Favorite Christmas Episodes (3 Viewers)

[Rodney]

I haven't heard of this film before, but doing a search on Amazon shows that there seems to be 4 different DVD versions available, and rather inexpensively.
I just may purchase this one blind. Thanks for the write-up!
-Rodney

 

[Jack P]

My pleasure! My understanding is that these DVD versions that are available are sourced from off-air recordings so they won't be great quality, but the film is still worth watching no matter the quality.

 

[Statskeeper]

Almost forgot two TV Christmas specials that are VERY rare and hard to find. They are not even on DVD but you can do a Google search and find details about them. I had mine on VHS before transferring to DVD and they are annual favorites. Hope you guys can find them somewhere, I would highly recommend both. You just don't find shows like these now days.
Neil Diamond Christmas Special - 1993
David Fosters Christmas Album - late '80s or '90 something

I just saw the prices on the Neil Diamond VHS on Amazon - waaay out of my price range. There are clips on YouTube so that will have to suffice for now.

 

[Gary OS]

#7 - The Andy Griffith Show. I've lost a long reply twice so I'm not trying again. LOL Also watched the S11 Lassie Christmas offering, which is one of the best TV series ever for such episodes.


Gary "its almost impossible for me to believe we've got only a week left" O.

 

[Jack P]

Nearing the end now.
Night Gallery S2-"The Messiah Of Mott Street." This is a wonderfully done ecumenial tale of the Holiday season that can be appreciated by Jew and Christian alike when watching it, and it does so not in an overt fashion but in a way that makes you think, and for that you can credit the strength of Rod Serling's gifts as a writer.
Dragnet S2-"The Christmas Story." What else can I add to IMO the greatest of all Christmas episodes of any television series. It never fails to move me, and I usually end up giving it more than one viewing before Christmas, which I likely will again.
Now about to put on my home recording of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" from 1985. What a sad comment it is on the age we live in now when you actually have people objecting to seeing a staged version of this classic because of its deeper meaning.

 

[Charles Ellis]

Actually it's available in a lot of PD releases, but the odds are your off-air recording is probably better in quality.

 

[Garysb]

Per Sitcoms Online Cozi TV starts tomorrow with a 6 day marathon of Christmas episodes. Many of these are public domain.
COZI TV "Soft Launch:
Holiday Marathon
Thursday, December 20, 2012
6:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
6:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Christmas Tree Lot
7:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet A Piano for the Fraternity
7:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Busy Christmas
8:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Girl in the Emporium
8:30 AM The Lone Ranger Christmas Story
9:00 AM Lassie
9:30 AM Lassie
10:00 AM The Beverly Hillbillies Home for Christmas
10:30 AM The Beverly Hillbillies Christmas at the Clampetts
11:00 AM The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show Company for Christmas
11:30 AM The Ruggles Christmas Eve
12:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Miracle
12:30 PM Liberace Christmas
1:00 PM Highway to Heaven Hotel of Dreams
2:00 PM Highway to Heaven Another Song for Christmas
3:00 PM Date with the Angels The Christmas Show
3:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Boys' Christmas Money
4:00 PM A Snow White Christmas
5:00 PM Casper's Haunted Christmas
6:30 PM COZI TV Preview Show
7:00 PM Sherlock Holmes The Christmas Pudding
7:30 PM Petticoat Junction Cannonball Christmas
8:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Christmas Tree Lot
8:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet A Piano for the Fraternity
9:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Day After Christmas
9:30 PM Racket Squad Christmas Capers
10:00 PM The Lone Ranger Outlaw's Trail
10:30 PM Roy Rogers Show
11:00 PM Four Star Playhouse The Gift
11:30 PM COZI TV Preview Show
12:00 AM Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion The Little Boy Who Found Christmas
12:30 AM The Adventures of Robin Hood The Christmas Goose
1:00 AM The Lone Ranger Enter the Lone Ranger
3:00 AM Sherlock Holmes The Christmas Pudding
3:30 AM Petticoat Junction Cannonball Christmas
4:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Boys' Christmas Money
4:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
Friday, December 21, 2012
6:00 AM The Adventures of Robin Hood The Christmas Goose
6:30 AM Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion The Little Boy Who Found Christmas
7:00 AM Christmas Shop: String of Blue Beads
7:30 AM COZI TV Preview
8:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
8:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Christmas Tree Lot
9:00 AM Four Star Playhouse The Gift
9:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
10:00 AM The Lone Ranger Christmas Story
10:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Fruitcake
11:00 AM The Red Skelton Show
11:30 AM Meet Corliss Archer
12:00 PM Racket Squad Christmas Capers
12:30 PM Sherlock Holmes The Christmas Pudding
1:00 PM Highway to Heaven Another Song for Christmas
2:00 PM Highway to Heaven Merry Christmas from Grandpa
3:00 PM MOVIE: The Great Rupert
5:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
5:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Christmas Tree Lot
6:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet A Piano for the Fraternity
6:30 PM Christmas Shop: String of Blue Beads
7:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
7:30 PM The Ruggles Christmas Eve
8:00 PM MOVIE: A Christmas Carol
10:00 PM The Lone Ranger Stage to Teshimingo
10:30 PM Roy Rogers Show
11:00 PM He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special
12:00 AM The Beverly Hillbillies Home for Christmas
12:30 AM The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel The Christmas Present
1:00 AM The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold
3:00 AM Date with the Angels The Christmas Show
3:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Fruitcake (TV-G)
4:00 AM He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special
Saturday, December 22, 2012
6:00 AM Cricket on the Hearth
7:00 AM The Snow Queen
8:30 AM The Snow Queen's Revenge
10:00 AM E/I
12:00 PM The First Snow of Winter
12:30 PM The Forgotten Toys
1:00 PM Casper's Haunted Christmas
2:30 PM COZI TV Preview Show
3:00 PM MOVIE: March of the Wooden Soldiers
5:00 PM MOVIE: A Christmas Wish
7:00 PM The Beverly Hillbillies Home for Christmas
7:30 PM The Beverly Hillbillies Christmas at the Clampetts
8:00 PM He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special
9:00 PM The Adventures of Robin Hood
9:30 PM The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel The Christmas Present
10:00 PM Sherlock Holmes The Christmas Pudding
10:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Fruitcake
11:00 PM Petticoat Junction Cannonball Christmas
11:30 PM Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion
12:00 AM Racket Squad Christmas Capers
12:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
1:00 AM MOVIE: A Christmas Carol
3:00 AM Christmas Shop: String of Blue Beads
3:30 AM The Red Skelton Show
4:00 AM Four Star Playhouse The Gift
4:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
Sunday, December 23, 2012
6:00 AM Lassie
6:30 AM Lassie
7:00 AM Lassie The Christmas Story
7:30 AM CHoliday Collection
8:00 AM The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas
8:30 AM The Forgotten Toys
9:00 AM A Snow White Christmas
10:00 AM E/I
10:30 AM E/I
11:00 AM The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas (E/I)
11:30 AM The Forgotten Toys (E/I)
12:00 PM Casper's Haunted Christmas
1:30 PM COZI TV Preview Show
2:00 PM The Border Going Dark
3:00 PM The Collector Another Collector
4:00 PM MOVIE: The Great Rupert
6:00 PM Sherlock Holmes The Christmas Pudding
6:30 PM Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
7:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Girl in the Emporium
7:30 PM Meet Corliss Archer
8:00 PM Date with the Angels The Christmas Show
8:30 PM Casper's Haunted Christmas
10:30 PM The Ruggles Christmas Eve
11:00 PM Four Star Playhouse The Gift
11:30 PM COZI TV Preview Show
12:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Day After Christmas
12:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
1:00 AM Christmas Shop: String of Blue Beads
1:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
2:00 AM Four Star Playhouse The Gift
2:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
3:00 AM Sherlock Holmes The Christmas Pudding
3:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Fruitcake
4:00 AM Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
4:30 AM Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion
Monday, December 24, 2012
6:00 AM The Lone Ranger Christmas Story
6:30 AM Lassie
7:00 AM Lassie The Christmas Story
7:30 AM Crossroads
8:00 AM Date with the Angels The Christmas Show
8:30 AM Holiday Collection
9:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Boys' Christmas Money
9:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
10:00 AM Christmas Shop: String of Blue Beads
10:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet A Piano for the Fraternity
11:00 AM Casper's Haunted Christmas
12:30 PM COZI TV Preview Show
1:00 PM MOVIE: March of the Wooden Soldiers
3:00 PM Highway to Heaven
4:00 PM Scrooge
6:00 PM Sherlock Holmes The Christmas Pudding
6:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
7:00 PM The Red Skelton Show
7:30 PM Racket Squad Christmas Capers
8:00 PM The Beverly Hillbillies Home for Christmas
8:30 PM The Beverly Hillbillies Christmas at the Clampetts
9:00 PM He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special
10:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
10:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Christmas Tree Lot
11:00 PM MOVIE: The Great Rupert
1:00 AM MOVIE: Scrooge
3:00 AM MOVIE: March of the Wooden Soldiers
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
6:00 AM Lassie The Christmas Story
6:30 AM Lassie
7:00 AM Lassie
7:30 AM Lassie
8:00 AM Cricket on the Hearth
9:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Late Christmas Gift
9:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Christmas Tree Lot
10:00 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet A Piano for the Fraternity
10:30 AM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Day After Christmas
11:00 AM MOVIE: Scrooge
1:00 PM Highway to Heaven
2:00 PM The Lone Ranger Christmas Story
2:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Miracle
3:00 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Girl in the Emporium
3:30 PM Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion The Little Boy Who Found Christmas
4:00 PM Date with the Angels The Christmas Show
4:30 PM The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Busy Christmas
5:00 PM COZI TV Preview Show
5:30 PM The Ruggles Christmas Eve
6:00 PM MOVIE: March of the Wooden Soldiers
8:00 PM MOVIE: The Great Rupert
10:00 PM MOVIE: Scrooge
12:00 AM Meet Corliss Archer
12:30 AM COZI TV Preview Show
1:00 AM The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold
3:00 AM The Lone Ranger Enter the Lone Ranger
Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=4753439&postcount=4#ixzz2FYfpWw1O

 

[Gary OS]

That's a truly fantastic Christmas line-up. Unfortunately for me, this is another sub-channel instead of a national channel that an outfit like Direct TV would carry. Luckily, they aren't showing anything I don't already own. But still, for those that can get this it's got a ton of great episodes!!!

Continuing my unfortunate run of being busy, I was only able to get in on episode today, but I made sure it was...

#6 - Father Knows Best ("The Christmas Story"). I made sure to watch the S5 repeat of what was originally a S1 airing because Shout Factory didn't give us the uncut version in their first season set. This was a great story that had many classic moments, including a poignant scene where "Old Nick" says grace over the Christmas meal (a spot that was cut out of the syndicated S1 version). The S3 Christmas episode from this series isn't half-bad either, entitled "The Angel's Sweater." If I get a chance, I'm going to enjoy Robert Young's other Christmas episode from the short-lived Window on Main Street.


Gary "gotta get some of the more important Christmas films in too" O.

 

[PatrickGoodluck]

Continuing my unfortunate run of being busy, I was only able to get in on episode today, but I made sure it was...
#6 - Father Knows Best ("The Christmas Story").  I made sure to watch the S5 repeat of what was originally a S1 airing because Shout Factory didn't give us the uncut version in their first season set.  This was a great story that had many classic moments, including a poignant scene where "Old Nick" says grace over the Christmas meal (a spot that was cut out of the syndicated S1 version).  The S3 Christmas episode from this series isn't half-bad either, entitled "The Angel's Sweater."  If I get a chance, I'm going to enjoy Robert Young's other Christmas episode from the short-lived Window on Main Street.
Gary "gotta get some of the more important Christmas films in too" O.

Compliments on your choices there, Gary. That probably has something to do with the fact that I just happened to have watched the Father Knows Best "The Christmas Story" episode last night.
Other favourites of mine that I've viewed the past month have been:
Getting Together "Blue Christmas"
Partridge Family "Don't Bring Your Guns To Town, Santa"
Julia "I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas"
That Girl "Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid"
Family Affair "Christmas in July"
Carry On Christmas specials from 1969-1973
Dr. Kildare "An Exchange of Gifts" (a classic! IMHO)
TV Movies:
Miracle on 34th Street (1973)
Sunshine Christmas (1977) Sequel to "Sunshine" which is terribly sad and not recommended to watch at Christmas time I don't think.
It Happened One Christmas (1977)
Just as a matter of interest, I don't recall if My Three Sons ever had a Christmas episode but someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Gary OS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatrickGoodluck /t/295423/favorite-christmas-episodes/300#post_4015958
Just as a matter of interest, I don't recall if My Three Sons ever had a Christmas episode but someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Patrick, you are correct. There was no Christmas episode for My Three Sons. That's always been a fascinating thing to me. How a great, long-running family sitcom of that nature (or something like Leave it to Beaver) would NOT have a Christmas-themed episode.

I like your list as well. I've watched several of the eps you listed already. More to come - I hope.


Gary "this has turned into a true 'Busy Christmas', ala Ozzie & Harriet, for me" O.

 

[TravisR]

That's always been a fascinating thing to me.  How a great, long-running family sitcom of that nature (or something like Leave it to Beaver) would NOT have a Christmas-themed episode.

I could be wrong but I assume that was so the episodes wouldn't be 'out of season' when the series entered syndication. Although I find that to be a classic case of underestimating the intelligence of the audience. I can't imagine a viewer being confused or turning off an episode because they're seeing a Christmas episode when it's actually August.

 

[Gary OS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisR /t/295423/favorite-christmas-episodes/300#post_4016003
I could be wrong but I assume that was so the episodes wouldn't be 'out of season' when the series entered syndication. Although I find that to be a classic case of underestimating the intelligence of the audience. I can't imagine a viewer being confused or turning off an episode because they're seeing a Christmas episode when it's actually August.

That's definitely why many shows didn't create holiday-themed episodes. The interesting thing about My Three Sons is that they did do a Thanksgiving episode the first year, but never did a Christmas one. Leave it to Beaver seemed to completely stay away from all the holidays. Another interesting situation (since the shows were similar and basically competing with each other) was Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. The former had several Christmas episodes (along with Halloween and Thanksgiving ones too) while the latter took the LITB approach and stayed away from all the holidays. Again, I think the smart money on why shows didn't do a Christmas episode is definitely the syndication issue. But like you, it does seem silly in hindsight to me.


Gary "my top 3 shows that didn't have Christmas episodes (and boy do I wish they had) - LITB, Route 66, and The Fugitive" O.

 

[Regulus]

I could be wrong but I assume that was so the episodes wouldn't be 'out of season' when the series entered syndication. Although I find that to be a classic case of underestimating the intelligence of the audience. I can't imagine a viewer being confused or turning off an episode because they're seeing a Christmas episode when it's actually August.

Beginning on the Friday after July 9 (July 9 if it falls on a Friday) I commence my "Christmas in July" week, and break out my Favorite Christmas CDs, Movies and TV Shows and play them, getting my mind off the mid-summer heat.

 

[Gary OS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus /t/295423/favorite-christmas-episodes/300#post_4016011
Beginning on the Friday after July 9 (July 9 if it falls on a Friday) I commence my "Christmas in July" week, and break out my Favorite Christmas CDs, Movies and TV Shows and play them, getting my mind off the mid-summer heat.

Great idea, William. I think I'll start making that a early ritual.


Gary "that would be a good time to watch some of the lesser quality episodes from my library" O.

 

[Regulus]

Christmas in July is fun. I decorate a Small Christmas Tree and display it in the window (I'm sure it causes some double takes). On the Final Evening I Cook a Standing Rib Roast and serve it with all the trimmings. I also order a "Gift" from me to myself from The Big River and place it under the Tree, it is opened on that final evening.

 

[Garysb]

FYI I DVRed some Cozi TV. To my surprise it's HD at least in NY. The public domain stuff like the Beverly Hillbillies is pretty bad with replacement theme song music like a $1 DVD. The Lone Ranger on the other hand looks fantastic. The Christmas episode was in color. I didn't know the show was ever in color. It does not appear to me to be colorized. Ozzie and Harriett looks like a 16MM print. Not bad and the sound is good. A mixed bag to be sure but the NBC/Universal shows and any other non public domain shows should be a treat. Shows I see them promoting include Magnum PI, Charlie's Angels, Six Million Dollar Man, and the Bionic Woman.

 

[Charles Ellis]

Wait- is it available in NYC? I have Time Warner digital cable, and never heard of Cozi. I do get Antenna and Me-TV, however.

 

[Eric Vedowski]

The stations used to be called NBC NonStop so you should have it in NY. WNBC 4.2 subchannel-not sure if it's on your cable system. Could be 161 per Wikipedia.

 

[Garysb]

Wait- is it available in NYC? I have Time Warner digital cable, and never heard of Cozi. I do get Antenna and Me-TV, however.

Today is the first day. Its actual a soft launch and doesn't officially start until 1/1/13. Its on channel 460 on Verizon Fios in the NYC area.

 

[Gary OS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garysb /t/295423/favorite-christmas-episodes/300#post_4016039
The Lone Ranger on the other hand looks fantastic. The Christmas episode was in color. I didn't know the show was ever in color. It does not appear to me to be colorized.

The final season of the series was shot in color. That Christmas episode was from that last season. And it's a good one too, imho.

Tonight I watched...

#5 - Lassie ("The Christmas Story"). This was the first of many successful and fantastic Christmas episodes from the series, and for my money it's the best of them all. It offers the obligatory drama as Lassie is severely injured just a few days before Christmas as she pushes a child out of the way of a coming car and is hit herself. She is saved on Christmas Eve as a Doctor travels out of his way to help after hearing of the dog's plight on the radio. The episode has all the great Christmas elements: selflessness, community, love and devotion, faith and family. The ending never fails to bring a sentimental tear to my eye as the doctor, to the backdrop of some beautiful carols being sung by friends and neighbors, refuses to take all the credit and says there was certainly more to it (a clear reference to the Almighty) than just his skills. Just a great Christmas show all the way around, as are just about all the Lassie Christmas eps (although the last one or two weren't quite as powerful).


Gary "happy viewing to everyone" O.