'Tis the season for your favorite shows are replaced by repeats and holiday specials old. Unfortunately, between buying and wrapping presents, baking cookies, entertaining family, frantic cleaning and decorating your house and pulling your hair out, you probably do not have time to go and TiVo your favorite holiday specials, many less sitting in front of the TV at exactly the time the networks have decided to play them - if they decide to play well at all. But fear not - there's a solution. Many of the good old specials were released on DVD that can be rented or purchased almost anywhere. Unfortunately, Blue Toes is not among them, but here are my picks for top five special Christmas DVDs:
# 5. A Chipmunk Christmas
First broadcast: 1981
Actors: Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Dave
It's almost Christmas and while trying to Dave Alvin, Simon and Theodore have to concentrate their music, all can think Alvin is getting a new golden echo harmonica ... at least until he meets a sick little boy named Tommy, who also wants the same.
A Chipmunk Christmas is kind of a modern retelling of the famous story by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, at least thematically anyway. Alvin selfish easily represent any number of greedy children that Christmas is nothing more than to see a time for getting gifts. If you have one of those children, This is a great special to attract them. And if you opposed the commercialization of the holidays, look here and congratulate yourself on being right ... at least according to cartoon rodents. It is sweet to the point that nauseating at the end, of course, but is not that what the season is all about?
# 4. Mickey's Christmas Carol
First broadcast: 1983
Starring: Mickey Mouse, Scrooge McDuck, Jiminy Cricket
Rich, selfish, Scrooge McDuck was visited by the ghosts of his past, present and future on Christmas Eve to help him realize that piles of money not the secret of a happy life.
A Christmas Carol is refreshed and updated more frequently than anyone can shake a stick at, and it's not just because it is in the public domain. It is because it is a good story - a timeless one. I have a lot of different versions by now and you know what? I still favor one. The Disney characters they chose are perfect for the roles in Dickens masterpiece "and The lesson is one that never gets old. If you have money, not for swimming - used to help someone. As much as we like to pretend it's only recently that we started losing what the holiday is about the existence of this story (as Mickey and original versions) suggests otherwise.
# 3. Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean
First Aired: 1992
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Matilda Ziegler
Mute bumbling Mr. Bean prepares for at Christmas, leaving a trail of disruption and very disappointed girlfriend in tow.
Unlike any other specials on my list, Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean has no meaningful message about the holiday season. It's just a barrel of laughs that can help you to forget (for half hour, at least) about all things to your 'To do' list. Mr Bean doing the things we all wanted to do but were afraid to try for fear of getting into trouble - such as playing with the store displays and give people completely hilarious and inappropriate presents. Even people who are not usually fond of British comedy can not help but won be taken over by Mr. Bean, so this is a great special watching a group of friends or relatives.
# 2. A Garfield Christmas Special
Airs: 1987
Actors: Garfield, Odie, John, John's family
Garfield the cat hates to be turned from his nice, warm bed go to the family of his owner John's farm in the country, but ends up finding a kindred spirit in a Spitfire John's grandmother.
Everyone Garfield hold, probably because we all wish we could act as a lazy and cranky cat when we're in the mood. But, as Garfield's Christmas special shows, even cranky People and cats have hearts and can sometimes inclined toward nice to old ladies and dogs. The special is heartening, not so thick as A Chipmunk Christmas, and John's family is a perfect example of how everyone seems to return to their childhood roles when they are with their families for the holidays. As a bonus, the DVD also includes Garfield's Halloween and Thanksgiving specials.
# 1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
First broadcast: 1966
Starring: voices of Boris Karloff
The Grinch - a lone, cranky hermit - is tired of listening to the happy Whos down in the village celebration, so he decides to steal all their presents and ruin Christmas.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is Christmas for me. It is not Christmas yet, unless I viewed the Grinch. I imagine it is like that for a lot of people, given how these particular has run every year since 1966 on almost every channel. It is adapted of the beloved Dr. Seuss book, released in 1957. The Grinch is hilarious, great evil, his dog Max is sweet and enthusiastic, and the Whos in Whoville are nonsensical, but cute and sweet. There is music, compelling story, a timeless message - what more could you want? This is what Ron Howard did not understand when he saw the terrible full-length live-action version in 2000. You Do not Mess with perfection.