ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Kicks Off with Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

ABC Family will begin its annual 25 Days of Christmas programming, tonight, with two versions of the Santa Claus story to delight and entertain your family.

Beginning at 7 p.m., Mrs. Claus gets to tell her story in The Year Without A Santa Claus. Mrs. Claus narrates this memorable children’s classic about the time she almost donned her husband’s famous red suit. Disenchanted with the lack of holiday spirit throughout the land, Santa (voiced by Mickey Rooney) decides not to deliver presents and Mrs. Claus and all the elves have to convince him to make his traditional Christmas Eve sleigh ride. Based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Phyllis McGinley’s children’s book and filmed using stop-motion animated puppets. The special is filled with Christmas classics including “Here Comes Santa Claus.” (Animated) (7:00-8:00 PM ET/PT)

Tim Allen and Martin Short in "Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause"

Don’t turn off that television just yet, because right after The Year Without A Santa Claus, watch Martin Short and Tim Allen in Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Holiday magic mixes with comical chaos as Tim Allen reprises his role of Scott Calvin, aka Santa, as he juggles a full house of family and the mischievous Jack Frost (Martin Short)–whose chilling Santa envy has him trying to take over the “big guy’s” holiday. Along for the adventure is Scott’s extended family: son Charlie (Eric Lloyd); ex-wife Laura (Wendy Crewson); her husband Neil (Judge Reinhold); and their daughter Lucy (Liliana Mumy), who together with Head Elf Curtis (Spencer Breslin) must foil Jack Frost’s crafty scheme to control the North Pole. (Live Action) (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)
Encore presentation of Santa Clause 3 immediately follows.