Please mug Ralphie: TV not offering much new for the holidays, but classics go down fine

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In the spirit of the economy, new holiday originals are scarce this year. Networks are largely relying on venerable favorites for the Yule season, like "Charlie Brown's Christmas" tale, the old Rankin-Bass classics and the "Frosty" cartoons. Boris Karloff returns to narrate the Dr. Seuss gem "The Grinch That Stole Christmas," my personal favorite. Also on the Grinch circuit will be the Jim Carrey movie adaptation from 2000, which leaves me cold.

Tight budgets have restricted the networks from turning out much new for the season, though CBS delivers a new animated piece, "Yes, Virginia," in December, based on the famous New York Sun editorial. In this story, editor Francis Church feels like he's got more important things to do than answer a query from little Virginia O'Hanlon about the existence of Santa, but subsequent events soften him up.



Lifetime network offers some new dramas, including "The Christmas Hope," a sequel to "The Christmas Shoes," about a social worker who brings in a child for the holidays and whose life is transformed. Holiday-themed variety shows, with their relatively low budgets, used to be an annual staple, but even they are hard to find this year. Carrie Underwood will host one on Fox, though, with a strong lineup including Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Kristin Chenoweth and Christina Applegate.

One old favorite will return again and again: Jean Shepherd's "A Christmas Story," about young Ralphie and that Red Ryder BB gun. It will air around the clock on TNT beginning Christmas Eve. Here is a look at some of the major holiday programs ahead.


MONDAY, DEC. 14

• "Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas" (8 p.m., ABC): Jennifer Hudson and Michael Buble perform Christmas music.
• "Eloise at Christmastime" (5 p.m., ABC Family Channel): Eloise (Sofia Vassilieva) meddles in a wedding at the Plaza on Christmas Eve.

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