LOS ANGELES (AP) — The New Year’s Eve TV scene is getting an offbeat party crasher — Garrison Keillor of “Prairie Home Companion” radio fame.Keillor will escort 2006 out the door with a PBS special from the former long-time Nashville home of the Grand Ole Opry, the show that inspired his own homespun-with-a-twist public radio broadcast.

There are other holiday newcomers — among them John Goodman as Santa Claus and Janice Dickinson bringing her own brand of Christmas cheer — but viewers can once again find comfort and joy in such stalwarts as the Grinch and James “It’s a Wonderful Life” Stewart.

Among the programme highlights (all times Bermuda; check TV listings for encore airings):

ANIMATION

[box] “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, 9 p.m. tonight, CBS. The 1964 special in which Rudolph and buddies Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and the Misfit Toys rescue Christmas. And then there’s the magic of Burl Ives’ voice.

[box] “Frosty the Snowman”, 10 p.m. tonight, CBS. Jimmy Durante is the narrator as jolly soul Frosty (voice by Jackie Vernon) takes centre stage.

[box] “Frosty Returns”, 10.30 p.m. tonight, CBS. John Goodman does the voice honours as Frosty and Jonathan Winters narrates the snowman’s further adventures.

[box] Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn’t Happen”, 9 p.m. tomorrow, ABC. Rusty Reindeer is on an identity hunt and Santa’s “Nice ‘N Naughty O’Matic” is down, imperilling his annual giveaway. Fred Savage, Fred Willard and Gladys Knight are among the voices.

[box] “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, 9 p.m. Tuesday, December 12, ABC. This version of Theodore Geisel’s tale of the hostile Grinch vs. Whoville marks its 40th anniversary. Boris Karloff narrates and voices the role of the Grinch.

[box] “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!”, 9 p.m. Tuesday, December 19, ABC. Snoopy’s holiday plans mean that his brother, Spike, may have to step in to keep ReRun company during Christmas vacation.

MOVIES<$>

[box] “The Polar Express”, 9 p.m. tonight, ABC Family. The animated version of the story about a boy who takes the train ride of a lifetime. Tom Hanks voices the conductor.

[box] “Santa Baby”, 9 p.m. Sunday, December 10, ABC Family. Jenny McCarthy plays a hard-driving executive who comes home to help out her ailing dad, Santa Claus (George Wendt), in the family business.

[box] “The Year Without a Santa Claus”, 10 p.m. Monday, December 11, NBC. John Goodman stars as a downcast Santa who feels he’s lost popular support. Can he and a child help each other believe again? Delta Burke, Harvey Fierstein, Carol Kane and Michael McKean co-star.

[box] “A Christmas Wedding”, 10 p.m. Monday, December 11, Lifetime. Eric Mabius of “Ugly Betty” and Sarah Paulson of “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” star in the tale of Yuletide wedding plans gone awry.

[box] “Elf”, 9 p.m. Saturday, December 16, CBS. Will Ferrell, James Caan and Mary Steenburgen star about a North Pole-raised man who hunts for his roots in New York.

[box] “It’s a Wonderful Life”, 9 p.m. Saturday, December 16, NBC. The holiday fable reaches a landmark: It’s been 60 years since James Stewart and Donna Reed first reminded audiences about what’s important in life. With optional narration by former US President George Bush for the visually impaired.

[box] “Christmas Do-Over”, 9 p.m. Saturday, December 16, ABC Family. A man has the chance to change his past by re-living a difficult Christmas. Jay Mohr and Daphne Zuniga star.

[box] “The Road to Christmas”, 10 p.m. Sunday, December 17, Lifetime. Jennifer Grey stars as a photographer who’s not sure she has the right fiance in the frame.

[box] “A Perfect Day”, 9 p.m. Monday, December 18, TNT. A first-time novelist’s success threatens his relationship with his wife and daughter. Rob Lowe, Paget Brewster, Frances Conroy and Christopher Lloyd star.

[box] “Meet the Santas”, 10 p.m. Saturday, December 23, Hallmark Channel. In the sequel to “Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus”, Nick Claus (Steve Guttenberg) and Beth (Crystal Bernard) plan their Christmas Eve wedding.

[box] “Miracle on 34th Street” marathon, noon Sunday, December 24, AMC. The 1947 film starring Maureen O’Hara, Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood airs through Christmas morning, with the original black-and-white alternating with a colour version.

[box] “A Very Married Christmas”, 10 p.m. Sunday, December 24, CBS. A man finds his life and marriage falling apart during the holidays. Joe Mantegna, Jean Smart and Charles Durning star.

[box] “The Christmas Card”, 8 p.m. Monday, December 25, Hallmark Channel. A soldier (John Newton) wants to say thanks for the touching Christmas card he received in Afghanistan, addressed to “a member of the US Army”, and finds the unexpected.

STOCKING STUFFERS

[box] “Nigella Bites: Christmas Holiday”, 10 p.m. tomorrow, Food Network. Reducing stress in the kitchen and boosting holiday happiness is cook Nigella Lawson’s gift to viewers.

[box] “White House Christmas 2006”, 9 p.m. Sunday, December 10, HGTV. Robin McGraw, wife of Dr. Phil, peeks inside as decorators, bakers and volunteers prepare the mansion for the holidays.

[box] “What’s with that Christmas House?”, 10 p.m. Sunday, December 10, HGTV. Host George Gray tours lavishly and uniquely festooned homes to discover why and how people do the darndest things.

[box] “Christmas Out of the Box”, 10 p.m. Wednesday, December 20, National Geographic Channel. Science and history are the tools employed to examine aspects of the holiday ranging from retailing to reindeer noses to Bethlehem’s most famous starry night.

[box] “A Home for the Holidays”, 9 p.m. Friday, December 22, CBS. This effort to raise awareness about adoption gets a boost from stars including Rod Stewart, Five For Fighting, John Legend, Laura Dern, Angie Harmon and Rene Russo.

[box] “Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade”, 11 a.m. Monday, December 25, ABC. Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest are the hosts for the show set to include pop stars Beyonce, Daniel Powter and RBD and “High School Musical” cast members.

AULD LANG SYNE<$>

[box] “New York Philharmonic: Audra McDonald Sings the Movies for New Year’s Eve”, 9 p.m. Sunday, December 31, PBS. The Broadway star calls the tune for New Year’s with a “Live From Lincoln Center” show that includes standards by Ellington, Gershwin, Arlen and more.

[box] “Garrison Keillor’s New Year’s Eve Special”, 11 p.m. Sunday, December 31, PBS. The host of “A Prairie Home Companion” and his merry public radio team celebrate the evening at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on “Great Performances”.

[box] “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2007”, 11 p.m. Sunday, December 31, ABC. Clark, rebounding from a 2004 stroke, is joined by co-host Ryan Seacrest for an evening of music and revelry, the 35th edition of Clark’s New Year’s Eve show.

[box] “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly”, 12.30 a.m. Sunday, December 31, NBC. Daly does the year-end honours from New York’s Times Square, backed up by rock band Panic! At the Disco. A pre-show special airs at midnight on MSNBC and Bravo.