I’m sure the general public has their preferred Christmas specials, but did you recognize that most of the 5 nice have been made inside the Nineteen Sixties, and all of the worst of the lot wasn’t? Might you furthermore recognize that three of the top 5 were based totally on songs, the fourth on a book, and the fifth on one of the best comedian strips of all time? In other phrases, the nice ones have been tailored from cultural icons. Most of the worst have been tailored from flavors of the month. Please note that this list covers the handiest TV specials, now not films.
The Best Christmas TV Specials:
1. The Star Wars Holiday Special 1978 Jefferson Starship!
Diahann Carroll! Art Carney! Harvey Korman! Bea Arthur! Don’t those names simply scream “Star Wars”?? No? You’re right. Darth Lucas HATES this component so much he in no way desires it launched. But it's miles an absolute must-see—and no longer just for the first creation of Boba Fett (nerd alert) but to look a what looks like an under the influence of alcohol Carrie Fisher making a song one of the maximum gag-inducing portions of schlock ever made.
2. He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special1985
You have got to be kidding. The king and queen of Nineteen Eighties’ 30-minute toy commercials, He-Man and She-Ra stored Christmas from the evil forces of Skeletor and Hordak. (Man, I can’t even write that without dropping IQ points.) Says Prince Adam on the end: “Though we celebrate it and get affords, Christmas is ready worrying, sharing and goodwill and its spirit is inside anybody.” Translation: this hour-lengthy unique become designed to make you sense properly approximately asking your dad and mom to buy you more Masters of the Universe toys!
3. Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special 1988
Never mind the sordid off-digital camera antics of Paul “Pee-Wee” Rubens; this special has enough problems. Amid the guest-star turns of Whoopi Goldberg, The Oprah, Joan Rivers, Zsa-Zsa Gabor, and Charo, Pee-Wee has to take care of the problem of his “mounting fruitcake collection” and Santa traumatic that he shorten his wish listing! Oh, how terrible.
4. Christmas Comes to Pac-Land between 1982 and 1984
Ah…um…yeah. Pac-Man and Christmas. This schlock-fest show became part of the traumatic Hollywood fashion of “it’s a successful video game/film/track/catchphrase; so, permit’s make a whole series around it!” Some worked (see the Best of listing) however most didn’t—and still don’t.
5. I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown 2004 Merry Chri$$$tmas,
Charlie Brown. This excuse for a peanut special is quite an extended way from its stunning predecessor. Its crass commercialism contrasts sharply—and drearily—with the original’s quest for the genuine meaning of Christmas.
6. Charlie Brown Christmas 1965 It’s the granddaddy of all Christmas specials.
You have to read the Wikipedia article to get a full understanding of the quirks and low production values that make this special so great. Selections from Vince Guaraldi’s brilliant soundtrack are features of Christmas music every year. And yes, the pinnacle is Linus reciting Luke chapter 2 as being the real meaning of Christmas. The Worst Christmas TV Specials:
7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas 1966
I almost made this primary. The terrific horror icon Boris “Frankenstein” Karloff furnished becoming narrative and the voice of the Grinch. Quite probable the maximum memorable music from any animated unique—or collection or movie—is the awesome ditty “You’re an average one, Mr. Grinch.” Best line: “The three phrases that describe your high quality are as follows and I quote: Stink. Stank. Stunk!”
8. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer 1964
Bumbles soar! Did you know that? I didn’t—At least now not till I first saw this tremendous special, which has aired each year (several instances, in fact) because 1964, making it the longest-strolling Christmas special. It’s primarily based on the 1939 tune written by using Johnny Marks (Gene Autry grew to become it right into a monster hit). Best parts: Burl Ives making a song “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas,” and the Bumble attacks our heroes at the brink of the sea. (Hey, when I turned 7, that was scary stuff!)
9. Frosty the Snowman 1969
Ah, Frosty. What a hokey special designed around a stupid-however-wonderful Christmas tune. Yet, this cute special works and has emerged as a perennial favorite. At the very least, kids of destiny generations may be brought to the splendid Jimmy “the schnoz” Durante way to this special.
10. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970
A special built around a cherished Christmas track (written by using J. Fed Coots and Haven Gillespie and primarily executed on the Eddie Cantor display), this forestall-motion show starred Fred Astaire because of the narrator and Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus. It’s been a fave for 3 decades.
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