Holiday TV highlights

Maybe we were all really, really good this year, given that Santa's bag is overflowing with holiday television shows classic and new.

The investment in fresh programming does not represent peanuts. Well, actually, that's just the word for a new ABC special about the Peanuts gang, Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, airing Sunday.

Here are some holiday highlights on TV over the next week:

Animation

A Charlie Brown Christmas, 8 p.m. Sunday, WFTS-Ch. 28. The late Charles M. Schulz's 1965 treasure celebrates the true meaning of Christmas with Charlie and the gang. It's followed by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, which is based on Schulz's work and features Peanuts characters in vignettes.

The Christmas Orange, 8:30 p.m. Monday, ABC Family. A 6-year-old puts Christmas in peril when he takes Santa to court because of the paltry gift St. Nick delivered.

SpongeBob SquarePants/SpongeBob Christmas, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nickelodeon. SpongeBob takes the blame when Santa fails to pay a visit to Bikini Bottom.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, 8 p.m. Friday, WTSP-Ch. 10. The tale of a shy reindeer and his trademark nose, based on the song by Johnny Marks, is narrated by Burl Ives.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 8 p.m. Friday, WTTA-Ch. 38. This is the 1966 Dr. Seuss classic about a mean Grinch who tries to deprive Whoville of Christmas.

A Scooby-Doo Christmas, 8:30 p.m. Friday, WTTA-Ch. 38. The Scooby gang tries to bring the spirit of the holiday back to a small town that is terrorized by a ghostly headless snowman.

Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire, 9 p.m. Friday, WTSP-Ch. 10. Ben Stiller, Hugh Grant and Britney Spears are among those providing the voices as Robbie tries to join Santa's sleigh team. Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost, a new special, follows at 9:30.

Stocking stuffers

The Blockbuster Hollywood Christmas Spectacular, 7 p.m. Sunday, WFLA-Ch. 8. The 71-year-old Hollywood Christmas Parade is the star of a special that includes performances by LeAnn Rimes and Destiny's Child.

Christmas in Aspen, 7 p.m. Sunday, WFTS-Ch. 28. John Ritter, Bonnie Hunt and George Lopez are among the ABC stars singing holiday tunes. A special Andy Dick version of O Christmas Tree is promised.

Movies

It's a Wonderful Life, 8 tonight, WFTS-Ch. 28. A special airing of the 1946 Frank Capra classic film includes, for the visually impaired, a narration by former President George Bush available through the SAP TV set function.

Mary Christmas, 9 p.m. Sunday, Pax. A TV reporter's life changes when she is assigned a story about a little girl who has asked Santa for a new mom. Cynthia Gibb and John Schneider star.

The Locket, 9 p.m. Sunday, WTSP-Ch. 10. Vanessa Redgrave and Mary McDonnell star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame special about a young man inspired by a new friend to fight for love and fulfillment.

The Santa Trap, 8 p.m. Friday, Pax. A child's quest to prove Santa is real creates a comedy of errors for her family and Mr. Claus (Dick Van Patten) himself. Robert Hayes and Shelley Long co-star.

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