My Favourite Christmas Specials

Posted by Susanna McLeod Dec 3, 2007

Sitting on the floor in front of the television as a little girl, the Christmas specials on television captured my heart. The first to snag me was A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). Snoopy gaily dancing to Linus and Lucy music, the frustration Charlie Brown felt about commercialism, Linus’ reciting of the Christmas Story bible passage, and the joyful decorating of the little tree, still give my holidays a twinge of delight.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (1966) captivated me next. I sang along with the television to Thurl Ravenscroft’s crooning of “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch” and the Whoville citizens singing “Welcome Christmas, come this way”. I winced as the Grinch tried to whip his little dog into pulling the huge sled, overloaded with a giant bag of Christmas goodies, and cheered as Grinch’s heart “grew two sizes that day”. It’s a great moment of redemption, don’t you think?

Another seasonal must-watch for me is Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer with the voice of Burl Ives as narrator Sam the Snowman. This superbly-crafted stop-motion film was made in 1964. We all understand Rudolph, ostracized for being different and wanting to start a new life, but then finding a place for himself and others, too.

Frosty the Snowman and The Return of Frosty were later favourites that I watch for every festive season. But now, my most anticipated program is The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) featuring Jim Henson’s amazing Muppets. It’s a colourful retelling of the dramatic A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens in 1853 and originally on black and white television in 1951. Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat host the Muppet version. Michael Caine portrays a plausible Ebenezer Scrooge.

You know where you’ll find me in the evenings… I’ll be on the couch, revelling in Christmas spirit.