let's just call it what it is: Christmas Specials

[rhivolution]

I just spent an hour putting together this poll, for reasons I cannot entirely explain. I blame Britain and its incessant CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE OH MY GOD, as well as the fact that I have been massively anxiety-prone lately and needed to do something that did not involve freaking out.

Therefore, as a disclaimer, the poll is based on what I remember watching between the ages of three and fourteen, in a white Christian US Midwestern household where I was Not Allowed to watch certain things. It is sure as hell not all-inclusive, and it is ridiculously slanted towards things that I'm sure I would lose my shit at if I were to watch them now. I'm almost tempted to do so and then deconstruct one or two, but I really don't have the time. Just thinking about it is tempting the oh fuck so many deadlines thoughts, then full-out trigger.

There is space for sharing your own thoughts. The ticky boxes are just for ticky.

Also, I started putting together a list of Holiday Episodes of shows I watched, both in my formative years and recently, but I'd be here all night, so it's been deleted. There's a text box instead for sharing.

So, drop some clicks if you liked things best, or if you found things notable and would like to talk with me about them.

Poll #8769 entirely nostalgia ridden and biased Christmas special poll (aka oh crap it's a US-centric nostalgia poll run for the hills)

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 24

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TV specials:

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Amahl and the Night Visitors (any)
1 (5.3%)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
11 (57.9%)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
15 (78.9%)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
14 (73.7%)

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)
3 (15.8%)

A Chipmunk Christmas (1981)
2 (10.5%)

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
7 (36.8%)

A Garfield Christmas (1987)
4 (21.1%)

A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
3 (15.8%)

A Wish for Wings That Work (1991)
0 (0.0%)

Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (1991)
1 (5.3%)

The Wish That Changed Christmas (1992)
0 (0.0%)

Cinema and TV movies:

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White Christmas (1954)
6 (30.0%)

The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972)
0 (0.0%)

The Snowman (1982)
4 (20.0%)

A Christmas Story (1983)
9 (45.0%)

Nutcracker (Pacific Northwest Ballet, 1986)
1 (5.0%)

Home Alone (1990)
11 (55.0%)

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
9 (45.0%)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
7 (35.0%)

David Copperfield (1993)
0 (0.0%)

The Santa Clause (1994)
6 (30.0%)

I love this and you didn't mention it!

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My favourite 'holiday' themed TV show episode/special as an adult is:

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Anything else to add?

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Comments

[sasha_feather]

I am supposed to click what I've seen/am familiar with or what I liked?

[rhivolution]

Liked, I think was what I was going for. [dozy] I didn't say why to click, did I. Thanks!

[bibliofile]

Okay, not just cookies: it's all the food. Latkes, cookies, all of it.

The latest "Eureka" was fairly entertaining. And then there are all the new Dr Who episodes; how did I forget those?

[bibliofile]

I was always suspicious of Santas with brass instruments, frankly. That Who episode merely confirmed what I always knew, deep down.

[rhivolution]

Food is pretty much everything, to be honest. Most holidays are about food for me now, tbh.

And if aliens were going to invade the UK, Christmas would seriously be when it would happen. For a country that's growing far more secular by the day, anyone with a Christian-raised background...or even a not anything background...is completely oblivious on it.

[torachan]

I never watched that many Christmas specials growing up. One tradition me and my mom had was watching old b&w movies with Christmas themes. I'm totally blanking on the name of the one I liked best, though.

[rhivolution]

We had this VHS tape that was made from TV and we would dig that out and rewatch. That's probably why I'm all up on the specials, tbh. Movies were not really as much a thing for me as a kid, so many were Not Allowed.

[azuire]

[urge to anthropologically objectify Christmas rising]

[rhivolution]

That's...actually sort of why I made the poll. I'd like to deconstruct it, but I don't have the energy.

[azuire]

I don't know any of these tbh but I never cease to be amazed how much can be milked from the holiday.

[raanve]

Ah, yes, and I don't know how I forgot this since I watched it TWICE on Sunday, but Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas!

[rhivolution]

Everyone keeps mentioning that (especially with Russell Hoban's death today, may he rest in peace), but I have NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE THIS.