Holiday TV Schedule

Yes, there is plenty to have angst about this holiday season - making sure you get that last copy of George Bush's memoir before they are all sold out, pre-flight pat-downs, Bristol Palin - but the one that really is in the back of my mind all holiday season long is did I miss Rudolph? Was the Heat Miser one on already?? Did I miss NBC's single showing of It's a Wonderful Life?! Of course, all of these holiday must-sees are available on DVD and have been for years. But you know it is only really good to see them when they are actually on TV. So, here is a list I stumbled across of the dates of these and other holiday shows:

"CMA Country Christmas," 9:30 p.m. Monday on ABC: Performances by Sheryl Crow, Sugarland and more.

"Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer," 8 p.m. Tuesday on CBS: The classic about that reindeer, Santa and the Island of Misfit Toys.

"Christmas in Rockefeller Center," 8 p.m. Tuesday on NBC: annual celebration from New York City.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas," 8 p.m. Tuesday and Dec. 23 on ABC: Boris Karloff narrates the one and only original (sorry, Jim Carrey).

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," 8 p.m. next Thursday on ABC: An animated classic about the origins of Santa.

"A Christmas Carol" (1938), 6 a.m. Dec. 4 with repeats through December on TCM: This version stars Reginald Owen as Scrooge.

"Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special," 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 on NBC: For the kung fu kiddies.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas," 8 p.m. Dec. 7 and Dec. 16 on ABC: The Peanuts gang discovers the true meaning of Christmas.

"Prep & Landing," 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9 on ABC: From the Walt Disney Animation Studios, a tale of "an elite unit of elves."

"White Christmas" (1954), 8 and 10:45 p.m. Dec. 11 with repeats through December on AMC: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and some wonderful music.

"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944), 5 p.m. Dec. 11 with repeats through December on TCM: The Christmas scenes in this set-in-1904 Judy Garland musical are a heart-tugger.

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), 8 p.m. Dec. 11 and Dec. 24 on NBC: Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey in the Frank Capra classic about a fateful Christmas Eve in small-town Bedford Falls.

"Holiday Inn" (1942), 1:30 a.m. Dec. 12 with repeats through December on AMC: Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star in the movie that introduced the song "White Christmas."

"Prancer" (1989), 10:30 p.m. Dec. 13 on AMC: If you've never seen this charmer about a little girl sheltering a reindeer, do yourself a favor and watch it.

"Christmas in Washington," 8 p.m. Dec. 17 on TNT: Performances by Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox and Matthew Morrison. Hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.

"A Christmas Story" (1983), 24-hour marathon beginning at 8 p.m. Dec. 24 on TBS: In the 1940s, Ralphie goes on a Christmas quest for a Red Ryder air rifle and ... oh, you know the rest ("It's a major award!").