Posted on 12/07/2016 6:59:08 PM PST by nickcarraway
You know it from the first few notes of Thurl Ravenscroft's barrel-chested performance — singing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" with the same flair he brought to playing Tony the Tiger in Kellogg's cereal commercials — Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a holiday classic.
The animated film turns 50 this year, airing on NBC about three weeks before its actual birthday. And it is, admittedly, a little weird to call a 26-minute cartoon about a green guy who learns not to steal Christmas presents an enduring masterpiece.
But The Grinch, which CBS debuted on Dec. 18, 1966, did everything right. It had a great pedigree; Seuss alter-ego Theodor Geisel produced the project with legendary Warner Brothers animator Chuck Jones, who served as director.
It had a cheeky story which appealed to kids and grownups. And it had a kitschy narrator in horror movie king Boris Karloff.
So why can't modern Christmas TV specials make this kind of magic happen more often?
To be sure, there are cute animated specials with modern cartoon characters, like the Toy Story crew and a certain green ogre named Shrek. (I do love the moment in Shrek the Halls when the gingerbread man reveals that Christmastime is less heartwarming and more heart-rendingly dangerous for cookies like him.)
But those bits come off more like crafty moments of corporate synergy than a special holiday treat. I was encouraged when I heard Disney had a new holiday special planned this year for ABC called The Wonderful world of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration.
But then the promo for the show aired, with this tagline: "During the show, don't miss an exclusive look at Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in theaters December 16."
Just like that, a fun special became a giant commercial for a Disney-owned movie franchise. (And we all know how badly the Star Wars Holiday Special turned out, don't we?)
Even the shows that are supposed to be lame aren't quite lame in the way they intended. Exhibit A: Bill Murray's Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas; which couldn't decide if it was making fun of holiday specials or celebrating them in a very weird way.
One scene features Murray trying to talk showbiz pal Chris Rock into doing a Christmas special with him.
"So you're doing a live special in the middle of the biggest blizzard of the year?" Rock says to Murray, screaming his lines like he's doing a voice over for Madagascar. "That is so you, Bill. That is so you."
"But now you're here," Murray says. "And it's us!"
"No!" Rock answers. And he ends up going on camera, anyway.
That's not lame in an ironic way. It's just kinda lame.
At least Empire stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard had the good sense to bring on singers like Mary J. Blige, Patti Labelle and John Legend for their White Hot Holidays special last year on Fox.
The powerful vocal performances helped distract from awkward dialogue between Howard and Henson that often felt like an update of lines from an old Sonny and Cher special.
"Why the long face?" Henson asks Howard at one point in the show.
"Because I never get what I want," he answers.
Henson's response seems straight from the Cookie Lyons playbook: "Well ... what are you doing that's naughty?"
"I was always a good kid," Howard responds. As the audience and Henson express their disbelief, he drops the punch line. "I didn't say nothing about being a good adult. I was a good kid." That's a looong way to go for a couple of chuckles.
Henson is doing the special by herself on Fox next month. Perhaps the holiday was a little too hot for two stars to share.
As a critic, I've always been drawn to the Christmas specials that surprise with a little unexpected absurdity. When David Bowie joined Bing Crosby to croon a mashup of Peace on Earth and the Little Drummer Boy on a Crosby TV special, I loved the sense of rock 'n' roll's future showing respect to an old school showbiz icon. (Of course, A Charlie Brown Christmas and the related Peanuts holiday specials are in a class all their own.)
And when the toy-making elf Hermey informed his boss he'd rather be a dentist in stop-motion animated classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, I felt the kind of pride misfits everywhere experience in seeing one of our own let his freak flag fly a bit.
Ultimately, the best holiday specials have a unique balance of nostalgia, surprise, creativity and holiday spirit. Pulling all that off in a one-time TV event often requires a Christmas miracle.
Which may explain why we see so few great ones on TV after all.
That is why A Charlie Brown Christmas is so great.
Oh, I love the old Christmas movies! They are so sweet and wholesome as well. The original Miracle on 34th Street, The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant, A Holiday Affair—so many wonderful films!
The classic Christmas specials are classic because they actually celebrated the spirituality of the season.
They were created by people who had a certain respect for religion. In some cases, such as Charles Schulz, they were in fact relatively devout people.
There is no room for people like that in modern Hollywood
The good ones: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (of course), “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”, and “The Year Without A Santa Claus” (but only for the Snow Miser/Heat Miser songs).
I have not watched a Christmas special since my kids were young-——and they are now in their fifties.
I detest them.(The specials,not the kids.):-)
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That's a relief. I didn't want to be the one to have to tell them.
One of the high points of the old, animated The Return the of the King. John Huston was awesome as Gandalf in both Rankin Bass productions of The Hobbit and The Return of the King.
There’s a speed-metal version of Goblin Town floating around on YouTube, too!
You can’t forget Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
I loved watching the 2004 Democratic Primary. Because it was the year Heat Miser (Dean) ran against Snow Miser (Kerry) for the nomination! Hilarity from beginning to end! “Yeeargh!”
Because bing Crosby and Andy Williams are dead.
Dr. Suess aka Theodor Geisel was not a great guy. I loved his books as a kid and read them to my own son. But, sheesh, Dr. Suess! Was saddened to learn he was a lefty. When I look at his work with a critical eye now knowing his perspective, I understand it.
IIRC, I bailed when the ewok thingies came out.
Why no good modern Christmas specials? Easy — because the Left has taken over all culture and systematically eliminated all beauty, goodness and truth. Modern culture in toto is a vast wasteland.
On a good note, I was at O’Gara’s in St. Paul, MN last Saturday. Charles Shultz dad had a barber shop in the building and the family lived upstairs when he was growing up. Everything is Christmas in the establishment and there is a huge homage to everything Charlie Brown and Snoopy and Mr. Schultz. It was wonderful just like the movies. :)
Is that the black market video seen in the paper bag in the Weird Al “White and Nerdy” video? Funniest video in the entire world or galaxy.
Last December I was in a very bad place in my life. I watched those Christmas movies every night. It was a break for my sad soul to go into those worlds where everything would be right in 90 minutes, and there were lots of twinkly lights and snow. I now feel that those “sappy” movies have a wonderful purpose and can help people feeling alone and sad at the holiday times.
Yes, he was a lefty, but most of his children’s books are really good.
That is why A Charlie Brown Christmas is so great.
That’s a wonderful Christmas special. Great music. Great message.
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