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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network TBS says it will once again air the 1983 holiday classic "A Christmas Story" for 24 hours, starting Christmas Eve. The 24-hour "Christmas Story" marathon first aired in 1997 on TNT. The marathon moved to TNT's sister station TBS in 2004.
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The first screening of this year's marathon is to start at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
"Based on the short stories of famed humorist Jean Shepherd, 'A Christmas Story' follows the mischievous adventures of a young boy who longs for a special Christmas gift -- a Red Ryder BB gun," a synopsis said. "Peter Billingsley stars as young Ralphie, who is determined to convince the world that he is responsible enough to handle such a gift, despite his mother's insistence that he could shoot his eye out. Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are pitch-perfect as Ralphie's parents, and Ian Petrella provides some of the movie's funniest moments as Ralphie's little brother, Randy."
The marathon averaged 3 million viewers per showing in 2010, up 2 percent compared to the prior year, with a total accumulated audience of more than 50 million viewers during the 24 hours, TBS said.
The network recently ordered a sitcom pilot entitled "Sullivan and Son" from Billingsley and his producing partner, Vince Vaughn.
