Favorite Christmas Episodes - Page 5

I like the '84 version just fine (and you guys are in the majority I believe in liking it the best), but I don't think it jumps over the Alastair Sim version as my personal favorite. 

With only 5 viewing days left (I don't generally watch anything on Christmas Day, although I can if time and mood permit), the following are either "want to watch this season if possible" or "must watch every season" episodes that I've yet to view this year and need squeeze in:

Want to Watch This Season if Possible

Follow the Sun

Green Acres

Gilligan's Island

Hazel S1

Gunsmoke S17

In the Heat of the Night S3, S4

June Allyson Show

Little House on the Prairie S8

Newhart S1

Our Miss Brooks S1, S2

Rin Tin Tin

Waterfront

Must Watch

Charlie Brown Christmas

Happy Days S2

HGWT S6

Dr. Kildare S1 (perhaps my favorite of all time in spite of watching a poor duped copy)

Can I get them all in between today and Saturday night?  I doubt it.  But I'll give it the old college try.

Gary "hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season up to this point" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by smithb 

Now you just helped me identify what I am going to watch tonight, Wagon Train: S1

It's actually a Season 3 episode, and I'd recommend it Brad.  Not sure why it wasn't on the list I sent you guys.  It absolutely should have been there!  Sorry.

Gary "that one is far better than the depressing S2 Christmas story from Wagon Train" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by smithb 

I checked, it is on the list, and as season 3. For a Christmas show newbie like me it is a daunting list. So I've used this thread as a way to point me to some of the better one's. I don't usually attribute Westerns to Christmas stories as much as other genre's, so that is why that mention stood out for me. Now I have to finish planning out the next few days.

Good.  I wasn't sure about that.  There is a Season 2 Wagon Train but the Christmas element basically only comes into play at the very end, and it's extremely melancholy at that.  The Season 3 episode also has a sad element to it, but it's not depressing (at least it wasn't to me) like the S2 one was.

I've found over the years that the Western genre, believe it or not, actually tends to do a pretty good job with Christmas episodes.  Especially the ones from the 50's and 60's.  Off the top of my head I can think of at least a dozen or so that I enjoy to one degree or another.  The Lone Ranger, HGWT, Fury, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Tales of Wells Fargo, Big Valley, Rin Tin Tin, Laramie, Gunsmoke, Restless Gun, Circus Boy, Stagecoast West, Branded, Jim Bowie, Annie Oakley, and Bonanza all come to mind.  Not all of them were great, but they all brought enjoyment to me.  And I'm sure I'm missing some more.  Interestingly enough, my favorite Western didn't have what I'd consider a great Christmas episode.  Rawhide's "25 Santa Clauses" didn't do much for me, in part because the story wasn't set at Christmas time.  Then you have episodes like the Tall Man one where Christmas is only referenced at the beginning and end.  These I don't get much out of and hardly consider true Christmas-themed TV episodes.  But overall I do find that the Western genre often does quite well with Yuletide offerings.

Gary "4 viewing days left for me" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Echo 

Not that anyone has noticed, haha, but sorry to be so MIA lately at HTF. Just a busy time of year, I guess. In any case, before the Christmas week gets snowed in, let me wish everyone here, all my friends and allies in the quest for owning great TV no matter what definition of great we each have nor what era we believe represents it, a very MERRY HAPPY everything now and forever.

 

I've missed contributing to this thread in particular, but my spirit is there and tonight I will be watching the Blu Ray of RUDOLPH, which is my all time favorite Christmas show and then a homemade copy of the long forgotten STUBBY PRINGLE'S CHRISTMAS, which is just about as beautiful and poignant as Christmas TV gets.

Good to see you here, Glen.  I hope you have a very Merry Christmas with your family, and take care! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Willis 

MATLOCK S4 - "The Scrooge"
Next up,
ADDAMS FAMILY S2 "Christmas With The Addams Family"
HAZEL S1 "Hazel’s Christmas Shopping"

I like the Matlock Christmas episodes.  The Addams Family one is decent as well.  And that first season Hazel episode is nice too.

I watched one yesterday that I was having trouble remembering much about, and after I watched it I knew why it wasn't striking much of a memory chord with me.  It was the supposed Christmas episode from The Texan, and believe me it was pathetic.  The episode went out of it's way to never mention the word Christmas, instead opting for "this time of the year" several times.  It was one of the worst "Christmas" episodes I've ever seen in that sense.  Very weird to say the least.  Sometimes these holiday themed episodes can be great, sometimes okay, and sometimes they shouldn't even be labeled Christmas episodes at all.  I've found that some shows, like The Big Valley Christmas episode, have a smattering of Christmas throughout, but it's not really what I'd call a traditional Christmas episode.  Sometimes the plot has nothing to do with Christmas, its just that the holiday is there as a backdrop.  Generally those type of episodes leave me a little cold, even if I like the series itself.  My favorites are always the ones where Christmas is front and center and the plot is tied to the holiday itself.  This is why Christmas episodes from westerns like HGWT, Fury or Wagon Train are always more special to me.

Gary "only 3 more viewing days left - what's on everybody's schedule at this point?" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by smithb 

Well...I now know one that isn't, The Texan.   But it looks like Matlock might be climbing in the rankings for the last few nights. I have to make sure to leave a little room for some Christmas movies.

Yes, Brad.  Whatever you do don't waste your time on The Texan (or The Tall Man).  I'd like to spare everyone that pain.  LOL

Gary "the Matlock episodes are nice, Christmas style episodes" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Willis 

Watched
SCARECROW AND MRS KING S1 - "The Long Christmas Eve" I thought this one was well-done, enjoyed the 1st-time view.
Next up later today, all 1st-time views:
KING OF THE HILL S5 - "'Twas the Nut Before Christmas"
LASSIE S5 & 7 - "The Christmas Story"
Then, re-viewing some annual shows.

Have a hankie ready when you watch that first Lassie episode. 

Gary "any Christmas show with a little boy and his dog is bound to bring tears to your eyes at some point" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by smithb 

last night i watched:
- Tales of Wells Fargo - Laredo (not bad, this series is still pretty new to me)
- Twilight Zone - S2, Night of the Meek (definitely twilight zonie, Christmas but a bit depressing)
- Beverly Hillbillies - S2, Christmas at the Clampetts (okay, but was a bit of a miss for some reason)
I think my choices last night were too different from each other, nothing quite meshed. I think i need to go back and stick with a single genre for the night, as I did on previous nights.
Oh, almost forgot I started with the Dennis the Menace Christmas episodes with the kids before bedtime last night now that we are done with the Lassie and Fury Christmas episodes.

Brad, you're probably right about the genres.  I've found the same thing happens with me.  The Twilight Zone ep does very little for me, and the Wells Fargo and BH ones are only okay.  Not bad, but not great by any stretch either.  For my money it's tough to beat the Lassie, Fury and Dennis Christmas episodes.  Those are all great, imho. 

Gary "I plan on watching the Dr. Kildare S1 episode tonight" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack P 

Offhand Gary, have you checked out the S3 Twilight Zone "The Changing Of The Guard" with Donald Pleasance? It takes place at Christmas time and while not dealing specifically with Christmas themes is quite uplifting.

Jack, I happened to watch it again for the first time in several years just recently.  It is a nice episode.  While not particularly Christmassy, it certainly was a feel good episode.

Gary "watched the Restless Gun Christmas episode earlier this evening" O.

Over the last couple of days I was able to watch some of my absolute favorites:

HGWT S6 "Be Not Forgetful of Strangers"

Lassie "Lassie's Gift of Love, Pts 1 & 2"

Dragnet (60's) "The Christmas Story"

Dr. Kildare "Season to be Jolly"

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The wonderful thing with all those episodes is that they had a common theme concerning Christmas that I really, really appreciated.  I always like to finish up my annual viewing by focusing on the reason for the season, and these particular eps definitely help.

Gary "hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day" O.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus 
We have another Holiday nest Monday, I'm breaking out some Special TV Shows and a Movie that's appropiate for this holiday as well.

Yes.  Maybe I'll watch "Time of Their Lives" in honor of the holiday.  It does fit.

Gary "I didn't view everything I planned on this past Christmas season, but I got in quite a few" O.