# Your favorite "Classic Christmas Special" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853 "2011-12-02T16:30:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/41 "2011-12-03T12:18:17Z")
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr Seuss and Boris Karloff…the only one I’d still watch. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/42 "2011-12-03T13:45:24Z")
All versions of “The Grinch” make me physically ill just to glance at in passing. I kind of wish they still had the old-fashioned Celebrity Christmas Celebrations At Home. Andy Williams, Kathy Lee Gifford, Dolly Parton - all singin’ and dancin’, big happy families doing Christmas up right. We had some great drinking games watching that wretched excess. There was, one year, A Muppet Christmas, where the Muppets all gathered at a farm, there was a snowstorm, and they were waiting for Miss Piggy to show up. I loved that one, and they all sang Christmas carols at the end? ---
**Author:** ![ballardfam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@ballardfam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ballardfam)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/43 "2011-12-03T14:10:51Z")
The Hebrew Hammer. A ‘Shaft’ parody about a jewish/hassidic privite eye that saves hanukkah from an evil santa claus. Just caught it on netflix this week. Some funny parts although I think I’m missing some of the jewish referenced humor. Ran it by a couple of jewish friends and one had seen it & thought it was hillarious while the other thought the premise itself was offensive. Anyone seen it & have an opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/44 "2011-12-03T15:29:45Z")
> [@expectopatronum](#): > > charlie brown is a must watch, and far and away my favorite. i have a soft spot for frosty the snowman, though. > > i really love [the snowman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Snowman), too, although i don’t think it’s as well known. i watch it every year, there’s something just chillingly magical about it. Someone alert me when this is on. I’ve only seen it a time or two and I love it. We have the book, and I always have to sing or hum “Walking in the Air” when the snowman takes flight. Hm I just remembered I can probably DVR it. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/45 "2011-12-03T16:45:01Z")
The ANIMATED Grinch, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. All the rest? Bah, humbug! Yes, even Charlie Brown. I used to be enchanted by the Peanuts gang, but to me, they’ve lost their charm. My husband, on the other hand, will watch ANY Christmas special, classic or new. I retreat into the game room at the other end of the house and slay monsters while he does this. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/46 "2011-12-03T17:19:18Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I have watched [Christmas Eve on Sesame Street](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve_on_Sesame_Street) every year since probably 1982. I’ve got a copy on VHS and 3 copies on DVD. > > Love it! For me, too. Also, _The Snowman_. [This one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubeVUnGQOIk). ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/47 "2011-12-03T17:39:22Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Someone alert me when this is on. I’ve only seen it a time or two and I love it. We have the book, and I always have to sing or hum “Walking in the Air” when the snowman takes flight. > > Hm I just remembered I can probably DVR it. i don’t know if they ever air it in the US anymore. after some googling it looks like it still airs in the UK once a year, though. i either drag out my dusty vhs copy or watch it on youtube. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/48 "2011-12-03T17:42:57Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > For me, too. Also, _The Snowman_. [This one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubeVUnGQOIk). yes, but is it the raymond briggs opening or the david bowie one? i prefer the briggs opening because it’s what i grew up with. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/49 "2011-12-04T00:06:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > **Rahne** clams that the _John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together_ special was only shown once back in 1979 and never repeated, and I say it _has_ been shown since-who is right? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it on tv and not video, and I was born in 1979. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/50 "2011-12-04T03:51:57Z")
Magoo. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/51 "2011-12-04T03:59:35Z")
**A Christmas Story** , but The Big Bang Theory has a great Chistmas episode that dances on the knife edge of sentimental and sappy. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/52 "2011-12-04T05:06:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it on tv and not video, and I was born in 1979. Hmm. I’m a couple of years older than you, and while I’ve heard the soundtrack, I’ve never seen the special. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/53 "2011-12-05T16:24:31Z")
On Christmas Eve we always watch the animated “Grinch”, “Emmett Otter” and the christmas episode of the Andy Griffith show. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/54 "2011-12-05T16:31:15Z")
The one I watch ever year is A Christmas Carol (aka Scrooge) the one with Alistair Sim. why watch any other version? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/55 "2011-12-05T16:37:14Z")
Stephen Colbert’s Christmas special is my favourite Christmas (instant) classic. But Grinch and Mickey’s Christmas Carol are good, too. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/56 "2011-12-05T16:37:34Z")
I voted for the Grinch of what was offered. My actual traditions are _Emmet Otter_ and _Die Hard_. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/57 "2011-12-05T16:40:57Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > **A Christmas Story…** This is a annual family favorite. I gotta go with \*How the Grinch Stole Christmas!\*followed by _Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_, and _Frosty the Snowman._ It’s tradition to catch these at least once a year. _The Grinch is still o_ne of my favorite Dr. Suess books to read to the kids, (Christmas or not) and Boris Karloff is absolutely fantastic. I can hear the song right now… You’re a mean one, Mister Grinch… ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/58 "2011-12-06T00:58:01Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > I can hear the song right now… You’re a mean one, Mister Grinch… _Your heart’s an empty hole! Your brain is full of spiders, you’ve got garlic in your soul, Mister Griiiiii-inch! I wouldn’t touch you with a 39-and-a-half foot pole!_ ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/59 "2011-12-06T03:20:46Z")
I’ll cast my vote for [Ebenezer Sanford](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scYY0siznB0). ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853/60 "2011-12-06T03:22:12Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > The one I watch ever year is A Christmas Carol (aka Scrooge) the one with Alistair Sim. why watch any other version? 😕 Because the George C. Scott version is better? 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-classic-christmas-special/604853.md?page=4)