Last year I overdosed on television’s holiday offerings.  I was watching every film (TV or theatrical) on every channel:  the animated specials, Charlie Brown, BBC, TMC, AMC, ABC, anything with a “C” in it basically and you know what I learned about Michael C. Hawk?  If there is a showing of Snowglobe with Christina Milian on at any time of the day or night, I’ll be there.  I love Christmas shows and I’m proud of it.  You should be too!  So let’s light up the tree and put the ho-ho-ho in marathon!

There are a ton of Christmas special airing all through December, so make sure you keep your eyes and ears peeled for your favorites.

 What I like best is when I have the chance (thank you online shopping) to just kick back with a mug of cocoa and consume mass quantities of cheer.  And there is no shortage of opportunity to do just that in 2009.

The star on top of the marathon tree is ABC Family’s long running “25 Days of Christmas.”  Since 1996, December 1st brings an avalanche of specials and movies geared towards the whole family.  Not just a single day event, “25 Days” requires some real stamina and commitment as you wade through a pile of beloved holiday movies.  Lifetime does a similar all month marathon, but I find the shows on Family to have better production value and generally more entertaining.  Check the site for even more clips, streaming movies, and games.

December 12th is a flagship day at the races.  Comedy Central begins its “13 Days of Christmas” with some great stand-up and continues nightly taking you from South Park to the magnificent Colbert Christmas.  Click over to Hallmark Channel for a marathon of their original productions or head over to MTV to see one of the few Hanukkah films, Adam Sandler’s animated Eight Crazy Nights.  The 12th is also the day when ABC Family puts their marathon into overdrive with a whopping 15 movies.  Do you think Santa owns all these shows on disc, or does he have the elves’ DVRs working overtime?

Oddly enough, the most intriguing marathon on television any month of the year is TBS’s now annual “24 Hours of A Christmas Story.“ Starting Christmas Eve at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, arguably the funniest holiday movie ever begins anew every two hours giving you ample opportunity to pop in and out as you scramble to complete last minute preparations.  The last couple years we’ve just left it on most of the day.  It makes a great background soundtrack to our baking and wrapping.

The 24th brings a few more 24 hour marathons if you’re afraid you might shoot your eye out.  Boomerang has their “24 Hour Extended Christmas Party” for the kids as does Cartoon Network and Syfy starts a run of Ghost Hunters at 8 am.  USA has the “Holiday Feast Movie Character Marathon” at 6:00 a.m. and from 9:00 to 9:00 “TV Land’s 10th Annual Merry-thon” will take you back with some awesome Christmas episodes of classic TV shows. Andy Griffith, Three’s Company, and The Cosby Show are just a few of the great shows to relive.  I highly recommend this one!

If you didn’t get your Blu Ray copy of Dollhouse (hint!) then there’s a chance to catch up on Stargate: Universe Christmas Day over on Syfy or drain the last of the egg nog glued to TCM’s movie marathon featuring a whole mess of Christmas mystery Sherlock Holmes in the evening.  If slapstick is your thing, FOX Movie Channel has a string of Home Alone showings knocking over crooks with marbles starting 6:00 p.m. on the 24th and going the full 24 hours.

USA is broadcasting a little post Santa cool down with all day NCIS on Saturday (Boxing Day to all my Canucks out there) and Law & Order: SVU Sunday in what they are calling a “Holiday Recovery Marathon.”

As a quick and easy reference guide, TV Tango has a page dedicated to what seasonal programs will be airing across the guide, but if you want the most current and accurate info, you should pull up your favorite channel’s web page to ensure you don’t miss any of your favs or follow them now on Twitter.  I better go look up Yogi’s First Christmas!  Happy Holiday viewing everyone!!