The Dozen-Or-So Days Of Christmas 3 - Classic Christmas Television

[captain_slinky]

Despite starting with a very special Christmas episode of "According To Jim", this Youtube playlist of 200+ Christmas episodes from all eras of television! This has been my go-to playlist this Christmas season, containing none of "The Classics" (Rudolph, Frosty etc). This is 1970's variety show specials (like Donny & Marie, Johnny Cash, The Carpenters) and Christmas-themed episodes of classic TV shows of the 60's, 70's and 80's.

This is important to me because of a story I've told a thousand times regarding WHY I love Christmas so much. It was the year I decide to skip Christmas because it was too corny, too commercial and too inconvenient (I was 20-something and not only did I KNOW everything, but my views and opinions on things were the most valid and important views possible). And so I lied to the whole family, saying I was sick and couldn't make it. I instead stayed home and watched the Nickelodeon Classic TV Marathon. Somewhere during the hour-long block of The Andy Griffith Show, it just *clicked* for me and I suddenly had this all-new understanding of Christmas that is *impossible* to explain. It's not religious, it's not presents, it's not gathering with loved ones, it's... impossible to describe, but I love it!

Comments

[aurora77]

I have this bookmarked for later. Thanks! :D

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

It's SO GOOD! Almost perfect - needs some vintage Christmas commercials peppered in ;)

[aurora77]

Hee. You could make your own copy of the playlist but put in some commercials here and there from around YouTube.

By the way, check out my cubicle at work:
http://imgur.com/a/xnqXt

[snarky-imp.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Christmas TV episodes are my second favorite kind, right after Halloween. A collection of them is the perfect way to spend some time, thank you!

Off to rustle up some 'nog.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Y'know, when it comes t Halloween shows, I prefer purposefully Halloweenie episodes over "Special Episodes". Gimme Adams Family, Munsters and Tales From The Crypt (or Twilight Zone, or Monsters, or OOH TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE!) rather tan another "15 minutes of revealing the clever costumes for the regular characters and then a tossed-together reworking of A Christmas Carol only CREEEEEEPY" that has become the standard for such episodes.

That's not to say that Christmas Episodes aren't just as predictable - there are really only three basic TV Christmas Episodes. 1) Save the Orphans/Old Folks/Hospital by putting on a show. 2) Teach the Rich Guy the TRUE meaning of Christmas/Charity/Family. 3) "But wait, if that wasn't YOU in the Santa costume, then it must have been..."

...But Halloween, there's just SO MUCH BETTER STUFF to watch than holiday-themed episodes of regular shows :)