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Some of the best moments in Christmas movies are the ones where classic Christmas carols are included to make a moment stand out. This happens in some of the best Christmas movies of all time, making them even more memorable. Christmas carols are an integral part of the Christmas season, so a Christmas film without them always feels like it's missing something.

These songs, while appearing in plenty of media that aren't just Christmas movies, are instantly recognizable for their connection to the Christmas season and widespread appeal. They even appear in movies that are perfect for the holiday season, despite not being Christmas movies.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas Eloise At Christmastime (2003)

An often overlooked Disney Christmas classic, Eloise at Christmastime features a young girl and her quest to unite a hotel heiress with her true love. The film is goofy and good fun for all ages, detailing Eloise's...

Gavin Creel, a staple of modern musical theater whose career included a Tony Award win for Hello, Dolly!, has passed away. He was 48.

Creel’s partner, Alex Temple Ward, confirmed his death to the New York Times on Monday via a publicist. Creel had been diagnosed with a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma, known as metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, in July.

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Gavin Creel has died. The Tony Award-winning Broadway star was just 48 years old. Known for his turns in stage productions of Hello, Dolly!, The Book of Mormon, and Waitress among many others, Creel died on Monday, September 30th at home. According to the New York Times, Creel’s death was confirmed by his partner, Alex Temple Ward, via a publicist, Matt Polk. Creel’s cause of death was a rare cancer, metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, which Creel learned he had in July 2024. Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Creel was known onscreen for his roles in films like Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime. Most recently on television Creel featured in two episodes of Ryan Murphy‘s American Horror Story spinoff series American Horror Stories, which aired in 2021. Creel played Troy Winslow who is described as a family man with skeletons in his closet.

At this point of the year, month and week, it had better be looking a lot like Christmas.

With the much-anticipated holiday upon us, television is doing its part, presenting attractions that reflect the spirit of the season in a variety of ways ... some funny, some serious and some simply built for all-out yuletide fun. Here's a roundup of much of what's still left for viewers on the virtual Christmas tree otherwise known as a TV screen.

ABC: This year's "Cma Country Christmas" special, with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland back as host for the third consecutive year, gets a repeat Sunday, Dec. 23 -- and later that day, the Julie Andrews-starring holiday-season perennial "The Sound of Music" also returns. Monday, Dec. 24, sees repeats of the animated specials "Disney's Prep & Landing" and "Shrek the Halls." And Christmas itself is packed with TV tradition Tuesday, Dec. 25; the morning is marked by the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade,...

After the presents are opened, the halls are decked and the roast beast is carved, a lot of folks are looking to hit the movie theater or settle in front of their favorite holiday movies or TV show marathons. Zap2it's got you covered for all your Christmas weekend TV programming.

Friday, Dec. 24

A&E: "Criminal Minds" marathon

ABC Family: 25 Days of Christmas ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys," "Mickey's Christmas Special," "Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too," "Jack Frost," "Frosty's Winter Wonderland," "'Tas the Night Before Christmas," "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," "The Year Without Santa Claus" and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year.")

 

AMC: "Miracle on 34th Street," "White Christmas" marathon

Animal Planet: "Planet Earth" marathon

BBC America: "Doctor Who" marathon

Cartoon Network: Various cartoon holiday episodes

Cmt: "A Smoky Mountain Christmas," "Larry the Cable Guy's Star-studded Christmas Extravaganza," "Larry the Cable Guy...

The Little Drummer Boy (O Holy Night)

ABC Family, 8 Am Et

An orphan drummer boy, who hates humanity, finds his life changed when he meets three wise men traveling to Bethlehem.

Eloise at Christmastime (Sugarplum Romance)

Hallmark, 10 Am Et

Eloise can't resist and interferes as the Plaza Hotel prepares for a romantic Christmas Eve wedding.

Twas the Night Before Christmas (Comfort & Joy)

ABC Family, 1 Pm Et

After Junctionville's newspaper declares Santa a charlatan, the town works to regain his favor.

A Christmas Story (Marathon) (Laughing All the Way)

TBS, 8 Pm Et through 8 Pm Et 12/25

In the 1940s, little Ralphie tries to convince his parents to get him a Red Ryder range-model Bb gun for Christmas.

It's a Wonderful Life (Classic Cheer)

NBC, 8 Pm Et

Ruined by a miser (Lionel Barrymore) on Christmas Eve, a suicidal family man (James Stewart) sees life anew thanks to his guardian angel.

What else is showing this season?...

A Garfield Christmas (Comfort & Joy)

ABC Family, 7 Am Et

Garfield travels with Jon and Odie to the countryside to celebrate Christmas with Jon's farm family.

Eloise at Christmastime (Sugarplum Romance)

Disney, 12 Pm Et

Eloise can't resist and interferes as the Plaza Hotel prepares for a romantic Christmas Eve wedding.

Santa Baby (Family Dramedy)

ABC Family, 6 Pm Et

When Santa (George Wendt) becomes ill, his estranged daughter (Jenny McCarthy), a high-powered consultant, returns to tinker with tradition.

Holiday Inn (Classic Cheer)

AMC, 10:45 Pm Et

A singer (Bing Crosby) and a dancer (Fred Astaire) battle for a performer's (Marjorie Reynolds) affections at a New England inn, open only for the holidays.

What else is showing this season? See the complete Holiday TV Movie Guide: The 12 Flavors of Christmas.

And if you're wondering what to buy the movie lovers on your shopping list, check out our Holiday Gifts store.

Next Showing:

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Kenn Viselman, who introduced Teletubbies, Thomas the Tank Engine and Eloise to North American audiences, is making his first feature, Dartss, starring newcomers Scott Stabile and Michael Caporusso and directed by Jason Crain. The film is being produced under Viselman's new banner, Defiant Pictures.

Jeffrey Tambor and Christine Baranski will share the screen again in another adaptation of classic children's books -- the ABC telefilms Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime, based on Kay Thompson's famous tales. The two, who co-starred in the 2000 blockbuster Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, are set to join Julie Andrews, who was previously cast to play Eloise's British nanny in the films that star newcomer Sofia Vassilieva as the mischievous 6-year-old who lives in New York's Plaza Hotel (HR 10/8). Kevin Lima is directing. In both movies, Tambor will play Plaza Hotel manager Mr. Salomone, an absolute perfectionist who hilariously clashes with Eloise's rampaging style. Baranski will play Helga, the event planner at the Plaza. While she will have a small appearance in Eloise at the Plaza, Helga will take central stage in Eloise at Christmastime, preparing for a high-society wedding Eloise is determined to disrupt.

Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress Julie Andrews has signed to star in the ABC telefilms Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime, the first screen adaptations of Kay Thompson's classic children's books, which are illustrated by Hilary Knight. Kevin Lima (102 Dalmatians) has come aboard to direct both films about the mischievous 6-year-old who lived at New York's Plaza Hotel. Andrews will play Nanny, the British guardian to Eloise. Nine-year-old newcomer Sofia Vassilieva (The Brady Bunch in the White House) has been cast in the title role in the films, which will be shot back-to-back starting next month in Toronto and New York.