Holiday TV listings: When to watch ‘Rudolph,’ ‘Frosty,’ ‘Christmas Carol’ and your other yuletide favorites

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” airs Dec. 2 and 14 on CBS and repeats several times on Freeform.

You’ll need some 21st century technology to have an old-fashioned Christmas with Kacey Musgraves.

The rising star puts out her first holiday special on Friday, and the only way to see it will be on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service. “The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Special” will feature songs galore and appearances by Camila Cabello, James Corden, Lana Del Rey and many other famous names.

But the traditional broadcast and cable networks believe in Santa as well, and many will be all-in on seasonal shows from now until Christmas. Below is our annual listing of all-time favorite (or potentially heartwarming) holiday shows and movies. (Sorry, no room for all the movies on Hallmark, Lifetime, Netflix, OWN, TV One, Freeform and that little screen on the gas pump.)

“The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Special” begins streaming Friday.

THURSDAY, NOV. 28

“Chicago Thanksgiving Parade” (8 a.m., WGN-Channel 9) Live coverage of the annual procession of bands, balloons and floats on State Street.

“The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” (7 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): From Disney parks in California and Florida, performances by Sting, Pentatonix, Ingrid Michaelson and more.

FRIDAY, NOV. 29

“Frosty the Snowman” (7 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): A magician’s hat brings the button-nosed fella to life. Followed by “Frosty Returns” at 7:30.

Here’s the schedule of 40 new Hallmark Christmas movies

SATURDAY, NOV. 30

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): An angel-to-be shows a small-town dad (James Stewart) how much he has mattered.

SUNDAY, DEC. 1

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”(7 p.m., WLS-Channel 7) The Meisterburger Burgermeister’s ban on toys converts a young do-gooder into Santa.

“A Christmas Carol”(7 p.m., TCM) Ghosts visit a miser (Alastair Sim) to teach him the error of his ways. 1951

MONDAY, DEC. 2

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (7 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): Rudy wants to fit in, and Hermey wants to be a dentist.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” airs Dec. 3 and 25 on NBC, and several other times on TNT.

TUESDAY, DEC. 3

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Animated TV classic about a mean one trying to ruin Whoville’s holiday.

“CMA Country Christmas” (8 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): Trisha Yearwood hosts the annual concert featuring Lady Antebellum, CeCe Winans and Chris Young.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4

“Christmas at Rockefeller Center” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Music from Gwen Stefani, Chicago, Brett Eldredge and other stars lead up to the lighting of the tree in New York.

THURSDAY, DEC. 5

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (7 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): Overwhelmed by the season’s greed, the blockhead takes charge of a holiday pageant.

FRIDAY, DEC. 6

“A Classic Christmas (My Music)” (7 p.m., WTTW-Channel 11): A nostalgic special revisits performances by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Judy Garland, the Carpenters and other greats.

SATURDAY, DEC. 7

“Stellar Tribute to the Holidays” (2 p.m., WGN-Channel 9): A gospel celebration includes songs from Kirk Franklin, Tamela Mann and Forever Jones.

SUNDAY, DEC. 8

“A Christmas Carol” (11 a.m., TCM): Reginald Owen plays Scrooge in this adaptation of the Dickens classic. 1938

MONDAY, DEC. 9

“Miracle on 34th Street” (6 p.m., AMC): A girl’s skepticism about Santa is put to the test. 1994. Repeats at 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 10

“Elf” (7 p.m., AMC): Will Ferrell plays a man brought up at Santa’s workshop. 2003.

A human (Will Ferrell) grows up among the toymakers who work for Santa (Ed Asner) in “Elf.”

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11

“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (4:20 p.m., Freeform): That’s Jim Carrey under all the dyed yak fur, determined to steal all the presents from Whoville.

THURSDAY, DEC. 12

“The Santa Clause” (5:50 p.m., Freeform) A divorced dad (Tim Allen) puts on the suit and inherits St. Nick’s job. 1994

FRIDAY, DEC. 13

“Holiday Inn” (7 p.m., WGN-Channel 9): Dean Richards hosts a “Family Classics” presentation of the 1942 film with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.

“The Year Without a Santa Claus” (9 p.m., AMC): The Miser brothers and Saint Nick’s exhaustion imperil the holiday.

SATURDAY, DEC. 14

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (7 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): See Dec. 2.

SUNDAY, DEC. 15

“A Holiday Affair” (7 p.m., TCM) A widowed single mom (Janet Leigh) is wooed by a stiff suitor as well as a handsome rogue (Robert Mitchum).

MONDAY, DEC. 16

“Holidays with the Houghs” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Multitalented siblings Derek and Julianne Hough sing and dance for the season.

“Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir” (9 p.m., WTTW-Channel 11): Kristin Chenoweth joins the acclaimed Utah vocal ensemble in concert.

TUESDAY, DEC. 17

“Home Alone” (4:50 p.m., Freeform): Left to his own devices when his family leaves on vacation without him, a boy (Macaulay Culkin) takes on bumbling burglars. 1990

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (4:45 p.m., AMC): Hapless Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family host a gathering of relatives.

THURSDAY, DEC. 19

“A Christmas Carol” (6:30 p.m., FX): A new version of the Dickens classic stars Guy Pearce as Scrooge and Andy Serkis as the Ghost of Christmas Past.

FRIDAY, DEC. 20

“Bozo, Gar & Ray” (7 p.m., WGN-Channel 9): With the classics “Hardrock, Coco and Joe,” “Suzy Snowflake” and “Frosty the Snowman.”

SATURDAY, DEC. 21

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (3:40 p.m., Freeform): See Dec. 1. Followed by “Frosty the Snowman” at 4:45 and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at 5:15.

Screen_Shot_2019_11_26_at_12.08.06_AM.png — Idina Menzel hosts the annual “A Home for the Holidays” special airing Dec. 22.

SUNDAY, DEC. 22

“A Home for the Holidays” (8 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): “Frozen” star Idina Menzel hosts the annual celebration of children adopted from foster care, with performances by Ne-Yo and Kelly Rowland.

MONDAY, DEC. 23

“Christmas at Belmont” (10 p.m., WTTW-Channel 11): CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith host musical performances from the Christian university in Nashville.

CHRISTMAS EVE

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): See Nov. 30.

“A Christmas Story” (8 p.m., TNT): If Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) gets his prized BB gun, will he shoot his eye out? (Repeats for 24 hours)

CHRISTMAS DAY

“Christmas Midnight Mass” (midnight, WGN-Channel 9) Live from Holy Name Cathedral.

“Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” (9 a.m., WLS-Channel 7) Musical performances and a march of beloved characters from Anaheim, Orlando and elsewhere.