The creative forces behind "Yes, Virginia" know they face daunting odds.

At this time every year, TV programmers serve up new holiday-themed fare, only to have viewers discard most of it like crumpled wads of gift wrap. When it comes to seasonal fare, new stuff rarely generates the same interest as the tried-and-true.

"It's tough to break through the crowd," says Matt MacDonald, a producer for "Yes, Virginia," which debuts Dec. 11 on CBS. "A lot of specials in recent years have failed to stick around. Everyone seems to love the classics from the 1960s."

He's referring to holiday hall-of-famers such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - timeless favorites that still cast a powerful yuletide spell.

Here's a rundown of some of TV's prime-time holiday highlights. Take note that many of the cable programs will receive multiple airings. (For dates and times, consult your listings). And look for more on "the biggies" in Monday's The (402) 411.

The biggies

"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas": 7 p.m. Monday and Dec. 23, ABC.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas": 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8 and 24, ABC.

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer": 7 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 12, CBS

"The Year Without a Santa Claus": 7 p.m. Dec. 8, ABC Family.

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town": 7 p.m. Dec. 7, ABC

"Frosty the Snowman": 7 p.m. Dec. 18, CBS.

New for the kiddies

"Disney's Prep & Landing": An elite unit of Santa's elves readies homes for the big night. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Dec. 16, ABC.

"Yes, Virginia": Neil Patrick Harris and Jennifer Love Hewitt lend voices to familiar tale of girl who questions the existence of Santa. 7 p.m. Dec. 11, CBS.

Big-screen evergreens

"A Christmas Carol": The 1938 version with Reginald Owen as Scrooge. 7 p.m. Thursday, TCM.

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation": Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) becomes a walking disaster zone around the holiday. 7 p.m. Monday, AMC.

"The Polar Express": Tom Hanks is the conductor on a magical train en route to the North Pole. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, ABC Family.

"White Christmas": Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye work hard to make your days merry and bright. 7 p.m. Saturday, AMC.

"It's A Wonderful Life": Capra classic still has the power to turn us into blubbering wrecks. 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 24, NBC.

"A Christmas Story": We triple-dog dare you not to watch this nostalgic charmer over and over and over. Marathon starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 24, TBS.

Gifts that keep giving

"Shrek the Halls": The cranky ogre struggles to get into the Christmas spirit. 7:30 p.m. Monday, ABC).

"Mickey's Christmas Carol": Disney does Dickens in this 1983 'toon. 6 p.m. Dec. 8, ABC Family.

"A Miser Brothers' Christmas": A 2008 sequel to 1974's "The Year Without a Santa Claus." 8 p.m. Dec. 8, ABC Family.

"A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa": Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang celebrate the holidays. 7 p.m. Dec. 11, NBC.

"The Flight Before Christmas": Animated tale of a young reindeer who aspires to be an expert flyer like his father. 8 p.m. Dec. 12, CBS.

"Frosty Returns": Apparently, there's still some magic in that old silk hat. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, CBS.

Freshly wrapped TV movies

"The Dog Who Saved Christmas": Ex-police dog confronts Grinch-like burglars. Dean Cain stars. 7 p.m. Sunday, ABC Family.

"A Dog Named Christmas": Farm family adopts a lonely pup for the holidays. Bruce Greenwood stars. 8 p.m. Sunday, CBS.

"Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle": Doris Roberts plays a heaven-sent housekeeper who gives a fractured family an unforgettable holiday. 7 p.m. Saturday, Hallmark.

"12 Men of Christmas": Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth plays a PR exec who raises temperatures in a Montana town with a hunk-filled calendar. 8 p.m. Saturday, Lifetime.

"Christmas in Canaan": Billy Ray Cyrus stars in tale about two boys who form an unlikely friendship in the 1960s. 7 p.m. Dec. 12, Hallmark.

"The Christmas Hope": A social worker (Madeleine Stowe) bends the rules and takes in an orphaned child. 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Lifetime Movie Network.

Making spirits bright

"Christmas in Rockefeller Center": Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow and others help light up the big tree in the Big Apple. 7 p.m. Wednesday, NBC.

"Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special": The country crooner performs holiday classics with her pals, including Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley. 7 p.m. Dec. 7, Fox.

"Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas": The Oscar-winning "Dreamgirl" gets into the holiday mood. 7 p.m. Dec. 14, ABC.

"Christmas in Washington": Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland and others celebrate in musical style. 7 p.m. Dec. 20, TNT.

"A Home For the Holidays with Faith Hill": Celebrities present inspirational stories about adoption. 7 p.m. Dec. 23, CBS.