ELF & More Set for CBS's 'Merry Holiday Programming'

Related: Holidays 2012, CBS

CBS's holiday programming, which kicks off with THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE, will also include the premiere of the all-new animated special IT'S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS, music specials and perennial holiday favorites.

Music-laden specials include THE VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW, featuring musical guests Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars, and THE GRAMMY® NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE!—COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT®, with performances by Maroon 5 and Luke Bryan and hosts LL Cool J and Taylor Swift, and THE 35TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS.

Also scheduled are the annual visits of RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER and FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, along with encore broadcasts of the animated holiday specials HOOPS&YOYO RUIN CHRISTMAS, YES, VIRGINIA, A FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS and THE ELF ON THE SHELF: AN ELF'S STORY.

CBS's Holiday Programming:

Thursday, Nov. 22

(9:00AM-Noon, Live ET

8:00AM-11:00AM, live CT

7:00AM-10:00 AM, live MT

9:00 AM-Noon, delayed PT)

THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ON CBS— KEVIN FRAZIER and Brooke Anderson, co-hosts of "The Insider," will anchor this CBS Thanksgiving tradition now in its 52nd year, which will feature portions of the 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live from New York City. Country music star Martina McBride and the Broadway casts of the Tony Award-winning "Once" and hit musical "Newsies" will perform.

Friday, Nov. 23

(8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT)

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN—Frosty, that "jolly, happy

soul" whose old silk hat full of magic has turned him into a musical Christmas legend, once again demonstrates his unique showmanship. Narrated by Jimmy Durante, the special also includes the voices of Jackie Vernon (as Frosty) and Billy De Wolfe (as Professor Hinkle). (Rebroadcast)

Friday, Nov. 23

(8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT)

FROSTY RETURNS—The magic still in his old silk hat,

the holiday season’s perennially popular original dancing snowman continues his adventures and skates on The Edge of danger. Jonathan Winters is the narrator, with John Goodman as the voice of Frosty. (Rebroadcast)

Friday, Nov. 23

(9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT)

HOOPS&YOYO RUIN CHRISTMAS—This animated holiday special presented by Hallmark follows the unexpected adventure of the comical pink kitty and green bunny team, hoops&yoyo, after they become accidental stowaways on Santa's sleigh. (Rebroadcast)

Friday, Nov. 23

(9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT)

IT'S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS—This new stop-

motion animated special, based on the hit Nickelodeon animated series “SpongeBob SquarePants,” is inspired by the popular song, "Don't be a Jerk, It's Christmas." Mr. Krabs' nemesis, Plankton, vows to get his Christmas wish—obtaining the Krusty Krab's secret Krabby Patty formula—by turning everyone bad in Bikini Bottom with the help of his special jerktonium-laced fruitcake. John Goodman provides the voice of Santa Claus.

Tuesday, Dec. 4

(8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT)

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER—The classic holiday special, narrated by Burl Ives, who is also heard as the voice of Sam the Snowman, is a music story based on the popular song of the same name by Johnny Marks. It recounts the tale of a shy reindeer whose Christmas spirit is dampened because his shiny nose has made him the laughing stock of all of Christmasville.

Tuesday, Dec. 4

(10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT)

THE VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW—This year's show from New York features world-famous models Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima. Doutzen Kroes, Candace Swanepoel, Erin Heatherton, Lily Aldridge, Lindsay Ellingson and others. The runway show will include musical performances by Grammy Award-winning and nominated artists Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars, pink carpet interviews, model profiles and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the world's most famous fashion show.

Wednesday, Dec. 5

(10:00-11:00 PM, live ET, delayed PT)

THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE!

COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT—For the fifth consecutive year, this special will set the stage for the annual Grammy Awards telecast and announce nominations in several categories, as well as feature performances by past Grammy winners and/or nominees. Six-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift co-hosts with two-time Grammy Award winner LL Cool J with Maroon 5 and Luke Bryan scheduled to perform live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Saturday, Dec. 8

(9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT)

THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS—An animated holiday special about a young reindeer with ambitions of becoming an expert flyer like his father features the voices of Emma Roberts ("Hotel for Dogs") and comedian Norm MacDonald ("Saturday Night Live"). (Rebroadcast)

Friday, Dec. 14

(9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT)

YES, VIRGINIA—This animated special is based on the 1897 true story of Virginia O'Hanlon, an 8-year-old girl who inspired the most famous newspaper editorial of all time by asking, "Is there a Santa Claus?" Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Alfred Molina voice key characters. Beatrice Miller ("Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs") voices the role of Virginia. (Rebroadcast).

Friday, Dec. 14

(9:30-10:30 PM, ET/PT)

THE ELF ON THE SHELF: AN ELF'S STORY—This animated feature, based on the best-selling holiday children's book The Elf on the Shelf, follows one of the many scout elves from the North Pole who helps Santa Claus determine who to put on the naughty and nice lists.

(Rebroadcast)

Saturday, Dec. 15

(8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT)

ELF—Will Ferrell, James Caan and Mary Steenburgen

star in this comedy about a man raised as an elf at the North Pole who is sent to New York in search of his true identity. (Theatrical). (Rebroadcast)

Wednesday, Dec. 26

(9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT)

THE 35th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS—

Bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova and rock band Led Zeppelin will receive honors for 2012. In a star-studded celebration on the Kennedy Center Opera House stage, the 2012 Honorees will be saluted by great performers from Hollywood and the arts capitols of the world. Seated with President and Mrs. Obama, the Honorees will accept the thanks of their peers and fans through performances and heartfelt tributes.