Christmas Lasts all month

(First of two parts) The networks would love it if we spent most of December in front of our TV sets.

For nine Decembers -- including a change of ownership and name -- ABC Family network has had the "25 Days of Christmas" event.

Other nets have also jumped in, loading up the month. At the most prestigious, this involves the true classics. ABC has already aired "A Charlie Brown Christmas"; it has the animated "Grinch" Dec. 12.

At the least? Well, "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July" (1 p.m. Dec. 24 on ABC Family) rarely is listed as a classic.

ABC Family has two new movies; NBC has turned "The Year Without a Santa Claus" into a large-scale film with satirical touches.

And of course, there are always reruns of animated fare and music specials.

A sampling of new made-for-TV movies and some theatrical classics follows. Saturday, we'll preview animated fare, holiday specials (mostly musical) and reprises of made-for-TV films. (Remember, all programming is subject to change).

"The Christmas Card." In this new film, a soldier (John Newton) receives a warm Christmas card from a stranger. On leave, he visits her town and absorbs its sweet nature. (It airs at 9 p.m. Saturday on the Hallmark Channel and repeats at 9 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Dec. 25.)

• "Jack Frost" (1998). A guy (Michael Keaton) who didn't pay enough attention to his family dies and returns as a snowman. (9 p.m. Sunday, Hallmark Channel; repeats at 9 p.m. Wednesday.)

• "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000). The Dr. Seuss tale, already a great cartoon, was transformed into a big-budget movie with Jim Carrey. (9 p.m. Dec. 9, WRTV ; repeats on ABC Family at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17.)

• "Santa Baby (2006)." Executive Mary Class (Jenny McCarthy) is really Mary Claus. When her dad, Santa, gets sick, she takes over the operation. (8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 10, 8 p.m. Dec. 12, 2 p.m. Dec. 16, ABC Family.)

• "Scrooged" (1988). Bill Murray stars in a clever modern variation of "A Christmas Carol." (2 p.m. Dec. 10, 10 a.m. Dec. 16, ABC Family.)

• "A Christmas Wedding." A bride (Sarah Paulson) scrambles to get home from a business trip for her wedding. Eric Mabius of "Ugly Betty" is the bridegroom in a story that is often frantic and sometimes funny. (9 p.m. Dec. 11, Lifetime.)

• "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). It just isn't Christmas without this Frank Capra black-and-white movie. (8 p.m. Dec. 16, WTHR .)

• "Christmas Do-Over." An acerbic chap (Jay Mohr) spends the holiday with his ex (Daphne Zuniga), their son and her parents. He botches things and must keep doing the day over. The result has some funny moments. (8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 16, 8 p.m. Dec. 20, 11 a.m. Dec. 23, ABC Family.)

• "Elf" (2003). After learning that he's not really an elf, an idealistic chap (Will Ferrell) heads into the real world. (8 p.m. Dec. 16, WISH .)

• "The Santa Clause 2" (2002). Santa (Tim Allen) must get his son off the naughty list and find a wife. (8 p.m. Dec. 17, WRTV ; simultaneously on the Disney Channel.)

• "A Christmas Story" (1983). Ralphie tries to persuade his parents to buy him a BB gun. (8 p.m. Dec. 24, TBS; repeats every two hours for 24 hours.)