Christmas 2021: Where To Watch Your Favorite Holiday Specials

RHODE ISLAND — The crackle of a roaring fire. The warm, comforting scent of freshly popped popcorn. A Christmas mug full of hot chocolate packed with petite marshmallows.

If the timing was right, all the elements of the holiday season came together for that one night each year when the glow of the television lit up the tinsel on the tree in anticipation of that favorite Christmas special.

Charlie Brown's endearing quest to find out what Christmas is all about.

Rudolph the Reindeer, with his nose so bright, guiding Santa's sleigh that one stormy Christmas Eve night.

The Grinch's heart growing three sizes in one day.

Clark Griswold's simple desire for a good, old-fashioned, fun family Christmas.

Frosty the Snowman's race against climate change.

As the years have gone on, the spirit of Christmas has remained, but how and where to find those holiday favorites continues to evolve. So here at Patch we've put together a handy guide to help you track down everything from all the Hoos down in Hooville, to that official Red Ryder carbine-action two-hundred shot range model air rifle to that bizarrely random Aerosmith concert when The Polar Express finally reaches the North Pole.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer kicks off the holiday season on Nov. 22 with an 8 p.m. showing on CBS. He then makes a return engagement on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. in a double bill with his old pal Frosty.

But don't fret too much if you miss those nights because the original Rudolph will air throughout the month on Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas.

Speaking of Frosty the Snowman, he'll be wishing Karen — we all still like this Karen — and the rest of the kids "Happy Birthday!" with the help of his special hat on CBS on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. on CBS followed by Frosty Returns at 8:30. The doubleheader then returns to follow Rudolph on CBS on Dec. 11 starting at 9 p.m.

For those looking to watch Frosty avoid Professor Hinkle all month, he can be found on FreeForm at assorted times as well.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1969 original) remains appointment viewing for most with its scheduled network airdate on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. on NBC. It can also be streamed through Warner Bros.

A Charlie Brown Christmas spends the holidays these days hanging out on Apple+. But after last year's uproar over the stream-only option, PBS will once again show the Peanuts making the best of that paltry little Christmas tree on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Santa Clause is Comin' to Town will also be hitting ABC on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. looking to brighten the spirits of Sombertown while thwarting the efforts of Winter Warlock and Burgermeister Meisterburger.

One of the newer entries to the Christmas collection is Robbie the Reindeer whose pair of specials will air on Nov. 27 on CBS at 8 p.m.

Nothing says holiday nostalgia quite like the quintessential voice of legendary crooner Tony Bennett. The 95-year-old who recently stepped away from the stage will bounce into the spotlight one more time with young gal pal Lady Gaga in their CBS special "One Last Time" to air at 8 p.m. on Nov. 28 — be sure to bring your dancing shoes and maybe a few tissues just in case it gets dusty in there.

Every time a bell rings and an angel gets its wings as It's a Wonderful Life takes you back to Bedford Falls, New York for two nights on Dec. 4 and Dec. 24 on NBC at 8 p.m.

Fans of Elf and the original 1947 Miracle on 34th Street will have to go the premium or streaming route this year with both on HBO Max, Hulu and streaming services, but no basic cable dates as of yet.

Ralphie will be doing his best not to shoot his eye out for 24 hours of A Christmas Story once again on TNT and TBS starting Christmas Eve. The TNT marathon of holiday bacchanalia on Cleveland Street near Higbee's Department Store starts at 8 p.m. with TBS starting an hour later.

While Buddy the Elf isn't part of the portfolio this year, AMC does have its rotating lineup of holiday favorites throughout the month, including Scrooged, Fred Claus, Jack Frost, Four Christmases, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express, Surviving Christmas and Gremlins (warning: Phoebe Cates shares the worst Christmas story ever).

FreeForm does its best to match the holly and the jolly with a lineup of The Santa Clause 1, 2 and 3, Home Alone 1 and 2, Simpsons holiday specials, The Little Drummer Boy (1968), Arthur Christmas, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Jingle All the Way 1 & 2, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Disney's A Christmas Carol, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Love Actually (The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln being both hopelessly romantic and more than sorta creepy as the same time.)

The Hallmark Channel never really stops running Christmas movies but will be on non-stop with their assortment of folks who have lost their holiday spirit only to rekindle it with the help of some smalltown neighbors, random animals or a tree on the town common.

And, for the true purists out there, Die Hard is airing throughout the next few weeks on Paramount and VH1, while Lethal Weapon is streaming on Peacock.

Patch editor Scott Souza contributed to this report.