Yule Be Watching : The Yes-They’re-Already-Here TV Viewing Holiday Guide

This year, stores were decorated with holiday finery before Halloween. There’s no escaping it. Christmas and Hanukkah are just around the corner. And television also starts in early with holiday programming. (TV Times profiles some of this week’s shows on pages 7, 81 and 82.)

Of course, Yuletide movies, from “Scrooge” to “Scrooged,” will air on assorted channels throughout the season.

Here are highlights of other new and classic holiday programming:

DANCE

The Nutcracker/A Christmas Carol has been combined by Hungarian choreographer Youri Vamos, Dec. 13, 15 and 18. Bravo.

“The Hard Nut” on Great Performances is the “Nutcracker” set in the ‘60s, featuring comic books, bell-bottoms and Barbie dolls, with choreography by Mark Morris, Dec. 16, KCET.

The Bolshoi Ballet performs The Nutcracker, Dec. 15, A&E.;

DOCUMENTARIES

Beliefs looks at Santa and the origin and evolution of Father Christmas, Dec. 17, Discovery Channel.

South Bank Show: Ackroyd’s Dickens is about the author of “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 24 and 27, Bravo.

The Daughter of Santa Claus profiles people who raise reindeer, Dec. 25, Discovery Channel.

Fruitcake takes a look at the Christmas-time dessert staple, Dec. 25, Discovery Channel.

FAMILY

In Adventures in Wonderland: Christmas in Wonderland, the queen is unhappy that it never snows in Wonderland, Dec. 4, 21, 23 and 25, Disney.

A Goof Troop Christmas has Goofy and his son Max on their way to “Aspirin,” Colo., to celebrate the holidays, Dec. 5 and 6, KCAL.

Tiny Toon Christmas does its version of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Dec. 6, Fox.

Father Christmas is a look at a grumpy but lovable Santa on his off-season vacation, Dec. 6, 16 and 24, Showtime.

During the holidays Elizabeth learns what it means to be the middle child on For Better or Worse: A Christmas Angel, Dec. 7, 12, 16, 20 and 25, Disney Channel.

Disneyland Presents Mickey’s Nutcraker stars Minnie as the heroine and Mickey as the Nutcracker Prince, Dec. 9, 19 and 24, Disney Channel.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, with narration by Burl Ives, Dec. 11, CBS.

Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, Dec. 12, 18 and 25, Disney Channel.

Donald Sutherland narrates Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas, Dec. 13, 25 and 31, Showtime.

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together, Dec. 15, 16, 19 and 25, Disney Channel.

Frosty the Snowman, that “jolly, happy soul,” is narrated by Jimmy Durante, Dec. 16, CBS.

The Wish That Changed Christmas, is an animated tale based on the children’s book “The Story of Holly and Ivy” by Rumer Godden, Dec. 16, CBS.

Disney Christmas on Ice II, Dec. 19, CBS.

Holiday Greetings From Ed Sullivan is hosted by Bob Newhart, Dec. 20, CBS.

Meryl Streep narrates The Night Before Christmas with songs performed by her and The Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Oxford, England, Dec. 20 and 24, Showtime.

Chanukah Under the Umbrella Tree, features a child-oriented explanation of Hanukkah, Dec. 20, 23 and 26, Disney Channel.

“Bloom County” and “Outland” comic strip stars Opus and Bill star in A Wish for Wings That Work, Dec. 24, CBS.

Madeline spends the holidays at school caring for the sick Miss Clavel in Madeline’s Christmas, Nov. 26 and Dec. 24, Family Channel.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, narrated by Joel Grey, features the voices of Tammy Grimes and George Gobbel, Dec. 24, CBS.

Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade, Dec. 25, ABC.

MUSIC

A Very Special Christmas II, a fund-raiser for the Special Children’s Olympics, includes interviews and studio performances by Jon Bon Jovi, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Run DMC and Vanessa Williams, Wednesday, VH-1.

AudioVision Christmas features Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and John Tesh discussing holiday traditions, Dec. 2 and 4, Family Channel.

The Christmas Songs With Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern and Doc Severinsen, Dec. 12, KCET.

A Kenny Rogers Christmas: Magic of the Season, Dec. 18, CBS.

A Bing Crosby Christmas Like the Ones We Used to Know, Dec. 20 and 25, Disney Channel.

The Judy Garland Christmas Show features Garland’s children (Liza and Lorna), Mel Torme and Jack Jones, Dec. 20 and 25, Disney Channel.

Live coverage of the Los Angeles County’s holiday music program, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 24, KCET.

The Twelve Videos of Christmas features the best of country music videos with a holiday theme, Dec. 24 TNN.

RELIGIOUS

Charlton Heston Presents the Bible, a four-parter, features both testaments. Dec. 20, 21, 22 and 23, A&E.;

A 25th anniversary performance of Handel’s Messiah with the orchestra and chorus of Dublin’s Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Dec. 22, A&E.;

Jesus Christ Is the Light of the World, a Tulsa church’s Christmas Eve service Dec. 24, ABC.