Tuned in to the holidays

Attention, holiday channel surfers: Your annual avalanche of seasonal eye candy treats is about to be served. From now through Christmas and on into the New Year, holiday-themed shows are ready to go. Here’s a happy blizzard of viewing choices (be sure to check local listings to confirm airtimes). Enjoy!

Today

“8 p.m., ABC Family: “White Christmas” (1954). A couple of ex-Army buddies (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) form a comedy act, singing and dancing their way through a Vermont Christmas at a financially unstable inn for charity’s sake.

Saturday

“2 p.m., ABC Family: “A Holiday to Remember” (1995). A woman, accompanied by her daughter, decides to return to her childhood home in the forest where she is reunited with the man she left at the altar.

Sunday

“8 p.m., TNT: “A Christmas Story” (1983). A precocious Cleveland boy ignores warnings from his teacher, parents and even Santa Claus while scheming to own a Red Ryder BB gun. (Also see Dec. 24)

Monday

“6 p.m., AMC: “Santa Claus: The Movie” (1985). The history of how Kris Kringle came to be, and how the head elf eventually sets off on his own and falls in with an evil toy maker who wants to destroy Santa.

Tuesday

“8 p.m., ABC: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965). The “Peanuts” protagonist is discouraged by the materialism he sees at Christmas and sets out to find the true meaning, with the aid of Linus.

Wednesday

“8 p.m., NBC: “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.” Right jolly old Al Roker is joined by Celine Dion, Josh Groban and Carrie Underwood, who will make music to mark the 75th anniversary of the famous lighting of legendarily humongous Christmas trees.

“8:30 p.m., ABC: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966). A mean-hearted hermit descends into Whoville to steal all of the presents from the children, but ends up learning the true meaning of Christmas.

Thursday

“7 p.m., ABC Family: “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” (1976). The lovable living snowman returns to town in search of a snow-bride, while a bitter Jack Frost aims to disable the jovial winter being by removing his hat.

Dec. 1

“9 p.m., Lifetime: “Holiday Switch” (2007). With Christmas just days away, a married woman buried in debt and the strain of everyday living ponders her fate had she wed her now-wealthy high school beau.

Dec. 2

“8 p.m., Disney: “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas” (2004). Mickey Mouse and the whole gang have an adventure as they enjoy Christmas and the holiday season.

Dec. 3

“8 p.m., ABC Family: “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (1974). Two of Santa’s elves find children who can convince the Jolly Old Elf that Christmas is important to everyone.

Dec. 4

“7 p.m., Food Network: “Emeril Live – Emeril’s Happy Happy Holidays Recipes.” Roast Goose with Port Gravy; Goose Fat Roasted Potatoes; Baked Onions with Rice Stuffing; Holiday Salad; and Mile-High Chocolate/Butterscotch Parfait Pie.

“8 p.m., CBS: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964). Everyone’s favorite misfit finds his purpose in life – and true love along the way.

Dec. 5

“8 p.m., Food Network: “Good Eats School of Hard Nogs.” This serious look at the famed holiday drink includes tips on adding spirits and what to do with the leftovers, plus a peek into the tasty world of bourbon.

Dec. 6

“9 p.m., TBS: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989). A lovable klutz attempts to execute a grand yuletide celebration for the many dysfunctional members of his family.

Dec. 8

“8:15 p.m., HBO: “Deck the Halls” (2006). Two neighbors get into a Christmas lights war.

Dec. 9

“5 p.m., Food Network: “An Italian Christmas with Mario and Giada.” Mario Batali and Giada DeLaurentiis cross the country in search of holiday recipes, dishes and traditions Italian style.

Dec. 10

“9 p.m., Lifetime: “The Road to Christmas” (2006). When a fashion photographer becomes stranded on her way to her dream Christmastime wedding in Aspen, a man and his daughter pick her up.

Dec. 11

“7 p.m., TLC: “Crazy Christmas Lights.” An exploration into the homes of decorators who go all out during the holidays.

Dec. 12

“9 p.m., HGTV: “Deserving Design Christmas Special.” As firefighters cook their annual charity dinner, the show’s host renews their firehouse’s sleeping quarters and adds a surprise.

Dec. 13

“7:30 p.m., ABC Family: “Little Drummer Boy Book II” (1976). The Romans take a bell maker’s silver bells for taxes, and the little drummer boy and his animal companions try to get them back.

Dec. 15

“1 p.m., Lifetime: “A Fare to Remember” (1998). A business executive stranded in Seattle on Christmas Eve befriends the cabbie she hired to drive her home to Los Angeles.

“8 p.m., ABC Family: “Snowglobe” (2007). A young woman discovers a fantasy world inside her grandmother’s snow globe.

Dec. 16

“5 p.m., Lifetime: “Eve’s Christmas” (2004). A single, successful professional woman who traded a simple life with family and loved ones for material gain wishes upon the Christmas Star for a second chance.

Dec. 17

“8 p.m., ABC Family: “Jingle All the Way” (1996). As a career-driven dad frantically searches the stores for a sold-out toy the day before Christmas, he gets competition from a crazy postman on the same quest.

Dec. 19

“8 p.m., Disney: “The Santa Clause” (1994). After accidentally killing St. Nick, a divorced dad dons the Jolly Old Elf’s suit and begins transforming into Santa. (Also Dec. 24, 6 p.m.)

Dec. 20

“9 p.m., Lifetime: “Christmas on Chestnut Street” (2006). The profit-hungry owner of a store sets neighbor against neighbor when she kicks off a holiday decorating showdown in an attempt to sell more lights.

Dec. 21

“7 p.m., Food Network: “Emeril Live Happy Happy Holiday.” Chef Lagasse puts together an elaborate menu for his favorite holiday.

Dec. 22

“8 p.m., HBO: “Unaccompanied Minors” (2006). A major blizzard sweeps into the Hoover International on Christmas Eve, but six teens stuck in the airport are determined to enjoy their holiday.

Dec. 23

“5 p.m., TCM: “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945). A chic magazine writer who is supposed to be an expert homemaker must entertain her boss and a war veteran for the holidays.

Dec. 24

“8 p.m., TBS: “A Christmas Story” marathon (1983). Humorist Jean Shepherd’s screwball family holiday memoir of growing up in the 1940s spreads nutty yuletide cheer from Christmas Eve through Christmas Day.

Dec. 25

“8:15 p.m., Disney: “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” (1999). Mickey and Minnie’s famous friends Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto reminisce about love, magic and surprises in tales of Christmas past.

“11 p.m., TCM: “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965). An adaptation of the life of Jesus Christ.

Dec. 31

“10 p.m., ABC: “Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.” The countdown to 2008 with Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest.