LOS ANGELES — There are enough holiday TV movies to overturn Santa’s sleigh this season, with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel and a new streaming service adding to the cargo. A more expansive view of the world also is part of the ride, with a lesbian couple included in a Freeform film and Hanukkah shout-outs on the Hallmark and Lifetime channels.
Other small-screen options are available to distract you from gift-wrapping and family squabbles, including the Grinch, the Brady Bunch and John Legend. Here’s a sampling from broadcast networks, cable and streaming services, all times EST:
POPCORN TIME:
— “Noelle,” now streaming on Disney Plus. Kris Kringle’s daughter (Anna Kendrick) envies her brother’s (Bill Hader) high-profile Christmas job but discovers she’s got an important role to play, as does Mrs. Claus (Julie Hagerty). Shirley MacLaine co-stars as an elf.
— “Every Day But Christmas,” 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, Bounce. A writer (Timon Durrett) who’s cynical about Christmas finds his faith and the holiday’s meaning on a book tour. Antonique Smith co-stars.
— “Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas,” 9 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 4, Freeform. When Jess (Aisha Dee) dies in an accident after a first date with Ben (Kendrick Sampson), her soul remains earthbound. It’s up to Jess’ pal Kara (Kimiko Glenn) and her partner, Mae (Jazz Raycole), to help.
— “Mistletoe & Menorahs,” 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Lifetime. An executive (Kelley Jakle) who needs a quick education about Hanukkah to land an account and finds just the man (Jake Epstein) to help her in work and maybe love.
— “Christmas at Dollywood,” 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, Hallmark Channel. An event planner (Danica McKellar) returns home to Tennessee for a challenging job, Dollywood’s 30th Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration, and gets matchmaking help from Parton herself.
— “Carole’s Christmas,” 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, OWN. A workaholic businesswoman’s (Kimberly Elise) wishful thinking turns her life upside down. Jackée Harry and Cayden K. Williams co-star in this repeat airing with added moviemaking tidbits.
— “Holiday Date,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, Hallmark Channel. Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations combine when Brooke (Brittany Bristow) is dumped by her boyfriend before a visit home and an actor (Matt Cohen) playing stand-in shares his Jewish traditions.
— “You Light Up My Christmas,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, Lifetime. Emma (Kim Fields) returns home to find the town built around her family’s Christmas light factory has lost its glow. Can an old flame (Adrian Holmes) help?
— “A Christmas Carol,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, FX. The dark new take on Charles Dickens’ tale stars Guy Pearce as Scrooge and Andy Serkis as the ghost of Christmas past, with the screenplay by “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight.
— “It’s a Wonderful Life,” 8 p.m. Dec. 24, NBC. A man’s midlife crisis fuels the 1946 sentimental favorite from filmmaker Frank Capra, starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and, as Clarence the angel, Henry Travers.
ANIMATED CLASSICS:
— “The Little Drummer Boy,” 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, Freeform. Aaron, an orphan who finds solace only with animals, has a life-changing encounter with three wise men traveling to Bethlehem in the 1968 special narrated by Greer Garson.
— “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, CBS. In modern parlance, a reindeer who’s bullied for looking different finds joy and worth in being himself. Burl Ives narrates the 1964 special based on the Johnny Marks song.
— “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, NBC. Boris Karloff, who played the monster in the 1931 film “Frankenstein,” provided the voice for another legendary character, Dr. Seuss’ infamous Grinch, in 1966.
— “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, ABC. Holiday materialism has Charlie in a major funk and Lucy tries to help, but it takes Linus to save the holiday. Vince Guaraldi composed the music for the 1965 special about the “Peanuts” gang.
FA LA LA LA LA :
— “The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show,” now streaming on Amazon. The singer-songwriter salutes holiday specials of the past her way and with help from guests including Camila Cabello, James Corden, Lana Del Rey and the Radio City Rockettes.
— “Christmas Under the Stars,” 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, BYUtv. John Legend performs classics including “Silver Bells” and “My Favorite Things” along with “All of Me” and other original songs in a concert taped in Utah.
— “CMA Country Christmas,” 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, ABC. Trisha Yearwood hosts and performs on the 10th annual holiday celebration, joined by guests including Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts and CeCe Winans.
— “Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir,” 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, PBS, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 on BYUtv. Kristin Chenoweth joins the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra for a night of classic carols and pop tunes, airing as an hour-long special on PBS and a 90-minute version on BYUtv.
— “Holidays with the Houghs,” 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, NBC. A variety special showcasing sibling dancer-choreographers Derek and Julianne together and separately in musical performances and comedy sketches, with celebrity friends dropping by.
— “Great Performances — From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2020,” Wednesday, Jan. 1, PBS (check local listings for times). The Vienna Philharmonic and guest conductor Andris Nelsons usher in 2020 with the Vienna City Ballet and host Hugh Bonneville.
STOCKING STUFFERS
— The Royal Variety Performance, Tuesday, Dec. 10, BritBox. Robbie Williams, Harry Connick Jr., comedians and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who played at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, take part in a century-old charity fundraiser with royalty in attendance.
— “Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways,” 8 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, Dec. 10-12, NBC. DeGeneres and guests including Michelle Obama, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Timberlake and Sterling K. Brown surprise “everyday deserving people” with gifts.
— “A Very Brady Renovation: Holiday Edition,” 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, HGTV. The actors who played “The Brady Bunch” siblings decorate the house used for the sitcom’s exterior shots. Food Network’s Ree Drummond and HGTV’s Jasmine Roth lend a hand.
— “Top Elf,” 8 p.m. Fridays, Nickelodeon. Seven children from across the nation compete in a building and design contest to earn the title of best elf and benefit worthy causes in their hometown. The weekly series’ finale airs 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.
— “I Love Lucy Christmas Special,” 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, CBS. Two colorized half-hour episodes of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz sitcom, “The Christmas Episode” and “Paris at Last,” air back-to-back, both from 1956.
— “A Home for the Holidays with Idina Menzel,” 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, CBS. The “Frozen” star introduces heartening stories about adoption from foster care and sings tunes from her new album, “Christmas: Season of Love.” Adam Lambert, Ne-Yo and Kelly Rowland also perform.
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Lynn Elber is at lelberap.org and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lynnelber.
