TV celebrates holidays

‘Tis the season to be jolly as visions of sugarplums, Christmas Eve spirits plus specials and music galore unfurl on TV during the next few weeks.

Headed your way:

Classic films

• It’s a Wonderful Life (8 p.m. Saturday, NBC) — A guardian angel gives a despondent George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) the chance to see what the lives of others would have been like if he hadn’t been born. Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore also star. Directed by Frank Capra.

• 24 Hours of ‘A Christmas Story’ (8 p.m. Dec. 24 TBS) — Round-the-clock showings of the holiday favorite about young Ralphie’s (Peter Billingsley) preholiday attempts to get an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot range model air rifle from the big guy in the red suit in 1940s Indiana.

• A Christmas Carol (noon Saturday, TCM) — Elderly miser Ebeneezer Scrooge learns the error of his ways when he’s visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart and Kathleen Lockhart star in this 1938 adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic.

• Meet Me in St. Louis (1 a.m. Dec. 25, Turner Classic Movies) — The romantic tale of four sisters living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World’s Fair in 1904 gets a boost from the great Judy Garland with her show-stopping performances of the holiday favorite “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Trolley Song.”

• Holiday Inn (9 a.m., Dec. 24, AMC) — Two entertainers (Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire) vie for the affections of a beautiful performer (Virginia Dale) at an inn that’s only open during the holidays. The Oscar-winning score by the legendary Irving Berlin includes the tune “White Christmas,” one of the best-selling singles of all time. From 1942.

• White Christmas (11 a.m., Dec. 25, AMC) — The famous Irving Berlin holiday standard also figures prominently in this 1954 musical; again with Bing Crosby. This time, the Old Groaner teams with Danny Kaye as two former soldiers who perform at a New England inn owned by their former commanding officer. Love comes-a-calling when a sister act (Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney) also show up to perform.

Movies

• Christmas in Canaan (8 p.m., Saturday, Hallmark Channel) — When a schoolyard tussle erupts between two boys — one black, one white — in 1960s Canaan, Texas, a father and a grandmother devise a plan to bring the two together: They have to spend time together at each other’s house. Then they discover an injured puppy and nurse it back to health. Billy Ray Cyrus stars. Based on the book by Kenny Rogers and Donald Davenport.

• Eight Crazy Nights (8 p.m., Dec. 14, MTV) — Adam Sandler’s 2002 animated comedy about Davey Stone, a 33-year-old party animal who finds himself in trouble with the law after his wild ways go too far. But, in keeping with the holiday spirit, the judge gives Davey one last chance at redemption: He must spend the holidays performing community service. Mr. Sandler, Rob Schneider, Kevin Nealon, Jon Lovitz and Tyra Banks are among the celebrity voices.

• Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1 p.m., Dec. 25, ABC Family) — Gene Wilder is the candymaker who makes the sweet treats in his mysterious factory in this 1971 film. Music buffs are sure to recognize the famous song from its Oscar-nominated soundtrack, “The Candy Man” — which became a No. 1 hit for Sammy Davis Jr. the following year.

Specials

• Saturday Night Live Christmas (8 p.m. Dec. 17, NBC) — A program of holiday-themed sketches culled from the archives of the storied late-night show.

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