With Thanksgiving behind us (for the American readers, anyway) and the holiday season nearly upon us, I'm curious to know which holiday classics--either new or old--you and your family watch on a recurring basis this time of year.In the Televisionary household, there's always been a fondness for Elf, Charlie Brown Christmas (which is airing next Tuesday), Olive the Other Reindeer, and Muppet Christmas Carol, along with the Christmas-related episodes of BBC's Vicar of Dibley, an annual tradition, particularly "The Christmas Lunch Incident."
(My wife is also a big fan of White Christmas as well and I'll admit an unwavering love for Richard Curtis' Love Actually.)
But we also usually watch the entirety of BBC/PBS mini-series Bleak House as well. And the latter has nothing to do with any holiday, secular or otherwise. (Andrew Davies' gripping adaptation of Charles Dickens' novels just bloody good television and the perfect thing to watch on cold winter evenings.)
Which brings me to my question: what television specials or movies do you typically put on just before the holidays kick off? Which films/specials are rightly viewed as classics and which ones should get added to that list? Are you a sucker for A Christmas Story? Devoted to rewatching Doctor Who Christmas specials? Can't get enough of How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Discuss.
Comments
(Just for reference, it was remade by TNT some years ago--updated with Dyan Cannon and Kris Kristofferson, directed by the governor of your fair state--and it was awful.)
As for movies, "Love Actually", "White Christmas" and just about anything that Lifetime and Hallmark put out as Christmas-themed movies. I'm a sucker for these cheeseball, romance-y, heartfelt productions. They always put me in the holiday spirit.
I'm also a huge fan of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, but that's not often aired on TV anymore. Thankfully I have it on DVD.
Keep an eye on PBS stations for it or rent it.
"Charlie Brown Christmas," "How the Grinch Stone Christmas", "Santa Claus is Coming To Town", "Rudolph" of course.
Let's add the Christmas Carol movies with George C. Scott and Alistair Sim.
As far as TV themed shows, how about any of the Christmas shows from "MASH"? I'll also add "Amends" from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" because it defines the Christmas spirit like no other show in the past 15 years.
Nuff said
We'll usually try to work in Christmas episodes of Nero Wolfe and Sherlock Holmes as well.
Uh . . . The Hebrew Hammer? Eight Crazy Nights? Ick.
Yeah, I'm out.
I guess I'll go with White Christmas.
It stars Danny Kaye, is directed by Michael Curtiz, and all the songs are written by Irving Berlin. The Jewish-est Christmas ever. Close enough! :o)
"A Christmas Story" (off-topic: my company themed our holiday luncheon after this movie several years ago, complete with smaller versions of the leg lamp at each table and serving Chinese food and personalized fortune cookies that hinted at the employee holiday gift given by the company's owner. Even had one of our managers dress in a rented bunny suit and carry a GENUINE Red Ryder BB gun. Omigosh, that lunch was an absolute blast to plan and pull off!)
The Rankin-Bass specials; the animation is so Sixties, but then again, these shows are part of my oldest and fondest memories of Christmas as a child.
As for films, Gillian Armstrong's Little Women.