Sometimes the holiday season can be overwhelming. What with all the tree trimming, baking, shopping and visiting with your family and friends, it can be hard to find a moment to just relax.
Lucky for you the broadcast and cable networks are planning holiday specials a-plenty to keep you glued to the TV for those times you just want to sit back and relax. And of course, ABC Family is running their annual 25 Days of Christmas event with TV specials and Christmas themed movies on every night of the week.
But whether you prefer a classic holiday special, such as Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town or jamming to music by Blake Shelton or Michael Buble, there is literally something for everyone and their families to watch.
A number of broadcast comedies are also getting in the spirit with holiday-themed episodes, such as Go On, The Middle and New Girl. FOX’s Glee even has a Love Actuallythemed episode of the show, titled “Glee Actually.”
So grab your eggnog or your hot cocoa, and keep reading for the full list of the holiday specials airing from now until the end of 2012:
Tuesday, Dec. 11
Home Alone (ABC Family, 5 PM)
The Santa Clause (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town (ABC, 8 PM)
Hart of Dixie (The CW, 8 PM)
Raising Hope (FOX, 8 PM)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (ABC Family, 9 PM)
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (The CW, 9 PM; includes appearances from Nathan Lane, Uma Thurman, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jane Krakowski) Eric Liebowitz/NBC
New Girl (FOX, 9 PM)
The Mindy Project (FOX, 9:30 PM)
Chasing Christmas (ABC Family, 12 AM)
The Santa Clause (ABC Family, 5 PM)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (ABC Family, 7 PM)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (ABC Family, 9 PM)
Christmas Do-Over (ABC Family, 12 AM)
Barbara Walters presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012 (ABC, 9:30 PM)
Arrow(The CW, 8 PM)
Thursday, Dec. 13
The Mistle-Tones (ABC Family, 5 PM)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (ABC Family, 7 PM)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 PM)
Christmas in the White House (NBC, 8 PM)
The Polar Express (ABC Family, 9 PM)
Glee (FOX, 9 PM)
Christmas Every Day (ABC Family 12 AM)
Friday Dec. 14
Pixar Short Films (ABC Family, 5 PM)
The Polar Express (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Prancer Returns (The CW, 8 PM; stars John Corbett)
Last Man Standing (ABC, 8 PM)
Malibu Country (ABC, 8:30 PM)
Toy Story (ABC Family, 9 PM)
Blake Shelton’s Not-So-Family Christmas (NBC, 9 PM; an encore presentation)
Yes, Virgina (CBS, 9 PM; featuring the voices of Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Alfred Molina)
The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story (CBS, 9:30 PM)
The Little Drummer Boy (ABC Family, 8 AM)
The Little Drummer Boy Book II (ABC Family, 8:30 PM)
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (ABC Family, 9 AM)
Pinocchio’s Christmas (ABC Family 9:30 AM)
A Miser Brothers’ Christmas (ABC Family, 10:30 AM)
The Story of the First Christmas Snow (ABC Family 11:30AM)
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (ABC Family, 12 PM)
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (ABC Family, 12:30 PM)
Jack Frost (ABC Family, 1 PM; the 1979 version)
Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas in July (ABC Family, 2 PM)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (ABC Family, 4 PM)
Toy Story (ABC Family, 6 PM)
Toy Story 2 (ABC Family, 8 PM)
Elf (CBS, 8 PM)
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (ABC Family, 10 PM)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (ABC Family, 11 PM)
Jack Frost (ABC Family, 12 AM, the 1998 version)
The Real St. Nick(Lifetime, 8 PM)
Sunday, Dec. 16
Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish (ABC Family, 7 AM)
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (ABC Family, 9 AM)
Home Alone 4 (ABC Family, 11 AM)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (ABC Family, 1 PM)
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (ABC Family, 2 PM)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (ABC Family, 3 PM)
Toy Story 2 (ABC Family, 5 PM)
America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Spectacular (ABC, 7 PM)
Toy Story 3 (ABC Family 7 PM)
A Christmas Kiss (ION, 7 PM)
The Cleveland Show (FOX, 7:30 PM)
A Carol for Another Christmas (TCM, 8 PM)
Winter Wipeout: Deck the Balls (ABC, 8 PM)
The Simpsons (FOX, 8 PM)
Bob’s Burgers (FOX, 8:30 PM)
The Bachelorette: Ashley & J.P.’s Wedding (ABC, 9 PM)
Family Guy (FOX, 9 PM)
Merry In-Laws (Lifetime, 9 PM)
Christmas Twister (ION, 9 PM)
American Dad (FOX, 9:30 PM)
A Christmas Carol (TCM, 9:30 PM; the1951 version)
A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! (TCM, 11 PM)
Monday, Dec. 17
Sons of Mistletoe (ABC Family, 11 AM)
Christmas Every Day (ABC Family, 1 PM)
Christmas Do-Over (ABC Family, 3 PM)
Dr. Seuss on the Loose (ABC Family, 5 PM)
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (ABC Family, 5:30 PM)
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat (ABC Family, 6 PM)
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Grinches The Cat in the Hat (ABC Family, 6:30 PM)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC, 8 PM and 9 PM)
Dreamworks Dragons: Gift of the Fury (FOX, 8 PM)
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (FOX, 8:30 PM)
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (FOX, 9 PM)
The Mistle-Tones (ABC Family, 12 AM)
The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (ABC Family, 11 AM)
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (ABC Family, 12 PM)
Santa Who? (ABC Family, 12:30 PM)
The Christmas List (ABC Family, 2:30 PM)
Disney Prep & Landing (ABC Family, 4:30 PM)
Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (ABC Family, 5 PM)
Miracle on 34th Street (ABC Family, 5:30 PM; 1994 version )
Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC, 8 PM)
Home Alone (ABC Family, 8 PM)
Happy Endings (ABC, 9 PM)
It’s a Very Muppet Christmas Movie (The CW, 8 PM; stars David Arquette, William H. Macy, Whoopi Goldberg, and Joan Cusack)
The Polar Express (ABC Family, 10 PM)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory(ABC Family, 12 AM)
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Christmas in Boston (ABC Family, 8 AM)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (ABC Family, 10 AM)
Three Days (ABC Family, 12 PM)
The Family Man (ABC Family, 2 PM)
Home Alone (ABC Family, 5 PM)
The Polar Express (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Noel (The CW, 8 PM; stars Susan Sarandon, and Penelope Cruz)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (ABC Family, 9 PM)
WWE Tribute to the Troops (USA, 9 PM)
The Year with Katie Couric (ABC, 9:30 PM; a special edition of 20/20)
Three Days (ABC Family, 12 AM)
Thursday, Dec. 20
Christmas Caper (ABC Family, 11 AM)
Secret Santa (ABC Family, 1 PM)
The Mistle-Tones (ABC Family, 3 PM)
12 Dates of Christmas (ABC Family, 5 PM)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (ABC Family, 7 PM)
I Want a Dog For Christmas Charlie Brown! (ABC, 8 PM)
A White House Christmas: First Families Remember (NBC, 8 PM)
CMA Country Christmas (ABC, 9 PM)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (ABC Family, 9 PM)
Santa Baby (ABC Family, 12 AM)
Christmas Cupid (ABC Family, 9 AM)
Snowglobe (ABC Family, 11 AM)
Santa Baby (ABC Family, 1 PM)
Santa Baby 2 Christmas Maybe (ABC Family, 3 PM)
Holiday in Handcuffs (ABC Family, 5 PM)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Back to the Beginning with Christine Amanpour, Part 1 (ABC, 9 PM)
The Happy Elf (The CW, 8 PM)
Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays (NBC, 8 PM)
Grandma Got Run over a Reindeer (The CW, 9 PM)
A White House Christmas: First Families Remember (NBC, 9 PM; re-broadcast)
The Santa Clause(ABC Family, 9 PM)
Saturday, Dec. 22
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (ABC Family, 7 AM)
Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (ABC Family, 8:30 AM)
Disney Prep & Landing (ABC Family, 10 AM) ABCFAM Dec 22, 10:00AM
Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (ABC Family, 10:30 AM)
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (ABC Family, 11 AM)
Winnie the Pooh & Christmas Too (ABC Family, 11:30 AM)
A Chipmunk Christmas (ABC Family, 12 PM)
Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys (ABC Family, 12:30 PM)
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (ABC Family, 2 PM)
A Miser Brothers’ Christmas (ABC Family, 3 PM)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (ABC Family, 4 PM)
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (ABC Family, 5 PM)
The Santa Clause (ABC Family, 6 PM)
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (ABC, 8 PM)
The Santa Clause 2 (ABC Family, 8 PM)
Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol (NBC, 8 PM)
Cops (FOX, 8 PM)
A Chipmunk Christmas (ABC, 8:30 PM)
CMA Country Christmas (ABC, 9 PM)
WWE Tribute to the Troops (NBC, 9 PM)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (ABC Family, 10 PM)
Sunday, Dec. 23
Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys (ABC Family, 7 AM)
A Dennis the Menace Christmas (ABC Family, 8:30 AM)
Unaccompanied Minors (ABC Family, 10:30 AM)
Fred Claus (ABC Family, 12:30 PM)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (ABC Family, 3 PM)
The Polar Express (ABC Family, 5 PM)
The Sound of Music (ABC, 7 PM)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Christmas Eve Movie Marathon (AMC, 9:15 AM; includes the 1947 version of A Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, A Christmas Carol (1984), Prancer and All I Want For Christmas)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (ABC Family, 11 AM)
The Polar Express (ABC Family, 1 PM)
The Santa Clause (ABC Family, 3 PM)
Encore Family Christmas Marathon (Encore Family, 3:30 PM; includes The Happy Elf, Santa vs. Claus, A Christmas Carol: The Movie, Jingle All the Way, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Christmas is Here Again, Holiday Inn)
Holiday Affair (TCM, 4:30 PM)
The Santa Clause 2 (ABC Family, 5 PM)
Babes in Toyland (TCM, 6:30 PM)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Disney Prep & Landing (ABC, 8 PM)
Christmas is Here Again (The CW, 8 PM; an animated musical featuring the voices of Jay Leno, Ed Asner and Kathy Bates)
It’s A Wonderful Life (NBC, 8 PM)
A Christmas Story (TBS, 8 PM, 24 hour marathon)
Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8:30 PM)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (ABC, 9 PM)
Second Star to the Left (The CW, 9:30 PM; features the voice of Hugh Laurie)
Tuesday, Dec. 25
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Going My Way (TCM, 7:30 AM)
A Chipmunk Christmas (ABC Family, 9 AM)
Cowboys for Christmas Marathon (AMC, 9:30 AM, High Plains Drifter, El Dorado, Appaloosa, Jeremiah Johnson, Two Mules for Sister Sara, Hondo, Big Jake, The Sons of Katie Elder)
The Santa Clause (ABC Family, 11 AM)
Disney Christmas Parade (ABC, 12 PM)
The Santa Clause 2 (ABC Family, 1 PM)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (ABC Family, 3 PM)
King of Kings (TCM, 5 PM)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (ABC Family, 5 PM)
Home Alone (ABC Family, 7 PM)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC, 8 PM, TV Special)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC, 8:30 PM, Theatrical version starring Jim Carrey)
Horton Hears a Who (NBC, 8 PM)
Wednesday, Dec. 26
The 35th annual Kennedy Centers Honors (CBS, 9 PM)
Thursday, Dec. 27
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8 PM)
Friday, Dec. 28
Back to the Beginning With Christiane Amanpour, Part 2 (ABC, 9 PM)
Monday, Dec. 31
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark (ABC, 8 PM)
Enchanted (NBC, 9 PM)
Dick Clarks’ Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest (ABC, 10 PM)
Dick Clarks’ Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Parts 1 & 2 (ABC, 11:30 PM; Jan 1 – 1:08 AM)
NBC’s New Years Eve with Carson Daly (NBC; 10 – 11 PM; 11:30 PM – 12:35 PM)
New Year’s Eve Live (FOX, 11 PM)
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