The 10 Most Underrated Christmas Specials Ever
Posted at 5:00 AM Dec 22, 2008
By Chris CumminsBy this point in the year, you have probably placed yourself so deep in debt trying to buy the love of your family, friends and significant others that you're ready to pull a D.B. Cooper and drop out of society. So is it to much to ask that you get some decent holiday programming to watch before you have to pay January's credit card bills? It's small comfort to your wallet, but there's a world of Christmas viewing choices other than Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Because of infrequent repeat showings, botched home video releases or good old-fashioned forgetfulness and public indifference, there's a ton of wonderful holiday shows that deserve way more love then they are getting. So pour yourself some heavily spiked egg nog and check out this (somewhat Muppet-heavy) list of the most underrated Christmas specials of all time.
10) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Rankin-Bass presents this 1974 adaptation of Clement Moore's classic poem in which Santa gets pissed at an entire town after he reads a letter in the local newspaper questioning his existence. As the community rallies to convince St. Nick that they do in fact believe in him, a mouse watchmaker teams with his son--the overly intelligent brat who wrote the anti-Santa screed--to make things right and save the holiday. Highlighted by the empowering "Even a Miracle Needs a Hand" song, this show is the only holiday special in history that features a skeptic/plague-carrier in a leading role.
9) A Wish for Wings That Work
Bloom County creator Berkeley Breathed may not be a fan of this adaptation of his children's book, but it's more than good enough for the rest of us. Produced by Steven Spielberg while he was making Hook (which explains the vocal cameos by Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman), the special follows Opus the Penguin as he attempts to learn how to fly. Accompanied by the eternally burnt-out Bill the Cat, his journey to take flight turns into a comedy of errors that makes viewers yearn for more Opus adventures. With Breathed recently ending the Opus comic strip, that may just happen. Here's hoping.
8) The Christmas Toy
Just released on DVD (though minus the Kermit the Frog opening thanks to the same goddamn kind of legal issues that cut him out of the home video releases of Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas), The Christmas Toy follows stuffed animal Rugby the Tiger as he learns the hard way that he isn't always going to be his owner's favorite plaything. The special's exploration of what toys do when they aren't being played with was similarly examined--or if you like, ripped off--by Toy Story. But Buzz and Woody don't have a fraction of the charisma that Rugby and his friends possess.
7) Olive, the Other Reindeer
Blending elements of traditional and 3-D animation to bring to life the visual style of the book it was based on, Olive, the Other Reindeer made its TV debut in 1999 on FOX. Produced by Matt Groening, the cartoon tells the story of a dog suffering from an identity crisis who becomes convinced that she has to help Santa save Christmas. From this threadbare plot comes an enjoyable and dare I say touching story about determination and acceptance, heightened by Drew Barrymore's great vocal performance as the titular canine. It's also a great example of a kids program that teaches a lesson without hammering its point home or talking down to its intended audience. (Cough *Ziggy's Gift* cough).
6) Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
It's now a holiday special cliché to parody A Christmas Carol, but that wasn't yet the case when this debuted in 1962. Taking the form of a bizarro Broadway musical staged for TV (fitting since songwriters Jule Styne and Bob Merill also wrote Funny Girl), the show has the stubborn and nearsighted Magoo perfectly cast as as the miserly Scrooge. Although there's plenty of laughs to be found, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol secret weapon is its fantastic songs, especially the way-depressing "Alone in the World":
If I can stop crying, I'm gonna go get a drink. Jesus.
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Comments
I know it's an U.K. thimg but it isn't Christmas without the The Snowman
Posted 12/22/2008 at 05:11:03 AMYeh i agree with will, the Snowman is christmas! is that just in the uk though?
also wallace and grommit!!
Posted 12/22/2008 at 06:42:40 AMWell heck! We had/have The Snowman in the states, too—I've still got the copy we videotaped when I was 3ish, with a PBS pledge request over the ending credits! Beautiful piece of work, and an invaluable early introduction to existentially bittersweet endings in works of animation (so at least my first introduction wasn't Akira, or something).
As for "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"...another beloved old favorite, true, but the skeptic angle always bothered me. It takes place in a world where Santa Claus undeniably exists, right? I mean, you can see him if you're up on Christmas, to the point of being able to predict his flight patterns with clockwork accuracy; gifts that no one bought or wrapped appear under the trees; the North Pole has an *actual telephone junction that you can call*...what the hell rational basis does Albert the Strawman Skeptical Intellectual Mouse actually *have* to doubt Santa? If anything, *he's* the one operating on blind irrational faith in the face of concrete evidence!
Either Rankin-Bass didn't think this one through all the way, or they were more quietly subversive than anyone suspected (they DID do "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," after all...THAT was sure a trip).
Posted 12/22/2008 at 06:55:44 AMI'm glad to see you didn't butcher the stuff you review for a change.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 09:03:38 AMThe one that would have topped my list is "The California Raisins Christmas Special". HIGHLY underrated!
Posted 12/22/2008 at 09:14:20 AMmuppet family xmas needs DVD special edition treatment!
Posted 12/22/2008 at 10:19:30 AMThe California Raisins Claymation Christmas was great... still have it on video somewhere...
And y'know what Christmas movie I always liked? Earnest Save Christmas. Seriously. I loved that show. Coolest reindeer ever.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 10:36:36 AMThe California Raisins Claymation Christmas was great... still have it on video somewhere...
And y'know what Christmas movie I always liked? Earnest Save Christmas. Seriously. I loved that show. Coolest reindeer ever.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 10:36:36 AMOh man, the Sesame Street special, those are some primal childhood memories right there. I'm a heathen jew and that special makes me choke up every. single. time.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 11:16:38 AMErnest Saves Christmas is required holiday viewing for my family. You can even get it on DVD now!
Posted 12/22/2008 at 11:19:21 AMI thought The Snowman was French?
In any case, you can download it for free, even in GBA format.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 11:27:52 AMi loved the christmas toy when i was a kid...so happy to hear it is on dvd...but i want kermit
Posted 12/22/2008 at 11:57:26 AMYou forgot to mention the Star Wars Christmas Special...
Posted 12/22/2008 at 11:59:10 AMMan the Geeks are going to Crucify you.
What this list is missing is some Pokemon. It's not Christmas unless you have Team Rocket going blasting off again.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 12:02:18 PMI think they still show Twas the Night Before Christmas on ABC Family. At least they did once.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 12:22:41 PMWil Vinton's Claymation Christmas, featuring the California Raisins is a holiday opus that gets too few props. The last time I heard it mentioned was on the Simpsons, where they were watching a parody and Lisa Simpson declared it "Offensive to both Christians and Prunes". *snickersnort*
Fortunately I have it on DVD, with the added bonus of Vinton's Halloween and Easter specials. :)
Posted 12/22/2008 at 12:30:35 PMMy kids love Olive, the Other Reindeer. It is one of their favorite movies of all time.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 02:05:50 PMDoctor Death,
The topic is UNDERRATED Christmas specials.
The Star Wars Christmas special is a steaming pile of wookie chips.
No geek will do any crucifying this Christmas
Posted 12/22/2008 at 02:20:00 PMI'm with you except for Oliver the Other Reindeer. That thing looked like crap and it was only made worse with Drew Barrymore's painful catterwalling.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 02:51:04 PMWhere's "Ernest Saves Christmas"!?!?
Posted 12/22/2008 at 02:51:32 PM"Ernest Saves Christmas" has some truly hysterical moments. Jim Varney was a comic genius, and I'm not even trying to be a wiseass. Remember when he goes to the movie lot and he's posing as the snake wrangler? That's some funny shit.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 02:54:13 PMAlso, the Peewee special deserves mad props for ice-skating Little Richard and Magic Johnson's appearance (where he informs us that Magic Screen is his cousin).
Aw, man, don't forget about the 'Tales From The Crypt' X-Mas episode where Larry Drake, playing an escaped lunatic, runs around in a tattered Santa suit, wielding an axe and trying to waste some bitch who just murdered her husband on Christmas Eve.
Also, the 'Twilight Zone' episode 'Night of the Meek', where a sentimental old alkie played by Art Carney gets to live out his dream of bringin' joy and happiness to everyone when he finds Santa's gift sack. *sniff* I'm all choked up, now. Happy Holidays to all of you nerds out there.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 05:24:01 PMAw, man, don't forget about the 'Tales From The Crypt' X-Mas episode where Larry Drake, playing an escaped lunatic, runs around in a tattered Santa suit, wielding an axe and trying to waste some bitch who just murdered her husband on Christmas Eve.
Also, the 'Twilight Zone' episode 'Night of the Meek', where a sentimental old alkie played by Art Carney gets to live out his dream of bringin' joy and happiness to everyone when he finds Santa's gift sack. *sniff* I'm all choked up, now. Happy Holidays to all of you nerds out there.
Posted 12/22/2008 at 05:26:30 PM"The California Raisins Claymation Christmas was great... still have it on video somewhere..."
...The whole thing's on YouTube, unless someone's nuked it in the past week. I've got links to it over on OMBlog, but the first part's here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD7BeutpkS4&eurl=http://www.io.com/~o_m/omworld/blogs/122k8.htm
Posted 12/22/2008 at 06:30:38 PMI have "A Wish For Wings That Work" on DVD, it came out last year. Have read the book every year with my kids, now we watch the DVD as well.
Posted 12/23/2008 at 06:22:54 AM"Ernest Saves Christmas" must be added to the list. The "Snake Man" character is classic!
Posted 12/23/2008 at 09:10:02 AMOh yay. My favorite made the list. "Twas The Night Before Christmas". I've always loved that one.
Posted 12/23/2008 at 10:00:00 AMChristmas Eve on Sesame Street is my favorite. I watch it every year.
Posted 12/23/2008 at 10:22:16 AMGrowing up, we always used to watch this special called "The Life and Times of Santa Claus." It was stop-motion, more than likely Rankin-Bass. It was basically about a young Claus (not the Palm weirdo) growing up with forest elves in Laughing Valley and fighting off brutish Ogwahs. It was remarkably badass. It seems to have been aired sporadically over the last few years, but in a horribly recut form, and with a few different titles.
Posted 12/23/2008 at 11:59:50 AMWhat about the Invader Zim Christmas Special? That was awesome!
Posted 12/23/2008 at 02:07:56 PM"Growing up, we always used to watch this special called "The Life and Times of Santa Claus." It was stop-motion, more than likely Rankin-Bass. It was basically about a young Claus (not the Palm weirdo) growing up with forest elves in Laughing Valley and fighting off brutish Ogwahs. It was remarkably badass. It seems to have been aired sporadically over the last few years, but in a horribly recut form, and with a few different titles."
...It was one of Rankin-Bass' last AniMagic specials, and was based off the L. Frank Baum book of the same title. Ironically, it wasn't that successful as R-B's previous "Origin" for Kris Kringle and the mythos, simply because none of the proto-Tolkien elements are echoed in the core mythos of Santa as we believe him today. Ask kids today and they're more apt to tell you that Santa got most of his powers from the Winter Warlock than the Great Ak.
Posted 12/23/2008 at 05:15:55 PMOMG, Mr. Magoo...the best Christmas Carol ever (George C. Scott may be second). That's how I first learned the Christmas Carol story..."and razzleberry dressing"
Posted 12/23/2008 at 06:21:35 PMBOTH of the Henson-related entries on here still make me tear up whenever I watch them, they're so embedded in my mind and my childhood memories. I'm so surprised you mentioned the Muppet Family special in particular, but it... Just those two alone have such a place in my heart, although all of these entries are terrific.
Posted 12/23/2008 at 08:01:27 PMIt's Ranger Smith's favorite time of year because that goddam Yogi hibernates for the Winter with Boo Boo and he can finally get some peace and quiet!
Until the other Hanna Barbara characters' hard partying wake them up -- or something like that... -- and when they investigate they decides to stay awake to celebrate... YOGI'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!
Honestly it's pretty long for an animated Christmas show @ 100 minutes, and I can't remember if I've ever actually not fallen asleep thru it. But still: TEH AWESOME! "Comin' Up Christmas Time" will claw it's way into your brain and get an apartment there. Top 10 Christmas Songs EVA!
Also Cindy Bear is hot and teaches Yogi about mistletoe, but I forget why she was there and not hibernating too.
Not on DVD so you must steal it from the internets, but WORTH IT!!!
Posted 12/23/2008 at 08:11:36 PMAm I the only one who loves Nestor the Long Eared Donkey? I cry every year when I watch it.
Posted 12/24/2008 at 07:32:02 AMChristmas Eve on Sesame Street is one of my favorites of all time. I miss those days...^_^
Posted 12/24/2008 at 07:40:08 AMChristmas Eve on Sesame Street is one of my favorites of all time. I miss those days...^_^
Posted 12/24/2008 at 07:40:31 AMYAY! You included my all time FAV Muppets special, The Christmas Toy! I ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ that special and was glad to see it on DVD finally. Although, Disney are wankers for not allowing Kermit's bits to be on it.
You forgot one, John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together.
Posted 12/24/2008 at 09:19:38 AMThe Muppet Family Christmas is my favorite Christmas special of all time!
Some people sit down and watch the Grinch, or National Lampoon's, or a Christmas Story but every Christmas Eve my family sits down and watches Muppet Family Christmas (from our own long ago taped version since, yes, the various professional releases are woefully incomplete)
Posted 12/24/2008 at 09:34:14 AMLove Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol and "Alone in the World" is my anthem, sadly enough. So glad you included that classic on your list!!
Posted 12/24/2008 at 05:14:34 PMDammit, you forgot "The Town Santa Forgot"! That special was like the best half-hour show to ever come from Hanna-Barbera, and yet so many people doing lists like this (and commenting on them, apparently) seem to forget it even exists.
Posted 02/12/2009 at 03:07:52 PM