A Charlie Brown Christmas
Airs Wednesday, 12/8 at 8pm ET on ABC
This Emmy-winning Christmas special features Charles Schulz's beloved "Peanuts" characters set against a jazz soundtrack by pianist Vince Guaraldi. Charlie Brown discovers what Christmas is really about as he chooses a tiny, bare Christmas tree for the school's nativity production, while Snoopy decorates his doghouse and Sally writes to Santa Claus. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will entertain both kids and grown-ups alike this holiday season.
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Frosty the Snowman
Airs Friday, 12/18 at 8pm ET on CBS
That jolly, happy soul is back again this year. Yes, we're talking about "Frosty the Snowman." This animated musical, first broadcast in 1969, tells the story of Frosty (voiced by comedian Jackie Vernon), a happy-go-lucky snowman who comes to life thanks to a magician's hat. He wins over little Karen and then heads to the North Pole to keep from melting, encountering lots of winter adventures along the way. This is one tale that never loses its charm.
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Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"
Airs Wednesday, 12/23 at 8pm ET on ABC
In this traditional holiday perennial, the miserly, crotchety Grinch tries to eradicate Christmas from the tiny town of Whoville by stealing the material symbols of the Yuletide celebration (he's a mean one, all right), only to discover the real spirit of the season is beyond his covetous grasp. The Whos actually manage to melt his cold heart, and The Grinch learns the true meaning of Christmas. The voice cast includes Boris Karloff as The Grinch and the narrator, and June Foray as Cindy Lou Who. This holiday special is a timeless gem and an annual must-see.
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Airs Saturday, 12/12 at 8pm ET on CBS
It's that time of year again! It's the return of television's longest-running holiday special, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which tells the story of a shy, young reindeer named Rudolph who is picked on by the other reindeer for his shiny red nose and ... well, you know the rest. This classic, originally produced in 1964, has been digitally remastered for today's technically savvy generation. So get that fire roaring, pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy!
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Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Airs Wednesday, 12/9 at 8pm, Thursday, 12/10 at 7pm, Saturday, 12/12 at 5pm, and Thursday, 12/24 at 8pm on ABC Family
Where does Santa Claus come from? This special tells the story of how Santa came to be the jolly, toy-making, gift-giving, sleigh-riding man we all know and love. The tale begins with an orphaned Kris Kringle, who wishes to make the children of Sombertown happy by giving them toys that the town's mayor, Burgermeister Meisterburger, has outlawed. Kris manages to spread joy not only to the kids of Sombertown, but also to the rest of the children of the world with the help of his adopted elf family and toy workshop. This holiday favorite features the famous titular Christmas song that's guaranteed to please the entire family.
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Shrek the Halls
Airs Monday, 12/14 at 8pm ET on ABC
Spend some holiday time with everyone's favorite family of green ogres. Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) doesn't feel too festive when the holidays roll around, but his love for Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz) and his kids motivates him to get into the spirit of the season. There's never a day of peace for Shrek, however, as Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy), Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas), the Gingerbread Man, and the rest of the gang decide to crash Shrek's cozy family celebration. Things spiral out of control and Christmas becomes an unforgettable event for everyone.
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Airs Thursday, 12/24 at 1pm and 6:30pm on ABC Family
Adapted from Clement Moore's poem, "A Visit From St. Nicholas," this animated holiday special tells the story of the citizens of Junctionville, who saved their favorite day of the year by uncovering the culprit who wrote an unsigned letter to the editor of the local paper, claiming that Santa Claus was a myth. The Junctionville residents were determined to prove that Santa is real so that he could continue to pay his yearly visits to the town's children.
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The Year Without a Santa Claus
Airs Tuesday, 12/8 at 8pm; Friday, 12/11 at 7pm; Saturday, 12/12 at 3pm; and Thursday, 12/24 at 9pm on ABC Family
In this stop-motion animated 1974 Christmas classic, Mrs. Claus (voiced by Shirley Booth) tells the story of the time Santa's bad cold caused him to take a vacation from Christmas. Santa's two elves, Jingle Bells and Jangle Bells, (can you guess who's the more popular elf?) along with Vixen the baby reindeer set out to convince Santa that the holiday spirit is still important and a lot of people believe in and count on Santa Claus every year to bring Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, the Bells elves must figure out a way to get the dreaded Heat Miser and his stepbrother, Snow Miser, to help them bring snow to Southtown, USA, in order to save Christmas and to get Santa to un-cancel his annual Christmas Eve sleigh ride.
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