Christmas is the perfect time to gather together with all your loved ones for a cozy night spent sitting around a bright, crackling … TV. After the stockings have been hung by the chimney with care and all your eggs have been suitably nogged, you can tune into classic films and TV episodes on both network and cable channels on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

You can catch the animated 1966 version and live action 2000 version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, tune in to old favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life and Christmas in Connecticut, or watch some of the traditional 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon. And if your attention span is feeling a bit shorter, there are also classic Christmas episodes of The Simpsons, The Andy Griffith Show, and more.

Wednesday, December 24

The Simpsons Christmas Marathon

FXX, beginning at 7pm

20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection

A marathon of The Simpsons‘ Christmas episodes begins with the first episode of the series, 1989’s “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” in which the family gets their dog, Santa’s Little Helper. Other highlights include 1995’s “Marge Be Not Proud” (Bonestorm!), 1999’s “Grift of the Magi” (Funzo!) and 2000’s “Skinner’s Sense of Snow” (Nibbles!).

 Home Alone

ABC, 8pm

ABC presents a Christmas Eve airing of the 1990 holiday classic following the exploits of young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) and his ingenious defenses against bumbling but determined burglars Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern).

It’s a Wonderful Life

NBC, 8pm

Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images

NBC is once again the exclusive broadcast home for Frank Capra‘s beloved 1946 holiday classic. It stars Best Actor Oscar nominee James Stewart as George Bailey, a discouraged and despairing building-and-loan manager who contemplates suicide before a guardian angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) intervenes and allows him to see what George’s small town of Bedford Falls would be without him — and all that is right in his world. Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore also star.

24 Hours of A Christmas Story

TBS, beginning at 8pm; TNT, beginning at 9pm

This holiday favorite from 1983 airs on TBS and TNT in a traditional Yuletide marathon. Peter Billingsley stars as Ralphie, the little boy who yearns to find a Red Ryder BB gun under the Christmas tree. Not just a Christmas story, it’s about parents, little brothers, bullies, decoder rings, dares and, most of all, the workings of a youthful mind. The writing by Jean Shepherd (who also narrates) captures it all perfectly. Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon also star.

The Carol Burnett Show

MeTV, 11pm

In this episode of the classic variety show, featuring special guest Alan Alda, Burnett and co. pay tribute to the Christmas season with a musical skit about a department store Santa.

Primetime Movies Tonight

5:35pm Dr. Seuss‘ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Children) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor FREEFORM
5:40pm A Christmas Carol (1984, Children) George C. Scott, Angela Pleasence FXM

6pm Christmas in Connecticut (1945, Comedy) Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan TCM
6pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
6pm The Santa Clause (1994, Family) Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold FX
6:10pm Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001, Children) Simon Callow, Kate Winslet HDNETMV
6:30pm Reindeer Games (2000, Crime drama) Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise SHOWXHD
6:30pm Serendipity (2001, Romance-comedy) John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale SHO

Everett Collection

7:33pm Bad Santa (2003, Comedy) Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox HBOZ
7:45pm Hook (1991, Children) Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams BBCA
7:50pm A Christmas Carol (1951, Fantasy) Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison FXM

8pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TBS
8pm Home Alone (1990, Family) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci ABC
8pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Comedy-drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed NBC
8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC

8pm The Bishop’s Wife (1947, Fantasy) Cary Grant, Loretta Young TCM
8pm The Santa Clause 2 (2002, Family) Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell FX
8:10pm Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986, Children) Hugh Bigney, Vanessa Sharp HDNETMV
9pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TNT
9:25pm Edward Scissorhands (1990, Fantasy) Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder HBOSIG
9:30pm Surviving Christmas (2004, Comedy) Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini FAMZ
9:45pm Scrooged (1988, Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen MGM

10pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TBS
10pm An Affair to Remember (1957, Romance) Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr TCM
10:15pm Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001, Children) Simon Callow, Kate Winslet HDNETMV
10:15pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, Comedy) Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo AMC
11pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TNT

11:05pm What Women Want (2000, Romance-comedy) Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt FAMZ
11:23pm Santa’s Slay (2005, Comedy) Bill Goldberg, Douglas Smith STZC

Thursday, December 25

Christmas MOVIES!

MOVIES!, beginning at 6am

‘Tis the season to be joyously watching (or rewatching) a slate of some of the most beloved film nuggets ever produced. An 11-movie day features a wealth of highlights. They include Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien fronting the magical 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis; Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin starring in the 1964 Rat Pack musical Robin and the 7 Hoods; Albert Finney in the title role of the 1970 musical Scrooge; Alastair Sim starring in what many consider the definitive version of the tale, 1951’s A Christmas Carol; and Charles Bronson beautifully playing against type as a sad newspaperman lifted by a letter from an 8-year-old girl in the 1991 TV movie Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus.

40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade

ABC, 10am

Disney’s annual celebration returns Christmas morning with magical star-studded performances from Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort, California’s Disneyland Resort and Hawaii’s Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

NBC, 8pm

In this original 1966 animated TV special based on Dr. Seuss’ classic story, Boris Karloff narrates and voices the Grinch, who schemes to steal every material vestige of Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. But the Grinch ultimately discovers he can’t remove the spirit of Christmas from the Whos’ hearts.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

NBC, 8:30pm

Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

Jim Carrey plays Dr. Seuss’ titular meanie in this 2000 live-action adaptation directed by Ron Howard.

The Andy Griffith Show, “Christmas Story”

MeTV, 8:30 pm

In this — the show’s only Christmas episode! — a Scrooge-like businessman causes some Christmastime trouble for Mayberry.

Primetime Movies Tonight

5pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TNT
5:25pm Babes in Toyland (1986, Children) Pat Morita, Drew Barrymore HDNETMV
5:30pm White Christmas (1954, Musical comedy) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye SUNDANCE
5:35pm Scrooge (1970, Family) Albert Finney, Alec Guinness MVIES
5:35pm The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001, Fantasy) Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen HBO2

6pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TBS
6pm Home Alone (1990, Family) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
6pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Comedy-drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed E!
6pm Toy Story (1995, Children) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen FX

Buena Vista Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

7pm A Christmas Story (1983, Family) Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin TNT
7:15pm Christmas With the Kranks (2004, Comedy) Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis HBO
7:40pm Serendipity (2001, Romance-comedy) John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale GSHW2

8pm A Christmas Carol (1951, Fantasy) Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison MOVIES!
8pm Scrooged (1988, Comedy) Bill Murray, Karen Allen MGM
8pm Sleepless in Seattle (1993, Romance-comedy) Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan STZENC

8:15pm White Christmas (1954, Musical comedy) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye SUNDANCE
8:20pm A Christmas Carol (1951, Fantasy) Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison FXM
8:25pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, Children) Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci FREEFORM
8:30pm Elf (2003, Children) Will Ferrell, James Caan AMC
8:30pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Children) Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor NBC
8:34pm The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002, Fantasy) Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen HBO2

9pm It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Comedy-drama) James Stewart, Donna Reed E!
9pm Liar Liar (1997, Comedy) Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney BBCA
9:55pm The Night They Saved Christmas (1984, Fantasy) Jaclyn Smith, Art Carney MOVIES!

RHI Entertainment/Courtesy: Everett Collection

10pm Angels in the Outfield (1951, Children) Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh TCM11:30pm The Preacher’s Wife (1996, Fantasy) Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston TNT
11:34pm The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003, Fantasy) Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen HBO2
11:55pm 12 Days of Christmas Eve (2004, Drama) Steven Weber, Molly Shannon MOVIES!