Top Five Holiday Deep Dive

A popular holiday tradition is watching classic television Christmas specials. Year after year, viewers tune in to watch Charlie Brown bond with a Christmas twig, or watch as The Grinch narrowly avoids cardiac arrest as his heart grows three sizes. Specials like these are the TV equivalent to holiday comfort food, and much like your uncle’s “secret egg nog recipe,” too much of a good thing can make you sick. To vary your Christmas cultural pallet, consider the inclusion of the following holiday specials that range from forgotten nostalgia to the downright obscure.

Muppet Family Christmas – The Muppets (1987)

Most Muppet specials are loaded with gimmicky celebrity cameos, but on Muppet Family Christmas, the only cameo the show relies upon is literally every other Muppet. Muppets from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock join Kermit and the gang for this be-all end-all of Muppet parties. Throw in Swedish Chef attempting to cook Big Bird as the Christmas turkey, and a rare Jim Henson appearance (as a human!) and you’ve got a recipe for a holiday banger.

A Muppet Family Christmas Aired on ABC in 1987

Hooves of Fire - Robbie The Reindeer (1999)

It’s not Christmas without stop-motion animation, and Hooves of Fire gives the old medium a modern facelift. Robbie, the son of Rudolf, arrives to the North Pole, expecting to take his father’s place as head of Santa’s sleigh team. Jealousy, betrayal, and a low-key murder plot are on full-display in this BBC Christmas underdog story. Don’t be fooled by the cute animation, the humour is equal parts irreverent and subtly risqué.

Regional Holiday Music - Community (2011)

“Regional Holiday Music” is the antithesis of subtly, and its bold commitment to the high-concept satire pays off in spades. This biting send-up of Glee features a collection of original songs that are used to recruit the Greendale study group to join the school’s “accident prone” glee club, led by instructor Mr. Rad (Taran Killam). Combining sharp comedy, inspired music, and a touching message of togetherness, Community’s holiday special hits a powerful high note.

Toy Tinkers – Walt Disney’s Donald Duck (1949)

Chip and Dale attempt to steal Donald Duck’s holiday chestnuts. What sounds like a simple plot quickly turns into all-out warfare as Donald strives to defend his home by any means necessary. Whether you get your laughs from the sheer slapstick lunacy, or from baffled shock of seeing Donald Duck brandish a handgun, this seven-minute short is packed with comedy that still holds up seventy years since its original release.

Arnold’s Christmas - Hey Arnold!

This twenty-two-minute cartoon delivers heartache, political commentary, suspense, hope, and not to mention comedy. The show begins with the false premise of two separate plots: Arnold, clearly vying for the “Secret Santa of the Millennium” award, attempts to reunite his boarding house neighbour Mr. Hyunh with his estranged daughter, while Helga attempts to find the perfect Christmas present for Arnold. What unfolds is a heart-wrenching Gift of the Magi bait and switch that drives home the message that an act of selfless generosity can make even the most jaded of hearts believe in miracles.