Red noses and Charlie Brown

If you think you celebrated Labor Day only a few short days ago and there's still plenty of time before winter, think again. September, October and most of November have raced by -- and it's almost Christmas!

That means that the TV networks are dusting off their seasonal perennials and introducing a few new holiday specials to ornament your December.

Here's a Santa sackful of Christmas shows you and your family might enjoy:

* "Perry Como's Irish Christmas," December (various dates), PBS: The Italian singer goes Irish in this special taped in Dublin.

* "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer," Dec. 1, CBS: Burl Ives is the narrator of this long-running, stop-action version of the song about a deformed deer and his value to Santa.

* "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Dec. 3, CBS: You know this one from many reruns -- all of them justified because of the special nature of this 32-year-old cartoon, which includes the holy side of the holiday. It will be followed by "A Garfield Christmas Special," something a little less sacred.

* "Michael the Visitor," Dec. 9, Odyssey cable network (repeated on Dec. 21 and 22): This clay-animation version of a story by Leo Tolstoy about an angel and a shoemaker is a different approach to the season that might by the change-of-pace your family needs.

* "The Story of Santa Claus," Dec. 12, CBS: This animated hour uses the voices of Ed Asner, Betty White and Tim Curry to spin a tale about the jolly old elf. It will be followed by two other cartoons: "Frosty the Snowman" and "Frosty Returns."

* "Atlanta Symphony Gospel Christmas," Dec. 15, PBS: Classical music and spirituals combine in this music special, which features the Pointer Sisters and familiar holiday songs. The same night includes "Carols from Atlanta," with European hymns, Negro spirituals and African folk songs.

* "It's A Wonderful Life," Dec. 20, NBC: You know the movie; you love the movie; you can't get through the holidays without the movie. And remember: Only NBC has the rights to show it, so don't expect 17 more chances to see it.

* "A Christmas Memory," Dec. 21, CBS: Patty Duke stars in this version of the Truman Capote short story about a young man and his older cousin celebrating the holidays together for the last time.

* "Images of Life: The Greatest Holiday Stories Ever Told," Dec. 22, CBS: Using newsreel footage, this special retells true stories of past Christmases, such as Bob Hope entertaining troops around the world and astronauts celebrating the holy day -- literally around the world.

* "Christmas at Saint Olaf," Dec. 24, PBS: The 450-voice choir of St. Olaf College in Minnesota performs sacred music.

* "The Christmas Box," Dec. 25, CBS: First broadcast two years ago and starring Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas, this movie -- a fable of loss and love -- has become a holiday favorite.

(If you have Jewish friends, you might want to alert them to one of the few Chanukah TV programs for children: "Lamb Chop's Special Chanukah," Dec. 8, PBS.)

(11-27-97)

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