Only 17 More Viewing Days ...

During the next three weeks, yule have enough Christmas on TV to tide you over to next year.

Most regular series, especially the sitcoms, will air holiday-flavored episodes, and who will be able to miss the umpteenth airing(s) of “It’s a Wonderful Life”? But that’s not all. Following is a selective guide to the best of what else is in store this month for Christmas-loving kids and kids at heart. (Film fans should consult the alphabetized movie listings on page 66 for showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Carol” and other holiday classics.)

TRADITIONAL

Nureyev’s Nutcracker (today at 3:25 p.m.; Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and midnight; Dec. 24 at 5 and 10 p.m. on Bravo): The Russian ballet great choreographed the Paris Opera Ballet production.

A Christmas Carol (Thursday at 6 and 11 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 25 at 5 and 11 p.m. on Bravo): Michael Horden, John Le Mesurier, Bernard Lee and Michael Mulcaster star in a 1977 BBC production based on Dickens’ story.

The Nutcracker (Dec. 22 at 5 p.m.; Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. on KCET): Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland and the American Ballet Theatre star in the holiday favorite.

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (Dec. 24 at 8 a.m.; Dec. 25 at 8 a.m. on KCET): Big Bird, Elmo and the Cookie Monster are on hand to celebrate the holidays.

ANIMATION

Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (today at noon; Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 19 and 25 at 1 p.m. on the Disney Channel): The myopic Mr. Magoo plays Scrooge in this perennial favorite.

The Boy Who Dreamed Christmas (Tuesday at 8 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 11:30 a.m.; Dec. 20 at 11 a.m.; Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 5:30 p.m. on the Disney Channel): Story of an imaginative boy who brings Christmas to a poor village through the power of his dreams.

The Butter Battle Book (Thursday and Dec. 22 at 4:30 p.m. on TNT): Charles Durning is the voice of Grand Pa Yook in Dr. Seuss’ parable of the arms race.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Thursday at 5 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 3 p.m.; Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. on TNT): What would Christmas be without a visit from Dr. Seuss’ the evil Mr. Grinch (Boris Karloff).

Mickey’s Christmas Carol (Thursday at 8 p.m.; Dec. 14 at 1:30 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 4 p.m. on the Disney Channel and Friday at 8 p.m. on CBS): Mickey Mouse is Bob Cratchit.

Winnie the Pooh and Christmas, Too (Saturday at 8 p.m. on ABC). And Tigger, too.

A Disney Channel Christmas (Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 22 at 10 p.m.; Dec. 24 at 11 a.m.; Dec. 25 at 6 p.m. on the Disney Channel): Clips from animated Disney shorts.

A Wish for Wings That Work (Dec. 18 at 8:30 p.m. on CBS): Opus and Bill of Berkeley Breathed’s “Bloom County” and “Outland” comic strips make their TV debut.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. on CBS): Charlie and Linus search for the true meaning of Christmas in this award-winning special that originally premiered in 1965.

The Wish That Changed Christmas (Dec. 20 at 8:30 p.m. on CBS): The first “Ronald McDonald Family Theater” presentation is an adaptation of Rumer Godden’s story about an orphan, a doll and a childless couple.

The Night Before Christmas TNT Cartoon Festival (Dec. 24 from 5 to 9 p.m.). A toon eve.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Dec. 25 at 6 a.m. on KCAL): Fred Astaire narrates this musical.

The Little Drummer Boy (Dec. 25 at 7 a.m.): Greer Garson narrates the story of three kings’ journey to Bethelehem.

MUSICAL SPECIALS

A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert: A Great Performances Special (Wednesday at 9:05 and Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. on KPBS; Wednesday at 7 p.m. on KVCR; Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 9:30 p.m. on KCET; Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. on KOCE and Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.): Kathleen Battle, Frederica Von Stade, Wynton Marsalis and others perform Christmas classics; Andre Previn conducts.

Christmas the Cowboy Way (Friday at 5 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 19 at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. on The Nashville Network): The whimsical cowboy trio, Riders in the Sky, celebrates Christmas.

A Bing Crosby Christmas: Just Like the Ones We Used to Know (Dec. 15 and 19 at 9 p.m.; Dec. 16 and 20 at 4 a.m.; Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. on Disney) Clips from the late Crosby’s 1962-’77 Christmas specials.

John Denver and the Muppets (Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 18 at 5 a.m.; Dec. 22 at 1:30 p.m.; Dec. 24 at 8:05 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 3 p.m. on Disney): Denver and the Muppet gang celebrate Christmas in the Rockies.

Christmas in Washington (Dec. 18 at 10 p.m. on NBC): Johnny Mathis, Anne Murray and Vince Gill perform for President and First Lady Bush and other dignitaries.

Charlie Daniels: Christmas Time Down South (Dec. 20 at 5 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 23 at 11:30 a.m.; Dec. 24 at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. on The Nashville Network): The Southern rocker performs self-penned Christmas tunes.

John Denver’s Cowboys, Indians & Christmas (Dec. 20 at 10 p.m. on CBS): Denver celebrates the culture and art of Native Americans and native Christmas traditions at Fort Belknap, Mont. Clint Black, Patty Lovelace, Kathy Mattea and 4,000 Assiniboine and Gross Ventre Indians are guests.

Videosyncrasy: In Sync with Christmas (Dec. 20 at 11:30 p.m.; Dec. 21 at 10 p.m. on the Family Channel): Host Jimmy Hodson takes viewers on a tour of New York and visits Harry Connick Jr. and the Indigo Girls.

Great Performances, La Pastorela (Dec. 23 at 9 p.m. and Dec. 25 at noon on KPBS; Dec. 23 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 1 p.m. on KVCR; Dec. 23 at 8:30 p.m.; Dec. 24 at 9 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 5 p.m. on KCET; Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. in KOCE): Luis Valdez’ Teatro Compesino presents a musical pageant that retells the shepherd’s visit to the Christ Child as seen through the eyes of a young Chicana. Linda Ronstadt, Freddy Fender, Paul Rodriquez and Cheech Marin star.

The 32nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Program (Dec. 24 from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on KCET; two-hour finale repeats Dec. 25 at 3 p.m. on KCET): Live 12-hour broadcast of holiday music from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Reba McEntire’s Christmas Card (Dec. 24-25 at 6 and 9 p.m. on The Nashville Network): The country superstar is joined by Vince Gill, newcomer Trisha Yearwood and the U.S. Army Band.

Jessye Norman at Notre Dame (Tuesday at 6 and 10 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 9:30 a.m. on A&E;): The renowned soprano performs Christmas carols, spirituals and sacred music.

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Miracle in the Wilderness (Monday at 5, 7, 9 p.m.; Tuesday at 1 p.m.; Saturday at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. on TNT): Kris Kristofferson and Kim Cattrall are pioneers who witness a miracle that saves their lives and unites them with their Native American captors.

Yes, Virginia There Is a Santa Claus (tonight at 9 on ABC): Charles Bronson, Edward Asner and Richard Thomas star in a holiday drama.

The Story Lady (Monday at 9 p.m. on NBC): Jessica Tandy stars. See story, page 78.

Christmas on Division Street (Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. on CBS): Hume Cronyn and Fred Savage star in a drama about a wealthy young man who learns about love when he meets a lonely homeless man.

In the Nick of Time (Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. on NBC): Santa (Lloyd Bridges) discovers his 300-year tenure as Santa has ended. Michael Tucker, A Martinez and Allison LaPlaca star.

COMEDY

The Best of Saturday Night Live (Dec. 16-20 at 8 p.m. on Nick at Nite). Holiday episodes of the old “Saturday Night Live.”

Bob Hope Christmas Special (Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. on NBC): Hope, Macaulay Culkin, Reba McEntire, Dolores Hope, 1992 Miss America Carolyn Sapp, and the Associated Press All American Football team serve up the laughs.

A Very Brady Christmas (Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.; Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. on KTLA): The Brady Bunch celebrate the holidays.

Christmas Night in TV Land (Dec. 25 from 8 p.m. to Dec. 26 at 6 a.m. on Nick at Nite): Classic Christmas-themed episodes of TV Land series.

PARADES

The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade (Dec. 25 at 10 a.m. on ABC). The holiday procession as seen at the Florida theme park.

Times Orange County Holiday Parade (Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. on KOCE). An encore showing of the event from Santa Ana.

Hollywood Christmas Parade (Dec. 25 at 9 a.m. on KTLA): A replay of the annual holiday parade.

DOCUMENTARY

Trumpet of Conscience (Dec. 25 at 5:05 a.m. on TBS): Tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King based upon the sermon he gave Christmas Eve, 1967, at the Auburn Avenue Ebenezer Baptist Church.