For Better or Werts

TV CHRISTMAS FAMILY FAVES - 2009

Below are highlights from this year's slate of Christmas/holiday family favorites, spanning music, variety, unscripted programs and more.

Please note:
-- All times ET.
-- Broadcast day runs 5 a.m.-5 a.m. (different from VCR/DVR timer).
-- Channel schedules are subject to change.
-- New shows are denoted with #.

To locate specific titles, use your browser's "search" or "find" function.

Tip:
For additional airings, check your local listings and your cable system's On Demand offerings.

[UPDATE: Previous airings are included at the end of this list. So you'll know if you missed it . . . ]


CHRISTMAS DAY

6 AM CARTOON POWERPUFF GIRLS: TWAS THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

7 AM CARTOON FLINTSTONE CHRISTMAS CAROL

8:30 AM CARTOON CASPER'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

9 AM CARTOON ED, EDD N EDDY

9:30 AM CARTOON BAH-HUMDUCK! A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS

10:30 AM CARTOON A SCOOBY-DOO CHRISTMAS

11 AM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

12 NOON CARTOON CASPER'S HAUNTED CHRISTMAS

1 PM WPIX MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS

2 PM CARTOON GARFIELD


----------


PREVIOUSLY AIRED:


NOV. 17

8 PM NBC MERRY MADAGASCAR


NOV. 18

7 PM ABCFAM GOTTA CATCH SANTA CLAUS


Saturday, NOV. 21

8 PM TBS HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS


Sunday, NOV. 22

8 PM TBS HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS


Tuesday, NOV. 24

7 PM ABCFAM HOLLY AND HAL MOOSE: OUR UPLIFTING CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE #


Wednesday, NOV. 25

(LOCAL) PBS CURIOUS GEORGE: A VERY MONKEY CHRISTMAS #


Saturday, NOV. 28

10 AM ABCFAM HOLLY AND HAL MOOSE: OUR UPLIFTING CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE #

8 PM NBC MERRY MADAGASCAR #


Sunday, NOV. 29

8 PM NIK MERRY CHRISTMAS, DRAKE & JOSH
Two-hour movie.


Monday, NOV. 30

11 AM NIK MAX & RUBY

8 PM ABC HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

8:30 PM ABC SHREK THE HALLS


Tuesday, DEC. 1

7 PM ABCFAM THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

8 PM ABC A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

8:30 PM ABC DISNEY'S PREP & LANDING #


Wednesday, DEC. 2

8 PM CBS RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER


Friday, DEC. 4

7 PM ABCFAM FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND

8 PM NBC A MUPPETS CHRISTMAS: LETTERS TO SANTA

9 PM CW GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER


Saturday, DEC. 5

7 AM ABCFAM MICKEY'S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

8 AM DIS SPECIAL AGENT OSO #

imagination movers.jpg10 AM DIS IMAGINATION MOVERS #


10:30 AM DIS JUNGLE JUNCTION #

11 AM NIK BACK AT THE BARNYARD #


Sunday, DEC. 6

7 AM ABCFAM MICKEY'S TWICE UPON A CHRISTMAS

8 PM NIK DORA'S CHRISTMAS CAROL ADVENTURE #

8 PM DISXD PHINEAS & FERB CHRISTMAS VACATION #

8:45 PM DISXD PHINEAS & FERB CHRISTMAS VACATION #


Monday, DEC. 7

7 PM ABCFAM TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

7:30 PM ABCFAM CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS

8:30 AM NIK MERRY MONDAYS
Holiday episodes run through 2 p.m., including Dora, Max & Rudy, Kai-lan.

7 PM NIK SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS

8 PM ABC SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

10 PM ABCFAM JACK FROST


Tuesday, DEC. 8

5:30 AM WHYY/12 THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Philadelphia's beloved marionettes' holiday tales include The Night Before Christmas and The Nativity.

7 PM ABCFAM MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

7:30 PM ABCFAM WINNIE THE POOH AND CHRISTMAS TOO

7 PM NIK FAIRLY ODDPARENTS
"Christmas Every Day."

8 PM ABC A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

8 PM ABCFAM THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

8:30 PM CARTOON HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

9 PM ABCFAM THE MISER BROTHERS' CHRISTMAS

10 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR


Wednesday, DEC. 9

6:30 AM DIS IMAGINATION MOVERS #

7 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR

7 PM NIK BACK AT THE BARNYARD #

8 PM ABC SHREK THE HALLS

8 PM ABCFAM SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

9 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER AND THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS

10:30 PM ABCFAM TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS


Thursday, DEC. 10

5:30 AM WHYY/12 THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Philadelphia's beloved marionettes' holiday tales include The Night Before Christmas and The Nativity.

7 PM ABCFAM SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

7 PM NIK FAIRLY ODDPARENTS
"Merry Wishmas."

10 PM ABCFAM A FLINTSTONE CHRISTMAS


Friday, DEC. 11

5:30 AM WHYY/12 THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Philadelphia's beloved marionettes' holiday tales include The Night Before Christmas and The Nativity.

11 AM DIS MY FRIENDS TIGGER & POOH: SUPER SLEUTH CHRISTMAS MOVIE

7 PM ABCFAM YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

7 PM NIK SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS

yes virginia cbs.jpg 8 PM CBS YES, VIRGINIA #


8 PM DIS PHINEAS & FERB CHRISTMAS VACATION #


Saturday, DEC. 12

7 AM ABCFAM RANKIN-BASS MARATHON
Eleven hours of animation starts with "The Little Drummer Boy."

7:30 AM ABCFAM LITTLE DRUMMER BOY BOOK II

8 AM ABCFAM PINOCCHIO'S CHRISTMAS

9 AM ABCFAM NESTOR THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY

9:30 AM ABCFAM STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS SNOW

10 AM ABCFAM JACK FROST

11 AM ABCFAM FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND

11:30 AM ABCFAM CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS

12 NOON ABCFAM RUDOLPH & FROSTY'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

2 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR

3 PM ABCFAM YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

3 PM NICKTOONS RUGRATS

3:30 PM NICKTOONS RUGRATS

4 PM ABCFAM MISER BROTHERS' CHRISTMAS

5 PM ABCFAM SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

tv rudolph red nosed reindeer .jpg

8 PM CBS RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

9 PM CBS THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS


Sunday, DEC. 13

7 AM ABCFAM A GARFIELD CHRISTMAS

7:30 AM ABCFAM LITTLE RASCALS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

10 AM DIS IMAGINATION MOVERS #

11 AM NICKJR LITTLE BILL

3 PM NICKJR WOW WOW WUBBZY

9 PM CARTOON HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

12 MID NICKJR WOW WOW WUBBZY

1:30 AM NICKJR LITTLE BILL


Monday, DEC. 14

8:30 AM NIK MERRY MONDAYS
Preschool holiday episodes run through 2 p.m.

10 AM NIK GO, DIEGO, GO!

12 NOON NICK WOW WOW WUBBZY

3 PM NICK WOW WOW WUBBZY

5 PM ABCFAM ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME

7 PM NIK ICARLY

7 PM CARTOON A SCOOBY-DOO CHRISTMAS

7:30 PM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

8:30 PM CARTOON GOTTA CATCH SANTA CLAUS

9 PM CARTOON A JETSON CHRISTMAS CAROL

9:30 PM CARTOON ED, EDD N EDDY'S JINGLE, JINGLE, JANGLE


Tuesday, DEC. 15

6:30 AM DIS IMAGINATION MOVERS #

6 PM ABCFAM AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS

7 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER AND THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS

7 PM CARTOON A FLINTSTONE CHRISTMAS

7 PM NIK TRUE JACKSON, VP
"Holiday Parade."

7:30 PM CARTOON JOHNNY BRAVO CHRISTMAS

charlie brown christmas tv.jpg 8 PM ABC A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Hourlong airing includes Charlie Brown Christmas Tales.

8 PM CARTOON OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER


Wednesday, DEC. 16

5:30 AM WHYY/12 THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Philadelphia's beloved marionettes' holiday tales include The Night Before Christmas and The Nativity.

9 AM CARTOON A FLINTSTONES CHRISTMAS CAROL

6 PM ABCFAM PINOCCHIO'S CHRISTMAS

7 PM ABCFAM MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

7 PM NIK THE TROOP

7:30 PM ABCFAM WINNIE THE POOH & CHRISTMAS TOO

8 PM ABC DISNEY'S PREP & LANDING #

8 PM CARTOON HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

8:30 PM CARTOON A JOHNNY BRAVO CHRISTMAS

10:30 PM ABCFAM FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND


Thursday, DEC. 17

9:30 AM DIS IMAGINATION MOVERS #

5 PM CARTOON CASPER'S HAUNTED CHRISTMAS

6 PM ABCFAM STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS SNOW

6:30 PM ABCFAM NESTOR THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY

7 PM ABCFAM JACK FROST

7 PM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

7 PM NIK TRUE JACKSON
"Telling Amanda."

9 PM CARTOON HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

9:30 PM CARTOON A SCOOBY-DOO CHRISTMAS


Friday, DEC. 18

6:30 AM DIS IMAGINATION MOVERS #

9 AM CARTOON YOGI'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

11:30 PM CARTOON TIS THE SEASON TO BE SMURFY

12 NOON CARTOON A SCOOBY-DOO CHRISTMAS

6 PM ABCFAM PHINEAS & FERB CHRISTMAS VACATION #

7 PM NIK ICARLY

7:30 PM CARTOON BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD
"Invasion of the Secret Santas."

8 PM CBS FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

spirit of christmas nativity.jpg 8:30 PM CBS FROSTY RETURNS


1 AM WHYY/12 THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Philadelphia's beloved marionettes' holiday tales include The Night Before Christmas and The Nativity.


Saturday, DEC. 19

7 AM ABCFAM A FLINTSTONE CHRISTMAS

8 PM NBC A MUPPETS CHRISTMAS: LETTERS TO SANTA

8:30 PM CARTOON BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD
"Invasion of the Secret Santas."


Sunday, DEC. 20

8 AM CARTOON CASPER'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

8:30 AM CARTOON SMURFS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

9 AM CARTOON CASPER'S HAUNTED CHRISTMAS

11 AM CARTOON HOW THE TOYS SAVED CHRISTMAS

1 PM CARTOON TOM & JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE

2 PM CARTOON BAH-HUMDUCK: A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS

3 PM CARTOON A JOHNNY BRAVO CHRISTMAS

3:30 PM CARTOON ED, EDD N EDDY'S JINGLE, JINGLE, JANGLE

4 PM CARTOON A FLINTSTONES CHRISTMAS CAROL

grinch saved christmas tv.jpg6 PM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER


8 PM PBS NATURE
Christmas in Yellowstone.

9 PM CARTOON HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

9:30 PM CARTOON A SCOOBY-DOO CHRISTMAS


Monday, DEC. 21

9 AM CARTOON HOW THE TOYS SAVED CHRISTMAS

11 AM CARTOON A JETSON CHRISTMAS CAROL

11:30 AM CARTOON GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE

12 NOON CARTOON GARFIELD SHOW

5 PM CARTOON BAH-HUMDUCK! A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS

6 PM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

8 PM ABC I WANT A DOG FOR CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN

9 PM CARTOON HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

9:30 PM CARTOON A JOHNNY BRAVO CHRISTMAS


Tuesday, DEC. 22

6:30 AM TBN CHRISTOPHER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

9 AM CARTOON YOGI'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

11 AM CARTOON CASPER'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

11:30 AM CARTOON SMURFS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

12 NOON CARTOON CASPER'S SCARE SCHOOL

1 PM CARTOON CHOWDER

8:30 PM CARTOON HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

9 PM CARTOON BILLY & MANDY SAVE CHRISTMAS


Wednesday, DEC. 23

9 AM CARTOON CASPER'S HAUNTED CHRISTMAS

11 AM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

12 NOON CARTOON A SCOOBY-DOO CHRISTMAS

1 PM CARTOON GARFIELD

2:30 PM CARTOON CHOWDER

5 PM CARTOON ED, EDD N EDDY

5:30 PM CARTOON TOM & JERRY'S NUTCRACKER TALE

8 PM ABC HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

9:30 PM CARTOON BEN 10


CHRISTMAS EVE

6 AM CARTOON KRYPTO

7 AM WNET ARTHUR'S PERFECT CHRISTMAS

7 AM ABCFAM RANKIN-BASS MARATHON
Sixteen hours of animation starts with "The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus."

7 AM CARTOON SMURFS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

7:30 AM CARTOON TIS THE SEASON TO BE SMURFY

8 AM WNET CYBERCHASE

8 AM ABCFAM LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

8 AM CARTOON JOHNNY BRAVO CHRISTMAS

8:30 AM WNET CURIOUS GEORGE: A VERY MONKEY CHRISTMAS

8:30 AM ABCFAM NESTOR THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY

8:30 AM CARTOON JETSON CHRISTMAS CAROL

9 AM ABCFAM LEPRECHAUNS' CHRISTMAS GOLD

9 AM CARTOON BAH-HUMDUCK! A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS

9:30 AM WNET SUPER WHY

10 AM WNET SUPER WHY

10 AM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

10:30 AM WNET WORDGIRL

11 AM WNET WORDWORLD

11 AM ABCFAM MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

11 AM CARTOON CHOWDER

11:30 AM ABCFAM WINNIE THE POOH & CHRISTMAS TOO

11:30 AM CARTOON LEGEND OF FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

12 NOON ABCFAM PINOCCHIO'S CHRISTMAS

12:30 PM WNET CURIOUS GEORGE: A VERY MONKEY CHRISTMAS

12:30 PM CARTOON ED, EDD & EDDY

1 PM ABCFAM TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

1 PM CARTOON TOM & JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE

1:30 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH & FROSTY'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

2 PM CARTOON FLINTSTONE CHRISTMAS

3 PM CARTOON POWERPUFF GIRLS: TWAS THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

3:30 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER & THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS

4 PM CARTOON BILLY & MANDY SAVE CHRISTMAS

5 PM ABCFAM JACK FROST

5 PM CARTOON FLAPJACK

5:30 PM CARTOON A SCOOBY-DOO CHRISTMAS

6 PM ABCFAM FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND

6 PM CARTOON GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

6:30 PM ABCFAM TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

7 PM ABCFAM RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR

7 PM CARTOON CASPER'S HAUNTED CHRISTMAS

abc prep landing 2009.jpg8 PM ABC DISNEY'S PREP & LANDING #


8 PM ABCFAM SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

8 PM NIK MERRY CHRISTMAS, DRAKE & JOSH
Two-hour movie.

9 PM ABCFAM YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS

9 PM CARTOON BAH-HUMDUCK! A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS

10 PM ABCFAM MISER BROTHERS' CHRISTMAS

4 Comments

Kristy said:

Where can I watch Christopher the Christmas tree?
My kids still remember it from last year and they keep asking about it.
Thanks.

Patrick said:

"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" has another play this year on CBS - Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. (Since it's been run twice a year occasionally, it must be coming close to it's 50th run since it premiered in 1964. Amazing.)

divajinx said:

My favorite has always been "Nestor, the Long-Earred Christmas Donkey". It always brings a tear to my eye but I love the story. I can feel for the little "misfit".

Diane Werts said:

Kristy -- Christopher the Christmas Tree airs Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 6:30 a.m. ET on TBN.

Leave a comment


Diane Werts

Diane Werts has been glued to the tube since she can remember, growing up in a household where the TV came on first thing in the morning and stayed on till bedtime and beyond. She worked for the USA Film Festival, then for The Dallas Morning News writing about everything from Shakespeare to macrame art to rock music (and has the hearing loss to prove it). She moved to New York's Newsday to edit their glossy TV magazine, then returned to writing about television, specializing in its stranger permutations. She's a past president of the Television Critics Association.

DAVID BIANCULLI
Founder / Editor

DIANE WERTS
Managing Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

NOEL HOLSTON
  The Grassy Noel

ERIC GOULD
  The Cold Light Reader

THERESA CORIGLIANO
  Terri TV

 

ED BARK
  Uncle Barky's Bytes

DAVID SICILIA
  TV Moneyland

BILL BRIOUX
  TV Feeds My Family

ALAN PERGAMENT
  Still TalkinTV

JANE BOURSAW
  Reel Life with Jane

TOM BRINKMOELLER
  Raised on MTM

ED MARTIN
  Ed Martin's TV Mix

GERALD JORDAN
  Crossing Jordan

MIKE DONOVAN
  Thinking Inside the Box

P.J. BEDNARSKI
  I Like to Watch

ERIC MINK
  Tiny Tin Voice

RONNIE GILL
  Altered Reality

MARK BIANCULLI
  The Son Also Criticizes

DIANE HOLLOWAY
  Holloway's Couch



Get TV Worth Watching Direct

Sign up for a
FREE subscription
for TVWW updates




More TV

FIND A TV FACT

LATEST TV NEWS

SMART CRITICS

BACKSTAGE BLOGS

STREAMING VIDEO

CHANNEL SITES

TV FUN/EPHEMERA

OTHER STUFF

HAVE YOU READ THIS YET?