Todd Matthy.com

Since it’s Christmas Eve and I’m in the spirit of the season I’ve decided to compile a list of my favorite Christmas movies and TV Specials. Some are beloved classics while others make you wonder, “What on Earth is he thinking?” but I love them anyway. None of these are in any particular order, but the higher on the list something is the more I enjoy it.  Have a Merry White Christmas (speaking of which, check my latest edition of “Todd’s Take”, “Stopping by Ring of Honor on a Snowy Evening”. I know it’s a shameless plug but I needed to get it in somewhere.) and enjoy my picks…

• White Christmas– The Bing Crosby classic that puts into words what we all dream of.

• A Charlie Brown Christmas- Charlie Brown directs a Christmas Pageant…and decorates the littlest Christmas tree in the process.

• Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer/Frosty the Snowman- A beloved Christmas carol flawlessly brought to life via the stop-motion animation of Rankin-Bass. Includes such memorable moments as an elf that wants to be a dentist, the reindeer coach, the Island of Misfit toys, and the answer to why the Abominable Snowman is so cranky. And then there’s Frosty. I put these two together because they were usually a package deal.
• Elf- From the director of “Iron Man” comes Will Ferrell as a human being raised by Santa’s elves on a journey into the real world.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas- Only Tim Burton could make a kid receiving a shrunken head on Christmas family friendly. Now is this a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie? How about both!

• A Christmas Carol– A classic in any incarnation, be it Patrick Stewart’s one man show or the Mickey Mouse cartoon (Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge. Genius) you can’t help but love the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from stingy miser to jolly old man.
• Christmas with the Joker- All Dick Grayson wanted was for Bruce Wayne to take the night off and watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” unfortunately the Joker’s putting on his own Christmas special, one that involves plenty of fireworks. Will Batman and Robin save Christmas and get home in time for “It’s a Wonderful Life”? Watch to find out.
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe- The Pevinsies enter Narnia where it’s always winter but never Christmas. Luckily for the Narnian’s that’s about to change.
• Miracle of 34^th Street- A little girl learns to believe in Santa Claus. Charming.
• It’s a Wonderful Life- A story about how important one man can be.

Which leads me to my next pick…

• It’s a Bundyful Life or any Christmas episode Married With Children- Christmas with the Bundys. What else is there to say? Other than Al learns how happy his family would be if he was never born.

• Every South Park Christmas Special- Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo. Evil Woodland critters. Santa being shot down in Iraq. Cartman ripping on Kyle every year for being Jewish. Saddam Hussein taking over Canada.  Mr. Garrison fighting the war on Christmas. Every year South Park comes out with something else to offend and bring joy to us all. But for now check out the original South Park Christmas Classic, Jesus vs. Santa to determine “the Spirit of Christmas”. (Warning children course language ahead!)

• Beavis and Butthead Do Christmas– A classic that should be shown year round. “Santa Butt Head will happy to grant you wish” And how can you not like Ebenezer Beavis? Bumhug.

• He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special– He-Man and She-Ra team up to save Christmas from Skeletor, who thanks to two Earth kids and robot puppy learns to be…nice. Say what you want but there’s nothing like a guy with a skull for a face getting into the Christmas spirit.

• Home Alone– A Christmas Eve showdown between a lone boy and two inept burglars.
• A Christmas Story- “You’ll shoot your eye out!” “I triple dog dare you” “You look like a pink nightmare”. If you don’t know any of these quotes watch TNT anytime on Christmas Day.

And last but certainly not least…

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas- The greatest Christmas story EVER! Nobody sums up what’s great about Christmas and what drives you crazy about it better than Dr. Seuss. Catchy rhymes, catchy music, great characters, and quotable quotes (Cindy Lou Who who was no more than two. The Grinch got a wonderful, awful idea), and the triumphant image of the Grinch power lifting Christmas. Brings a tear to the eye every year.

I’m sure I left something out. The Aqua Teen Hunger Force Christmas specials come immediately to mind as does Garfield’s Christmas Special, the ALF Christmas Special, anything involving Mick Foley, or the Simpsons Christmas Specials. I haven’t seen the “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Christmas special yet so that’s why it’s absent. But, like on Christmas, you can’t have everything you want. In closing I leave you with some Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!