# Christmas special alert
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 3, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689 "2006-12-03T15:19:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/1 "2006-12-03T15:19:44Z")
The Year without a Santa Claus is playing on the 4th at 8 on ABC Family. This is the one with Heat Miser and all the rest.
Santa Claus is coming to Town is playing on the 5th at 8 on ABC.
Rudolf and Frosty are on Friday on CBS at 8 and 9.
The Grinch will be on Saturday at 9 on ABC (Jim Carey version - boo)
Scrooged is on Sunday the 10th at 2:00 on ABC Family.
More will be posted as I spot them (or add to the list as you spot them)
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/2 "2006-12-03T16:18:52Z")
Olive the other Reindeer?
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### Author:  [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/3 "2006-12-03T19:59:33Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra]
Olive the other Reindeer?
[/QUOTE]
Dec. 14th on the Cartoon Network at 11AM (on the West coast). Probably other times too.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/4 "2006-12-03T21:15:10Z")
Miracle on 34th st. Dec 3rd (today) on AMC at 8:00 PM
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### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/5 "2006-12-03T21:55:05Z")
Looks like _The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus_ will only be on three times—on Dec 9 at 11a.m; the 12th at 7pm; and the 24th at 3pm—on ABC family, this year.
It’s from a story by L. Frank Baum, apparently set in the same universe as Oz, though it’s not a crossover. It’s affectionately known as “Hobbit Claus” at my house.
It has a wood sprite with Tourette’s syndrome, and the line “They are training to be Samurai,” which I believe is unparalelled in all of the christmas specials ever made.
And a horned wizard named Ack who slays goblins with a magic axe.
It is not a comedy.
All courtesy of the magic of Rankin-Bass stop motion.
Joe Bob Ranchoth says check it out.
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### Author:  [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/6 "2006-12-03T22:08:43Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji]
The Year without a Santa Claus is playing on the 4th at 8 on ABC Family. This is the one with Heat Miser and all the rest.
Santa Claus is coming to Town is playing on the 5th at 8 on ABC.
Rudolf and Frosty are on Friday on CBS at 8 and 9.
The Grinch will be on Saturday at 9 on ABC (Jim Carey version - boo)
Scrooged is on Sunday the 10th at 2:00 on ABC Family.
More will be posted as I spot them (or add to the list as you spot them)
[/QUOTE]
We bought most of these on DVD last year so they’re playing weekly at CasaRuby! 😃
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### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/7 "2006-12-03T22:47:35Z")
There’s also a live-action version of _[The Year Without A Santa Claus](http://www.nbc.com/The_Year_Without_A_Santa_Claus/)_ on December 11, starring John Goodman as Santa, Delta Burke as Mrs. Claus, Michael McKeen as Cold Miser, and Harvey Fierstein as Heat Miser.
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### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/8 "2006-12-03T22:54:57Z")
I forgot to note that it’ll be on NBC.
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### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/9 "2006-12-03T23:54:52Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay]
There’s also a live-action version of _[The Year Without A Santa Claus](http://www.nbc.com/The_Year_Without_A_Santa_Claus/)_ on December 11, starring John Goodman as Santa, Delta Burke as Mrs. Claus, Michael McKeen as Cold Miser, and Harvey Fierstein as Heat Miser.
[/QUOTE]
Holy Cow, that has train wreck written all over it. I’m going to have to catch that.
Plus the original, of course (thanks to the OP; that’s probably my favorite).
What about the cartoon _Twas the Night Before Christmas_\*?
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### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/10 "2006-12-04T00:11:46Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy]
Holy Cow, that has train wreck written all over it. I’m going to have to catch that.
[/QUOTE]
[Here’s a preview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqTx3OZKXsw).
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/11 "2006-12-04T00:23:26Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy]
Holy Cow, that has train wreck written all over it. I’m going to have to catch that.
Plus the original, of course (thanks to the OP; that’s probably my favorite).
What about the cartoon _Twas the Night Before Christmas_\*?
[/QUOTE]
I thought so too, but the youtube preview (linked in another post) makes it look fun. I will probably try to remember to watch it.
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### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/12 "2006-12-04T00:24:55Z")
Shoot, miscoded back there: What about **Twas the Night Before Christmas** (the cartoon from the 70s)?
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### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/13 "2006-12-04T00:28:26Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay]
[Here’s a preview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqTx3OZKXsw).
[/QUOTE]
Yikes. We’ll see…
However, if this is a TV movie and not just a Christmas special, then that means they’ve padded at least another 1/2-hour’s worth of material and that bodes particularly ill.
Still, I’m sure I’ll watch it (the Mrs. is revving into Xmas mode)
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### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/14 "2006-12-04T00:30:14Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy]
Shoot, miscoded back there: What about **Twas the Night Before Christmas** (the cartoon from the 70s)?
[/QUOTE]
The one with the mice? The IMDB entry doesn’t have any upcoming broadcasts listed.
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### Author:  [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/15 "2006-12-04T01:42:12Z")
[QUOTE=Ranchoth]
Looks like _The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus_ will only be on three times—on Dec 9 at 11a.m; the 12th at 7pm; and the 24th at 3pm—on ABC family, this year._\_
[/QUOTE]
I didn’t get to see it at all last year! _The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus_ is my all time favorite Rankin-Bass special. For some reason, the idea of Santa having a Mantle of Immortality really made sense to me when I was little.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/16 "2006-12-10T21:45:01Z")
As mentioned the Year Without a Santa Claus, live action version is on Monday night the 11th. NBC 9 PM
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus will be on the 12th ABC Family 7 PM
Dr. Suess’ Grinch animated version will be on the 12th, ABC 8 PM
Elf will be on USA on the 12th 9 PM
Little Drummer Boy ABC Family the 14th 7 PM
A Christmas Stroy 15th TCM 8 PM
Its a Wonderful Life 16th NBC 8PM
The Santa Clause 16th 9PM Disney
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### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/17 "2006-12-10T21:51:28Z")
No Charlie Brown Christmas?
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### Author:  [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/18 "2006-12-10T21:54:49Z")
Hm… I’m gonna have to find my copy of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Maybe watch it along with The Santa Clause.
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### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/19 "2006-12-10T22:34:48Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby]
No Charlie Brown Christmas?
[/QUOTE]
Already happened. I don’t remember seeing in to ABC Family’s schedule between now and the 25th; I think you only get one shot at it (on CBS, IIRC). Sorry. ☹
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### Author:  [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-special-alert/382689/20 "2006-12-11T13:51:33Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji]
Miracle on 34th st. Dec 3rd (today) on AMC at 8:00 PM
[/QUOTE]
I think they’ve been playing that twice a night for a couple of weeks now with the colorized version at 8:00 (eastern) and the b&w at 10:00 (eastern).