Like raisins in a fruitcake, cable marathons abound, offering plenty of chances for holiday diversions, distractions and escape when gifting, eating and the crush of togetherness becomes too much to bear. My personal favorite of the day has to be the 36-hour “Freaks and Geeks” (5 a.m. Saturday through 5 p.m. Sunday) marathon on IFC. As we prepare to enter the second decade of the 21st century, it’s fun to think of how much this short-lived comedy influenced the first. From creator Judd Apatow to stars James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel, “Freaks” may not have survived NBC’s fall 1999 season, but its impact continues.

Other marathons include a full day of “Star Wars” movies, kicking off at 9 a.m. on Spike.

Tonight’s other highlights

• “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” (Noon, ABC).

• Jane Lynch (“Glee”) hosts “TV’s Funniest Holiday Moments: A Paley Center for Media Special” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Shia LaBeouf stars in the 2007 blow-’em-up “Transformers” (7 p.m.), directed by Michael Bay.

• Tom Selleck returns in the 2010 detective movie “Jesse Stone: No Remorse” (7 p.m., CBS).

• The Doctor saves the soul of a crusty miser on “Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol” (8 p.m., BBC America).

• Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (9 p.m., CBS): a mafia don’s daughter discusses her upbringing.

• Matt Smith, Matt Lucas and David Walliams appear on “The Graham Norton Show” (9 p.m., BBC America).

• Emma Stone hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Kings of Leon.

Saturday series

An animated search for Christmas on “Community” (7 p.m., NBC) … Jack keeps secrets from his mother on “30 Rock” (7:30 p.m., NBC) … Public works and public wrongs on “Law & Order: Los Angeles” (8 p.m., NBC) … A case offers 30-year-old echoes on “Law & Order: SVU” (9 p.m., NBC).