 (12/04/08 Update: I'm currently cleaning up the dead links in this article. You can also
take a look at my 2nd Big List of Christmas Videos - ...e!)
Ahh Christmas. The tree, the stockings, the mistletoe and - of course - the holiday television programming.
Some of my fondest Christmas memories were spent in front a of television watching such classics as the animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or one of the myriad versions of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'.
So without further ado, I am presenting you with my big, big list of holiday specials. I've tried to categorize the list into subsections to make it a little more bearable and consumable. The list is in no particular order, though the first section, 'essentials', are (in my humble opinion) the cream of the crop. I should also note that I've only included programs for which I was able to find online videos so you'll notice some glaring omissions (like 'A Christmas Story' and 'Miracle on 34th Street).
In any event, here's wishing you a great Christmas. Now sit back and dig into some of the best Christmas content on the web...
The Essentials
If you can only watch a couple of holiday specials, these are the ones to watch. This is the proverbial 'hall of fame' of Christmas programming.
1. It's a Wonderful Life (click to watch)
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (click to watch)
3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (click to watch)
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (click to watch)
5. Frosty the Snowman (click to watch)
Cartoons
The cartoon seems to be perfectly suited to Christmas. How better to present that perfect blanket of Christmas snow or a whimsically decorated Christmas tree?
6. Disney's Very Merry Christmas Sing-Along
7. The Smurfs Christmas Special (click to watch)
8. The SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special (click to watch)
9. A Garfield Christmas (click to watch)
10. The Boondocks Christmas Special (click to watch)
11. Disney: A Christmas Gift (click to watch)
12. Batman: Holiday Knights (click to watch)
13. The Madagascar Penguins: Christmas Caper (click to watch)
14. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (click to watch)
15. Bugs Bunny: The Fright Before Christmas (click to watch)
16. Tom & Jerry: The Night Before Christmas (click to watch)
17. Scooby Doo's Christmas Special (click to watch)
18. Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Christmas Blast (click to watch)
19. Vintage Rudolph Cartoon from 1948 (click to watch)
20. Vintage Frosty the Snowman Cartoon (click to watch)
21. Donald Duck's Christmas (click to watch)
22. A Space Ghost Christmas (click to watch)
23. Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (click to watch)
24. Darkwing Duck: It's a Wonderful Leaf (click to watch)
25. Arthur the Aardvark: Arthur's Perfect Christmas (click...ch)
26. Chip 'n Dale: The Christmas Tree (click to watch)
27. A Cosmic Christmas (click to watch)
28. Little Audrey: Santa's Surprise (click to watch)
29. Christmas Comes but Once a Year (click to watch)
30. Ginger Nutt's Christmas Circus (click to watch)
Stop-Motion Animation (Claymation)
There aren't too many specials in this category, but the legendary Rudolph the Red Nosed Reinder (listed as entry #3 in the "Essentials" section) make it necessary to call out other specials in this genre. There's something about claymation and Christmas that seem to go hand-in-hand.
31. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (click to watch)
32. The Year Without a Santa Claus (click to watch)
33. Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (click to watch)
34. Davey & Goliath: Christmas Lost & Found (click...ch)
35. Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration (click ...ch)
Versions of 'A Christmas Carol'
There have been so many versions of this Charles Dickens classic that it warrants its own section in this article. Here are just a few of the adaptations (all animated, I might add):
36. Mickey's Christmas Carol (click to watch)
37. Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (click to watch)
38. Richard Williams' A Christmas Carol (click to watch)
Sitcoms
The sitcom is another mainstay of Christmas. Year after year television sitcoms revel in the same, recyled holiday plots. Of course there are some original bright spots (like 'The Office' and Seinfeld's classic 'Festivus' episode).
39. The Simpsons Christmas Episode (click to watch)
40. The Flinstones Christmas Episode (click to watch)
41. Scrubs: Christmas Episode (click to watch)
42. The Beverly Hillbillies: Christmas Episode (click to watch)
43. That 70's Show: Christmas Episode (click to watch)
44. Friends: Season 6 Christmas Episode (click to watch)
45. Seinfeld: Festivus (click to watch)
46. Ozzie & Harriet: Christmas Episode (click to watch)
47. Mork & Mindy: Mork's 1st Christmas (click to watch)
48. Veronica's Closet: Veronica's Christmas (click to watch)
49. The Brady Bunch: The Voice of Christmas (click to watch)
50. A Very Brady Christmas (click to watch)
51. Family Ties: A Christmas Story (click to watch)
52. Family Ties: A Keaton Xmas Carol (click to watch)
Music Videos
Christmas music is an integral part of Christmas. Sure some of it is cheesy and way too corny, but I generally enjoy Christmas music in reasonable doses. Here are some of my favorites. My all-time favorite clip is probalby the improbable duet between David Bowie and Bing Crosby from a 1977 Christmas Special.
53. Bing Crosby: White Christmas (click to watch)
54. Karen Carpenter: Merry Christmas Darling (click to watch)
55. Band Aid: do They Know it's Christmas? (click to watch)
56. Faith Hill: where Are You Christmas (click to watch)
57. Elmo & Patsy: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (...ch)
58. Mariah Carey: All I Want for Christmas is You (click t...ch)
59. Paul McCartney: Wonderful Christmas Time (click to watch)
60. Judy Garland: Silent Night (click to watch)
61. Run DMC: Christmas in Hollis (click to watch)
62. David Bowie & Bing Crosby: Drummer Boy (click to watch)
63. Elvis Presley: Blue Christmas (click to watch)
64. Billy Idol: Jingle Bell Rock (click to watch)
65. Kenny G: Merry Little Christmas (click to watch)
66. U2: It's Christmas Baby (click to watch)
67. John Lennon: Happy Xmas (War is Over) (click to watch)
68. Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra: It's a Marshmallow Wo...ch)
69. Trans Siberian Orchestra: Christmas Canon (click to watch)
70. Christina Aguilera & Brian McKnight: Merry Little ...ch)
71. Wham!: Last Christmas (click to watch)
72. Kelly Clarkson: O Holy Night (click to watch)
73. Whitney Houston: Do You Hear What I Hear (click to watch)
74. Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song (click to watch)
75. Johnny Mathis: Silver Bells (click to watch)
Miscellaneous Specials & Documentaries
This is a mish-mash of some different Christmas programming that I didn't know how to categorize otherwise. Still, you'll find some interesting (non-animated) stuff.
76. Ali G Christmas Message (click to watch)
77. Mythbusters Christmas Special (click to watch)
78. Christmas Unwrapped: The Truth About Christmas (click ...ch)
79. The Naked Chef: Christmas Comes Early (click to watch)
80. The Worst Christmas Jobs in History (click to watch)
The Commercials
Of course, with all that Christmas television programming there's bound to be an equal amount of holiday-themed advertising. Here are some of my favorites. I'm partial to the Hershey's Kisses commercial.
81. The Coca-Cola Holiday Truck (click to watch)
82. Fruity Pebbles Christmas Commercial (click to watch)
83. McDonalds : Ice-Skating Ronald McDonald (click to watch)
84. Honey Nut Cheerios (click to watch)
85. Hershey's Kisses Christmas Commercial (click to watch)
86. DirectTV: Bad Guys Become Good for the Holidays (click...ch)
87. Coca-Cola: Teach the World to Sing (click to watch)
88. Victoria's: Dazzle Me (click to watch)
The Parodies, Sketches & Spoofs
Because poking fun at Christmas may be irreverant, but it can also be pretty damned funny. Here are some short clips and sketches that have some fun with Christmas.
89. The Three Little Pigs' Christmas (click to watch)
90. South Park: Merry F@%#%ing Christmas (click to watch)
91. Mad TV: Raging Rudolph (click to watch)
92. Indian Santa Claus: Funny Sketch (click to watch)
93. Family Guy: Christmas CD Ad (click to watch)
94. Christmas with Mr. Bill (click to watch)
95. Jeff Foxworthy: The Redneck 12 Days of Christmas (clic...ch)
96. Scrubs Performs 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (click to watch)
97. Dogs Barking 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' (click t...ch)
98. A Christmas Gory: Christmas Story Spoof (click to watch)
99. If Santa Claus Were Like Fox TV's '24' (click to watch)
The Abominations
Of course, not all holiday specials are created equal. Folks have create a lot of horrible Christmas programming over the years. I'm not about to subject myself to watching or cataloging all of them, but here are a few to get you started. But note that you have been warned - these will have you crying out: "oh the humanity" before too long.
100. Star Wars Holiday Special (part 1, part 2)
101. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (click to watch)
Well, that's it. 101 videos as promised. If I missed anything good be sure to message me or add a comment below. Merry Christmas! |
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