Holiday shows include classics, Dora and Carrie Underwood

The Christmas season means cookies, carols and cheesy TV.

Yes, cheesy - but in the most delicious way. Christmas celebrates the cozy and familiar, and what could be cozier than gathering up the kids to watch the same animated snowmen and reindeer you enjoyed as a child?

Like those scuffed up family ornaments we dig out year after year, some Christmas specials - "Frosty the Snowman," of course, and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "The Year Without a Santa Claus" - get more charming the more time-worn they become. Luckily, what with Christmas now dominating some cable channels for a whole month, new specials join the bunch regularly.

Made-for-TV Christmas movies multiply from year to year, and while some aspire to classic status, others aim only to be entertaining cheese, those popcorn-and-tissues flicks about finding love or learning the lessons of the season.

"Christmas in Rockefeller Center"

8 p.m. today on NBC

The 77th annual tree-lighting extravaganza in New York City includes musical performances.

"The 12 Men of Christmas"

9 p.m. Saturday on Lifetime

Kristin Chenoweth plays an out-of-work New York publicist who takes a job boosting the town of Kalispell, Mont., where she cooks up an idea to raise money for the local search-and-rescue team. Anna Chlumsky and Josh Hopkins also star.

"Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure"

8 p.m. Sunday on Nickelodeon

In a "Dora the Explorer" holiday special, Swiper winds up on Santa's naughty list and can get off only if he learns the true spirit of Christmas. That requires a trip, with Dora, to the past, present and future.

"Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special"

8 p.m. Dec. 7 on Fox

Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, David Cook, Kristin Chenoweth and Christina Applegate are among those joining Underwood.

"Holiday Celebration on Ice"

8 p.m. Dec. 7 on the Hallmark Channel

Brian Boitano and friends celebrate the wonders of the holiday season - and rock 'n' roll. REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield perform, joined by Olympic, world and national figure skating champions.

"It's a Wonderful Life"

8 p.m. Dec. 12 and 24 on NBC

The Frank Capra classic gets two and only two airings, one on Christmas Eve. James Stewart and Donna Reed star, with Henry Travers as Angel Second Class Clarence.

"Christmas in Canaan"

8 p.m. Dec. 12 on the Hallmark Channel

In a drama set during the civil rights movement, widowed farmer Daniel Burton (Billy Ray Cyrus) forces son DJ (Zak Ludwig), who has begun to show racist tendencies, to spend time with a black classmate, Rodney (Jaishon Fisher). Their friendship survives growing racial tension in their town, until "an unforgettable Christmas teaches the boys the importance of hope and the true meaning of family."

"Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe"

8 p.m. Dec. 13 on ABC Family

Jenny McCarthy returns as Mary Class (sounds like Claus?), Santa's daughter, who's torn between taking over the family business from her retiring pop (Paul Sorvino) and running her own New York company. "The situation gets increasingly dire when a disgruntled former elf, Teri (Kelly Stables), in disguise, sows dissension at the North Pole in an effort to take over Christmas." Dean McDermott plays Mary's boyfriend.

"Christmas in Washington"

8 p.m. Dec. 20 on TNT

A concert benefiting the National Children's Medical Center features an audience including President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and other Washington VIPs.

"24 Hours of 'A Christmas Story'"

Beginning at 8 p.m. Dec. 24 on TBS

Little Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants a Red Ryder BB Gun in the Christmas charmer based on the writings of Jean Shepherd, who also narrates.

More Christmas TV

* "Christmas Outside of the Box," 7 p.m. Tuesday on TLC.

* "The Year Without a Santa Claus," 7 p.m. Tuesday and 8 p.m. Dec. 8 on ABC Family.

* "A Charlie Brown Christmas," 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC.

* "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," 9 p.m. Tuesday on CBS.

* "Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," 8 and 10 p.m. Tuesday on ABC Family.

* "The Polar Express," 6 p.m. Thursday on ABC Family.

* "Home for the Holidays," 8 p.m. Thursday on MyNetworkTV

* "A Christmas Carol" (1938), 8 p.m. Thursday on TCM.

* "Frosty's Winter Wonderland," 7 p.m. Friday on ABC Family.

* "Remember the Night," 2 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Dec. 24 on TCM.

* "Naughty or Nice," 10:30 a.m. Dec. 6 on ABC Family.

* "Invasion of the Christmas Lights," 9 p.m. Dec. 6 on TLC.

* "Chainsaw Ice Sculptors," 10 p.m. Dec. 6 on TLC.

* "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa," 8 p.m. Dec. 11 and Dec. 19 on NBC.

* "Twas the Night Before Christmas," 7 p.m. Dec. 7 on ABC Family.

* "Cranberry Christmas," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 on ABC Family.

* "Unaccompanied Minors," 8 p.m. Dec. 7 on ABC Family.

* "The Man Who Saved Christmas," 8 p.m. Dec. 7 on WGN.

* "Mickey's Christmas Carol," 7 p.m. Dec. 8 on ABC Family.

* "Winnie the Pooh & Christmas Too," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 on ABC Family.

* "A Miser Brothers Christmas," 9 p.m. Dec. 8 on ABC Family.

* "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," 8 p.m. Dec. 9 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10 on ABC Family.

* "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys," 9 p.m. Dec. 9 on ABC Family.

* "Holiday in Handcuffs," 8 p.m. Dec. 10 on ABC Family.

* "A Flintstone Christmas," 10 p.m. Dec. 10 on ABC Family.

* "Yes, Virginia," 8 p.m. Dec. 11 on CBS.

* "The Christmas Shoes," 4 p.m. Dec. 12 on Lifetime Movie Network.

* "The Christmas Blessing," 6 p.m. Dec. 12 on Lifetime Movie Network.

* "The Christmas Hope," 8 p.m. Dec. 12 on Lifetime Movie Network.

* "Merrython" (sitcom episodes), Dec. 13 on TV Land.

* "A Carol Christmas," 2 p.m. Dec. 13 on ABC Family.

* "Santa Baby," 6 p.m. Dec. 13 on ABC Family.

* "Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Prime-Time Special," 10 p.m. Dec. 13 on ABC.

* "Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas," 8 p.m. Dec. 14 on ABC.

* "The Secret of Giving," 8 p.m. Dec. 14 on WGN.

* "Saturday Night Live Christmas 2009," 8 p.m. Dec. 17 on NBC.

* "Christmas in Connecticut," 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and 12:15 p.m. Dec. 25 on TCM.

* "Holiday Affair," 10 p.m. Dec. 17 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 25 on TCM.

* "Frosty the Snowman" and "Frosty Returns," 8 p.m. Dec. 18 on CBS.

* "It's a Very Muppet Christmas Movie," 6 p.m. Dec. 20 on WGN.

* "Chasing Christmas," 7 p.m. Dec. 21 on ABC Family.

* "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown," 8 p.m. Dec. 21 on ABC.

* "The Wool Cap," 8 p.m. Dec. 21 on WGN.

* "Christmas Do-Over," 9 p.m. Dec. 21 on ABC Family.

* "A Very Brady Christmas," 1 p.m. Dec. 22 on ABC Family.

* "Once Upon a Christmas," 3 p.m. Dec. 22 on ABC Family.

* "Twice Upon a Christmas," 5 p.m. Dec. 22 on ABC Family.

* "Miracle on 34th Street" (1994), 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23 on ABC Family.

* "A Home for the Holidays With Faith Hill," 8 p.m. Dec. 23 on CBS.

* "A Flintstone Christmas," 5 p.m. Dec. 24 on WGN.

* "Yogi's First Christmas," 6 and 9 p.m. Dec. 24 on WGN.

* "Christmas in July," 9:45 p.m. Dec. 24 on TCM

* "Meet Me in St. Louis," 1 a.m. Christmas Eve on TCM.

* "Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade," 10 a.m. Dec. 25 on ABC.