Favorite Holiday specials?

[palitoy]

Oh, and I’m a sucker for the Christmas episode of almost any classic sitcom. I might not even like the series that much, but if they had a Christmas episode...

They're always bad knockoffs of a "Christmas Carol". My favourite is on Sanford and Son, the ghost of Christmas future is Lamont in a space suit.

[hedrap]

I didn't get to see it for years and years, but I'm fond of Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol as well.

Chris

Here's another vote for Magoo. It works because he's a perfect character for that story. It doesn't feel shoehorned.

Year Without Santa Claus always ranks on top. I'm sure I'm forgetting some one-off show.

You know what became the most hackneyed Christmas ep? The "Character X has to spend Christmas alone, until friends invite him in". How many shows did that one? Happy Days is probably the most famous, but I could swear WKRP and MASH did it, along with Alice, Barney Miller, Benson, Newhart etc...

Here's a list of insanity

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Christmas_television_specials

...and another. I think everyone needs to pick a section of this list and watch it. Do it...for the Museum.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Christmas_television_episodes

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Happy Days did it best. That episode still works on all levels.

Chris

[Confessional]

All things Rankin & Bass… binged AMC's marathon this past weekend; so many fun riffs on the holidays!

[hedrap]

^It's the "peanut butter samich by the fire"...melodrama at its purest.

[Bruce Banner]

"A Cosmic Christmas" remains a memorable one for me.
Also the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer stop-motion animated special.
And "The Christmas Raccoons" cartoon.

[PNGwynne]

That's very true, it's charming. I love the Jule Styne music in it.


[QUOTE=hedrap;1392024]Here's another vote for Magoo. It works because he's a perfect character for that story. It doesn't feel shoehorned.

[EmergencyIan]

Rudolph, Charlie Brown and Emmett Otter are the top three, i think. Of course, there are others that I love. One that isn't mentioned often that I really liked is Mickey's A Christmas Carol.

- Ian

[PNGwynne]

Oh, Emmett Otter--I haven't seen that in years. That was must-see viewing when we had HBO. I'm a sucker for most anything Muppety.

[Klosterheim]

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is the one stop-motion special that I remember most.

I like the Doctor Who Christmas Specials.

[EmergencyIan]

Oh, Emmett Otter--I haven't seen that in years. That was must-see viewing when we had HBO. I'm a sucker for most anything Muppety.

It’s really well done.

I have a DVD that includes outtakes, which are very funny.

- Ian

[YoungOnce]

Must sees: Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Grinch animated, Frosty...

Like the other Rankin-Bass too, even the 2D ''twas the Night Before Christmas"

One of my favorite tv series Christmas episodes is the Andy Griffith Show with Ben Weaver being very Scrooge-like but he comes around by the end.

Movies: gotta watch Its A Wonderful Life, Ernest Saves Christmas, and believe it or not, I always get in the mood to watch Home Alone again... What can I say, it makes me feel Christmas-y.

[EMCE Hammer]

Don't forget Henry Winkler as Scrooge.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Oh, Emmett Otter--I haven't seen that in years. That was must-see viewing when we had HBO. I'm a sucker for most anything Muppety.

That's playing in theaters through Fathom soon:

https://www.fathomevents.com/events/jim-hensons-holiday-special-with-fraggle-rock-and-emmet-otter

Like the other Rankin-Bass too, even the 2D ''twas the Night Before Christmas"

That's another favorite. I get "Even a Miracle Needs a Hand" stuck in my head every time.

One of my favorite tv series Christmas episodes is the Andy Griffith Show with Ben Weaver being very Scrooge-like but he comes around by the end.

YES! What a great episode. I must watch every year, along with Happy Days. Speaking of which...

Don't forget Henry Winkler as Scrooge.

Wow, I haven't seen that one in YEARS. Need to add that to the mix this year. My family really loved it.

Speaking of Scrooges, I have to watch Alastair Sim (the best version), and Albert Finney's musical version every year. If I can add in George C. Scott, I will as well. All great adaptations.

We put up our real tree, which we cut ourselves, while watching A Christmas Story, Elf and/or Christmas Vacation. I have to watch each of those at some point during the season. And White Christmas, of course!

Chris

[EmergencyIan]

^ Might be interesting to see Emmet Otter and Fraggle Rock Christmas on the big screen. Looks like it’s coming up nation wide, for a day or two, in about 6 days. I’ll have to look again, but I think they’re showing on a Monday. That’s the only drawback for me.

- Ian

PS. I often watch Adam-12. It airs on Cozi. Surprisingly, over seven seasons, they had three Christmas episodes. I mention it, because it seems unusual for a series to have multiple Christmas episodes.