Top Five Christmas TV Specials

So far, I have told you about my five favorite Christmas Albums and Movies. Tonight, I am sharing my top five favorite Christmas TV Specials. To qualify for this list, like a movie, the TV Special has to make me feel good about life after I am done watching. Also, the special had to have been broadcast first on TV and not on the big screen. 


5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer -If there ever was a story that show-cased the importance of celebrating people's differences, this is that story. Poor Rudolph gets rejected by his peers because his nose glows. We all know who has the last laugh.


4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Part of the reason I like this show so much lies in the fact that it reminds me of "A Christmas Carol." Both stories end with main character learning the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is about people and the chance for redemption. Is that not the reason we celebrate a very special birth on December 25th?


3. Prep and Landing - This Disney gem first appeared in 2009 on ABC, and tells the story of two Elves, Wayne and Lanny, who are part of the Prep and Landing team. The Prep and Landing team ensures that the house is ready for Santa's arrival. Wayne and Lanny run into some trouble when Wayne loses the Christmas spirit. It is a show that makes me laugh and helps me to remember why the secular side of Christmas is so much fun to celebrate. 


2. A Charlie Brown Christmas - This is one of the few secular Christmas specials that touches on the real reason that we celebrate this most glorious of days - Jesus' birth. I am going to let young Linus Van Pelt finish this out:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." 

1. Emmit Otter's Jug Band Christmas - This is a Christmas classic. It originally aired on HBO in 1977. I am not sure when I first saw it and whether it was on TV or on VHS Tape (yes, VHS Tape). We get to see into the lives of two otters - Ma and her son Emmit. They are but poor otters who barely have enough money to survive let alone buy each other a Christmas gifts. Without realizing it, they both join the same talent competition to try to win $50 to get Christmas presents. This is one of those movies that shows you the true meaning of Christmas.