11/30/09 A guide to this year's holiday specials (an ongoing project) on The Counter Project

I suspect Christmas specials wouldn’t be as well-known and beloved if Christmas fell in, say, July or August. Who wants to watch TV when it’s nice outside?

But on cold, dark December nights, is there anything better than settling in front of the boob tube and wasting away the evening with holiday delights?

And I don’t know about you, but the older and crappier the animation, the more I enjoy the show. Rudolph’s herky-jerky movements are like sweet egg nog to my parched Christmas-loving soul. But the slick computer-animated ‘Shrek the Halls?’ Eh, I could take it or leave it. (Who am I kidding-- I'll be watching Shrek, and loving every minute).

And I’m not much on emotional heart-tuggers most of the year, but come December, I’m all about some sappy movies. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life?’ Love it! ‘The Christmas Shoes?’ Can’t wait! And bring on the funny too (‘Elf,’ ‘A Christmas Story,’ ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’).

I’ve painstakingly pored over the network’s schedules and mapped out some holiday viewing, so that none of us will miss our favorite shows this Christmas season (we’ll be updating this list as we discover more):

"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas": The classic of classics, narrated by Boris Karloff. 8 p.m., ABC
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation": The story of the Griswold's mangled Christmas season turns 20 this year. AMC is showing it all week at 8p. 8 p.m. AMC.

"The Year Without Santa Claus": Mickey Rooney voices Santa in the animated story of the year he just didn't feel like working. 7 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Christmas Outside of the Box": Taking a close look at the history of Christmas rituals. 7 p.m., TLC

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer": Burl Ives narrates this classic. 8 p.m., CBS

"Christmas in Rockefeller Center": Watch the annual Christmas tree lighting in Rockefeller Center with Jane Krakowski and Zachary Levi. Guests on the show include Michael Buble, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow, the Roots, Shakira. 8 p.m., NBC

"Frosty's Winter Wonderland": Narrated by ol’ Andy Griffith, this cartoon has Frosty tangling with Jack Frost. 7 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas": A series of Christmas stories with Disney characters. 7 a.m., ABC Family Channel

"Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle": Doris Roberts and James Van Der Beek star in this movie, based on Debbie Macomber's book. 8 p.m., Hallmark Channel

"12 Men of Christmas": Kristin Chenoweth plays a down-and-out publicist who brings sizzle to a Montana town for the holidays. 9 p.m., Lifetime

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas": Joey Grey narrates the famous Clement Moore poem. 7 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special": This variety show features Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, David Cook, Kristin Chenoweth. 8 p.m., Fox

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town": The 1970 Rankin-Bass tale of how Kris Kringle (voiced by Mickey Rooney) starts a toy factory for children. 8 p.m., ABC

"Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too": Pooh and Piglet rush to get Christopher Robin's letter into the hands of Santa before it’s too late. 7:30 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"A Charlie Brown Christmas": Everyone’s favorite has Charlie Brown wondering what the true meaning of Christmas is. This’ll be followed by Christmas-themed animated stories titled "Charlie Brown Christmas Tales." 8 p.m., ABC

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town": Fred Astaire narrates the tale of young Kris Kringle. 8 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Shrek the Halls": Shrek struggles to get in the holiday spirit. 8 p.m., ABC

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys": Rudolph battles the Evil Toy Taker. 9 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Holiday in Handcuffs": Melissa Joan Hart plays a young woman who kidnaps a guy to take home to her family at Christmas. 8 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Flintstone Christmas": Santa Claus falls through the Flinstones’ roof and suffers a nasty injury. 10 p.m., ABC Family Channel
"Seinfeld": The Festivus episode. 6 p.m. TBS

"A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa": Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and the rest of the gang have to get their letters to Santa in time. Stars Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Griffiths, Jane Krakowski, Nathan Lane, Jesse L. Martin, Petra Nemcova, Steve Schirripa, Tony Sirico, Uma Thurman and Madison Pettis. 8 p.m., NBC

"Santa Clause 2": Tim Allen as the new Santa who must find a wife to keep his job. 8 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Yes, Virginia": One of the few new holiday specials this year, this is the story behind the most famous editorial of all time, the 1897 piece that begins, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." 8 p.m., CBS

"Little Drummer Boy": Vienna Boy's Choir provides music for the classic story. 7 a.m., ABC Family Channel

"The Christmas Shoes": Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams-Paisley pair in a story about a boy getting shoes for his dying mother. 4 p.m., Lifetime

"The Christmas Blessing": Neil Patrick Harris and Rebecca Gayheart in a story of a physician who forms bonds through loss at the holiday. 6 p.m., Lifetime

"The Polar Express": A fantasy journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, starring the voice of Tom Hanks. 8 p.m., ABC

"It's A Wonderful Life": Frank Capra's classic 1946 film, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. 8 p.m., NBC

"The Christmas Hope": Feuding couple puts aside their differences when a young girl comes to stay with them at Christmas. 8 p.m., Lifetime

"Frosty the Snowman": The classic animated story of the most famous snowman of all. Narrated by Jimmy Durante. 8 p.m., CBS

"Frosty Returns": Frosty the Snowman makes a comeback with winter. John Goodman is the voice of Frosty and Jonathan Winters narrates. 8:30 p.m., CBS

"The Flight Before Christmas": Niko dreams of joining Santa's squadron, then discovers a plot to destroy the reindeer team by the evil Black Wolf and his gang. 9 p.m., CBS

"Snow": Tom Cavanagh steps into the role of Santa, taking over the family business. 10 a.m., ABC Family Channel

"The Christmas Hope": Sequel to "The Christmas Shoes," a social worker brings in a child for the holidays. 8 p.m., Lifetime

“Elf”: Will Ferrell brings his fish-out-of-water character Buddy to New York City in search of his birth father. 9 p.m., USA

"Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas": Jennifer Hudson and Michael Buble perform Christmas music. 8 p.m., ABC

"Eloise at Christmastime": Eloise (Sofia Vassilieva) meddles in a wedding at the Plaza on Christmas Eve. 5 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Gotta Catch Santa Claus": Animated tale of 12-year-olds in search of Santa, who is voiced by William Shatner. 6 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Jack Frost": Irresponsible dad reincarnated as his son's snowman. 8 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"The Three Gifts": Dean Cain, Jean Louisa Kelly star in the story of a couple that takes in three mischievous orphans for the holiday. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel

"Christmas in Washington": Recording artists Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland, Rob Thomas and Usher perform for VIPs at the National Building Museum. 8 p.m., TNT

"A Very Brady Christmas": Brady family, all grown up, reunites for holiday. 1 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Miracle on 34th Street": Classic tale of a little girl who befriends a Macy's Santa. 7:30 p.m., ABC Family Channel

"Leprechauns' Christmas Gold": Dinty Doyle picks out the perfect tree for his family, not realizing it contains the spirit of an evil banshee. 9 a.m., ABC Family Channel

"A Christmas Story": TBS's annual round-the-clock airing of the Jean Shepherd story goes until 8 p.m. Christmas night. It's the story of Ralphie, who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, and stars Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin. 8 p.m., TBS

"Jingle All the Way": Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the dad who must come up with the rare toy for Christmas. 11 a.m., ABC Family Channel