‘Tis the night before Christmas and sentimentality abounds. There are plenty of Christmasy shows while Santa’s making his rounds. You can DVR them or TIVO them, or if you’re old school, even tape them. But one thing is certainly certain: You sure can’t escape them.

In “It’s a Wonderful Life” (7 p.m., NBC), George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) imagines that he has never been born. That’s the dark, existential gist of this Frank Capra corn. He screams at his kids and gives his wife (Donna Reed) a good fright. But he also sings “Buffalo Gals, Won’t You Come Out Tonight.”

TBS is so certain of “A Christmas Story” (7 p.m., TBS) and its enchanting powers that it’s broadcasting nothing but for 24 hours. If you’ve never had the pleasure, you should give it a good tryout. It’s a movie about a kid, a BB gun and the folks who say, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

• And if it’s with Christian allegory and special effects you are smitten, don’t miss “The Chronicles of Narnia” (7 p.m., ABC), about four kids from Britain.

• Rob Lowe of “The West Wing” surely paid his dues by appearing in the 2002 movie “The Christmas Shoes” (8 p.m., Lifetime). He works all the time while Kimberly Williams Paisley is slowly dying. What better way to start the audience crying? Her son (Max Morrow) thinks new shoes will cure her ills, oh so chronic. But he just can’t afford those pricey Manolo Blahniks.

• Want a confectionary treat that’s more than satisfactory? Try the 1971 musical adaptation of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (7 p.m., AMC).

• If you don’t think your holiday spirit could get any higher, you could always spend “Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings). There are also two helpings of “Spider Man” (6 p.m., and 8:30 p.m., TNT), starring Tobey Maguire. Now that’s something to watch while roasting chestnuts by the fire!

• Director Ron Howard turned the beloved “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (7 p.m., Family) into something vaguely scary. But what do you expect, with that scene-stealer Jim Carrey?

• Singer/songwriter James Taylor appears on “Spectacle with Elvis Costello” (8 p.m., Sundance). Sweet Baby James is a serious and contemplative fellow. Having survived many crises and emotional pain, you can say he’s seen fire and he’s seen rain.

• Can Christmas encompass the psychedelic, the out there and even the hip? Check out “Christmas on Mars” (11 p.m., Sundance), featuring The Flaming Lips.

• Even “Hollywood Does Christmas” (9 p.m., WE), if only for a lark. We visit with Kirstie Alley, Rachel Hunter and Jeff Goldblum, star of “Jurassic Park.”

I’ve run out of room if not out of rhyme and wish you the best at this holiday time. I hope the big day brings a heapin’ helping of hospitality. And let’s dare to dream that the New Year brings us better TV!

Tonight’s other highlights

• Discover unspools 15 hours of “Man Vs. Wild” (10 a.m., Discovery).

• Spend 12 hours at the pound with the “Dogtown” (1 p.m., National Geographic) marathon.

• The voices of Emma Roberts and Norm MacDonald animate the 2008 holiday special “The Flight Before Christmas” (7 p.m., CW).

• Edward Asner, Betty White and Tim Curry add their voices to the 1996 special “The Story of Santa Claus” (8 p.m., CW).