TV CHRISTMAS SPECIALS - 2009

February 21, 2008 11:52 PM

Below are highlights from this year's slate of Christmas/holiday specials, 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: Previously aired specials are included at the end of this list. So you'll know if you missed it . . . ]

CHRISTMAS DAY

5 AM  HDTHEATER  CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

5:30 AM  WNET  CAROLS FOR CHRISTMAS

7 AM  TLC  CHRISTMAS OUT OF THE BOX

8 AM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS Five productions air in a row through the day, starting with "Bejart's Nutcracker."

9 AM  WPIX  YULE LOG Four hours.

10 AM  WNET  THREE TENORS CHRISTMAS

10:30 AM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS Second of five: "Royal Opera Ballet: The Nutcracker."

11 AM  WNET  GREAT PERFORMANCES "Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas."

11 AM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

12 NOON  GMC  CHRISTMAS VOICES Christian and gospel videos all day long.

12:30 PM  WNET  RADIO CITY SPECTACULAR STARRING THE ROCKETTES

1 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS Third of five: "Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker."

2 PM  WWOR  AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS

3 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS Fourth of five: "Mark Morris' The Hard Nut."

5 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS Fifth of five: "Casse Noisette Circus: Ballet of Monte Carlo."

7 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker."

9 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Mark Morris' The Hard Nut."

10 PM  WNET  MICHAEL MCDONALD: THIS CHRISTMAS

11 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Royal Opera Ballet: The Nutcracker."

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

1:30 AM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Bejart's Nutcracker."

Saturday, DEC. 26

7 AM  A&E  BIOGRAPHY Santa Claus.

1 AM   HALL  HOLIDAY CELEBRATION ON ICE

3:30 AM  TBN  CASTING CROWNS CHRISTMAS

----------

PREVIOUSLY AIRED:

Monday, NOV. 23

8 PM  HIST  SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS WITH LEWIS BLACK #

Thursday, NOV. 26

9 PM  VH1  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

12 MID  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU #

Friday, NOV. 27

8 PM  HIST  SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS WITH LEWIS BLACK #

12 MID  HIST  SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS WITH LEWIS BLACK #

Saturday, NOV. 28

8 PM  HGTV  SANDRA LEE CELEBRATES # Four new weekly hours of holiday tips.

Sunday, NOV. 29

3 PM  HIST  SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS WITH LEWIS BLACK #

4 PM  VH1  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

10 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU #

11:30 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

1 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU #

Tuesday, DEC. 1

10 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU #

12:30 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU #

Wednesday, DEC. 2

8 PM  NBC  CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER # Shakia, Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Michael Buble.

Thursday, DEC. 3

4 PM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

11 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU #

12:30 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

Sunday, DEC. 6

8 PM  HGTV  CELEBRITY HOLIDAY HOMES Kathie Lee Gifford, Jewel, Holly Robinson Peete.

Monday, DEC. 7

6 PM  HALL  HOLIDAY CELEBRATION ON ICE Brian Boitano, Rick Springfield, REO Speedwagon.

8 PM  FOX  CARRIE UNDERWOOD: AN ALL-STAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL # Two hours with Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, David Cook, Kristin Chenoweth.

8 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS Five nightly productions this week.

4:30 AM  TBN  'TIS THE SEASON: A HAWAIIAN CHRISTMAS STORY

Tuesday, DEC. 8

7 PM  TLC  INVASION OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS  #

11 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU #

12:30 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

2 AM  TLC  INVASION OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS  #

3:30 AM  TBN  BARRA MACNEIL'S CELTIC CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, DEC. 9

9:30 AM  FOOD  NIGELLA'S CHRISTMAS KITCHEN

Thursday, DEC. 10

11 AM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

7 PM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

Friday, DEC. 11

12:30 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

Sunday, DEC. 13

10 PM  ABC  CHRISTMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE # Oprah Winfrey with President and Mrs. Obama.

10:45 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU

12:15 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

1:45 AM  CMT  20 MERRIEST CHRISTMAS VIDEOS

Monday, DEC. 14

8 PM  ABC  JENNIFER HUDSON: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS With Michael Buble.

8 PM  FOOD  GOOD EATS Vintage Christmas food.

9 PM  SUND  WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY? # Commercialization of Christmas.

3 AM  FOOD  GOOD EATS Vintage Christmas food.

Tuesday, DEC. 15

6 AM  TBN  CASTING CROWNS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

6 PM  ABCFAM  AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS

9 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU

12:45 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU

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.

9:30 AM  FOOD  NIGELLA'S CHRISTMAS KITCHEN

Thursday, DEC. 17

9 PM  PBS  A RENAISSANCE CHRISTMAS

Friday, DEC. 18

7 AM  GMC  JOYFUL NOISE CAFE CHRISTMAS

SYND  THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW Christmas cookie baking with Snoop Dogg.

4 PM  TLC  LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD

8 PM  HIST  CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED: THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

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

1 AM  TBN THE CHRISTMAS LAMB

Saturday, DEC. 19

8 AM  FOOD  PAULA'S SOUTHERN CHRISTMAS

8 PM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

11:30 PM  GMC  MERCYME CHRISTMAS

12 MID  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

Sunday, DEC. 20

8 AM  GMC  ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND CHRISTMAS

9 AM  FOOD  NIGELLA'S CHRISTMAS KITCHEN

11 AM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

4 PM  HIST  CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED: THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

6 PM  ABCFAM  AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS

8 PM  PBS  NATURE "Christmas in Yellowstone."

8 PM  TNT CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON # Sugarland, Rob Thomas, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Neil Diamond.

8 PM  MTV2  BAM MARGERA PRESENTS: WHERE THE #$&% IS SANTA?

8 PM  OVA  IMPACT "Band Aid: Do They Know It's Christmas?"

10 PM  MTV2  BAM MARGERA PRESENTS: WHERE THE #$&% IS SANTA?

11 PM  OVA  IMPACT "Band Aid: Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Monday, DEC. 21

6 AM  HIST  THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE World War I paused for the holiday.

8 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Mark Morris' The Hard Nut."

9 PM  PBS  GREAT PERFORMANCES Dance In America: San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker.

10 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker."

11 PM  VH1  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

12 MID  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Royal Opera Ballet: The Nutcracker."

Tuesday, DEC. 22

12 NOON  HIST  THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE World War I paused for the holiday.

6 PM  HIST  THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE World War I paused for the holiday.

8 PM  ABC  JENNIFER HUDSON: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS With Michael Buble.

8 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Royal Opera Ballet: The Nutcracker."

10 PM  WNET  GREAT PERFORMANCES "Renee Fleming: Sacred Songs and Carols."

10:30 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Mark Morris' The Hard Nut."

11 PM  VH1  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

12:30 AM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker."

2:30 AM  OVA  IMPACT "Band Aid: Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Wednesday, DEC. 23

9:30 AM  FOOD  NIGELLA'S CHRISTMAS KITCHEN

10 AM  BIO  BIOGRAPHY Santa Claus.

11 AM  BIO  RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT Man who celebrates Christmas every day.

1 PM  HIST  MODERN MARVELS "Christmas Tech."

4 PM  BIO  BIOGRAPHY Santa Claus.

4 PM  TLC  LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD

4:30 PM  TLC  LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD

5 PM  BIO  RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT Man who celebrates Christmas every day.

7 PM  HIST  MODERN MARVELS "Christmas Tech."

8 PM  WNET  THREE TENORS CHRISTMAS

8 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker."

8:30 PM  WHYY/12  THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS Philadelphia's beloved marionettes' holiday tales include The Night Before Christmas and The Nativity.

9 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU

10 PM  GMC  HOLIDAY NOTES FROM HOME Amy Grant, Take 6, Brian McKnight, plus military families' greetings.

10 PM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Royal Opera Ballet: The Nutcracker."

10:30 PM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

11 PM  GMC  MERCYME CHRISTMAS

12 MID  GMC  CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATION Jars of Clay.

12 MID  MTV2  BAM MARGERA PRESENTS: WHERE THE #$&% IS SANTA?

12:30 AM  OVA  BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS "Mark Morris' The Hard Nut."

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

4 AM  BIO  BIOGRAPHY Santa Claus.

CHRISTMAS EVE

11 AM  VH1  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

1 PM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

2 PM  WWOR  AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS

2 PM  WNET  GREAT PERFORMANCES "Renee Fleming: Sacred Songs and Carols."

3 PM  WNET  CELTIC WOMAN: A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

6 PM  HALL  HOLIDAY CELEBRATION ON ICE

6 PM  HDT  CHRISTMAS AND THE CIVIL WAR

8 PM  GMC  ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND CHRISTMAS

8 PM  HDTHEATER  CHRISTMAS FUN IN THE SUN

8 PM  WNET  RADIO CITY SPECTACULAR STARRING THE ROCKETTES

9 PM  GMC  CHRIS TOMLIN CHRISTMAS

9 PM  WNET  GREAT PERFORMANCES "Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas."

9 PM  MTV2  BAM MARGERA PRESENTS: WHERE THE #$&% IS SANTA?

10 PM  GMC  CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATION Natalie Grant.

10 PM  HDTHEATER  CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

10 PM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

10:30 PM  WNET  CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR

11 PM  GMC  MARY MARY CHRISTMAS

11 PM  MTV2  BAM MARGERA PRESENTS: WHERE THE #$&% IS SANTA?

11 PM  VH1CL  CHRISTMAS VIDEOS

11:30 PM  WNET  FAITH HILL: JOY TO THE WORLD

11:30 PM  TBN  CASTING CROWNS CHRISTMAS

12 MID  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU

12 MID  GSN  ANN NESBY CHRISTMAS

12 MID  HDT  CHRISTMAS AND THE CIVIL WAR

12:30 AM  WNET  HOLLY JOLLY POPS HOLIDAY WITH BARENAKED LADIES

1 AM  GMC  CHRISTMAS VOICES Six hours of Christian and gospel videos.

1 AM  HDTHEATER  CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

1:30 AM  WNET  THREE TENORS CHRISTMAS

1:30 AM  CMT  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

2 AM  TRV  CHRISTMAS TO THE EXTREME

3 AM  HDTHEATER  CHRISTMAS FUN IN THE SUN

4 AM  WPIX  YULE LOG Two hours.

Comments (0) | Permalink