You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, we’re telling you why: Rankin/Bass is coming to screen.
Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass’ animated holiday specials have become a seasonal staple on TV — with classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town hitting ABC and CBS this yuletide season and many more airing on Freeform and AMCx.
This year’s airings come just weeks after Bass’ death. The animator and director passed away at age 87 on October 25, predeceased by Rankin, who died at age 89 in 2014. Bass’ death also came just a week after the October 18 release of The Complete Rankin/Bass Christmas Collection, a DVD collection of 18 holiday favorites.
Thanks to Christmas TV Schedule and other sites, we have listings for this year’s Rankin/Bass airings — but be advised that these airdates and times are subject to time. (Blame the Heat Miser for any inaccuracies!)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
- Tuesday, November 29, 8/7c, CBS
- Saturday, December 3, 9:15/8:15c, Freeform
- Sunday, December 4, 5:35/4:35c, Freeform
- Wednesday, December 21, 9/8c, Freeform
- Thursday, December 22, 8/7c, Freeform
- Saturday, December 24, 5:45/4:45c, Freeform
- Sunday, December 25, 11a/10c, Freeform
Cricket on the Hearth (1967)
- Sunday, December 18, 7a/6c, Freeform
The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
- Saturday, December 3, 1:30a/12:30c, Freeform
- Saturday, December 3, 7a/6c, Freeform
- Tuesday, December 13, 8:30a/7:30c, Freeform
- Friday, December 16, 9a/8c, Freeform
- Saturday, December 17, 7a/6c, Freeform
- Streaming on Peacock
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
- Friday, November 25, 8/7c, CBS
- Saturday, December 3, 10:20/9:20c, Freeform
- Sunday, December 4, 5:05/4:05c, Freeform
- Wednesday, December 21, 8:30/7:30c, Freeform
- Thursday, December 22, 7:30/6:30c, Freeform
- Saturday, December 24, 6:50/5:50c, Freeform
- Sunday, December 25, 10:30a/9:30c, Freeform
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)
- Thursday, December 1, 8/7c, ABC
- Saturday, December 3, 10:50/9:50c, Freeform
- Sunday, December 4, 4/3c, Freeform
- Tuesday, December 20, 8/7c, ABC
- Wednesday, December 21, 10/9c, Freeform
- Thursday, December 22, 6:30/5:30c, Freeform
- Saturday, December 24, 4:40/3:40c, Freeform
- Sunday, December 25, 9:30a/8:30c, Freeform
’Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
- Monday, November 28, 8:15/7:15c, AMC
- Tuesday, November 29, 1:30/12:30c, AMC
- Friday, December 2, 6:30/5:30c, AMC
- Saturday, December 3, 12:15a/11:15c, AMC
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
- Friday, December 2, 9/8c, AMC
- Saturday, December 3, 12:45a/11:45c, AMC
- Sunday, December 11, 4:45/3:45c, AMC
The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow (1975)
- Monday, November 28, 4:45/3:45c, AMC
- Tuesday, November 29, 10a/9c, AMC
- Saturday, December 3, 5:30a/4:30c, AMC
- Friday, December 9, 9:15a/8:15c, AMC
- Streaming on Plex
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976)
- Monday, November 28, 5:15/4:15c, AMC
- Tuesday, November 29, 10:30a/9:30c, AMC
- Friday, December 2, 6/5c, AMC
- Saturday, December 3, 2a/1c, AMC
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976)
- Monday, November 28, 8:45/7:45c, AMC
- Tuesday, November 29, 2/1c, AMC
- Sunday, December 4, 5a/4c, AMC
- Tuesday, December 6, 4:45/3:45c, AMC
- Wednesday, December 7, 4:15a/3:15c, AMC
The Little Drummer Boy Book II (1976)
- Tuesday, November 29, 9a/8c, AMC
- Friday, December 2, 5:30a/4:30c, AMC
- Saturday, December 3, 5a/4c, AMC
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)
- Thursday, December 1, 9a/8c, AMC
- Friday, December 2, 5a/4c, AMC
- Thursday, December 8, 5:30a/4:30c, AMC
Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979)
- Monday, November 28, 5:45/4:45c, AMC
- Tuesday, November 29, 11a/10c, AMC
Jack Frost (1979)
- Thursday, December 1, 2:15/1:15c, AMC
- Sunday, December 4, 10:45a/9:45c, AMC
- Monday, December 5, 4:45a/3:45c, AMC
- Thursday, December 8, 4:15a/3:15c, AMC
Pinocchio’s Christmas (1980)
- Monday, November 28, 9a/8c, AMC
The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold (1981)
- Tuesday, November 29, 9:30a/8:30c, AMC
- Wednesday, November 30, 5:30a/4:30c, AMC
- Tuesday, December 6, 9:15a/8:15c, AMC
- Wednesday, December 7, 5:30a/4:30c, AMC
The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (1985)
- Wednesday, November 30, 4:15a/3:15a, AMC
- Tuesday, December 6, 4:45a/3:45c, AMC
- Sunday, December 11, 6:15a/5:15a, AMC