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Wednesday, Dec. 24
It’s a Wonderful Life
NBC, 8pm
Catch a Classic!
NBC is once again the exclusive broadcast home for Frank Capra’s beloved 1946 holiday classic. It stars Best Actor Oscar nominee James Stewart as George Bailey, a discouraged and despairing building-and-loan manager who contemplates suicide before a guardian angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) intervenes and allows him to see what George’s small town of Bedford Falls would be without him — and all that is right in his world. Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore also star.
Goodbye June
Netflix
Original Film!
Kate Winslet makes her directorial debut! It’s nearly Christmas when an unexpected turn in their mother’s health thrusts four adult siblings (Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Toni Collette and Johnny Flynn), and their exasperating father (Timothy Spall), into chaos as they navigate messy family dynamics in the face of potential loss. But their quick-witted mother, June (Helen Mirren), orchestrates her decline on her own terms — with biting humor, blunt honesty and a lot of love.
Classic Christmas Marathon
TCM, beginning at 7am
Catch a Classic!
Spend Christmas Eve immersed in the golden age of Hollywood, where holiday magic comes from love, laughter and redemption. The day begins with Three Godfathers (1936), a rugged Western about outlaws discovering the power of kindness, followed by the screwball charm of Bachelor Mother (1939), where Ginger Rogers navigates romance and mistaken identity. Heartstrings tug with All Mine to Give (1957), a true story of family and legacy in the 1850s, while The Shop Around the Corner (1940) with James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan offers tender romance between secret pen pals unaware of their workplace rivalry. Generosity takes center stage in It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947), as a millionaire’s mansion becomes a respite for the homeless, and Holiday Affair (1949), starring Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh, captures postwar love with warmth and charm. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) delights with culinary chaos and romantic entanglements, while The Bishop’s Wife (1947), starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, brings angelic guidance and heartfelt joy. Plenty of other films continue through Christmas evening.
“The Simpsons” Christmas Marathon
FXX, beginning at 7pm
A marathon of The Simpsons’ Christmas episodes begins with the first episode of the series, 1989’s “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” in which the family gets their dog, Santa’s Little Helper. Other highlights include 1995’s “Marge Be Not Proud” (Bonestorm!), 1999’s “Grift of the Magi” (Funzo!) and 2000’s “Skinner’s Sense of Snow” (Nibbles!).
Home Alone
ABC, 8pm
ABC presents a Christmas Eve airing of the 1990 holiday classic following the exploits of young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) and his ingenious defenses against bumbling but determined burglars Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern).
College Football: Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
ESPN, 8pm Live
The Cal Bears and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors spend Christmas Eve in “the land where palm trees sway” for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu.
24 Hours of “A Christmas Story”
TBS, beginning at 8pm; TNT, beginning at 9pm
Catch a Classic!
This holiday favorite from 1983 airs on TBS and TNT in a traditional Yuletide marathon. Peter Billingsley stars as Ralphie, the little boy who yearns to find a Red Ryder BB gun under the Christmas tree. Not just a Christmas story, it’s about parents, little brothers, bullies, decoder rings, dares and, most of all, the workings of a youthful mind. The writing by Jean Shepherd (who also narrates) captures it all perfectly. Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon also star.
Christmas Eve Mass
NBC, 11:30pm Live
Watch Pope Leo XIV lead his first Christmas Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
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Thursday, Dec. 25
Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake
HBO Max
Season Finale!
Fionna (voice of Madeleine Martin) and shape-shifting cat Cake (Roz Ryan) wrap up their Season 2 exploits in this animated series set in the Adventure Time universe (or multiverse).
Christmas MOVIES!
MOVIES!, beginning at 6am
Catch a Classic!
’Tis the season to be joyously watching (or rewatching) a slate of some of the most beloved film nuggets ever produced. An 11-movie day features a wealth of highlights. They include Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien fronting the magical 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis; Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin starring in the 1964 Rat Pack musical Robin and the 7 Hoods; Albert Finney in the title role of the 1970 musical Scrooge; Alastair Sim starring in what many consider the definitive version of the tale, 1951’s A Christmas Carol; and Charles Bronson beautifully playing against type as a sad newspaperman lifted by a letter from an 8-year-old girl in the 1991 TV movie Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus.
40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade
ABC, 10am
Disney’s annual celebration returns Christmas morning with magical star-studded performances from Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort, California’s Disneyland Resort and Hawaii’s Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.
NBA Basketball
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 12pm Live
The NBA’s star-studded Christmas Day showcase returns with five games airing on ABC and ESPN: the Cleveland Cavaliers at the N.Y. Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs at the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks at the Golden State Warriors, the Houston Rockets at the L.A. Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Denver Nuggets.
NFL Football
Netflix & Prime Video, beginning at 1pm Live
Christmas Day NFL action is a streaming exclusive with the Dallas Cowboys at the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions at the Minnesota Vikings on Netflix. Primetime belongs to Prime Video with the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ghosts
CBS, 8pm
Ghosts from Christmases past and present visit CBS tonight with encore presentations of 2024’s “A Very Arondekar Christmas,” in which a leaky water mishap threatens to ruin holiday plans, and this year’s “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol,” in which Sam’s (Rose McIver) national TV appearance on Christmas Eve is complicated by a possession.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
NBC, 8pm
Catch a Classic!
In this original 1966 animated TV special based on Dr. Seuss’ classic story, Boris Karloff narrates and voices the Grinch, who schemes to steal every material vestige of Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. But the Grinch ultimately discovers he can’t remove the spirit of Christmas from the Whos’ hearts.
Stranger Things
Netflix, 8pm
New Episodes!
The fifth and final season of the hit horror adventure series continues with three new episodes released tonight. The final episode is released on New Year’s Eve.
Call the Midwife: “Holiday Special 2025”
PBS, 8pm
This year’s holiday episode follows senior members of the convent as they embark on a mercy mission, swapping the snowy East End of London for the sun-drenched terrain of Hong Kong. The rise in hospital births, and wider changes in the NHS, have clipped their wings. But their mission to the Far East is a chance to take flight and work out what really matters. For her part, Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) suddenly finds herself excited about their future. After years of battling change, she decides to embrace it and see what love can do.
A Christmas Story Christmas
TBS, 8pm
TBS wraps up its 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon with an airing of this 2022 sequel that finds an adult Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) returning to his childhood home.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
NBC, 8:30pm
Jim Carrey plays Dr. Seuss’ titular meanie in this 2000 live-action adaptation directed by Ron Howard.
Friday, Dec. 26
College Football
ESPN, beginning at 1pm Live
College football’s bowl season continues on ESPN with Central Michigan vs. Northwestern in the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit, New Mexico vs. Minnesota in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix and Florida International vs. UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl in Dallas.
NBA Basketball
Prime Video, beginning at 7:30pm Live
Catch a Boxing Day NBA doubleheader on Prime Video with the Philadelphia 76ers at the Chicago Bulls and the L.A. Clippers at the Portland Trail Blazers.
Popstar! Best of 2025
The CW, 8pm
Host Elizabeth Stanton counts down the most memorable moments and trends from 2025, based on polls from Popstar! Magazine.
In Memoriam
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
TCM continues its tribute to beloved stars we’ve lost this year, showcasing some of their more memorable films. Remembered tonight will be Robert Benton with the 1979 weeper he directed and wrote, Kramer vs. Kramer; film legend Val Kilmer in 1984’s Top Secret!; and Western great Joe Don Baker in 1973’s Walking Tall, which makes its TCM premiere. Later in the evening, tribute airings are for Claude Jarman Jr., the young star of 1946’s The Yearling, who died at 90; British actress and Tony Award winner Joan Plowright (widow of Laurence Olivier), who died at 95 and will be remembered in The Entertainer (1960); and composer Lalo Schifrin whose music is featured in 1967’s Cool Hand Luke.
Junk or Jackpot?
HGTV, 9:30pm
New Series!
Designer, television host and bestselling author Bobby Berk (Queer Eye) helps collectors turn chaos into dream spaces that honor their prized possessions. Bobby will hear the emotional stories behind the stockpiles, bring in experts to appraise the items and then counsel his clients on what they’ll sell to fund a much-needed makeover.
Saturday, Dec. 27
The Thin Man
FMC, 10:15pm
Catch a Classic!
The first in a series of six films following retired detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his clever wife Nora (Myrna Loy) dives into a missing-inventor mystery. The duo never misses a chance for banter — or a cocktail — in this 1934 classic. Packed with twists, laughs and the irresistible chemistry of Powell and Loy, it’s a classy whodunit that’s as fun as it is clever.
College Football
ABC, The CW & ESPN, beginning at 11am Live
The final college football Saturday of 2025 features Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina in the Go Bowling Military Bowl (ESPN), Penn State vs. Clemson in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl (ABC), UConn vs. Army in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl (ESPN), Georgia Tech vs. BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (ABC), Miami of Ohio vs. Fresno State in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (The CW), North Texas vs. San Diego State in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl (ESPN), Virginia vs. Missouri in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (ABC) and LSU vs. Houston in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl (ESPN).
NFL Football
NFL Network & Peacock, beginning at 4:30pm Live
Week 17’s two Saturday games are Houston Texans at the L.A. Chargers on NFL Network, followed by the Baltimore Ravens at the Green Bay Packers streaming on Peacock.
Recipe for Romance
The CW, 8pm
Original Film!
Would-be enemies turn to lovers in this story of two warring businesses in Little Manila. Sari (True O’Brien) is given the long overdue opportunity to prove herself when her parents head for vacation, placing the family’s coffee shop in her hands. Sari’s big plans are derailed when a bakery run by the annoyingly handsome and charming Gabe (Alex Mallari Jr.) opens right next door. This launches a prank war to end all prank wars, bringing Sari and Gabe together in a story of love, family, community and irresistibly delicious pastries.
Two for One: Robert Townsend
TCM, beginning at 8pm
Catch a Classic!
In tonight’s Two for One re-airing, TCM primetime host Ben Mankiewicz is joined by filmmaker, actor and humanitarian Robert Townsend, who introduces two films of his choosing. Townsend will offer commentary on each title’s cultural significance and its influence on other films, behind-the-scenes stories, and his own personal reflections on them. His first selection is 1941’s Here Comes Mr. Jordan, which Heaven Can Wait was based on, and Townsend reminds how this classic is often overlooked in favor of the Warren Beatty remake. The second film is 1976’s iconic satire Network, in which a veteran news anchor (Peter Finch) who learns that he’s going to get canned initially threatens the network with plans to kill himself on live TV, but thankfully instead opts to do a live angry rant that leads to some outrageous outcomes.