Best Holiday TV Specials on DVD

If you want to forget about the madding crowds and remember why it's the most wonderful time of the year (truly), just take a break from the shopping list, grab a mug of hot cocoa and settle in with your nearest and dearest for a long winter's night ... of viewing the best classic holiday shows of all time. Can't recall the most famous made-
for-TV specials of all? Relax, we've got them here. Consider it our little gift to you.

More Holiday TV

• Holiday TV Central
• Holiday Cartoon Classics
• TV's Biggest Scrooges

'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'

One had a very shiny nose, one just wanted to make a living in orthodontia -- Hermey the outcast elf is never mentioned in the song, but he's a charmer, as are all the cast-offs on the island of misfit toys. This claymation-animated holiday treasure takes the triumph-over-adversity story line to new heights, and wraps it in a pretty package. Buy the DVD

'A Christmas Carol'

'Star Trek: The Next Generation''s Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) goes boldly where no actor (OK, maybe a few dozen) have gone before -- portraying Ebenezer Scrooge in this Emmy-nominated rendition of 'A Christmas Carol.' Also not to be missed is Stewart's one-
man audio version of the Dickens story. Buy the DVD

'It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'

While Kermit is struggling to keep the theater running (natch), he has a 'It's a Wonderful Life'-style dream of what the world would be like without him ... and though it's certainly more laugh-filled than George Bailey's epiphany, it isn't a pretty picture. Filled with fun cameos by the likes of David Arquette and Whoopi Goldberg. Buy the DVD

'Happy Holidays With Bing and Frank'

In his heyday, Bing Crosby was practically Mr. Christmas himself (and we still totally dig his '80s-era 'Drummer Boy' video with David Bowie). In this '57 special, Crosby joins forces with Old Blue Eyes, proving the formula: Bing Crosby + Frank Sinatra x Christmas = instant classic. Seriously. We did the math. Buy the DVD

'A Charlie Brown Christmas'

This special has it all: Snoopy gone mad with a decorating obsession, Linus moving us to tears with his plaintive retelling of the birth of Jesus and Charlie Brown just being Charlie Brown, forlorn little underappreciated tree and all. Still magical to watch after all these years, it's a yuletide gem for the whole family. Buy the DVD

'The Donny and Marie 1978 Christmas Show'

She's a little bit country, he's a little bit rock & roll -- and in this special they're all business (about Christmas). Filmed at the height of their variety show success, the show features the whole Osmond clan cooking, skiing and doing what they do best, singing (though now, in Marie's case, that would clearly be dancing). Buy the DVD

'Olive the Other Reindeer'

Hands down, the best holiday special centering on a misheard lyric. When Santa's prized reindeer Blitzen is injured, spunky dog Olive decides she's destined for the task of saving Christmas because she misunderstands the words "all of the other reindeer." Drew Barrymore brings Olive sweetly to life in this funny and touching animated tale. Buy the DVD

'George Balanchine's The Nutcracker'

Kevin Kline narrates the action as a wispy vision of a Sugar Plum Fairy glides around the stage. Ignore the appearance of Macaulay Culkin (if you can), and just enjoy George Balanchine's choreography; it's the definitive version of this timeless ballet. Buy the DVD

'The Simpsons' - Christmas

The first full-length 'Simpsons' episode is still one of the best. Lovable loser Homer takes a job as a department store Santa to make some money for gifts but gambles away all the loot at the dog track -- and then in quintessential Homerian fashion, still figures out a way to save the (Christmas) day. As Homie might say, "Ho, Ho, D'oh." Buy the DVD

'Biography: Santa Claus'

The long-running series digs deep into the history of the beloved Christmas figure. We learn how the jolly man went from St. Nicholas to Santa Claus and picked up the red coat and beard along the way. But wait, wasn't that to hide from that meanie Burgermeister Meisterburger? Buy the DVD

'Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town'

This Rankin/Bass Claymation classic tells the origin of Santa Claus (with a cute orphan baby Claus) and other holiday traditions -- like growing his beard to hide from the Burgermeister Meisterburger (take that, 'Biography'). Starring the voices of Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney and Keenan Wynn. Buy the DVD

'Diva's Christmas Carol'

Before she was 'Ugly Betty' baddie Wilhemina Slater, Vanessa Williams was the Miss America whose crown was revoked ... oh, too far back ... she was the very bah-humbuggy Ebony Scrooge in this take on the Dickens tale, an irresistible guilty pleasure that shouldn't be missed. Buy the DVD

'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'

Can we just forget that Jim Carrey version, please? This is the original must-see animated take on the Dr. Seuss story, complete with Boris Karloff's unforgettably lugubrious narration. You can't help but get a little teary witnessing the Christmas miracle of the Grinch's heart growing three sizes as he learns the true meaning of the season. Buy the DVD

'A Christmas Memory'

Truman Capote, warm-and-fuzzy holiday-tale author? Talk about Christmas miracles -- the 'In Cold Blood' writer goes for the heart (in a good way) in a story about a boy who befriends the wise woman Sook, played by TV vet Patty Duke. Together they keep the holiday spirit alive by sending out fruitcakes to the likes of President Roosevelt and Jean Harlowe (really -- we're not making that up). Buy the DVD

'Rugrats Holiday Celebration'

In the sea of Christmas shows, it's tough to find Chanukah or Kwanzaa-related viewing that's actually watchable (we're talking to you, 'Eight Crazy Nights'). But the Rugrats tackle all three holidays (and Thanksgiving and Halloween too) in a fun and family-friendly way in this box set. Buy the DVD

'A Smoky Mountain Christmas'

Sure, a made-for-TV-movie where Dolly Parton saves Christmas and adopts seven orphaned kids might seem a little hokey, but honestly, aren't all the best holiday shows? Adding to the kitsch appeal, this one's directed by the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler, and co-stars the 'Six Million Dollar Man,' er, Lee Majors as her love interest. Buy the DVD

'Bah Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas'

In this 'Looney Tunes' version of the Dickens' holiday mainstay 'A Christmas Carol,' Daffy Duck is the greedy Scrooge. Bugs Bunny, Tweety and the rest of the gang engage in their trademark slapstick to scare him straight. Buy the DVD

Plus: Watch 'Looney' on In2TV

'Sonny and Cher: The Christmas Collection'

Check out that other '70s TV-variety-show-starring pair with all three Christmas specials from 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.' The holiday beat goes on, with cheeky skits, guest stars galore and musical performances by the duo (who, incidentally, by the end of the show's run were separated but still appearing as a couple -- how very merry). Buy the DVD

'Frosty the Snowman'

More than 40 years later, this cool special still melts our hearts (ba-
dum-dum; obligatory bad snowman pun). Though Rankin/Bass rule Christmas TV classics ('Rudolph,' 'Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town') this bright cartoon is a welcome departure from their typical style, and the song performed by Jimmy Durante is unforgettable.
Buy the DVD

'Saturday Night Live - Christmas'

Who can forget Adam Sandler's 'Hanukkah Song' or John Belushi's drunk Santa or Ana Gasteyer's topless Martha Stewart? Not to mention Alec Baldwin's, uh, schweat. Remember when 'SNL' was actually funny, and laugh out loud at the best holiday skits from 25 years of the late-night comedy show. Buy the DVD

'The Year Without a Santa Claus'

Sure Santa gets sick and Christmas is almost ruined, but the most memorable part of this stop-motion cartoon is the bitter battle between seasonally affected brothers the Heat Miser and Snow Miser. The dynamic duo steal the show with their infectious songs and their wicked ways. Buy the DVD

'The Christmas Shoes'

You'll need a boxful of tissues to watch this weepy drama about how easy it is to forget the meaning of Christmas amidst the hassles and stresses of modern life. Rob Lowe is charming and Kimberly Williams is cute as a button (could she be any other way?) as their disparate lives intertwine. Buy the DVD

'Mickey's Christmas Carol'

Mickey's effervescently cheerful nature is perfectly suited to the optimistic Bob Cratchit (not to go all Scrooge, but does his high-pitched squeaky voice bother anyone else, or is it just us?). Speaking of Ebenezer, who better to play the money-hungry miser than the aptly named Scrooge McDuck? A perfect way to introduce kids to the Dickens classic. Buy the DVD

'Bob Hope - Hope for the Holidays'

This compilation of Hope's Christmas specials spans 40 years and glows with his signature charm and humor. There's a slew of celebrity guest stars including Lucille Ball, Red Skelton and Reba McEntire to set the tone for holiday nostalgia. Thanks for the memories, indeed. Buy the DVD

'The Original Christmas Yule Log Fireplace'

Curling up to a fictional fireplace never looked this good. The log features holiday music playing alongside the natural sounds of crackling wood by the fire. The three-hour disc serves as the essential backdrop of any holiday party.
Buy the DVD