Worst. TV Specials. Ever.
Posted: Wednesday December 23 2009 @ 8:23pm
Category: TV Shows
Topless Robot has a nice list of the 16 Worst Christmas Specials of All Time.
(Spoiler: Yes, the Star Wars special is #1.)
WKRP (Turkeys Away)
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
WKRP does have an Xmas-themed episode. It's basically a parody of A Christmas Carol
, but it's just okay. What you really need to see is Turkeys Away, which takes place at Thanksgiving. But I think that's close enough.
Basically, Mr. Carlson decides he needs to take a more active hand in the running of the station and plans a secret publicity stunt. Les Nessman's coverage of the event is one of the funniest things you'll ever hear.
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The Boondocks (A Huey Freeman Christmas)
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
The Boondocks, A Huey Freeman Christmas, is probably not one to watch with the kids. The actual main story-line really doesn't thrill me. What I do love is Riley's frequent attacks on Santa. Santa, you gotta pay what you owe!
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a stop-motion classic. You will believe a reindeer can fly. Who among us hasn't once felt they belonged on the Island of Misfit Toys?
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Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
Santa Claus is Coming to Town is another stop-motion classic. Drags in the end, but the first half builds up well enough to sustain it.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a great story with great animation and the most wonderful narration by Boris Karloff. (Beware of versions that substitute Walter Matthau. Nothing against Walter and he probably does a fine job. But it's just not right!)
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A Charlie Brown Christmas 
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
A Charlie Brown Christmas is perhaps the most depressing holiday feature ever. The soundtrack is like a dirge. Poor Charlie Brown seeks the true meaning of xmas. The best he gets is a preachy bible reading by Linus, in a public school, no less. And the damn thing isn't even that funny. Still, it's a must see.
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A Very Venture Christmas
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
A Very Venture Christmas is an oddball Xmas special, available on the first season DVD set. Stars the Venture Bros. and all their friends. It's a must of you're a fan of the show. If you're not a fan, then it won't be all that entertaining. It has a tiny bit of plot, but just a speck. Mainly, it's just a whole lot of weird.
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A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
If you like Stephen Colbert, then you'll like A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!. (If you don't, then you probably won't.) While it features Colbert in his TV persona, it's slightly less political than the Colbert Report. It does drag a bit by the end. But the songs are fantastic. The lyrics are funny and the tunes are great. (The music was composed by that Fountains of Wayne guy.)
The songs can be downloaded separately from iTunes. But I'd advise getting the DVD and then pulling the songs off the video.
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Andy Griffith Show (The Christmas Story)
Posted: Sunday November 29 2009 @ 5:09pm
Category: TV Shows
The first season of the Andy Griffith Show contained a great xmas special, The Christmas Story. The town Scrooge, Ben Weaver, tries desperately to get himself arrested. Why? Watch and see. Andy's still a little too much of a hick, here in the first season. But the show rolls along great. If you have NetFlix, it's on the second disc of the first season DVD set.