My all-time favorite is Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, which I bought the tape of about 10 years ago so I can watch it every year while I wrap presents. Lovely, lovely Jule Styne songs – “Winter was warm…” “A hand for each hand…” etc.
Tied for second – Grinch and Claymation. Thanks to those who reminded me of the latter!
I remember that! In fact, somewhere in my mother’s living room we have a 6-hour VHS of Christmas specials that we taped off the TV ten or fifteen years ago, and that’s on it! I’ll have to dig it up now and watch it!
Can you tell me the name after you watch it ?
You know, I’ve never even heard of the Mr. Magoo special.
I’ve got to stay in more.
Of course! I’m hoping we managed to get the part where they tell the name on tape…
::thinks really hard::
I REMEMBER! It’s “The Christmas Toy” and it’s by Henson!
::runs to Google to find more information::
I second A Wish for Wings That Work as best ever. I actually found it on Amazon a couple of years ago after my cousin lost the copy we always borrowed. It’s the most hilarious thing ever.
(An old B&W movie clip of an airplane interior. There is discussion over whether the plane is going the right way. The pilot is consulted. It’s Opus.)
Opus-“What? WHAT? We don’t keep the macadamia nuts up here, talk to the stewardess!”
Just one of the great lines. I may go start a thread just for it.
-brianjedi
Oh man is Rudolph’s Shiny New Year full of weirdness. It is definitely the worst.
Not according to the IMDb. Or have I been whooshed?
Probably misremebering. Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys has never been used as a title for any program until the DTV sequel made last year, but the name has been used on merchandise, due to some lawsuit or something regarding the mid-90s animated movie. Rudolph himself is owned by a Rudolph Company, as well.
While not animated, this was easily the most ill conceived holiday special EVER!
What did they cut?
The link didnt work! Oh Cripes!
The two giants of the genre are, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.
I’ll give the nod to ACBC, simply because of the fantastic score by the Vince Guaribaldi trio. Best. Christmas. Music. EVER.
“A Wish for Wings That Work” is available as a book, with Breathed’s fine artwork. Doesn’t have the macedemia nut line, however.
I remember seeing “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” as a youngin, and that scene of him on his knees in the snow begging Death put the willies in me (i was only 7 then).
Can I just say thank you to Racinchiki. I have been looking for this movie since I was about 10 and now I have the name and I can buy it and prove to mom that I’m not crazy (She didnt remember it and thought I was making the whole thing up.
The best:
The Rankin-Bass Rudolph. So many memories…
Charlie Brown Christmas (I mean, you have to give it acknowledgement, right?)
Last Year’s Christmas Episode of Simpsons (Buddhist one)- Hey I liked it!
Year Without a Santa Claus- Oh so campy!!
Worst?
Rudolph Shiny New Year looks so…odd. It just seems wrong. From what I’ve seen.
And the Simpsons episode with Funzo. That was one of the most disjointed episodes they’ve done.
You can find those figures and others here.
No, they’re not. …and the Island of Misfit Toys is a sequel. I bought it for my kids last year. I’m not sure if it’s ever been on TV, or if it went straight to video.
I absolutely detest the concept of A Flintstone’s Christmas. Think about it…Christmas…in the stone age…anything see something wrong with that??
They also had cars, “airplanes,” and other modern things. So? It’s a cartoon.