Foxx's Top 11
Time for another editon of Foxx's Top 11.
Well, with Black Weekend nearly behind us, and December just around the corner, we all know that Christmas is in full swing. Now everyone knows that I absolutely hate this time of year, but I can honestly say that if there is one thing that I do like about the Christmas season is the Christmas specials. They were at least the one thing that I actually looked forward to. With the recent wave of very mediocre Christmas specials that are spawning across TV today, I thought that I would go ahead and compile a list of my Top 11 Favorite Nostalgic Christmas Specials. Why Top 11? Because (like the Nostalgia Critic) I like to go one step beyond. So, sit back and enjoy my:
Top 11 Favorite Nostalgic Christmas Specials
11. A Muppet Family Christmas
This one I really enjoyed watching back in the day. The story of this one involves Fozzy taking all his Muppet friends (including Kermit, his nephew Robin, Gonzo, and The Electric Mayhem to name a few) to his mother's farm to spend the holidays, unaware of his mother's plan to rent out her house to Doc (from Fraggle Rock) in order to take a Christmas vacation in Malibu. Of course when all the Muppets arrive at the farm house, all the chaos and hilarity that the Muppet Show is famous for ensues. The show has a host of cameo appearances which include the Sesame Street gang and Fraggle Rock! I think some of my favorite moments in this were the segments with the Swedish Chef and the Christmas Turkey, the Sesame Street play of Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Fozzy and the Snowman (especially when they were being joked out by Statler and Waldorf). This one had me laughing from beginning to end, and the climax really brings it home by bringing the whole group together singing Christmas carols. It's funny, it's warm-hearted, and just plain barrels of fun. Now I would not recommend going out and buying this on home video for the simple fact that some of the songs have been edited out of the special due to US music copyright reasons (something I think is absolutely stupid), but instead I found the whole feature uncut and uncensored on YouTube and have provided links for your enjoyment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtgYDpvRCMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IbLaMgCkxg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGzX5eAm1aw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XdiHPlRs3c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1INyTsG85E
10. A Flintstones Christmas Carol
I honestly think this one is very underrated, but I happen to like it. It's a Flintstones take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but it has its own side story to it. The story goes as Fred rehearses his lines for the Bedrock Community Theater's upcoming play the famous Dickens tale. This is constant throughout the beginning of the special leading up to the play itself as all Fred can think about his rehearsing for the play. Ultimately he forgets anything and everything around him, including his work, his co-workers, and most importantly, his family. And the worst part is that his family are the ones that got the worst end of the deal, especially poor Pebbles. I mean, not only does he neglect to kiss her good-bye when he drops her off at the daycare, but he forgets to pick her up afterwards! What kind of father would do something like that? Throughout the show, there's a mysterious and infamous illness that's been going around called the Bedrock Bug. That's one of my favorite parts about this one. This bug is so bad that it strikes when you least expect it, and it claims everyone! It claimed those working behind the scenes of the play, it caught those playing in the play (including Maggie), heck it even caught Fred at the end! In some spots of the play, Wilma had to play some of the parts because of the Bedrock Bug (including the role of Belle since Maggie caught the bug), and she does get to take out some of her frustrations on Fred. Ultimately, as the play rolls on, Fred realizes the true meaning of Christmas and makes amends for some of his misdeeds he's done, even though he gets sick in the end. If you haven't seen this one, you should. It's pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0yo9rcXI9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0MbXXdW8Y8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN8RvcVS_nU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNhJ8_QgUgk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwiq-eAySMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfQULC-QN8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIDjfrDRA20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNWpfiSEiAc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPssvDdXXPg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pGKZGb_4wo
9. Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration
Oh, I love this one! This one is a thirty minute special hosted by Rex (a red Tyrannosaurus) and Herb (a blue Stegosaurus) which comprises of Christmas carols (some redone for this show) set to some of the best of Will Vinton claymation scenes. Among my favorites in this one are the Carol of the Bells segment, where an orchestra of bells is performing the famous carol in the halls of Notre Dame at the helm of maestro Quasimodo (of all people). This is the one where the one bell with the buck tooth simply refused to bong himself at his cues, instead just goofing off every chance he got. Another segment I enjoyed was the Angels We Have Heard on High segment which was the one with the six penguins and the two walruses ice skating. It was funny and epic at the same time. But I think my absolute favorite one has to be the Joy To the World segment. It wasn't comical or anything, but it certainly was an audio and visual masterpiece, in my book. Throughout the special, Rex and Herb are trying to find out the meaning of the word "wassailing" which kind of serves as a running gag in the sense that there are three traveling food patrons that get the song wrong by replacing the world "wassailing" with the words "waffling," "waddling," and "wallowing." I thought that was pretty clever. And of course what Will Vinton Christmas Special is incomplete without a visit form the California Raisins? I would definitely say you should see this one. It's one for the ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD7BeutpkS4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6xM1B7aCOk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hktsMY3c2M
8. The Smurf's Christmas Special
I know there really aren't a lot of Smurfs fans out there, but I happen to be one, and I think that this Christmas special is definitely worth mentioning. It's a really good story, in my opinion. The story centers around the Smurfs and two young children named Gwenivere and William. The children are on their way with their grandfather to visit their uncle for the holiday. Of course making his appearance in this is Gargamel, but believe it ir not, he's not the main villain in this. That title goes to a stranger in a cape who also seeks to destroy the Smurf village, but means to destroy Christmas for everyone as well. This special proves that everyone has goodness in their heart...even Gargamel as he has to help defeat the stranger by singling along with the Smurfs to the song "Goodness Makes the Badness Go Away." I thought that was clever. This is very heart-warming to the touch, everything the Smurfs is about for the most part. This is one of two Smurfs Christmas Specials that I remember. They made another one a few years after this one called "Tis the Season to Be Smurfy" that's vaguely similar to this one, but very different. Gargamel's not in that one, but he didn't have to be. That one is just as good as this one is. If you remember it (and the other one I mentioned), go revisit it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA4rfdfHKGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvXIkkT34g8
7. A Garfield Christmas
As big a Garfield fan as I am, you know I had to include this one in. In this one, Garfield, Jon, and Odie take a Christmas vacation to Jon's parents' farm. Everyone is excited about going, except Garfield of course. In this special we get to know Jon's family, who are pretty unique in their own way. I especially love Jon's tough-as-nails grandma. She never ceases to amuse me. As we go through the show, we see the family getting ready for the big day as they trim the tree together, sing Christmas songs, and even engage in a Binky the Clown Christmas story. We even get to see Grandma reminiscing on the Christmas days she spent with her late husband. That part is very heart-warming in my opinion. Throughout the special, Odie is busy making a present for Garfield, and one night Garfield follows Odie into the barn where Odie secretly prepares the gift. There, Garfield comes across a number of letters addressed to Grandma from her late husband. The special climaxes on Christmas morning where the family opens their presents. Garfield hands the letters to Grandma, and Odie reveals his present to Garfield which turns out to be a home made back scratcher. Garfield finally realizes the true meaning of Christmas and the whole family engages in some good old fashion Christmas fun on the farm. This is a fun special that I always enjoy watching every year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GYlRMjq8a8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o2j0vuhKRk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syTlnICXXD8
6. Yogi's First Christmas
Yeah, remember this one? Any Yogi Bear fan will definitely remember it. For those of you that don't, I'll give you skimmie. This one starts off with the old Hanna-Barbera gang (comprised of Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Doggy Daddy, and Auggie Doggie) heading up to the Jellystone Lodge, the gang's favorite Christmas hangout every year. They get there to discover it might be the last Christmas they spend there as a freeway is being planned on being built over the mountain, but can't be done unless the owner, Mrs. Throckmorton sells the lodge and the land. Reason being is because of a series of incidences that have been occurring in recent years thus causing the guests to not come back (the culprit of which we meet at the beginning of the special, a Christmas hating hermit known as Herman the Hermit). The only way to prevent it from happening is to convince Mrs. Throckmorton not to sell the lodge by showing her all the fun they have. In all their excitement, their loud music accidentally wakes up Yogi and Boo Boo who are hibernating directly below them! The two bears make their way up to the lodge to discover that it's Christmas time, and they have never experienced Christmas before, so they vow to stay awake through Christmas, much to the dismay of Ranger Smith and Mr. Dingwell, the manager of the Jellystone Lodge. Soon we see Mrs. Throckmorton arrive at the lodge with her obnoxiously rotten nephew named Snively. An avalanche caused by Herman nearly claims them as their the car get stuck in a ditch and they're stuck in the path of it, but they are saved by Yogi and Boo Boo moments later. The show pretty much takes off from there following a simple format. Snively tried to thwart their fun, but is is outdone by Yogi everytime, and everytime Yogi saves Mrs. Throckmorton's life, she demands that he be promoted. It's s pretty funny running gag, especially how they're all pulled off. In the middle of the show, Cindy Bear gets in on the action, thus bringing in the romantic aspect of the show as she constantly tried as hard as she can to get Yogi to kiss her under the mistletoe (after Boo Boo explains what it means). The special climaxes at the Tree Trimming Party where Mrs. Throckmorton invites a group of orphans to the lodge to have a proper Christmas celebration and also reveals that she's not going to sell the lodge but instead plans on donating it to the company she is president of and use it as a year round getaway for orphans to come experience the winter carnival games after experiencing it for herself. Yogi and Boo Boo end up dressing up as Santa Claus and his little helper and deliver presents to the children, and even manages to give Cindy her wish. It ends as the real Santa Claus comes in, sees that Yogi has done his work for him, and offers Yogi what he's always wanted...a picnic basket, but Yogi is unable to accept because he's fast asleep, so the gang helps escort him and Boo Boo back to their cave. Like I said, this one of my all time favorites, and it's one I enjoy watching year after year. It's fun, it's energetic, and it's very uplifting. Check this one out if you haven't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6toFwXKlUY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8655uLyOtG4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T__TNQfq1Ks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkxSZ9GHaBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzqNkxWB12Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVArkgqx9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMnR10MljUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z624ziIbT3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztfGdapMRIQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGe5B_nEhMI
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas
I don't think this needs any explanation. Everyone knows this one so well, and loves it so much. It's like a Christmas tradition to watch this one. I don't think anyone goes through one Christmas and not see it. It's a great story, and in my opinion, the most upbeat Charlie Brown show to date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icB7_Lh_M-w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI-8DbjtfCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTAazA-Xlag
4. A Chipmunk Christmas
Alright, you all know what song comes out of this one (it will never leave, it will never leave, IT WILL NEVER LEAVE). But that aside, this one I also enjoy a lot. I think everyone knows this classic really well, also. Alvin and that harmonica of his! It's everything you love about the Chipmunks at the holidays, and has a great plot to it. I also love the fact that the creative consultant and character design on this special was the late great Chuck Jones! Revisit it, and try not to let the song overrun your brains!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T78oOpWYrHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lFVibIeVns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVVnLetqu8U
3. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Another one that I don't think needs explanation. People know this one so well they can pretty much play it in their sleep. What amazes me is that this one little special is that popular that it spawned the live action movie starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch, and that even became a hit. The movie can't compare to the original animated show, though. People, including myself, find the animated one so much better and so much satisfying. And of course let's not foret the song that comes out of that one, too! That one will never leave, either!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S3KM92s-pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL0uu_q2grc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkDELa8YSqY
2. Anything by Rankin/Bass
Honestly, it was very hard for me to pick just one favorite from this company. All of them are just that good! So I decided to give them all their own spot. I think that if I had to pick at least three that I enjoy the most, they would have to be (in no particular order) Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Those three are the ones I love the most.
No video links this time, but go to YouTube and search for any of the Rankin/Bass classics and you'll pretty much find them.
1. Mickey's Christmas Carol
Definitely no explanation needed for this one. I think this is like everyone's favorite rendition of A Christmas Carol. Disney certainly outdid themselves with this one, of all the Christmas specials that they have ever done. This one is the most well written, most heart-warming, and most uplifting one of all. Scrooge McDuck as Ebeneezer Scrooge is the best idea ever in my opinion. Leave it to Disney to create a Christmas masterpiece, considering their recent string of Christmas specials which in my opinion all tank compared to this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHmrhXCGxQU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDBkh5x6Z_8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTZ78TPNx_o
And those are my Top 11 Favorite Nostalgic Christmas specials. Hope you all enjoyed!
Well, with Black Weekend nearly behind us, and December just around the corner, we all know that Christmas is in full swing. Now everyone knows that I absolutely hate this time of year, but I can honestly say that if there is one thing that I do like about the Christmas season is the Christmas specials. They were at least the one thing that I actually looked forward to. With the recent wave of very mediocre Christmas specials that are spawning across TV today, I thought that I would go ahead and compile a list of my Top 11 Favorite Nostalgic Christmas Specials. Why Top 11? Because (like the Nostalgia Critic) I like to go one step beyond. So, sit back and enjoy my:
Top 11 Favorite Nostalgic Christmas Specials
11. A Muppet Family Christmas
This one I really enjoyed watching back in the day. The story of this one involves Fozzy taking all his Muppet friends (including Kermit, his nephew Robin, Gonzo, and The Electric Mayhem to name a few) to his mother's farm to spend the holidays, unaware of his mother's plan to rent out her house to Doc (from Fraggle Rock) in order to take a Christmas vacation in Malibu. Of course when all the Muppets arrive at the farm house, all the chaos and hilarity that the Muppet Show is famous for ensues. The show has a host of cameo appearances which include the Sesame Street gang and Fraggle Rock! I think some of my favorite moments in this were the segments with the Swedish Chef and the Christmas Turkey, the Sesame Street play of Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Fozzy and the Snowman (especially when they were being joked out by Statler and Waldorf). This one had me laughing from beginning to end, and the climax really brings it home by bringing the whole group together singing Christmas carols. It's funny, it's warm-hearted, and just plain barrels of fun. Now I would not recommend going out and buying this on home video for the simple fact that some of the songs have been edited out of the special due to US music copyright reasons (something I think is absolutely stupid), but instead I found the whole feature uncut and uncensored on YouTube and have provided links for your enjoyment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtgYDpvRCMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IbLaMgCkxg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGzX5eAm1aw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XdiHPlRs3c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1INyTsG85E
10. A Flintstones Christmas Carol
I honestly think this one is very underrated, but I happen to like it. It's a Flintstones take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but it has its own side story to it. The story goes as Fred rehearses his lines for the Bedrock Community Theater's upcoming play the famous Dickens tale. This is constant throughout the beginning of the special leading up to the play itself as all Fred can think about his rehearsing for the play. Ultimately he forgets anything and everything around him, including his work, his co-workers, and most importantly, his family. And the worst part is that his family are the ones that got the worst end of the deal, especially poor Pebbles. I mean, not only does he neglect to kiss her good-bye when he drops her off at the daycare, but he forgets to pick her up afterwards! What kind of father would do something like that? Throughout the show, there's a mysterious and infamous illness that's been going around called the Bedrock Bug. That's one of my favorite parts about this one. This bug is so bad that it strikes when you least expect it, and it claims everyone! It claimed those working behind the scenes of the play, it caught those playing in the play (including Maggie), heck it even caught Fred at the end! In some spots of the play, Wilma had to play some of the parts because of the Bedrock Bug (including the role of Belle since Maggie caught the bug), and she does get to take out some of her frustrations on Fred. Ultimately, as the play rolls on, Fred realizes the true meaning of Christmas and makes amends for some of his misdeeds he's done, even though he gets sick in the end. If you haven't seen this one, you should. It's pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0yo9rcXI9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0MbXXdW8Y8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN8RvcVS_nU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNhJ8_QgUgk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwiq-eAySMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfQULC-QN8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIDjfrDRA20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNWpfiSEiAc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPssvDdXXPg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pGKZGb_4wo
9. Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration
Oh, I love this one! This one is a thirty minute special hosted by Rex (a red Tyrannosaurus) and Herb (a blue Stegosaurus) which comprises of Christmas carols (some redone for this show) set to some of the best of Will Vinton claymation scenes. Among my favorites in this one are the Carol of the Bells segment, where an orchestra of bells is performing the famous carol in the halls of Notre Dame at the helm of maestro Quasimodo (of all people). This is the one where the one bell with the buck tooth simply refused to bong himself at his cues, instead just goofing off every chance he got. Another segment I enjoyed was the Angels We Have Heard on High segment which was the one with the six penguins and the two walruses ice skating. It was funny and epic at the same time. But I think my absolute favorite one has to be the Joy To the World segment. It wasn't comical or anything, but it certainly was an audio and visual masterpiece, in my book. Throughout the special, Rex and Herb are trying to find out the meaning of the word "wassailing" which kind of serves as a running gag in the sense that there are three traveling food patrons that get the song wrong by replacing the world "wassailing" with the words "waffling," "waddling," and "wallowing." I thought that was pretty clever. And of course what Will Vinton Christmas Special is incomplete without a visit form the California Raisins? I would definitely say you should see this one. It's one for the ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD7BeutpkS4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6xM1B7aCOk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hktsMY3c2M
8. The Smurf's Christmas Special
I know there really aren't a lot of Smurfs fans out there, but I happen to be one, and I think that this Christmas special is definitely worth mentioning. It's a really good story, in my opinion. The story centers around the Smurfs and two young children named Gwenivere and William. The children are on their way with their grandfather to visit their uncle for the holiday. Of course making his appearance in this is Gargamel, but believe it ir not, he's not the main villain in this. That title goes to a stranger in a cape who also seeks to destroy the Smurf village, but means to destroy Christmas for everyone as well. This special proves that everyone has goodness in their heart...even Gargamel as he has to help defeat the stranger by singling along with the Smurfs to the song "Goodness Makes the Badness Go Away." I thought that was clever. This is very heart-warming to the touch, everything the Smurfs is about for the most part. This is one of two Smurfs Christmas Specials that I remember. They made another one a few years after this one called "Tis the Season to Be Smurfy" that's vaguely similar to this one, but very different. Gargamel's not in that one, but he didn't have to be. That one is just as good as this one is. If you remember it (and the other one I mentioned), go revisit it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA4rfdfHKGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvXIkkT34g8
7. A Garfield Christmas
As big a Garfield fan as I am, you know I had to include this one in. In this one, Garfield, Jon, and Odie take a Christmas vacation to Jon's parents' farm. Everyone is excited about going, except Garfield of course. In this special we get to know Jon's family, who are pretty unique in their own way. I especially love Jon's tough-as-nails grandma. She never ceases to amuse me. As we go through the show, we see the family getting ready for the big day as they trim the tree together, sing Christmas songs, and even engage in a Binky the Clown Christmas story. We even get to see Grandma reminiscing on the Christmas days she spent with her late husband. That part is very heart-warming in my opinion. Throughout the special, Odie is busy making a present for Garfield, and one night Garfield follows Odie into the barn where Odie secretly prepares the gift. There, Garfield comes across a number of letters addressed to Grandma from her late husband. The special climaxes on Christmas morning where the family opens their presents. Garfield hands the letters to Grandma, and Odie reveals his present to Garfield which turns out to be a home made back scratcher. Garfield finally realizes the true meaning of Christmas and the whole family engages in some good old fashion Christmas fun on the farm. This is a fun special that I always enjoy watching every year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GYlRMjq8a8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o2j0vuhKRk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syTlnICXXD8
6. Yogi's First Christmas
Yeah, remember this one? Any Yogi Bear fan will definitely remember it. For those of you that don't, I'll give you skimmie. This one starts off with the old Hanna-Barbera gang (comprised of Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Doggy Daddy, and Auggie Doggie) heading up to the Jellystone Lodge, the gang's favorite Christmas hangout every year. They get there to discover it might be the last Christmas they spend there as a freeway is being planned on being built over the mountain, but can't be done unless the owner, Mrs. Throckmorton sells the lodge and the land. Reason being is because of a series of incidences that have been occurring in recent years thus causing the guests to not come back (the culprit of which we meet at the beginning of the special, a Christmas hating hermit known as Herman the Hermit). The only way to prevent it from happening is to convince Mrs. Throckmorton not to sell the lodge by showing her all the fun they have. In all their excitement, their loud music accidentally wakes up Yogi and Boo Boo who are hibernating directly below them! The two bears make their way up to the lodge to discover that it's Christmas time, and they have never experienced Christmas before, so they vow to stay awake through Christmas, much to the dismay of Ranger Smith and Mr. Dingwell, the manager of the Jellystone Lodge. Soon we see Mrs. Throckmorton arrive at the lodge with her obnoxiously rotten nephew named Snively. An avalanche caused by Herman nearly claims them as their the car get stuck in a ditch and they're stuck in the path of it, but they are saved by Yogi and Boo Boo moments later. The show pretty much takes off from there following a simple format. Snively tried to thwart their fun, but is is outdone by Yogi everytime, and everytime Yogi saves Mrs. Throckmorton's life, she demands that he be promoted. It's s pretty funny running gag, especially how they're all pulled off. In the middle of the show, Cindy Bear gets in on the action, thus bringing in the romantic aspect of the show as she constantly tried as hard as she can to get Yogi to kiss her under the mistletoe (after Boo Boo explains what it means). The special climaxes at the Tree Trimming Party where Mrs. Throckmorton invites a group of orphans to the lodge to have a proper Christmas celebration and also reveals that she's not going to sell the lodge but instead plans on donating it to the company she is president of and use it as a year round getaway for orphans to come experience the winter carnival games after experiencing it for herself. Yogi and Boo Boo end up dressing up as Santa Claus and his little helper and deliver presents to the children, and even manages to give Cindy her wish. It ends as the real Santa Claus comes in, sees that Yogi has done his work for him, and offers Yogi what he's always wanted...a picnic basket, but Yogi is unable to accept because he's fast asleep, so the gang helps escort him and Boo Boo back to their cave. Like I said, this one of my all time favorites, and it's one I enjoy watching year after year. It's fun, it's energetic, and it's very uplifting. Check this one out if you haven't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6toFwXKlUY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8655uLyOtG4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T__TNQfq1Ks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkxSZ9GHaBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzqNkxWB12Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVArkgqx9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMnR10MljUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z624ziIbT3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztfGdapMRIQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGe5B_nEhMI
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas
I don't think this needs any explanation. Everyone knows this one so well, and loves it so much. It's like a Christmas tradition to watch this one. I don't think anyone goes through one Christmas and not see it. It's a great story, and in my opinion, the most upbeat Charlie Brown show to date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icB7_Lh_M-w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI-8DbjtfCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTAazA-Xlag
4. A Chipmunk Christmas
Alright, you all know what song comes out of this one (it will never leave, it will never leave, IT WILL NEVER LEAVE). But that aside, this one I also enjoy a lot. I think everyone knows this classic really well, also. Alvin and that harmonica of his! It's everything you love about the Chipmunks at the holidays, and has a great plot to it. I also love the fact that the creative consultant and character design on this special was the late great Chuck Jones! Revisit it, and try not to let the song overrun your brains!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T78oOpWYrHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lFVibIeVns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVVnLetqu8U
3. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Another one that I don't think needs explanation. People know this one so well they can pretty much play it in their sleep. What amazes me is that this one little special is that popular that it spawned the live action movie starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch, and that even became a hit. The movie can't compare to the original animated show, though. People, including myself, find the animated one so much better and so much satisfying. And of course let's not foret the song that comes out of that one, too! That one will never leave, either!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S3KM92s-pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL0uu_q2grc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkDELa8YSqY
2. Anything by Rankin/Bass
Honestly, it was very hard for me to pick just one favorite from this company. All of them are just that good! So I decided to give them all their own spot. I think that if I had to pick at least three that I enjoy the most, they would have to be (in no particular order) Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Those three are the ones I love the most.
No video links this time, but go to YouTube and search for any of the Rankin/Bass classics and you'll pretty much find them.
1. Mickey's Christmas Carol
Definitely no explanation needed for this one. I think this is like everyone's favorite rendition of A Christmas Carol. Disney certainly outdid themselves with this one, of all the Christmas specials that they have ever done. This one is the most well written, most heart-warming, and most uplifting one of all. Scrooge McDuck as Ebeneezer Scrooge is the best idea ever in my opinion. Leave it to Disney to create a Christmas masterpiece, considering their recent string of Christmas specials which in my opinion all tank compared to this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHmrhXCGxQU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDBkh5x6Z_8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTZ78TPNx_o
And those are my Top 11 Favorite Nostalgic Christmas specials. Hope you all enjoyed!