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"Shrek the Halls": Just when Shrek thought he could finally sit back, relax and enjoy his happily ever after with his new family, the most joyous of all holidays arrives.

Grab the eggnog and ginger cookies, because the holiday TV season is upon us.

But the economy has plunged Hollywood into a Scroogelike mood. TV's new offerings are slim this year, and programmers are relying on mostly traditional fare.

Still, there's plenty of entertainment to be had until Dec. 25. Here's a list of highlights, new specials and old favorites for this season.

 

Nov. 28 at 7 p.m., KSL Ch. 5 » "Merry Madagascar." The animals from the movie "Madagascar" get their own animated holiday special.

Nov. 29 at 8 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2 » "A Dog Named Christmas." In this new made-for-TV movie, a developmentally challenged man persuades

"Merry Madagascar" with Private (Christopher Knights), Cupid (Nina Dobrev) (Dreamworks)
his family to participate in an Adopt a Dog program.

Nov. 30 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Animator Chuck Jones' classic half-hour animated tale of the Grinch's attempt to ruin the holiday.

Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Shrek the Halls." The green ogre with the happy disposition stars in his own computer-animated special.

Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The legendary animated special returns again with Charlie Brown's unique reflection on the holiday.

Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., KUED Ch. 7 » "Andy Williams Christmas Special." The crooner sings holiday tunes. Includes special guests The Osmonds.

Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Disney Prep and Landing." Pixar genius John Lasseter is the executive producer of this new animated tale about elves who help prepare homes for Santa's night out.

Dec. 1 at 8 p.m., ABC Family » " The Year Without a Santa Claus." Mickey Rooney voices Santa in the annual stop-motion-animated tale when his yuletide spirit wanes.

Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., KSL Ch. 5 » "Christmas at Rockefeller

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the longest-running holiday special in television history, celebrates its 42nd anniversary Friday, Dec. 8 on the CBS. (Classic Media)
Center." The annual lighting of the tree in New York City.

Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2 » "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The stop-motion classic about the outcast reindeer celebrates its 45th year on TV.

Dec. 4 at 8 p.m., ABC Family » "Frosty's Winter Wonderland." The beloved snowman wants to get married if only he can stop Jack Frost first in this animated special.

Dec. 5 at 8 p.m., ABC Family » "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas." Mickey and other Disney characters in three animated holiday stories.

Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., Lifetime » "12 Men of Christmas." Kristin Chenoweth stars in this new made-for-TV movie about a New Yorker who moves to

Village Vidiot blog
 
Tune into Vince Horiuchi's blog.
Montana and spearheads the making of a new calendar with local hunks.

Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., ABC Family » "Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas." Another feature-length movie with Mickey sharing the Christmas spirit and lessons of giving with his friends.

Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." Fred Astaire narrates this stop-motion-animated classic from Rankin & Bass.

Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., KSTU Ch. 13 » "Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special." The "American Idol" winner and country music sensation has her own holiday musical-variety special.

Dec. 7 at 9 p.m., ABC Family » "Unaccompanied Minors." A group of kids try to get home for the holidays in this comedy filmed in Salt Lake City.

Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., KUED Ch. 7 » "Michael McDonald -- This Christmas." The singer performs yuletide tunes for his own special.

Dec. 10 at 8 p.m., KUED Ch. 7 » "The National Christmas Tree Lighting." The annual lighting of the Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., by President Obama.

Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., KSL Ch. 5 » "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa." Kermit and the gang redirect letters to Santa.

Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2 » "Yes, Virginia." A new animated version based on the classic story of a girl who writes to a newspaper about the existence of Santa.

Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.,

In "Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe," Jenny McCarthy reprises her role as Mary Class, Santa's business minded daughter, starring alongside Paul Sorvino and Dean McDermott. Santa. (ABC FAMILY)
KSL Ch. 5 » "It's a Wonderful Life." The Frank Capra holiday classic starring Jimmy Stewart.

Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2 » "The Flight Before Christmas." An animated special about a reindeer who wants to be an expert flier like her father.

Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "The Polar Express." Director Robert Zemeckis (the new "A Christmas Carol") uses motion capture for this computer-animated tale starring the voice of Tom Hanks.

Dec. 13 at 9 p.m., ABC Family » " Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe." Jenny McCarthy reprises her role as Santa's daughter in this new movie in which she must consider taking over her father's business.

Dec. 14 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home For Christmas." The "American Idol" contestant and Oscar winner gets her own music special.

Dec. 17 at 7 p.m., KSL Ch. 5 » "SNL Christmas 2009." Christmas according to the zany cast of "Saturday Night Live."

Dec. 17 at 7 p.m., KSL Ch. 5 » "Frosty the Snowman." The late Jimmy Durante narrates this traditional special about the magical snowman.

Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2 » "Frosty Returns." The famous snowman returns in this animated sequel starring the voice of John Goodman ("Roseanne").

Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Santa Clause 2." Tim Allen again stars as Santa in the sequel to the hit holiday movie.

Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2 » "Elf." Will Ferrell stars in this hilarious and charming movie about an elf who moves to New York City.

Dec. 20 at 6 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "AFV Christmas Special." America's Funniest Home Videos" shows off holiday-related home bloopers.

Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Santa Clause 3." Funnyman Martin Short joins the cast as Jack Frost in this sequel to the Tim Allen Christmas movies.

Dec. 20 at 9 p.m., TNT » "Christmas in Washington." George Lopez hosts the annual musical-variety special from the White House.

Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown." Rerun, Linus' little brother, is desperate for a dog for Christmas in this new animated special.

Dec. 23 at 7 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2 » "11th Annual Home for the Holidays." The annual holiday special that focuses on adoption.

Dec. 24 at 9 p.m., Turner Classic Movies » "Remember the Night." Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck star in this little-seen 1940 Christmas story about a prosecutor and a shoplifter, written by Preston Sturges.

Dec. 24 at 6 p.m., TBS » "A Christmas Story." The hilarious story of Ralphie and his desire for a BB gun for Christmas. It runs back to back to back for 24 hours.

Dec. 25 at 9 a.m., KTVX Ch. 4 » "Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade." Watch the holiday parade from Disneyland.