Christmas TV History

About Christmas TV History

2026-03-06T17:50:00.004-05:00

Christmas TV History is the website of the TV and film historian Joanna Wilson, known for her book Tis the Season TV: The Encyclopedia of Christmas Episodes, Specials, and Movies (2010). The expanded, updated 2nd edition of the encyclopedia is due for release by 1701 Press soon.

Wilson specializes in writing about Christmas entertainment to explore the history of television and shed light on the stories we embrace as a culture.

Joanna Wilson is a TV and film researcher/writer, specializing in Christmas entertainment. She draws upon her academic background in film history and philosophy to create insightful commentary on pop culture. She is the author of the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV from 2010, Triple Dog Dare from 2016, and the Christmas TV Companion from 2009. She currently lives in Akron, Ohio where she watches a lot of TV with no apologies, and just a few regrets.

From her research on Christmas entertainment, Wilson has also written the books:

Triple Dog Dare (2016)

Merry Musical Christmas, Vol. 1 (2012)

Christmas TV Companion (2009)

To learn more about Joanna Wilson, click here.

To purchase Wilson's books at the 1701 Press website, click here.

To follow Wilson's blog "Christmas TV History," click at the top of screen and then scroll down.

To follow Wilson on social media at @TistheSeasonTV on

Instagram

Facebook

Joanna Wilson is a frequent commentator about Christmas entertainment on television, radio, newspapers, and podcasts. She is also available for speaking engagements, lectures, and consultations. Please contact: Dominic@1701Press.com

Where to Watch Christmas TV Programs in 2023

2023-11-21T15:05:00.001-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year again! The Christmas TV movies have already begun airing, Christmas music is playing on local radio stations, the days are growing shorter, and the air outside is crisp.

The viewing options for Christmas movies and specials during November and December each year are plentiful. Even though this year's TV programs and movies are far fewer than usual because of the months-long writers' and actors' strike, there is still an abundance of yuletide entertainment. Let me help you with the details of where to find the best holiday programming for 2023. This is not an exhaustive list and new listings are still being released. However, this is where you will find the majority of new holiday programming to watch this year.

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For many holiday movie fans, the Hallmark Channel is the first name in Christmas TV movies. This year, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries are debuting 40 new Christmas TV movies, alongside many previously released classics from their archives. If you didn't already know, the movie marathon has already begun--Hallmark started Friday, October 20th--and continues all day and all night through the end of December. Hallmark typically debuts their new holiday movies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' new movies debut this year on Thursday nights.

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The daily schedule of their holiday movies can be found on their website HERE.

HERE is the link to HMM daily schedule on their website.

If you don't have cable TV anymore, don't fret--Hallmark Christmas movies are now streaming on Peacock too, for a limited time.

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Lifetime is debuting 12 new Christmas TV movies in 2023 as well. Those new movies typically debut on Saturdays and Sundays each week until Christmas. This year I'm excited to see "Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas" featuring Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Joan Van Ark, Linda Gray, Nicolette Sheridan, and Christopher Atkins. It debuts Dec. 2nd--I can't wait!

HERE is a link to a printable calendar for Lifetime's new movies this year.

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Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas block of holiday programming begins December 1st. Sadly, it looks like they aren't premiering any new content here again this year but the cable network will be airing the Home Alone movie trilogy, The Santa Clause movie trilogy, several Rankin/Bass animated classics, and the charming TV movie Eloise at Christmastime.

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For new Disney-produced content, you'll need to subscribe to Disney+. The best thing about the streaming platforms is that you can search their listings using 'Christmas' to discover new titles as well as older content available for viewing. Of course, that search can be done year round too! This year, I'm looking forward to watching season 2 of The Santa Clauses and seeing the new movie Dashing Through the Snow. It stars Lil Rel Howery and Ludacris. As a die-hard sci-fi fan, I'll be watching the new Doctor Who holiday special on Disney+ too (it used to air on BBC America).

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I'm also looking forward to the annual holiday music concert CMA Country Christmas airing on ABC, and elsewhere. CMA Country Christmas airs on ABC on Dec. 14th. Speaking of annual holiday concerts, I never miss Christmas in Rockefeller Center which airs on NBC each year (on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving) on Nov. 29th. It's a live concert so it goes on rain, snow, or sleet! This concert always features the recording artists with a new Christmas album out and this year is no different--Cher is scheduled to perform! That same night after the New York City concert is another NBC music special-- Christmas at Graceland, taped at Elvis Presley's former home-turned-museum in Memphis, Tennessee. NBC is also featuring another concert, later on Dec. 7th--Christmas at the Opry, hosted by country music's own Wynonna. CBS is also featuring a holiday music concert on Dec. 9th--Merry Soulful Christmas.

The 1964 animated TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will air on CBS on Monday, Nov. 27th. (it will no doubt air again closer to Christmas too). The Grinch and Shrek the Halls will air on NBC on Nov. 30th, and Robbie the Reindeer and Reindeer in Here are on CBS on Dec. 2nd. I believe AMC's holiday programming block of Best Christmas Ever will also be scheduling the deeper-cuts of Rankin/Bass' animated holiday programs, as usual.

Stay close to my social media links for more announcements about fantastic holiday programming. If you'd like reminders of the new Christmas TV movie debuts and other exciting holiday TV programming, most prominently at Instagram: @TistheSeasonTV. I'm also on TikTok as well--also under the name Tis the Season TV.

Where on the metaphorical television dial do you watch your favorite Christmas movies and specials? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for an upcoming release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com

Christmas in July 2023: RECAP

2023-07-31T12:28:00.002-04:00

Merry Christmas in July! Were you able to keep up with the daily posts during the month-long marathon? In case you were late to the party this summer, here's your chance to catch up. Below is a complete list of links to each of the discussions on creative TV & film adaptations of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

This month-long list of adaptations is NOT an exhaustive list by far. From the dozens and dozens of adaptations of "A Christmas Carol," I purposefully selected thirty that featured a variety of programming and interpretations. A complete list of TV and film adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" can be found in the appendix of my upcoming book Tis the Season TV.

Thanks to everyone who followed along and to all who left comments. If you would still like to leave comments, please feel free to do so--the discussion doesn't have to end just because the marathon is over. And, keep your eyes open--the expanded and updated encyclopedia Tis the Season TV is coming soon.

Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)

An American Christmas Carol (1979)

Scrooged (1988)

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (1979)

The Stingiest Man in Town (1956)

The Stingiest Man in Town (1978)

Carol for Another Christmas (1964)

Ebenezer (1998)

Skinflint (1979)

John Grin's Christmas (1986)

Ebbie (1995)