo and Chris Young perform on this special celebrating the joys of adoption.
  •  “iHeart Radio Jingle Ball 2013,” 8 p.m., The CW. Does Santa twerk? Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke as well as Pitbull, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Fall Out Boy and Selena Gomez perform at this concert from Madison Square Garden.
  • “Michael Buble’s 3rd Annual Christmas Special,” 10 p.m., NBC. The Canadian crooner sings the holiday standards with help from Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige.

Thursday, Dec. 19

  •  “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” 8 p.m., ABC. Charlie Brown directs the school Christmas pageant in an attempt to restore the proper spirit to the season.

Friday, Dec. 20

  •  “It’s a Wonderful Life,” 8 p.m., NBC. The annual telecast of Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday classic starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore.
  • “The I Love Lucy Christmas Special,” 8 p.m., CBS. The network unearths the long-lost “Christmas Episode” and “Lucy’s Italian Movie,” now newly colorized 57 years after their original broadcast.
  • “Christmas in Washington,” 8 p.m., TNT. Hugh Jackman hosts the annual D.C. event with performances by the Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Anna Kendrick, Janelle Monae and Pat Monahan.

Monday, Dec. 23

  •  “Treehouse Masters: Santa’s Workshop,” 10 p.m., Animal Planet. A Yuletide-loving couple call on Pete Nelson and his crew to create a Christmas Treehouse Wonderland adjacent to their California home.

Tuesday, Dec. 24

  • “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 8 p.m., ABC. The network serves up a double dose of Whoville cheer, airing the 1966 animated story followed by the live action movie starring Jim Carrey.
  • “24 Hours of “A Christmas Story,” 8 p.m., TBS. Ralphie’s quest for that elusive BB gun celebrates its 30th anniversary (and 17th as an all-day TV marathon).
  • “A ‘Fox & Friends’ Christmas,” 8 p.m., Fox News Channel. “Fox & Friends” co-hosts Steve Doocy, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Brian Kilmeade host this two-hour program with performances from Leona Lewis, Jeff Dunham and “The X-Factor” finalist Carlos Guevara.

Wednesday, Dec. 25

  • “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade,” 10 a.m., ABC. Nick Cannon, Mary J. Blige, Demi Lovato, Jordin Sparks, Jason Derulo and the cast of Disney Channel’s “Teen Beach Movie” perform.
  • “The Time of the Doctor,” 9 p.m., BBC America. The Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, takes his final bow in this year’s “Doctor Who” Christmas Special.