On Today: Christmas Parade and More 'Story'

Celine Dion, The Jonas Brothers and Kris Allen perform during the 26th annual "Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade" (ABC, 10 a.m.) this morning. Also performing are Stevie Wonder, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and Yanni. The newest Disney Princess, Anika Noni Rose, of Bloonfield, who voices Tiana in the current big screen offering, "The Princess and the Frog," joins the ranks of Mickey Mouse and usual gang of Disney characters (which now includes Phineas and Ferb. Kelly Ripa hosts in Orlando; Ryan Seacrest takes the helm on the West Coast and Nick Cannon also appears.

As "The Christmas Story" (TBS, through 6 p.m.) continues its 24-hour marathon, there is a double showing of "Elf" (USA, 8 and 10 p.m.) as well as a replay of the well-received holiday sketch compendium, "Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" (NBC, 8 p.m.).

Quite a different tone for this 16 hour marathon of a holiday film: "Bad Santa" (Spike, 9 a.m.) with Billy Bob Thornton Lauren Graham and John Ritter. And it's not Christmas at all in the 12-hour marathon of "Dirty Dancing" (TV Guide Network, noon).

Christmas movies lingering include "Christmas Town" (ION, 5 p.m.), "Eve's Christmas" (Lifetime, 5 p.m.), "Prancer" (5:30 p.m.), "The National Tree" (Hallmark, 6:15 p.m.), "The Christmas Clause" (ION, 7 p.m.), "Secret Santa" (Lifetime, 7 p.m.), "Home Alone" (FX, 7:30 p.m.), "A Christmas Carol" (AMC, 8 p.m.), "The Three Gifts" (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), "Golden Christmas" (ION, 9 p.m.), "Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage" (Lifetime, 9 p.m.), "Deck the Halls" (FX, 9:30 p.m.), "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (Hallmark, 10 p.m.) and "Holiday Inn" (AMC, 10:30 p.m.).

Classic films with Christmas components are on Turner Classic Movies, including versions of "Little Women" from 1933 (7 a.m.) and 1949 (2:15 p.m.) as well as the 1938 "A Christmas Carol" (9 a.m.) with Reginald Owen, "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (10:15 a.m.), the 1945 "Christmas in Connecticut" (12:15 p.m.), "Holiday Affair" (4:30 p.m.) and "Susan Slept Here" (6 p.m.).

Tonight it's all Sherlock Holmes, with "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (8 p.m.), "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (11 p.m.), "Sherlock Holme' Fatal Hour" (1:15 a.m.), "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (2:45 a.m.) and "A Study in Terror" (4:15 a.m.). And no Robert Downey Jr. in sight.

Connecticut public TV goes retro with the back to back "Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work" (CPTV, 8 p.m.), "Dean Martin: The One and Only" (CPTV, 9 p.m.) and "Frank Sinatra: The Man and the Myth" (CPTV, 10 p.m.).


Lots of NBA action today including with Heat at Knicks (ESPN, noon), Celtics at Magic (ABC, 2:30 p.m.), Cavaliers at Lakers (ABC 5 p.m.).Clippers at Suns (ESPN, 8 p.m. and Nuggets at Trail Blazers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).

Daytime Talk
All reruns: Regis and Kelly: Eric Dane, faith Ford, Jason Mraz. Bonnie Hunt: Paul Shaffer, the Backstreet Boys. Ellen DeGeneres: Katherine Heigl, Nick Cannon. Wendy Williams: Florence Henderson, Laila Ali.

Late Talk
Reruns all: Jay Leno: Jenna Bush Hager, Laura Bush, Sebastian Maniscalo. David Letterman: Robert Downey Jr., Martin Short, Kris Allen. Conan O'Brien: Megan Fox, Louis CK, Kevin Skinner. Jimmy Kimmel: Don Rickles, Anika Noni Rose, Band of Skulls. Jimmy Fallon: Mary Steenburgen, Snoop Dogg. Craig Ferguson: Emily Blunt, David Bianculli. Carson Daly: Masi Oka, Danny Setiawan, Doves. Chelsea Handler: Stephen Lang, Josh Wolf, Matt Braunger, Jen Kirkman.

source : http://blogs.courant.com