What makes a holiday tradition? Quality or mere repetition?
As it has for decades now, NBC will air the 1946 fable “It’s a Wonderful Life” (8 p.m., TV-G). Like many films directed by Frank Capra, “Life” has been considered “corn” by some. But while Capra’s movie does culminate in an angel getting his wings, it’s hardly Hallmark fluff. Without George Bailey’s desire to have never been born, a grim concept that leads to a suicide attempt, “It’s a Wonderful Life” would have no reason for being.
Tradition and repetition are one and the same over on TBS, airing its 24-hour “A Christmas Story” (8 p.m., TV-PG) marathon. TBS first aired “Story” back in 1992, only nine years after the film’s theatrical debut.
Like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” (and for that matter, “The Wizard of Oz”) this Jean Shepherd tale was not exactly a big box office draw. Its classic status owes to repeat TV viewings. TBS and/or TNT have been running their “Christmas Story” marathon(s) since 1997.
But, sometimes, repeated airings are not enough to make a TV tradition. Over the past several years, CBS has trotted out colorized holiday episodes of “I Love Lucy” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” for Christmas Eve. They are conspicuous for their absence tonight.
For some time in the early part of this century, NBC tried to turn the 2000 Tea Leoni/Nicolas Cage Christmas fantasy “The Family Man” into a holiday tradition. Audiences didn’t buy into the magic.
Sometimes, holiday traditions have nothing to do with the holidays. For two local New York stations, Thanksgiving has always meant a chance to watch “King Kong” on WOR and “March of the Wooden Soldiers” on WPIX. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without them!
When I lived in France many years ago, state-run television offered marathons of Charlie Chaplin movies. In Sweden, Christmas broadcasting has long been equated with Donald Duck cartoons. In Japan, Christmas also evokes fowl: There’s a tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on the big day.
Is there room for “new” Christmas Eve traditions? Let’s hope so. ABC airs the 2017 spectacular “The Greatest Showman” (8 p.m., TV-PG), starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum. It’s got nothing to do with Christmas. But then again, neither does “The Sound of Music,” and that’s been a December ABC tradition since 2002.
— Acorn streams a holiday special born of necessity. COVID has prevented a new season of “Murdoch Mysteries,” one of Canada’s most beloved series. So for the holidays, we have a holiday concert shot on the set, “A Music Lover’s Guide to Murdoch Mysteries.”
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— BBC America kicks off a daylong “Doctor Who” (6 a.m. through 8 p.m.) marathon that returns Christmas, running from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m.
— Damage control on “The Resident” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).
— Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes and The Weeknd appear on “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2020” (8 p.m. CW, r, TV-PG).
— Dermot Mulroney guest-stars on “Prodigal Son” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).
— “Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Kelli O’Hara and Richard Thomas” (9 p.m., PBS, r, TV-G, check local listings) offers devotional carols and secular seasonal favorites.
CULT CHOICE
— The FX Movie Channel, FXM, kicks off multiple chances to catch the 1951 adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” (2:30 p.m., 7:50 p.m. and 1:10 a.m., TV-G) starring Alastair Sim as Ebenezer. He’s my favorite Scrooge.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night (of television).
SERIES NOTES
Sturgis holds out hope on “Young Sheldon” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … As funny as organ failure on “B Positive” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
Misadventures in babysitting on “Mom” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) … Charles Esten appears on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) … A turkey feast unravels on “The Unicorn” (9:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) … Terror strikes a Queens diner on “FBI” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central), “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, TV-14) and “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) are preempted … Barack Obama and Brittany Howard are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) … Zendaya, Diego Luna and Paris Jackson appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Amy Adams and Adam Davidson visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and BTS appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
