My wife and I have a soft spot for holiday flicks and it is something the children have been known to exploit this fact on more than one occasion to squeeze out an extra half-hour before bedtime. I admit it. I’m a sucker for holiday movies and shows, particularly those involving the stop-motion animation technique that was popular by Rankin and Bass.
Growing up, I scanned the television guide on a weekly basis, waiting for when the specials were to air. As I’ve grown older, I’ve also come to appreciate some of the live action classics as well.
There is something special about curling up on your couch with a bowl of popcorn watching a holiday special. Some of the magic isn’t quite the same today, though, as it was say 30 years ago. There were no Blu-Ray/DVD/VHS copies of which to watch over and over whenever you wanted. When the show aired, you watched it. If you missed it, you were out of luck for the year because they only aired once. And you can be sure your friends let you know about it the next day at school.
Today, networks broadcast holiday shows a multitude of times, just in case someone, somewhere might have missed it the first 24 times it was aired. We also have satellite and internet streaming options that allow a person to watch whatever you want, whenever you want.
With so much to choose from, here are my “Top 10 Family Holiday Shows,” worth watching this season.
10. Frosty the Snowman — Although this show is filled with a ton of flaws, it remains an enjoyable hallmark of the holiday season. Word of advice, avoid the despicable “Frosty Returns” as it really has nothing to do with the original show and is just really poorly done. Grab the much-more enjoyable “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland,” to see Frosty get married.
9. Muppets’ Christmas Carol — Any show with the Muppets has to have a soft spot with anyone over the age of 30. While today’s generation has grown up with far more sophisticated computer-generated graphics and things other than puppets, this 1982 re-telling of the classic Charles Dickens story still has much to offer.
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town — A 1970 stop motion show stars Fred Astaire as the narrator and Mickey Rooney as Santa. This show answers the questions to the many puzzling mysteries involving the man with the red suit, such as “Why does Santa come down the chimney” and “Why does he deliver toys at night?” It’s an instant classic worth repeated viewings.
7. A Charlie Brown Christmas — The first prime-time animated TV special based on Charles M. Schulz’s characters holds up remarkably well after 50 years of showings. It tells the tale of Charlie Brown wondering about the true meaning of Christmas. It’s a message we could all stand to learn.
6. Christmas Vacation — When I think of Clark Griswold, the image of a house filled to its utter capacity with holiday lights immediately springs to mind. This humorous tale of one man’s obsession on having the “perfect” Christmas strikes a chord with many and still brings a laugh.
5. A Christmas Story — Probably the only film you will ever see shown continuously as part of a 24-hour marathon during the holidays. What is not to like? The story follows little Ralphie and his dream of getting a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, despite everyone telling him “You’ll shoot your eye out!” It’s an instant classic that never seems to show its age.
4. Elf — Will Ferrell pulls off one of the most comical and heartwarming tales of the season as “Buddy,” an infant raised by Santa’s elves. The sight of a 6-foot, 4-inch Ferrell dressed as an elf is a gag that never gets old, nor does his child-like wonderment at discovering life outside of the North Pole as he searches for his real father. This movie has really grown on me over the years and could easily be in the top two.
3. The Santa Clause — Ever wonder why Santa is an immortal? This film explores that avenue when Tim Allen causes Santa to fall off his rooftop in the middle of the night. Once he puts on the red jacket, he becomes the embodiment of Santa and takes over the reins as the new head elf. It’s a charming tale, fun for both children and grownups. The film’s two sequels don’t quite meet the lofty expectations of the first film, but are still enjoyable to watch.
2. It’s a Wonderful Life — At first, the idea of a depressed man attempting suicide doesn’t exactly ring out “Christmas Cheer,” but the 1946 Frank Capra movie has become synonymous with the holidays for 70 years. It’s the perfect “What would happen if I was never born?” scenario played out beautifully by Jimmy Stewart and is a must-watch for grownups every yuletide season.
1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer — There is reason this show is the longest running Christmas television special, airing every year since 1964. It is a heart-warming tale of overcoming peer pressure and bullying that can still resonate with children today. The Abominable Snowman, which looked more like a Yeti, scared the bejeebers out of me as a tot, but thankfully there was always a pillow nearby to hide my face. And what child wouldn’t want a squirt gun that shot jelly?
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.
