Favorite Classic Christmas Episodes

[BlueHen]

Anyone have some favorite Christmas episodes?

I remember one from Bewitched where Samantha takes a Scrooge-like character (Charles Lane?) up to the North Pole.

TVLand is currently airing the Andy Griffith one. I think I once read there was only one Christmas episode made during the entire run of the series, which seems hard to believe. Dick Van Dyke only had one episode, too.

My favorites are the 3 episodes from Dennis The Menace - the hidden presents in the Wilsons' closet, the pony, and going to the country to cut down a Christmas tree. This is one series I miss seeing on TVLand.

Can't forget that classic Jack Benny episode shopping in the department store with Mel Blanc as the sales clerk.

 

[Tim L]

Petticoat Junction's first season Christmas episode, "Cannonball Christmas" (12-24-63) had Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) wanting to keep the Cannonball from going out on it's annual caroling run..This was done in Black and White in 1963. It was remade in color in 1966 as "The Santa Claus Special"..The main differences between the episode are Eb Dawson (Tom Lester from "Green Acres") Mike Minor appears as Steve Elliott..But it was virtually the exact same plot..

 

[Stanislav]

Can't forget that classic Jack Benny episode shopping in the department store with Mel Blanc as the sales clerk.

That one is a tour-de-force for Mel -- the way every time Benny goes back changes his mind, Mel ends up more disheveled, more manic, more wacko -- it's a totally over-the-top scenery-chewing performance that is nonetheless utterly perfect for the show. You can clearly see a couple of points where Benny is stifling himself, about to break up at Mel's rantings.

I've always liked the "All in the Family" episode at which both Mike's draft-dodging friend and Archie's buddy who lost his son in Vietnam are at Xmas dinner with them. It's one of the first times on the show when Archie's carefully maintained belief system starts to crumble a bit, and he is faced with the cognitive dissonance between his attitudes and reality. It's probably one of the longest sustained scenes in the early years of the show that is not lightened or punctuated by gag lines -- there are long stretches where you could hear a pin drop in the studio audience. There are a few initial titters as Archie starts his long rant, until the audience realizes he's not his normal "funny-upset" -- he's genuinely angry, confused, and devastated, and you actually start to feel a little sorry for him. A great performance by Carroll O'Connor.

 

[sack]

Definitely the "Odd Couple" version of "A Christmas Carol".
Also love the WKRP episode where the staff brings Jenifer a forest of Christmas trees. (Sorry Herb, cant get in without a tree)

 

[CrankyYankee]

The Twilight Zone Christmas episode: "Night of the Meek", with Art Carney.

 

[Stanislav]

The Twilight Zone Christmas episode: "Night of the Meek", with Art Carney.

One of Carney's greatest performances, IMHO. It's a shame that the episode was one of the half-dozen or so that was produced on tape one season as an economy move when they were running way over budget for the year. Not only did this produce a more "stagey" quality to the sets and blocking, but it was then transferred to film, and between the inherent problems of both the cameras and the tape technology of the era (some smeary bits here and there, light sources in the frame tend to "bloom," etc.), you also have the loss of quality and contrast from the kinescope-ish transfer to film. I wish they had done those episodes on film to begin with, or at least held on to the master tapes (which would look a lot better).

 

[azumanga]

The Twilight Zone Christmas episode: "Night of the Meek", with Art Carney.

One of Carney's greatest performances, IMHO. It's a shame that the episode was one of the half-dozen or so that was produced on tape one season... but it was then transferred to film... you also have the loss of quality and contrast from the kinescope-ish transfer to film. I wish they had done those episodes on film to begin with, or at least held on to the master tapes (which would look a lot better).

Wasn't the straight videotape version of this episode eventually released into syndication? It might've been another episode, but I thought I saw a Twilight Zone episode from this era (probably this one) that was videotaped, not filmed or kinnied.

 

[Stanislav]

The Twilight Zone Christmas episode: "Night of the Meek", with Art Carney.

One of Carney's greatest performances, IMHO. It's a shame that the episode was one of the half-dozen or so that was produced on tape one season... but it was then transferred to film... you also have the loss of quality and contrast from the kinescope-ish transfer to film. I wish they had done those episodes on film to begin with, or at least held on to the master tapes (which would look a lot better).

Wasn't the straight videotape version of this episode eventually released into syndication? It might've been another episode, but I thought I saw a Twilight Zone episode from this era (probably this one) that was videotaped, not filmed or kinnied.

It's possible -- seems, though, like whenever I see those episodes on TV, it is clearly the transfer, not the original tape. I'd find it hard to believe they saved the masters (we're talking early 60's, when they were routinely discarded) -- no one connected with the show was very happy about using tape in the first place (least of all Serling), and I imagine once they had a film negative to archive, they couldn't have cared less about the original tape.

 

[BlueHen]

On the Off The Air board, the subject of that Bing Crosby - David Bowie duet "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" came up. I remember seeing Bowie as a guest on what turned out to be Crosby's very last Christmas special.

Back in the day, did stars like Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Perry Como make Christmas specials every single year? When was Bob Hope's last one - '80s or early '90s?

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

The two "Father Knows Best" Christmas shows from that series: The Anderson family is stuck when their car runs off the road and meet Old Nick at a cabin; the other from a few years later is a visit from Aunt Neva on Christmas Eve.

The best of more recent years is from the "Happy Days" series about Fonzie claiming he is going to his relatives for Christmas when he really has nowhere to go and he finally stays at the Cunninghams' house.

 

[Braves2005]

All of the Christmas episodes that have been mentioned plus the following:

All In The Family: The Christmas episode where Archie gets docked in pay for sending a package to the wrong city and he doesn't get a Christmas bonus that all the employees get and Archie is in a grumbling mood about it.

All In The Family: The Christmas episode where Archie, Edith and Stephanie go to California to visit Gloria and Mike after they move there.

Bewitched: Esmeralda conjures up Santa Claus and his elves and turns the whole neighborhood in chaos.

I always liked when Dennis The Menace sang Silent Night too in every Christmas episode.

Seems like I remember an episode of WKRP in Cincinatti where they do something along the lines of It's A Wonderful Life.

Beverly Hillbillies: Second season Christmas episode (first Christmas episode in Beverly Hills) where Granny mistakes the TV that the Drysdales give them as a washing machine after seeing Niagra Falls on the screen.

Beverly Hillbillies: Fifth season Christmas episode where the clan go to work at the department store and try to get Mrs. Drysdale's things back from the rummage sale and then Granny stuffs a bunch of night gowns in Mrs. Drysdale's purse and she gets caught shoplifting.

 

[oldschooler1]

I know this isn't exactly a "classic TV" show yet, but....

ER has had some excellent Christmas episodes in its 13-season run. Not that I can remember any particular show -- but it seems to be a tradition to be watching an ER Christmas episode, with our own tree up and blinking in the living room...while the ER is decked out in xmas decorations...Gives me a warm and fuzzy thinking about it.

p.s. this year's xmas episode was rather dark, in my opinion.

And...have you noticed (I'm sure you have)...the absolute dearth of Singing/dancing Christmas variety show specials that are on TV anymore, similar to what Bob Hope, Bong Crosby, Kenny Rogers, the Mandrell Sisters, etc. used to do? It would be cool (but highly improbable) if TV land ran some of those this time of year.

I was fortunate to record on videotape, the last couple years, on PBS, compilations of Andy Williams and Tenesee Ernie Ford christmas shows. Some of the Ford episodes are still preserved on color VT from the early 60s, as are the Williams shows. Those are gems. Great performances. To think the Ford shows ran LIVE on Christmas Eve or Christmas night -- imagine having to do a live network show on a holiday like that.

 

[Tim L]

I have the complete Ernie Ford Christmas Show from December 1960-As shown in B&W-With Kate Smith. Parts of this show are shown in color on "A Ford Show Family Christmas", Available from ernieford.com..Low Key, warm half hour..Ernie was never afraid to put the real reason for the season out front and center:Reading a portion of the Christmas story near the end of the show..I got this copy of the Kate Smith Show from the former Video Yesteryear..

I also miss the musical variety Christmas shows of the past..A 1977 Johnny Cash Christmas Show was just put out by Shout! Factory..Bought it yesterday at Best Buy (12.99)..I taped Judy Garland, Andy Williams and Pat Boone Specials shown on TV Land a few years ago..As well as Many old TNN specials from the likes of Roger Whittaker, John McNally, Riders In The Sky, Bobby Goldsboro, Ricky Van Shelton and others..These were produced in 1989-90..I taped thim in December 1991..

 

[OldNumber7]

Not exactly an episode, because the series started the following fall, but I always enjoyed "The Homecoming" (the TV movie that preceeded The Waltons). Of course, the roles of the parents and Grandpa (and the townspeople) were recast for the series but it held up well for annual reruns during the first few years of the series run. Simply a good story that I looked forward to watching every year.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I just pulled out my VHS copy of Twilight Zone's Night of the Meek (One I found at a cloesout rack). It definitely has the look of a video tape rather than a kinescope like I've seen on TV. I'd hope that the DVD version is that way as well.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

Dragnet had an episode that was first done on the old B & W show and later re-done when the series returned in color that has Sgt. Friday and his partner looking for a statue of Baby Jesus that is missing from a manger scene in a church. It was also used on the Dragnet radio show in the 1950's with additional narrarating dialogue from Jack Webb. That show is titled "Big Little Jesus". (Each Dragnet episode on both radio and TV was titled "Big [something]).

 

[Tim L]

Dragnet had an episode that was first done on the old B & W show and later re-done when the series returned in color that has Sgt. Friday and his partner looking for a statue of Baby Jesus that is missing from a manger scene in a church. It was also used on the Dragnet radio show in the 1950's with additional narrarating dialogue from Jack Webb. That show is titled "Big Little Jesus". (Each Dragnet episode on both radio and TV was titled "Big [something]).

Ive mentioned this before, but the Late Harry Bartell, who played in hundreds of Radio Shows and was part of Jack Webb's stable of regular supporting actors in Dragnet, played "Father Rojas" in both the 1953 and 1968 TV versions of "Big Little Jesus" Wouldnt be at all surprised if he played the part on radio as well. Also, a young Barry Williams (pre-Brady Bunch) played the altar boy in the 1968 version..I think Williams said in his biography that it was his first appearance on a TV series..

 

[Newname]

On the Off The Air board, the subject of that Bing Crosby - David Bowie duet "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" came up. I remember seeing Bowie as a guest on what turned out to be Crosby's very last Christmas special.

Back in the day, did stars like Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Perry Como make Christmas specials every single year? When was Bob Hope's last one - '80s or early '90s?

Crosby had those Christmas specials on ABC with his (second) family from about the mid-60s until his death. He taped that David Bowie bit in September, 1977, and died a month later...it aired two months after that. In 1978, his widow, Kathryn and the children did a 'clip show' of highlights from the previous specials.
Perry Como's specials(also on ABC) lasted until the mid-80s, roughly until Cap Cities bought the network(about a decade before Disney took over).
Hope did his last Christmas show in 1994, apparently(I missed it that year). Supposedly, he and his wife Dolores recorded a special for 1995 that was shown to U.S. troops in Bosnia, but NBC decided not to show it. By that time, Hope had really gone downhill; his last few (non-Christmas)specials aired in 1996-97, but had been recorded a year or two earlier.

 

[radiorob2.0]

I have to mention "Married with Children" and two episodes. First there was the Santa episode which was wickedly funny along with their take of "It's a Wonderful Life" where Sam Kinnison was the angel showing Al Bundy what life would be like if he wasn't around. Both classic episodes!

 

[Stanislav]

I have to mention "Married with Children" and two episodes. First there was the Santa episode which was wickedly funny along with their take of "It's a Wonderful Life" where Sam Kinnison was the angel showing Al Bundy what life would be like if he wasn't around. Both classic episodes!

It's bittersweet to watch that great MWC episode with Sam Kinison -- god, I miss him -- he was one of the few modern-day comedians who could have me gasping for breath from laughing so hard. Guy finally gets his s**t together, gets clean, finds a nice woman, career in overdrive, and some g*dd*mn drunk driver goes and kills him. No justice in this world....none at all. :'(