Photos: CBS

So much has changed this year, but there are a few things that stay merrily the same… and CBS is doing their part to keep tradition alive in our homes this holiday season!   Their beloved lineup returns with the “CBS Thanksgiving Day Celebration” highlighting Thanksgiving parades past, and you can count on the following weekend to be filled with your favorite animated classics like “Frosty the Snowman”, “The Story of Santa Claus” and “Robbie the Reindeer”.  The network will also premiere a brand-new holiday special from country music icon Dolly Parton.

Missing from the lineup? The annual “Home for the Holidays” special, which doesn’t seem to be airing due to the pandemic, and I don’t recall a mention of there being a virtual angle for it this year.

Additionally, there was no mention of the treasured “I Love Lucy Christmas” special this year, but I’ll keep you posted should it get added to the schedule.

Find out what’s airing below!

Thursday, Nov. 26

The CBS Thanksgiving Day Celebration | 9:00am-12:00pm live ET; 8:00-11:00am live CT; 7:00-10:00am live MT; and 9:00am-12:00pm, delayed PT

“Entertainment Tonight”‘s Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight will host the celebration with a featured lineup ‘stuffed’ with new musical performances and celebrity interviews. While a new parade isn’t in the cards due to the global pandemic, the special ritual of waking up and enjoying balloons and floats (including the iconic Santa Claus) will continue with highlights from years past.

Among the performances, country stars Maddie & Tae will perform their new single “Merry Married Christmas” and Mickey Guyton will perform a rendition of “O Holy Night.”  Plus, casts of the hit Broadway musicals Dear Evan Hansen will perform “You Will Be Found” and cast members of Come From Away will perform “38 Planes” and “Welcome to the Rock.”  Frazier and Knight will also connect with celebrities about their holiday plans, including Phil Keoghan (“The Amazing Race”, “Tough As Nails”), Folake Olowofoyeku (“Bob Hearts Abishola”), Lina Esco (“S.W.A.T.”), and Erich Bergen (“Madam Secretary”), among others.

Friday, Nov. 27

Frosty the Snowman | 8pm/7c
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).

Frosty Returns | 8:30pm/7:30c
The magic still in his old silk hat, the holiday season’s perennially popular original dancing snowman continues his adventure and skates on the edge of danger. Jonathan Winters is the narrator with John Goodman as the voice of Frosty.

Photo: CBS

Saturday, Nov. 28

Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire | 8pm/7c
In this animated special, Robbie (voiced by Ben Stiller) must train to compete in the Reindeer Races to become a part of the sleigh team for Santa (voiced by Jim Belushi).

Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe | 8:30pm/7:30c
In the second of two 30-minute specials, Robbie battles Blitzen (voiced by Hugh Grant) in an effort to stop his nemesis’s launch of a reindeer theme park. Britney Spears, James Woods, Leah Remini, and Jerry Stiller are among the additional stars to lend their voices.

The Story of Santa Claus | 9pm/8c
This animated musical holiday special revolves around a gentle toymaker (voiced by Ed Asner) whose only wish is to deliver a toy to every child on Christmas. The voices of Betty White and Tim Curry are also featured.

Tuesday, Dec. 1

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | 8pm/7c
Narrated by Burl Ives, who is also heard as the voice of Sam the Snowman, this favorite 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.

Sunday, Dec. 6

A Holly Dolly Christmas | 8:30pm/7:30c
Global icon and country music superstar Dolly Parton shares the spirit of the holidays in her new one-hour entertainment special.

Stay merry!