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Join Mark, Erica, and Brian for a special “snake draft,” where we take turns picking the holiday films and TV specials that we think are (or should be) part of America’s yearly viewing traditions.
Were I to list all the shows and films we mention, that would give away our picks now, wouldn’t it? Compare your intuitions about what is classic or seminal or over-rated with ours!
Here are some articles with most of the likely suspects to get you warmed up:
- “Primer: TV Christmas Specials” from AV Club
- “Mr. Movie: Holiday Movies, the Good and the Bad” by Gary Wolcott
- “Here’s Why We Bloody Love Repeats on TV Over Christmas and New Year” by Morgan Jefferey
- “The War for Christmas TV Is More Competitive than Ever” by Joseph Adalia
- “Christmas Shows Are TV’s December Comfort Food” by John Koblin
- “12 Worst Holiday Specials Of All Time” by Rose Moore
- “It’s Not just “Rudolph”: Holiday TV Specials Are Mostly Creepy, Weird or Depressing as Hell” by Melanie McFarland
We did NOT beforehand actually look at IMDB’s Top 25 Christmas Movies or their Greatest Christmas Specials list, but YOU certainly can. Neither did we look this ranking of the various versions of A Christmas Carol by Dave Trumbore. While we’re at it, here are times where TV shows ripped off It’s a Wonderful Life.
Other references and information:
When does A Christmas Story take place? 1940; read trivia about that film. The Dare Daniel podcast has a brutal take-down of the little-seen 2012 sequel that serves as a great substitute for actually viewing that pile of garbage.
You can watch the quick version of the very funny Rifftrax running commentary on the Star Wars Holiday Special on YouTube or buy the whole thing. Did George Lucas really want to smash all copies of it as Mark said?
Brian refers to this article, “Diagnosing the Home Alone Burglars’ Injuries: A Professional Weighs In” by Lauren Hansen.
It’s actually the Thanksgiving Charlie Brown special that has been blasted as racist, not the Xmas one. Here’s an article about the history of Franklin being included in the strip.
Whenever discussing or watching It’s a Wonderful Life, I can’t help but think of the Saturday Night Live “lost ending” to the film.
This episode includes bonus discussion that you can only hear by supporting the podcast at patreon.com/prettymuchpop. This podcast is part of the Partially Examined Life podcast network and is curated by openculture.com.
We’re posting episode this early and ad-free as our holiday gift to you! We’re posting this early and ad-free as our holiday gift to you. Snarf it all down right now like a plastic candy cane full of M&Ms.
Thanks for a swell first half-a-year with Pretty Much Pop! Before you know it, the podcast will be walking and talking and using the toilet without assistance.
What about a Marx brothers film such as Duck Soup , or Dialectical Christmas …I’ll get my coat
Ha! We’ll have to figure out how to do a “classic comedies” episode (classic meaning Abbot and Costello/Marx Brothers, not Stripes and The Jerk).
If you’re talking canonical, “It’s a Wonderful Life” really belongs at the top of the list! I think it must be the most watched and beloved of Christmas movies.
But “Rudolph” is too scary? I loved it and my kids did, too!
And none of you are familiar with the Alistair Sim version of “A Christmas Carol”? No “Miracle on 34th Street”?
For our family, “Pee Wee’s Christmas Special” has been a must see for at least 20 years.