Christmas specials are the gifts that keep on giving. In the week ending Dec. 10, four vintage holiday treats ranked in the top-30 most-watched shows, including “Rudolph” (No. 12); “Frosty” (No. 15); “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” (No. 21) and “Frosty Returns” (No. 25). To put that into perspective, the least of these decades-old reruns did better than a repeat of a recent “Grey’s Anatomy” (No. 24).

So it’s little wonder tonight is packed with movies as familiar as Christmas fruitcake, including the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy “Elf” (7 p.m. today, CBS) and the 1946 holiday fable “It’s a Wonderful Life” (7 p.m. today, NBC), starring Jimmy Stewart. According to my unscientific survey, the average viewer has seen Stewart promise to lasso the moon 2,000 times. And they’ll gladly watch it again. Though much more recent, “Elf” is pretty road-tested, having aired in steady rotation during the Thanksgiving weekend on TNT.

¢ Speaking of recycled stories and repeat helpings, Jay Mohr stars in the shamelessly unoriginal cable movie “Christmas Do-Over” (7 p.m. today, Family). He’s Kevin, a divorced dad and a complete jerk who visits his ex-wife, Jill (Daphne Zuniga), and unfriendly family for the holidays. He doesn’t even take the time to choose a gift for his son, opting to buy whatever’s most popular at the toy store.

After behaving like a big baby at Christmas dinner, Kevin has to sit back as Jill gets a proposal from her perfect new boyfriend. Then, his still-idealistic son makes the fateful wish that “Every Day be Christmas.” And, as soon as you can say “Groundhog Day,” Kevin’s awful day begins all over again.

As you can guess, he has to relive Christmas until he gets it “right.” Kevin may be stuck, but you’ve got a remote control, and I advise that you use it wisely.

¢ No one is ready for “The Return of Courtney Love” (9 p.m. today, VH1). Especially not Courtney Love. Described as “three months sober,” the punk widow and tabloid fixture discusses chanting, motherhood and clothes. Lots of clothes. She rummages through a garage full of designer duds. She then shows us a man’s jacket. “Kurt killed himself in this.” She insists she should put it in storage. “It freaks me out a little.”

Dear Courtney: Walk away from the cameras and get back to rehab. And take Lindsay Lohan with you.

Today’s highlights

¢ The voices of Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks animate the 2003 computer-generated cartoon “Finding Nemo” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (9 p.m., CBS): Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

¢ Daniel finds a new crush (Salma Hayek) on “Ugly Betty” (9 p.m., ABC).

¢ Justin Timberlake hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., NBC).

Sunday’s highlights

¢ Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., CBS): new strategies in foster care; an interview with Dan Whitney, aka Larry the Cable Guy.

¢ Linus teaches the gang the true meaning of Christmas in the 1965 animated special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (6 p.m., ABC).

¢ Holiday horrors at the mall on “The Simpsons” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ The Chargers host the Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football” (7 p.m., NBC).