Christmas specials lighting up your TV

TV and cable networks are unleashing their annual avalanche of Christmas movies, cartoons and specials.

Here’s a sampling, focusing on the networks that obsess on Christmas. Times may vary; check local listings.

Cartoon classics

•“How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Monday, 8:32 p.m., ABC; also on the Cartoon Network, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.; Dec. 21, 8:30 p.m.; Dec. 24, 7 p.m.

• “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” Wednesday, 8 p.m., CBS.

•“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Dec. 8, 8 p.m., ABC.

•“Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” Dec. 10 and 16, 7 p.m., ABC Family.

•“Frosty the Snowman,” Dec. 12, 8 p.m., CBS (followed at 8:30 by “Frosty Returns”).

New animated shows

•“Cranberry Christmas,” Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., ABC Family. Barry Manilow wrote two songs.

•“Little Spirit: Christmas in New York,” Dec. 10, 8-9 p.m., NBC. Duncan Shiek, a Tony-winner for “Spring Awakening,” wrote the music.

•“A Miser Brothers’ Christmas,” Dec. 12 and 13, 8 p.m.; Dec. 19 and 24, 7 p.m., ABC Family. Uses two characters from “A Year Without a Santa Claus.”

New music

•“Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” Wednesday, 8-9 p.m., NBC. Includes Beyonce; her sister Solange Knowles; Faith Hill; Harry Connick Jr.; David Cook; the Jonas Brothers; Rascal Flatts; Tony Bennett and more.

•“Christmas in Washington,” Dec. 18, 8 and 11 p.m., TNT. Performers pending.

•“A Home For the Holidays,” Dec. 23, 8-9 p.m., CBS. This special, promoting adoption, is headed by Faith Hill, who grew up with adoptive parents. Also performing are Melissa Etheridge, Jamie Foxx, Gavin Rossdale and more.

New TV movies

•“Moonlight & Mistletoe,” Friday and Dec. 11, 9 p.m.; Dec. 19, 11 p.m.; Dec. 20, 5 p.m., Hallmark. With Candace Cameron Bure, Tom Arnold.

•“The Christmas Choir,” Saturday, 9 p.m.; Dec. 12, 18 and 23, 9 p.m.; Dec. 24, 5 p.m., Hallmark. With Rhea Perlman, Jason Gedrick.

•“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Dec. 13, 9 p.m.; Dec. 19 and 24, 9 p.m.; Dec. 25, 2 p.m., Hallmark. With Henry Winkler, Brooke Burns.

■“Snow 2 Brain Freeze,” Dec. 14, 8 p.m., following a rerun of the original “Snow” at 6; Dec. 17, 9 p.m.; Dec. 20, 1 p.m., ABC Family. With Tom Cavanagh, Ashley Williams.

■“Christmas in Wonderland,” Dec. 20, 8 p.m., ABC Family. With Patrick Swayze, Carmen Electra.

■“Our First Christmas,” Dec. 20, 9 p.m. Hallmark. With Julie Warner, Steven Eckholdt.

More new specials

• “Home for the Holidays,” tonight at 8, HGTV. Follows seven of the channel’s hosts during holiday customs.

•NBC’s “Greatest Holiday Moments” offers memories via clips, including “TV & Film,” Dec. 5, 8 p.m.; “Songs of the Season,” Dec. 12, 8 p.m.; “Hilarious Home Video,” Dec. 22, 8 p.m.

•“A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa,” Dec. 17, 8-9 p.m., NBC.

Movie reruns

•“The Polar Express,” Tuesday, 6 p.m.; Dec. 22, 6 and 8:30 p.m., ABC Family.

•“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (Jim Carrey version), Monday, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Dec. 18 and 24, 8 and 10:30 p.m., ABC Family; also Friday, 8 p.m., ABC.

•“A Christmas Story,” Wednesday, 8 and 10 p.m., TNT; 24-hour marathon begins Dec. 24 at 8 p.m., TBS.

•“Jingle All the Way,” Dec. 8, 8 p.m., ABC Family. With Arnold Schwarzenegger.

•“Elf,” Dec. 12, 8-10 p.m., CBS. Starring Will Ferrell.

•“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Dec. 13 and 24, 8-11 p.m., NBC.

•“The Santa Clause 2,” Dec 19, 8 and 10 p.m., ABC Family; Dec. 23, 9 p.m., ABC.