The annual holiday episode from “Call the Midwife” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) has the senior members of the convent traveling to Hog Kong on a mercy mission.
The documentary “Music Box: Happy and You Know It” (HBO, 9 p.m.) explores the booming business of children’s music.
Sports is big on Christmas Day, and all of the NFL games are on streaming services this year with Dallas at Washington (Netflix, 1 p.m.), Detroit at Minnesota (Netflix, 4:30 p.m.) and Denver at Kansas City (Prime Video, 8:15 p.m.).
The NBA has a big schedule today as well with Cleveland at Knicks (ABC, ESPN, noon), San Antonio at Oklahoma City (ABC, ESPN, 2:30 p.m.), Dallas at Golden State (ABC, ESPN, 5 p.m.), Houston at Lakers (ABC, ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Minnesota at Denver (ABC, ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
“Stranger Things” (Netflix, streaming) unleashes three new episodes for its fifth and final season. The last comes Dec. 31.
A finale comes for the second season of the animated “Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake” (HBO Max, streaming).
“The 40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” (ABC, 10 a.m.) emanates this morning from Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California and the Aulani resort in Hawaii.
The 1966 animated “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (NBC, 8 p.m.) precedes a replay of the Jim Carrey live action version “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) from 2000.
The marathon of “A Christmas Story” (TBS, 8 and 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m.; TNT, 7 9 and 11 a.m., 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m.) continues most of the day. On the former station, the 1983 original is followed by the 2022 sequel “A Christmas Story Christmas” (TBS, 8 p.m.).
Of marathons, there is also a day of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (E!, 9 a.m., noon, 3, 6 and 9 p.m.; midnight, 3 and 6 a.m.) and four showings of “White Christmas” (Sundance, noon, 2:45, 5:30 and 8:15 p.m.).
A woman is stranded at a hotel during a snowstorm, running into an old flame as her husband and family both disappear in the made-for-TV thriller “Murder at the Hotel” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ month-long Thursday night spotlight on divine intervention concludes with “A Matter of Life and Death” (8 p.m.), “Angels in the Outfield” (10 p.m.), “A Guy Named Joe” (midnight), “Heaven Only Knows” (2 a.m.), “The Horn Blows at Midnight” (4 a.m.) and “Time Bandits” (5:30 a.m.).
During the day, the six-day Christmas marathon wraps up with “Boys Town” (6 a.m.), “The Great Rupert” (8 a.m.), “Little Women” (9:30 a.m.), “Meet Me in St. Louis” (11:30 a.m.), “Pocketful of Miracles” (1:30 p.m.), “The Man Who Came to Dinner” (4 p.m.) and “In the Good Old Summertime” (6 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: Mary J. Blige, The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Rob Thomas. Kelly Clarkson: Chloe Fineman, Jordan Firstman, Warren Zeiders (rerun). Drew Barrymore: Matthew McConaughey, Deborah Norville, Nicole McLaughlin (rerun). Jennifer Hudson: Zooey Deschanel (rerun). Tamron Hall: Tim Tebow, Demi-Leigh Tebow (rerun).
Late Talk
All reruns (or otherwise pre-empted): Stephen Colbert: Michael Shannon, Jessie Buckley, Prince Harry. Jimmy Fallon: Kate Hudson, John Stamos, Lily Allen, Laufey. Seth Meyers: Hilary, Larry & Josh Meyers.