This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There are certainly lots of other things you've got to do this weekend shop, cook, decorate, spend time with family but at some point you're going to sit down in front of the TV.
And here are 11 Christmas-related things worth watching:
(1) "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" • Rudolph, Charlie Brown and the Grinch have higher profiles, but this 1970 musical special is right up there with them. (5:35 p.m. Friday, 12:15 p.m. Saturday and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Freeform)
(2) "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" • This 1966 animated special (not the inferior 2000 movie), in its own weird way, teaches that Christmas is about more than just presents. (7 p.m. Friday, NBC/Ch. 5)
(3) "The Simpsons" Christmas Episodes • Some of the series' best outings are holiday themed from the very first, 1989's "Simpsons Roasting On an Open Fire" (5 p.m. Sunday, FXX), to the 606th and most recent, "The Nightmare After Krustmas" (7 p.m. Sunday, Fox/Ch. 13). Others, all showing on FXX, include 1997's "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace" (tonight at 9), 1999's "Grift of the Magi" (tonight, 9:30), 2000's "Skinner's Sense of Snow" (tonight, 10:30), 2003's " 'Tis the 15th Season (tonight, 11), 2013's "White Christmas Blues" (tonight, 11:30), 1995's "Marge Be Not Proud" (5:30 p.m. Sunday), 2001's "She of Little Faith" (6 p.m. Sunday), 2005's "Simpsons Christmas Stories" (6:30 p.m. Sunday), 2006's "Kill Gil, Volumes 1 & 2" (7 p.m. Sunday), 2010's "The Fight Before Christmas" (7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2011's "Holidays of Future Passed" (8 p.m. Sunday) and 2014's "I Won't Be Home for Christmas" (8:30 p.m. Sunday).
(4) "A Christmas Carol" • This 1984 version, starring George C. Scott, is one of the best. (Noon Saturday, AMC; 2 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Sundance)
(5) "A Christmas Story" • The 24-hour marathon of this 1983 movie has become a TV tradition. (6 p.m. Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday, TBS and TNT)
(6) "Elf" • Will Ferrell is great in this delightful 2003 movie. (8:40 p.m. Saturday; 6:40 p.m. Sunday, FreeForm.)
(7) "It's a Wonderful Life" • There's nothing more traditional than this 1946 classic. (7 p.m. Saturday, NBC/Ch. 5)
(8) "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" • This 1989 movie has become rather dated. But that's part of its charm. (10:45 p.m. Saturday; 8:45 p.m. Sunday, Freeform)
(9) "The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration" • It's fun and a good way to pass time while you're waiting for relatives to show up and open gifts. (9 a.m. Sunday, ABC/Ch. 4)
(10) "Miracle on 34th Street" • For my money, this is the best Christmas movie ever. The 1947 version not the terrible 1994 remake. (9 a.m. Sunday, HBO)
(11) "Doctor Who Christmas Special" • The Doctor teams up with a superhero. (10 p.m. Sunday, BBC America).
Scott D. Pierce covers TV for The Salt Lake Tribune. Email him at spierce@sltrib.com; follow him on Twitter @ScottDPierce.