# Tell me your favorite Christmas TV specials **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213 "2010-11-19T12:44:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/1 "2010-11-19T12:44:22Z")
I am thinking of having a TV Christmas special marathon open-house in December, where I’ll show Christmas shows (and movies) all day and friends can drop in and watch with us and have snacks. I guess my question is primarily for US Dopers, because I suspect I won;t be familiar with non-US Christmas specials, but don’t let it hold you back if you aren’t USAian! Tell me about your favorite Christmas TV specials! I own most of the Rankin & Bass shows (including The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus- whooo!) but I’m sure there are some I am forgetting about. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/2 "2010-11-19T13:21:46Z")
A Christmas Story The Muppet Christmas Carol ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/3 "2010-11-19T13:27:04Z")
Stroker and Hoop Christmas Special - the most warped and twisted take on Dickens ev-ah! Good times! Bernard and the Genie - a very sweet Xmas tale from our Brit friends. I watched it because it had Rowan Atkinson in it. After a few minutes I didn’t care that his was essentially a cameo role. Good flick, and pretty family friendly. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/4 "2010-11-19T13:31:53Z")
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Bad Santa ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/5 "2010-11-19T13:49:21Z")
Most of my DVD collection is made up of Christmas movies. All of Rankin & Bass, The Grinch (I even own an original animation cel from The Grinch) and the rest from that era. My favorites though, are: The Grinch, Miracle on 34ths Street (the original) and Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/6 "2010-11-19T14:09:33Z")
**Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol** (the very first animated Christmas Special that wasn’t an episode of a regular series). Not shown much anymore, but I have it on VHS and DVD **How the Grinch Stole Christmas** – Dr. Seuss, Chuck Jones, Boris Karloff, and Thurl Ravenscroft. What more could you want? **Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer** – the only Rankin-Bass thing I’ve ever liked **a Christmas Carol** – the animated one Chuck Jones produced, based on the original illustrations for Dickens’ story. VERY rarely seen, but a friend got me a copy. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/7 "2010-11-19T14:15:10Z")
I like Denis Leary’s [Merry Fuckin’ Christmas](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xquxq_denis-leary-s-merry-f-in-christmas_fun) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/8 "2010-11-19T14:20:17Z")
Without Rudolph, the SDMB would not have this classic [gem](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=48886) of a thread. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/9 "2010-11-19T14:20:56Z")
I thought Stephen Colbert’s special, [A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All](http://www.amazon.com/Colbert-Christmas-Greatest-Gift-All/dp/B001E75QHU) is REALLY well done. I watched it 3 times the year it came out, and hope it becomes regular yearly holiday viewing. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/10 "2010-11-19T14:37:55Z")
The classics: **Santa Claus is Coming to Town** and **Charlie Brown Christmas** ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/11 "2010-11-19T14:40:40Z")
Anything Rankin and Bass! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/12 "2010-11-19T14:49:33Z")
**Dr Suess’s The Grinch That Stole Christmas** (as opposed to the Jim Carrey movie) and **Trading Places**. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/13 "2010-11-19T17:53:40Z")
Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnIG1WuHaW0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnIG1WuHaW0) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/14 "2010-11-19T17:58:52Z")
My holiday must sees are “A Year Without A Santa Claus” (They Miser Brothers are too cool to miss) “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (original) “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” These are my “must see TV” for Christmas ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/15 "2010-11-19T18:00:25Z")
Star Wars Christmas Special 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/16 "2010-11-19T18:05:47Z")
On a more serious side: _A Midnight Clear_ and _Silent Night, Deadly Night_ If you can find it: \*A Christmas Memory \*(Truman Capote): the original, not that thing with Patty Duke. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/17 "2010-11-19T18:16:32Z")
I “discovered” this only a few years ago, but love [The Snowman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Snowman) ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/18 "2010-11-19T19:08:51Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > The Grinch (I even own an original animation cel from The Grinch) ENVY!!! My must-sees are **The Grinch** and **A Charlie Brown Christmas**. I’m pretty meh about the rest of them. I did once attend a Christmas special party when I was in college. There was hot chocolate with peppermint scnapps, which was wonderful, and I met a guy that I ended up dating for a while, so it stands out as one of the better parties I have ever been to. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/19 "2010-11-19T20:12:58Z")
If I don’t see the animated Grinch, it’s not allowed to be Christmas yet. I also love It’s a Wonderful Life, and both Mickey’s and the Muppets Christmas Carol. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213/20 "2010-11-19T20:26:17Z")
People used to look forward to The Wizard of OZ and The Sound of Music ever year at Christmas time before VCR’s became common. I don’t want to watch them now, but they will always be associated with Christmas for me. I never got to watch the whole Grinch that Stole Christmas after I started school, because it was shown every Christmas Eve starting just as we had to leave for the school Christmas service with all the kids doing their parts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-favorite-christmas-tv-specials/561213.md?page=2)