# Charlie Brown, Grinch, or Rudolph? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298 "2003-12-01T17:35:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WhetherMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e7dd6/32.png) [@WhetherMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhetherMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/1 "2003-12-01T17:35:13Z")
So, Folks, how would you rank these all-time classics in order of favorites? My childhood ranking has not changed. The order is, most definitely, as follows: 1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 2. A Charlie Brown Christmas 3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/2 "2003-12-01T17:55:15Z")
1. Grinch 2. Charlie Brown 3. Rudolph ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/3 "2003-12-01T17:55:30Z")
Charlie Brown takes the top of the list 11 times out of 10. However, the ranking of the remaining two is determined by your answer to the following question: **Who is the voice of the narrator for "How the Grinch Stole Christmas?"** If your answer is Boris Karloff, you are #2. If your answer is Walter Matthau, you are #452. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/4 "2003-12-01T18:00:33Z")
1. Charlie Brown 2. Charlie Brown 3.Grinch _4._ Rudolph ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/5 "2003-12-01T18:10:25Z")
I used to love Rudolph the best as a child, but more recent viewings have revealed its myriad flaws, both logical and artistic. I’m still fond of it, but “Olive, the Other Reindeer” has taken its place in my list, which is now: 1. Grinch 2. Charlie Brown 3. Olive 4. Rudolph ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/6 "2003-12-01T18:28:39Z")
Never understood the appeal of Charlie Brown personally. I just don’t get it. My List: 1. Grinch 2. Rudolph 3. Everything else 4. Charlie Brown Now, if we’re going to start adding things in all seriousness, here we go: 5. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 6. It’s a Wonderful Life (in glorious black & white). 7. A Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim version) 8. Scrooged 9. Die Hard (A Christmas film in my books!) 10. Frosty the Snowman (Animated) ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/7 "2003-12-01T18:38:35Z")
My number one will always be the Heat Meiser. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/8 "2003-12-01T19:07:17Z")
**1. The Nightmare Before Christmas** 2. The Grinch 3. Charlie Brown 4. Rudolph ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/9 "2003-12-01T19:17:20Z")
Charlie Brown Grinch Rudolph Honorable mention for the movie, _A Christmas Story_. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/10 "2003-12-01T19:33:29Z")
Sticking to TV: 1. Grinch 2. Olive the Other Reindeer 3. Rudolph 4. Charlie Brown Note that I will happily watch all four. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/11 "2003-12-01T19:43:13Z")
Damn, I thought this was going to be another “Who would beat whom?” thread. My bet was going to be on Rudolph, who could spear either Charlie or Grinchie with his antlers, perhaps one on each side. Or the Grinch could set a present in front of Charlie, then pull it away like Lucy when he goes to open it. The Grinch’s sleigh is cool, but can’t beat Rudolph’s ability to actually fly. That red nose could, for all we know, be the tip of a death-ray laser. So the rankings have to be: 1. Rudolph 2. Grinch 3. Charlie Brown ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/12 "2003-12-01T21:56:21Z")
Charlie Brown Grinch Rudolph While Charlie Brown is definitely #1, it was hard to decide between the other two. You can get extra points if you give the name of the guy who sings “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” BTW. it’s not Boris Karloff, but the guy does do another famous animated voice. Think stripes. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/13 "2003-12-01T23:51:43Z")
1. Charlie Brown 2. The Grinch 3. Rudolph ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/14 "2003-12-02T00:26:23Z")
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas 2. A Charlie Brown Christmas 3. A Charlie Brown Christmas 4. A Charlie Brown Christmas 5. A Charlie Brown Christmas 6. A Charlie Brown Christmas 7. A Charlie Brown Christmas 8. A Charlie Brown Christmas 9. A Charlie Brown Christmas 10. A Charlie Brown Christmas 11. A Charlie Brown Christmas 12. A Charlie Brown Christmas 13. A Charlie Brown Christmas 14. A Charlie Brown Christmas 15. A Charlie Brown Christmas 16. A Charlie Brown Christmas 17. A Charlie Brown Christmas 18. A Charlie Brown Christmas 19. A Charlie Brown Christmas 20. A Charlie Brown Christmas What were those other ones again? Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Christmas Rays.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/15 "2003-12-02T00:29:35Z")
Boy, that’s a tough one! Grinch Charlie Brown Rudolph But I like 'em all. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/16 "2003-12-02T01:59:31Z")
I’m flabbergasted that there are folks out there who don’t rank Charlie Brown at the top. 1. Charlie Brown 2. Grinch 3. Rudolph And that’s not a slight to Rudolph; I like all three. There are three things my family watches every year at Christmastime, without fail: Charlie Brown, It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Story (the latter to my mind is far better than many other “Christmas classics” – Miracle on 34th Street, I’m lookin’ at you). ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/17 "2003-12-02T02:07:22Z")
Ernest Saves Christmas. No contest. [sub]Yeah, right[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/18 "2003-12-02T02:10:04Z")
I absolutely LOVED the “Bumble” (Abominable Snowman) when I was a kid. Especially when he was standing there, toothless making lip-smacking noises. Loved, loved, LOVED the Bumble! I also LOVED the pathetic little Christamas tree. And I LOVED Max. The Grinch’s dog. _Loved_ Max! Oo! Tough choice… I think based on the glee I felt as a child it would have to be: 1. Bumbles that bounce (Rudolph) 2. Grinch (Boris Karloff’s voice made me squeal) 3. Charlie Brown (Though I _really_ felt for the tree and would’ve picked that tree too). ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/19 "2003-12-02T02:57:34Z")
I’m Mr. Heat Miser I’m Mr. Sun (ba da da da) I’m Mr. Green Christmas . . . I’m Mr. Hundred and One! Friends call me Heat Meiser, What ever I touch Starts to melt in my clutch . . . IIIII’m too much (ba da da da) _Year Without a Santa Clause_ Way better than Rudolph. The other one that’s way better than Rudolph is the one that tells the story of Santa Claus, with Burghermeister Meisterburgher – which I can’t recall the name of right now. Ah, the joys of Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298/20 "2003-12-02T03:01:58Z")
One year I got the privilege of reading the story from Luke during our Christmas Eve service at church. We were doing it old fashioned, so it was the KJV that Linus recited. I _almost_, but not quite, finished the reading with “And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” But I lost my nerve and said the usual “Here endeth the lesson”. I’ll always regret the lost chance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-brown-grinch-or-rudolph/216298.md?page=2)