BEST BETS FOR DECEMBER 24, 2007

	A CHRISTMAS STORY MARATHON TBS, 8 p.m. ET This 1983 Christmas movie has become an annual tradition purely because TBS turned it into one, playing it 24 hours uninterrupted so people could see it again and again, wrap presents by it, go to sleep and wake up by it, and get completely familiar with BB guns, sexy one-legged lamps, and other elements of Jean Shepherd's wonderful holiday serving of nostalgia. Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon star as the parents, and Peter Billingsley as the young boy eagerly awaiting Christmas. The movie starts showing tonight at 8 p.m. ET, and doesn't stop until 8 p.m. tomorrow.
	HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS ABC, 8 p.m. ET From more than 40 years ago, here's our last shot this season as the original Grinch TV cartoon, featuring the voice of Boris Karloff. CBS used to be the guardian of the oldest and most treasured TV Christmas shows, but years ago abdicated that part of its throne to ABC.
	IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE NBC, 8 p.m. ET NBC, meanwhile, is the sole guardian these days of this beloved 1946 Frank Capra Christmas film, which stars James Stewart as a man who loses, then finds, his way. Donna Reed co-stars, and NBC has the rights to broadcast this formerly ubiquitous holiday film twice a year. This is the final showing for 2007, so if you're looking for a Christmas Eve movie to enjoy, here it is.
	DOCTOR WHO: THE CHRISTMAS INVASION BBC America, 8 p.m. ET This 2005 British telemovie was the special that introduced David Tennant as the newest Doctor. He's done a great job, injecting playfulness and sexiness in equal doses - and yes, his arrival, and the latest alien threat to face Earth, occurs over the Christmas holidays.
	BAD SANTA Comedy Central, 9 p.m. ET Don't mistake this 2003 movie for a family film. It's anything but - but the sight of Billy Bob Thornton as a cranky department-store Santa, especially when he's in bed with Lauren Graham, is just the sort of outrageous image to make you say ho-ho-ho.
	A CHRISTMAS CAROL AMC, 10 p.m. ET This is the 1984 version - a fairly scary one, with George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge, David Warner as Bob Cratchit, and Edward Woodward, the former Equalizer, as the Ghost of Christmas Present. And speaking of Christmas present, thanks for reading this. Having you here, at this time of year, is a real gift.