Entertainment

13 Christmas TV Marathons You Can Sit Back & Enjoy Over The Holiday
by Shannon Fiedler

There are some Christmas TV traditions we have come to rely upon come December 25th: TBS will marathon A Christmas Story for 24 hours, The Yule Log will turn our television sets into a fireplace, and Hallmark will continue to run its seemingly infinite selection of Christmas movies. But if you're not in the mood to watch Ralphie ask for an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle for a whole day straight, there are other TV marathons airing on Christmas Day to keep you and your family satisfied after you've already opened your gifts.

In addition to the many holiday movies that will be playing all day Christmas Eve and Christmas, certain channels will be airing marathons of some of our favorite television shows to celebrate the holiday. From reality TV to sitcoms to game shows, whatever your preference, there's sure to be a marathon for you. Many of these episode chains will feature the show's Christmas specials during primetime hours, so you can still feel festive even if you're can't stomach watching The Santa Claus another time this season.

Here are some of the best marathons airing on Christmas day, so you and your family can spend the afternoon eating cookies and relaxing and binging on some seriously fun TV.

1

'Doctor Who'

BBC America has already started running Doctor Who episodes, and they won't stop showing until Monday, December 28. For any true Whovian, this is the Christmas present of a lifetime.

2

'That '70s Show'

S much of Christmas is about celebrating past traditions from the days of yore, so take a step back five decades and watch That '70s Show on IFC from 6 a.m. on Christmas until 8:30 a.m. on December 26.

3

'Tyler Perry's House Of Payne'

Starting at 8 a.m. Christmas Eve, BET will be running Tyler Perry's House of Payne through noon on Christmas, and will then start marathoning Tyler Perry movies, including Medea's Tough Love, Daddy's Little Girl, and Medea's Family Reunion.

4

'Brain Games'

You can watch Brain Games on National Geographic Channel from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas this year, a fun game show for the whole family. In addition to being entertaining, it's also educational in that it gives you real-life skills for improving brain function (something we could all probably use after the large amount alcohol consumption dur to holiday parties).

5

'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'

Spend this holiday with your own family and with the Kardashian family, via E! from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

6

'NCIS'

If crime-drama really says Christmas to you, then USA has you covered. You can binge watch NCIS from 6 a.m. Christmas morning until 5 a.m. the following morning.

7

'Family Feud'

Avoid a real-life family feud this holiday by turning on the TV and appeasing everyone with some non-stop game show fun. Family Feud will be marathoning on GSN from noon to 8 p.m., a perfect midday break from all of the festivities.

8

'America's Next Top Model'

You wanna be on top? From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oxygen will run America's Next Top Model, and you can learn a thing or two about posing for the camera for next year's family Christmas card.

9

'Saturday Night Live'

This marathon isn't quite as long as some of the others, but it's short and very sweet. Watch five of the best SNL holiday episodes on VH1 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring legends like Paul McCartney and Martin Short, as well as the unparalleled comedy duo Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, this marathon will surely make you belly laugh just like Santa all afternoon long.

10

'Myth Busters'

The Science Channel is running a marathon that comprises of every episode of Myth Busters ever — which means, this year as a Christmas gift to yourself, you can learn all the truths of the world (sort of). Episodes start airing on Christmas Eve and don't stop until January 3 — that's a lot of myths to bust.

11

'Wonderful World Of Golf'

For the sports fanatics out there, the Golf channel will be running some of the best matches of all time starting at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and running all day Christmas. This is the kind of marathon my grandfather would really appreciate, especially once he's started his after dinner nap.

12

'Rehab Addict'

What's more satisfying than watching a total wreck of a home transform into the house of your dreams? Watch Nicole Curtis do-it-herself on DIY from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. this Christmas.

13

'America's Funniest Home Videos'

Laugh at other people's families (in addition to your own) this holiday. The marathon airs on WGN and starts at 9am and runs until the end of the day — so there're plenty of laughs to be had.

Image: NBC Universal