'Emergency' Christmas alert: specials starting

As the OBSERVER's resident Christmas fanatic, I would be lax if I failed to report that the 2012 Christmas special season will get into full swing tonight. Some of the best Christmas specials and movies air early and, typically, not often. Poor Rudolph, Clarice and Yukon Cornelius in all their Rankin-Bass claymation glory are lucky to get one showing per year.

I knew I had to post this notice ASAP when I saw that “A Charlie Brown Christmas” would be on at 8 p.m. on ABC tonight. I love that the classic Christmas specials are still the best, with themes that still resonate with viewers young and old today. On Thanksgiving, my sister proclaimed that Christmas was becoming too commercial and proposed the idea that our immediate family only buy one present each, for the family member they like the most. (More on this in a column I intend to write). I gently (OK, maybe not-so-gently) reminded her that her idea about Christmas commercialism came from dear old Charlie Brown, circa 1965.

Also on tonight is “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” 8 p.m. on NBC, when the most famous Christmas tree in the nation will be lit, the Muppets and Rockettes will perform, along with Cee Lo Green, Mariah Carey, Trace Adkins, Chris Mann from season two of “The Voice,” and more.

Here are some other noteworthy upcoming Christmas specials, new and old, airing in early December:

- “Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Thursday, 5 p.m., ABC Family

- “Cee Lo’s Magic Moment,” Friday, 8 p.m., TV Guide (more Cee Lo, more Muppets, former “Voice” contestants!)

- “It's a Wonderful Life,” Saturday, 8 p.m., NBC

- “Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas,” Monday, Dec. 3, 10 p.m., NBC

- “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Tuesday, Dec. 4, 8 p.m., CBS

- “Miracle on 34th St.,” Sunday, Dec. 9, 8 and 10:15 p.m., AMC (The original, best, version)

I'll keep you posted on must-see Christmas specials coming later in December.