What is Your Favorite Christmas Special?

Throughout my childhood, one of my favorite parts of the holiday season (besides celebrating the birth of Christ, getting out of school, family, and food) were the Christmas specials. The mid-90's were a little too saturated with Tim Allen flicks for anyone's liking, so hopefully that didn't spoil your taste for the genre. Whether it was watching TBS' 24 hours rerun-a-thon of "A Christmas Story" or taking part of the annual "Grinch Watching Party" in college, Christmas specials will always hold a special place in my heart. So on that note, here's a few compilations for you to enjoy this holiday season.

If you are at work and unable to access Youtube, then I apologize. For everyone else, enjoy!


Most Under-Appreciated Childhood Specials:

The Christmas Toy

This clip is reason #1001 why I love youtube. I've been trying to remember the name of this movie for years, and finally found it. There is only one clip available online unfortunately, but even this quick 30 second clip should jog your memory for this often forgotten childhood favorite (assuming you were a child in the mid-80's).



It's available here for purchase in case you're looking for a last minute gift.



Frosty the Snowman
I think I speak for all of us when I say that the part when Frosty melts in the end brings a tear to my eye even to this day.




Mickey's Christmas Carol
The way Charles Dicken's would've wanted it.




Most Overplayed:

A Christmas Story
Though "You'll shoot your eye out" is the more often quoted scene, the first time I saw the Asian man in this clip cut the head off of the duck when I was young is a memory I'll never forget.





How the Grinch Stole Christmas
In case you're tired of this holiday classic, try taking a drink everytime you hear the word "hoo" or "who". For an added bonus, watch it twice and invite all your friends over for an annual get together (this idea was stolen from my old roommates in college... thanks Rob and Mike).





Home Alone
I love this movie just as much as the next guy, but it is definitely overplayed these days. Thankfully no one replays Home Alone 3 (that movie was terrible).





Christmas Movies That Will Never Get Old:

Christmas Vacation
A movie so good, it deserves two clips.








Elf
Will Farrell. Bob Newhart. James Caan. What more could you want from a Christmas movie?




Love Actually
This clip is a little cheesy, but the movie still holds up. Plus I figured I'd allow at least one romantic comedy into the mix. Andrea was on movie probation for a month after choosing "The Holiday" as a rental when we first started dating. Most of those things are trite, cliche, and absolutely terrible.





It's a Wonderful Life
This movie always reminds me of Christmas at my grandmother's house as a kid. It's a great movie, but more nostalgic in nature than anything else.





A Charlie Brown Christmas
Is there a more well-remembered tv moment based almost entirely on scripture? I think not.





Favorite Christmas Related TV Episode:

Seinfeld
A Festivus for the rest of us!