Here is The YesterYear Retro Christmas Classics TV Guide for 2023!
Here is a list of what I consider the best television of the holiday season. I'm adding the list here as a regular post, but from now on, you'll find it on the top menu bar (or click the 3 lines if you're on mobile.) You can always just bookmark this page and keep checking back, too!
Obviously, this schedule is subject to change (and I'll keep updating as we go), but as of the time of posting, below is what is officially listed as per TV Guide and the individual network websites.
All times listed are Eastern.
Like every other year, I also BOLDED in RED what I consider the "can't miss" items, such as the once-a-year airings of Wizard of Oz or It's a Wonderful Life. Some are repeated so much that the whole list would be red, so I highlighted them only on their first few showings, but of course, watch when you can! If you feel something I didn't consider should be red, please comment below! I'd love to hear about your traditional "required" viewing.
Items Of Note for 2023:
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" will not air on network TV again this year. It is only available on Apple TV+ but will be made available free to non-subscribers ONLY on Dec 16th and 17th.
FreeForm's "25 Days of Christmas" begins on December 1st! Between Halloween and Christmas, Freeform easily has some of my favorite marathons!
"The Wizard of Oz" airs on TBS on Thanksgiving (Nov 23) at 8PM. It will also air the day after, November 24, at 5:45PM. It will air on TBS in December on the 10th at 12:15PM, the 11th at 8:00PM & 10:15PM, the 16th at 8:00PM, and on Christmas Day (Dec 25) at 8:00PM & 10:15PM following the Christmas Story marathon.
"It's a Wonderful Life" airs on NBC on Christmas Eve (Dec 24) at 8:00PM.
"A Christmas Story" marathon is again on TBS *AND* TNT this year! It begins at 8 PM on TBS and 9 PM on TNT on Christmas Eve. Final showings air at 6 PM on Christmas Day on TBS and 7 PM on TNT.
"Elf" celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a marathon on TBS on November 24th and 25th starting at 8:00PM on the 24th.
Wednesday, December 20:
7:00am – Eloise at Christmastime (Freeform)
11:00am – The Santa Clause (1994) (Freeform)
1:05pm – The Santa Clause 2 (2002) (Freeform)
3:30pm – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) (Freeform)
5:35pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)(Jim Carrey) (Freeform)
5:45pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)(Chevy Chase) (AMC)
8:00pm – Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas (NBC)
8:00pm – Elf (2003) (AMC)
8:15pm – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) (Freeform)
9:00pm – Christmas at the Opry (NBC)
9:20pm – Frosty the Snowman (1969) (Freeform)
9:55pm – Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970) (Freeform)
10:00pm – The Polar Express (2004) (AMC)
12:00am – Home Alone 3 (Freeform)
Thursday, December 21:
8:00am – Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999) (Freeform)
9:30am – Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws (Freeform)
11:30am – The Search for Santa Paws (Freeform)
1:30pm – Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups (Freeform)
3:35pm – Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970, Rankin/Bass) (Freeform)
4:40pm – Frosty the Snowman (1969, Rankin/Bass) (Freeform)
5:15pm – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964, Rankin/Bass) (Freeform)
6:00pm – Four Christmases (2008) (AMC)
6:20pm – Home Alone (1990) (Freeform)
8:00pm – Christmas at Graceland (NBC)
8:00pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) (AMC)
8:00pm – Miracle in Bethlehem, PA (2023)(Laura Vandervoort, Benjamin Ayres) (Hallmark Movies)
8:50pm – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)(Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
9:00pm – Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (NBC)
10:15pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) (AMC)
Friday, December 22:
7:00am – Prep & Landing (Freeform)
7:30am – Prep & Landing: Naughty vs Nice (Freeform)
8:00am – Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) (Freeform)
10:00am – Home Alone (1990, Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
12:30pm – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
4:45pm – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) (AMC)
5:15pm – Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976) (AMC)
5:15pm – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)(Benedict Cumberbatch) (Freeform)
5:45pm – The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) (AMC)
7:00pm – The Polar Express (2004, Tom Hanks) (AMC)
7:15pm – The Santa Clause (1994, Tim Allen) (Freeform)
8:00pm – The 25th Annual Home for the Holidays (CBS)
8:00pm – Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (NBC)
8:00pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) (TBS)
9:00pm – Fit for Christmas (2022)(Amanda Kloots, Paul Greene) (CBS)
9:00pm – Elf (2003) (AMC)
9:25pm – The Santa Clause 2 (2002)(Tim Allen) (Freeform)
11:00pm – The Polar Express (2004)(Tom Hanks) (AMC)
11:55pm – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)(Tim Allen, Martin Short) (Freeform)
1:00am – Office Christmas Party (2016)(Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston) (TBS)
10:30am – Miracle on 34th Street (1994)(Elizabeth Perkins) (Freeform)
1:00pm – Arthur Christmas (2011) (TBS)
1:05pm – Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)(Jim Carrey) (Freeform)
2:30pm – Fred Claus (2007)(Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti) (AMC)
3:10pm – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)(Benedict Cumberbatch) (Freeform)
5:00pm – Four Christmases (2008)(Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon) (AMC)
5:10pm – Home Alone (1990)(Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
5:45pm – Office Christmas Party (2016) (TNT)
7:00pm – Elf (2003) (AMC)
7:30pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) (TBS)
7:40pm – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)(Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
8:00pm – A Royal Christmas Holiday (2023)(Brittany Underwood, Jonathan Stoddard) (GA Family)
8:00pm – Mom’s Christmas Boyfriend (2023) (Lifetime)
8:00pm – Deck the Halls (2006)(Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick) (TBS)
9:00pm – A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special (NBC)
9:00pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Chevy Chase) (AMC)
10:00pm – 8-Bit Christmas (2021)(Winslow Fegley, Neil Patrick Harris, Steve Zahn) (TNT)
10:07pm – Office Christmas Party (2016)(Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston) (TBS)
10:20pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)(Jim Carrey) (Freeform)
11:15pm – Christmas with the Kranks (2004)(Jamie Lee Curtis, Tim Allen) (AMC)
12:22am – Deck the Halls (2006)(Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick) (TBS)
Sunday, December 24:
8:45am – White Christmas (1954)(Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye) (AMC)
9:05am – Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) (Freeform)
10:35am – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)(Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
11:30am – Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976) (AMC)
12:45pm – Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976) (AMC)
1:15pm – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) (AMC)
1:15pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (Freeform)
1:45pm – The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) (AMC)
2:30pm – Office Christmas Party (2016, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston) (TNT)
2:55pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)(Jim Carrey) (Freeform)
3:00pm – The Polar Express (2004) (AMC)
4:42pm – Deck the Halls (2006) (TNT)
5:00pm – Christmas with the Kranks (2004) (AMC)
5:35pm – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) (Freeform)
6:40pm – Frosty the Snowman (1969) (Freeform)
6:45pm – 8-Bit Christmas (2021, Winslow Fegley, Neil Patrick Harris, Steve Zahn) (TNT)
7:00pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)(Chevy Chase) (AMC)
7:00pm – A Christmas Letter (2023)(Colin Mochrie, David Lipper) (UPtv)
7:15pm – The Santa Clause (1994)(Tim Allen) (Freeform)
8:00pm – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed) (NBC)
8:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
9:00pm – When Christmas Was Young (2022, Tyler Hilton, Karen David) (CBS)
9:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
9:15pm – Elf (2003) (AMC)
9:25pm – The Santa Clause 2 (2002)(Tim Allen) (Freeform)
10:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
11:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
11:15pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)(Chevy Chase) (AMC)
11:30pm – Christmas Eve Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome (NBC)
11:55pm – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)(Tim Allen, Martin Short) (Freeform)
12:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
1:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
1:30am – Four Christmases (2008)(Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon) (AMC)
2:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
3:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
4:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
Monday, December 25: Merry Christmas, everyone!
5:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
6:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
7:00am – Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)(Jim Carrey) (Freeform)
7:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
7:30am – Fred Claus (2007)(Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti) (AMC)
8:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
9:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
10:00am – Four Christmases (2008)(Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon) (AMC)
10:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
10:30am – Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970) (Freeform)
11:00am – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
11:30am – The Santa Clause (1994)(Tim Allen) (Freeform)
12:00pm – The Polar Express (2004)(Tom Hanks) (AMC)
12:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
1:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
1:30pm – The Santa Clause 2 (2002)(Tim Allen) (Freeform)
2:00pm – Christmas with the Kranks (2004)(Jamie Lee Curtis, Tim Allen) (AMC)
2:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
3:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
3:30pm – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) (Freeform)
4:00pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) (AMC)
4:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
4:30pm – Frosty the Snowman (1969) (Freeform)
5:00pm – Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970) (Freeform)
5:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
6:00pm – Home Alone (1990)(Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
6:00pm – A Christmas Story (1983, Peter Billingsley) (TBS)
6:15pm – Elf (2003) (AMC)
8:00pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966, Boris Karloff) (NBC)
8:00pm – The Wizard of Oz (1939, Judy Garland) (TBS)
8:15pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)(Chevy Chase) (AMC)
8:30pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)(Jim Carrey) (NBC)
8:30pm – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)(Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci) (Freeform)
9:00pm – Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All! (CBS)
9:00pm – A Christmas Story Christmas (2022, Peter Billingsley) (TNT)
10:15pm – The Wizard of Oz (1939)(Judy Garland) (TBS)
10:30pm – Elf (2003) (AMC)
11:15pm – Deck the Halls (2006) (TNT)
12:00am – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) (Freeform)
12:30am – Fred Claus (2007) (AMC)
Tuesday, December 26:
4:00pm – Four Christmases (2008) (AMC)
5:45pm – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) (AMC)
8:00pm – Elf (2003) (AMC)
10:00pm – Christmas with the Kranks (2004) (AMC)
Thursday, December 28:
Friday, December 29:
Saturday, December 30:
Sunday, December 31:
7:30pm – New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash (CBS)
10:30pm – New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash (CBS)
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