As I've said before my favorite thing about the holidays is sitting down to watch a good ole fashioned Christmas TV/Movie special usually with a bowl of popcorn and my mom sitting nearby. I like to make a Christmas TV/Movie Specials calendar so I don't miss a single moment of my favorites both those that I've watched a million times and those that are new favorites.
As
you all know Hallmark, and ABC Family have been showing Holiday Specials since no
joke JULY. That’s right people July, I mean how insane is that? I just couldn’t
buy into the program tho until now. I'm ready to throw on some flannel jammies, pop some popcorn and cry my eyes out. Every year my beloved animated
specials are being shown fewer times and early (The Grinch was on this past Sunday ... wait ... what?!) Thank goodness
for ABC Family who is keeping the stop motion animation alive and well, they are showing some of the goodness throughout the day... every day ... literally.
As I said ...
Hallmark, Lifetime, and ABC Family have been vomiting Christmas specials since everyone
was still popping fireworks so those channels didn’t get as much love as they
usually do. If something had to be cut for room on that particular day those
channels got cut first. If say ABC family was showing 3 great shows in a row I
only listed one and figured while watching it you’d be alerted to the others,
unless it was a show I wanted to see cause that’s right it’s all about me you
are just invited in the car.
That
said if I don’t have the channel I didn’t include it … again cause it’s about
me. There are some great specials on the Hallmark Mysteries and Movie (or
something like that) Channel or the Inspiration channel, and other specialty
channels like that so check those out if you are lucky enough to have those
channels. I don't so those channels can suck it!
This calendar comes with rules ... not quite as ridged as a Mogwai but still rules that need to be mentioned.
First . . . a few guidelines:
- NO messages about taking Christ out of Christmas, it’s just a really long word and using X-Mas allows for more shows on the already full calendar.
- Thanks for your understanding.
- For those that don’t understand feel free to move on and forget that this calendar exists.
- I live in the central time zone, the times on this calendar reflect that, adjust accordingly.
- That said unless otherwise stated the times are PM
- This calendar does not focus on established show “Christmas special episodes” so watch out for those … I did however add a great episode of Psych cause my best friend loves it and she asked nicely.
- This calendar contains shows I want to see, so a mixture of adult themed shows/movies and kid themed shows/movies are represented. Some are classics and some are new, so PLEASE be mindful of what is on before you sit the kids down with popcorn to watch.
- Don’t call me cause your little one watched some holiday movie on Lifetime or and now has “questions”. . . . that’s your mess not mine.
- Please NOTE: The Disney version of a Christmas Carol (AKA the computer animated Jim Carrey version) is a little dark and can be scary (much like the original story btw), you might want to check it out before you and little man/lady plop down with popcorn and a blanket to “watch a classic.”
- Keep an eye out for additional shows/movies that pop up throughout the month as networks change their lineups.
- Feel free to add your own specials and traditions to the calendar that’s what it is there for.
- For you stay at home mom’s they run specials all day long and for the most part my calendar focuses on the after work hour times since that is when I can watch.
- That’s right it’s all about me!
A few programs of note:
- 50th Anniversary Special about A Charlie Brown Christmas – ABC Nov. 30th - a special talking about the greatest Christmas special ever created followd by the actual show. A must viewing if you have little people in your life, even if they aren’t in the room. Repeats on Dec. 24th
- I can only find A Christmas Story during the TBS Christmas Day Marathon so make sure you work it into your Christmas celebrations. Last year it was on several times ... this year it's sparse .. I hope the channels just haven't finalized their line ups yet.
- Bless you Ted Turner, you crazy old man, may this tradition live forever!!
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, one of the best movies ever, comes on several times this year. If you don’t know the joy of Chevy Chase finally getting the lights to finally work…well I feel sorry for you and your family and the people that know you because you are missing the joy in your life. Correct that this year please!
- IT’s A Wonderful Life – Dec. 5th on NBC Repeats on Dec. 24th
- The “boys” in my life informed me that DIEHARD should have been on the calendar …. boys are silly … however and I couldn’t find it showing anywhere so yeah there’s that.
- To Kill A Mockingbird – NBC – Nov. 28th – a must viewing at least in our house.
- The Wiz – NBC Dec. 3rd – with the ever ahmazing Queen Latifah
- CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute – Dec. 6th – it’s nice seeing that in a world full of insanity there are some people out there trying to do good and are being recognized for it. NOTE: I don’t understand why they have already announced the winner, if you don’t want to know stay away from CNN.com. Either way it’s a really inspirational night so check it out.
- Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show – Dec. 8th on CBS – a dear friend of mine loves this and insists that it go on the calendar every year, she’s the boss.
Today’s
“classic Christmas special” may be next year’s no show on the calendar. That’s
the other reason for this calendar, if we stop watching they will stop showing.
So just because you have The Grinch (which is not on this calendar nearly
enough (NOTE: I can’t tell if it’s animated or the movie anymore and I’m NOT ok
with that!) on your shelf or the Charlie
Brown Christmas (which comes on twice this year), take the time to watch it
with your family as it airs so that it will air for years to come. I can name a ton of specials that no longer come on cause we stopped watching ... Garfield, the Chipmunks, the Smurfs, the Flintstones, The Nutcracker, Casper, the Gift of the Magi, etc.,
So here's the 2015 calendar, you should be able to save it and zoom in and out without losing too much readability. You are best printing it 11X17 if possible.
So
sit back, laugh, smile, and cry (some of these are sad, I mean who doesn’t cry
when George Bailey is standing next to the tree with Mary and his friends are
coming in to save the Bailey Savings and Loan, oh no did I give the end away
?!) and have a good Drunksgiving, a full Thanksgiving, and a safe BlackFriday, so that you can enjoy this fun and have a wonderful Christmas!
Marcy
(@beaslma)
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