If you’re looking for original shows this week, you can mostly forget it. TV is trapped in an end-of-the-year vortex of reruns — but the networks have filled their lineups with classic Christmas feature films that range from sentimental to cynical, hopelessly romantic to slapstick. Which film is right for you?
Monday
“The Santa Clause 2”
7 and 9:30 p.m., AMC
Santa (Tim Allen) is pressed to get married by Christmas Eve in order to save the holiday and keep his job.
“Love Actually”
8 and 11 p.m., TNT
Set in London, this romantic comedy chronicles the affairs of several couples during Christmas time. The seemingly perfect wedding of Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) brings many of the principals together, including heartsick best man Mark (Andrew Lincoln), who harbors an unrequited crush on Juliet. There’s also Daniel (Liam Neeson), the recent widower trying to help his lonely stepson Sam express his feelings to a classmate. Across town, devoted working mother Karen (Emma Thompson) tries to rekindle the passion between her and her husband.
Tuesday
“The Polar Express”
7 and 9 p.m., AMC
A boy aboard a train to the North Pole doubts the existence of Santa Claus. The conductor (Tom Hanks) guides him on a journey of self-discovery.
“Christmas With the Kranks”
8 and 10 p.m., FX
With their daughter, Blair (Julie Gonzalo) away, the Kranks (Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis) decide to skip Christmas altogether — until she decides, at the last minute, to come home for the holiday. The parents scramble to prepare for her arrival.
“The Santa Clause”
8:55 p.m., Freeform
When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. Tim Allen and Judge Reinhold star.
Wednesday
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
7 and 9:15 p.m., AMC
The Griswolds (Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo) spend the holiday in a garish way.
Thursday
“White Christmas”
9 a.m., AMC
Former Army buddies (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye) put on a show with a sister act to save their general’s hotel in Vermont. The glorious holiday musical co-stars Rosemary Clooney, who sings the Irving Berlin title tune, Vera-Ellen and Mary Wickes.
“Miracle on 34th Street”
11:45 a.m., AMC
An adwoman’s (Maureen O’Hara) boyfriend (John Payne) defends Macy’s Santa (Edmund Gwenn) in court. Natalie Wood is the pint-size scene-stealer here.
“Bad Santa”
8 p.m., Spike
A miserable con man (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Bernie Mac) pose as Santa and his little helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the con befriends a troubled kid (Brett Kelly).
Friday
“Elf”
8 p.m., AMC
Buddy (Will Ferrell), a regular-sized man who was raised as an elf by Santa, decides to head back to his place of birth in search of his biological family when he learns that he’s not a real elf. There, he struggles to win over his gruff birth father (James Caan).
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
9:15 p.m., Freeform
Jim Carrey stars as the coldhearted creature trying to thwart Whoville’s Yuletide celebration in this live-action version of the classic animated Christmas special.