Holiday movies and TV specials have become as much a part of seasonal traditions as gift giving, tree decorating and politically charged arguments across the dinner table. From Christmas movie marathons to New Year’s Eve events, your TV can get you through the entire holiday season.
25 Days of Christmas (Daily through Dec. 25, Freeform) – From Santa Claus is Coming to Town! and A Christmas Carol to Jingle All the Way and Elf, this marathon features all the classic and contemporary Christmas favorites — and Harry Potter.
Joe’s Pub Presents: A Holiday Special (10 p.m. Wednesday, IFC) – If variety is the spice of life, this vaguely holiday-ish comedy special is one speecy-spicy meatball. Tony Hale (Veep, Arrested Development) hosts the show — filmed in front of a live audience last month at the iconic Joe’s Pub inside Manhattan’s Public Theater — which features performances by Amy Schumer BFF Bridget Everett, musical comedian Nick Thune, the Dap-Kings (R.I.P. Sharon Jones!) and more.
SURPRISE! INSTANT XMAS CAROL! (10 p.m. Wednesday, TBS) – Charles Barkley, Rashida Jones, Alfonso Ribeiro and other celebrity carolers put their spin on holiday classics in this shoutily titled program.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (8 p.m. Thursday, ABC) – The Peanuts gang learns the real meaning of Christmas; decorates a sad tree.
Sense8: A Christmas Special (Friday, Netflix) – The telepathically connected Sensates are back! This two-hour holiday episode will have to tide fans over until Season 2 premieres in May.
A Christmas Story Marathon (8 p.m. Saturday, TNT) – Christmas wouldn’t be complete without 24 hours of Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun!
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (9 p.m. Saturday, FXX) – A highly entertaining holiday offering.
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (9 p.m. Monday, ABC) – Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer saves the day yet again when an evil bird kidnaps baby New Year. Wait, what?
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2017 (8 p.m. Dec. 31, ABC) – Whew!
NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly (11:30 p.m. Dec. 31, NBC) – Same countdown to 2017, different white guy host. Tune in at 10 p.m. for a special with Seth Meyers — bonus white guy host!
Picks of the Week
Project Runway (Season Finale, 8 p.m. Thursday, Lifetime) – The final designers put their finishing touches on collections they debut at New York Fashion Week; a winner is crowned.
Balls Deep (10 p.m. Dec. 29, VICELAND) – Thomas explores veterans’ issues with Michelle Obama, freaks out over meeting Michelle Obama.
The Mick (Series Premiere, 8 p.m. Jan. 1, FOX) – Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) stars as a foul-mouthed hard partier suddenly put in charge of her sister’s three children. In other words, huge departure from her Sunny role as Sweet Dee.
The Bachelor (Season Premiere, 8 p.m. Jan. 2, ABC) – Nick Viall failed to find love with Andi Dorfman on Season 10 of The Bachelorette, and with Kaitlyn Bristowe on Season 11 of The Bachelorette, oh, and on this summer’s season of Bachelor in Paradise. Because if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.
The New Celebrity Apprentice (Season Premiere, 8 p.m. Jan. 2, NBC) – Now taking bets on new host Arnold Schwarzenegger’s version of Donald Trump’s line, “You’re fired.” Will it be “Hasta la vista, baby,” “You won’t be back,” or “Who is your daddy and what does he do?”
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season Premiere, 10 p.m. Jan. 4, FXX) – When an electric blanket shorts-out during a viewing of The Wiz, The Gang discovers they have been turned black. They set out to return to their original Caucasian forms and the body-switching movie montage ensues. And people say TV is too PC these days…
CONTACT JAC KERN: @jackern
This article appears in Dec 21-28, 2016.
