Christmas specials.
Do they still make them? I remember…back in the day…when shows were only on one of three channels — and each show was only shown ONCE during the Christmas season. I remember checking each week’s TV guide — in the newspaper or in the magazine — and looking for White Christmas. White Christmas HAD to be watched, or it simply wasn’t Christmas. I’d look for all the Christmas specials and highlight them. Then, and only then, could my evenings be scheduled!
Rudolph. Frosty. Andy Williams. Perry Como. Miracle on 34th Street. The Christmas Carol. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Charlie Brown.
Of course, NOW, we’re totally spoiled. Every show runs multiple times on any of a bazillion channels (in the States, that is!) If you miss it on one night, no problem…you’ll catch it on another.
None of these shows are shown on Ukrainian TV — at least not that we’ve found. But we have the joy of having many of them on DVD. Soooo, we have already watched White Christmas, and look forward to Christmas in Connecticut, The Bishop’s Wife (the original), Miracle on 34th Street, Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation (remember THAT one on the Cape, Girlfriends?!), Bells of St. Mary’s, not to mention some very funny moments on our Christmas home videos!
Thankful for technology this holiday season.
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Ooh! Christmas in Connecticut fans! One of my closest friends at college and I first bonded over knowing that film. A show that I never miss in December is the HGTV White House Christmas special, it’s already on my calendar for this year (December 16, 8:30pm). You have a great list, I’ll have to check out The Bishop’s Wife, don’t know that one.
I was going to ask if Kolya had seen the one where his wife beats her sister, then I remembered that wasn’t Christmas. What to do, I’m going to have to get some of these movies on DVD! I only have How the Grinch Stole Christmas… the cartoon version, I personally feel the Jim Carey one should be boycotted and burned if given the opportunity.
I can’t believe you don’t have “It’s a Wonderful Life” on your MUST see list!!! At least I convinced the English Club coordinators to show that film to our Kazakh students on Dec. 15th. There, they will hear some of the golden oldies of our dear Christmas carols like “Angels we have heard on high.”
Hmm…White Christmas, I’ll have to see if someone has that here in Almaty, I’m not sure I’ve seen that for a long, long while.
I always loved the terrible, corny specials such as “Dolly Parton:Christmas in the Ozarks”
A Donny and Marie Christmas with special guest; little Jimmy Osmond singing “I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
And the Carol Burnett Christmas Shows….
northwind: I am quite sure you will love The Bishop’s Wife. I believe that it’s been remade, so be sure to look for Cary Grant. Also, have you ever noticed in CIC that there is a musical instrument being played in the restaurant…it’s a tsimbale! Played here in Ukraine! Actually it was featured on one of the KSOC tours that went through Salisbury! Cool, eh? I don’t think that I have EVER seen a White House Christmas special…how very sad!
Anna: I’m drawing a blank on what movie you could possibly be thinking of. We don’t have all of these on DVD either, but slowly but surely we’re trying to convert. Bring the Grinch!
Kazhaknomad: Good grief, I can’t believe that it’s not on the MUST list either! We definitely watch it every year, and I do consider it one of the CLASSICS! Who DOESN’T watch that one?
Kibbe: Carol Burnett with Tim and Harvey…nothing could be funnier! I’m with you — I loved ALL the specials. Until EVERYONE got into the act, and they seemed to lose the feeling of Christmas.
I’m speaking of home movies of years past of your darling children. There is one where I am beat over and over again by a certain sister. Hand that is coloring being smashed into the table, while I continue coloring, and singing, much to her dismay. It’s a Peipon classic! I can’t believe you don’t remember. Some great lines from Christmases long, long ago.
“Is this a pin or what?”
“Pants. Panties! PANTYHOSE!” Dad not being amused by his 7 year old son replies… “Jamie” video cuts off.
“I have my own scotch tape!” Others digging through stokings… “Me too! Yes!”
Classic.
Yes, Kolya has seen it, Anna!Over Thanksgiving since it is was at Thanksgiving time… He thought you should have let me sing MY song
He really like my ‘most beautiful smile’ haha. We’ll have to do some Christmas with you, when you’re here!!! and Kolya 
He can’t imagine me that little and how he must have been like that too, anyway…. Hurry up and get here!!!!
Anna: We watched that one recently. We laughed out loud when we realized that you were singing “Jesus Loves Me” or “Jesus Loves the Little Children” all the while that you two are making each other miserable! And I’m with Jeanne: HURRY UP and get here!
If you can get it down to 1 hour days instead of 24 hour days, I’ll see you tomorrow! Then we can make it 72 hour days for a couple weeks and then back to the 1 hour days until I get back to KTM. Then it is back to 24 hour days.
People are shocked that I’m starting to pack… now! For some reason, I don’t think that surprises you guys.
isn’t it funny that my kids also were thoroughly delighted with scotch tape. And Annie still swoons over double-sided tape!
Oh…Ukrainiac, I thought no Christmas special would ever bother me, no matter how terrible. But then I confess, I watched the Jessica simpson-Nick Lachey Christmas Special the year before they divorced…That one was truly so dreadful it put a daper on my theory that anyone could produce a special and I’d be there to watch it.
Well, here’s my two cents. First, Bill LOVES the Jim Carey version of The Grinch-but then again, he likes Adam Sandler movies too, What can you do?!
How about Holiday Inn? Not totally Christmas, but a “must” ‘cuz “White Christmas is introduced in that one.
We watched a made-for-t.v. that we have had on tape for many years, “Miracle in the Wilderness” with Kris Kristofferson and ___? It’s about a “wilderness man” who falls in love and then he, his wife, and baby get captured by Indians. They share the “Christmas Story” with their captors, translating the story in a way that they may relate. It is a neat one.
AND, Christmas home-videos are the best! We have Rachel, age two in her fairy voice saying”Teacher says, “When a bell rings an angel gets his wings”:-)
Anna: If I could, I would!
Kibbe: Hard to believe that someone can really ruin a Christmas special, but it’s been done! I agree, though, it would be hard. Seems like I saw an ice-skating one with Dorothy Hamill…I loved the the whole premise!
Riverrat: I don’t know if I’ve ever even seen the Jim Carey version. And, yes, how could I forget Holiday Inn? I love to watch that movie. My goodness, one could NEVER make that movie today without all kinds of lawsuits! Some of the made-for-t.v. ones are really good — sounds like you found a great one — and then…there are some really goofy ones! Does Rachel get a kick out of that home video, or does she wish you’d skip it!
Any other favorites, guys?
Oh yea, the Christmas Holidays show list, Its actually a surprise T.V channels still play these joyous shows. No one ever gets tired of the same old thing for Christmas. Everyone actually enjoys and it makes them want to celebrate even more.