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Home » Stories, True and Otherwise

The NC Double Scrooge: Storybook Division

Submitted by on December 16, 2010 – 9:17 AM110 Comments

And by “storybook,” we don’t really mean books; we mean non-song narratives generally. TV specials, disappointing and desperate reunions of sitcom casts that led to even more pathetic spin-offs, craven attempts to capitalize on kidly trends, antiquated stop-motion…some of it isn’t that bad, some of it is beloved and yet still bad anyway, and some of it is just tired and needs a year off.

And then there’s this piece of dreck.

Whoever you’re over — Clarence, Tiny Tim, that guy who played Jackie Aprile Sr. — vote for them below. And cast your votes for everything else, too; the semis start tomorrow.

NC Double Scrooge, Storybook Division: Please Pick The Three (3) WORST

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey) (20%, 481 Votes)
  • A Christmas Carol (Tori Spelling) (9%, 214 Votes)
  • Polar Express (7%, 165 Votes)
  • Sandra Lee's special (7%, 164 Votes)
  • Star Wars/Wookiee Holiday Special (5%, 113 Votes)
  • It's a Wonderful Life (4%, 110 Votes)
  • A Very Brady Christmas (4%, 107 Votes)
  • Jack Frost (4%, 101 Votes)
  • Home Alone (4%, 97 Votes)
  • The Santa Clause (4%, 93 Votes)
  • A Christmas Story (4%, 93 Votes)
  • Pac-Man Christmas (Christmas Comes to Pac-Land) (4%, 87 Votes)
  • Frosty the Snowman (3%, 69 Votes)
  • Babes in Toyland (3%, 66 Votes)
  • National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (3%, 64 Votes)
  • While You Were Sleeping (2%, 61 Votes)
  • Miracle on 34th Street (2%, 39 Votes)
  • Gift of the Magi (2%, 38 Votes)
  • Smurfs Christmas Special (2%, 37 Votes)
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1%, 36 Votes)
  • Charlie Brown Christmas (1%, 32 Votes)
  • Scrooged (1%, 27 Votes)
  • The Year Without Santa Claus (1%, 24 Votes)
  • The Bishop's Wife (1%, 22 Votes)
  • Bob Hope Christmas Specials (1%, 17 Votes)
  • Holiday Inn (1%, 14 Votes)
  • The Holiday (1%, 14 Votes)
  • Christmas Comes to Walton Mountain (0%, 12 Votes)
  • Best Christmas Pageant Ever (0%, 10 Votes)
  • White Christmas (0%, 10 Votes)
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original) (0%, 8 Votes)
  • The Muppets: John Denver and the Muppets, A Muppet Christmas Carol, A Muppet Family Christmas (0%, 8 Votes)
  • A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott) (0%, 7 Votes)
  • A Christmas Carol (Jean Luc Picard) (0%, 6 Votes)
  • The House Without a Christmas Tree (0%, 5 Votes)
  • Pocketful of Miracles (0%, 5 Votes)
  • The Christmas Toy (0%, 3 Votes)
  • The Night Before Christmas (0%, 3 Votes)
  • Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (0%, 2 Votes)
  • A Christmas Memory (Capote) (0%, 2 Votes)
  • Blackadder Christmas Carol (0%, 2 Votes)
  • Scrooge (Alastair Sim) (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 861

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110 Comments »

  • Dsayko says:

    @LisaD: Ditto. I always rewind and watch that scene a couple of times. Cracks me up.

    @Holly: I did the same. As someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, I mostly avoid the classic Christmas movies and have never seen most of the ones listed. I finally watched It’s a Wonderful Life for the first time two years ago, because I thought I should. I was wrong, and haven’t made the same mistake with the rest of the classics.

  • Jaybird says:

    The Grinch, in any incarnation, scares hell out of me and always has. That crap is irredeemable and Jim Carrey and Ron Howard owe SOMEBODY some frickin’ bone marrow just to even things up.

    Tori Spelling is a science project that wasn’t originally supposed to live, so uch. HATE. With a side of “Go away and keep going away until we forget you ever were”.

    Best Christmas movie: “Better Off Dead”. It’s like sorbet, with the cinematic palate-cleansing.

  • Jaybird says:

    And before I forget entirely: The phrase “rapey snowman” will haunt my dreams for some time to come.

  • Dorine says:

    Hate A Christmas Story with fire of a thousand suns.

    @Liz, I completely agree about that scene — why can she not pronounce the words correctly? “When Love is Gown”? Ugh. Otherwise, Muppets rule.

    Count me in on the While You Were Sleeping Love as well as the original The Santa Clause. Haven’t seen any of the sequels but I can’t help it — I think that first one is cute.

    The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is part of my family history and will forever be beloved by me. About once a year I refer to someone or someones as being “just like the Herdmans” and then have to try to explain to my husband, who has still never seen it, exactly what I mean by that.

  • Nina A says:

    Also, there’s “Ebbie”-or A Christmas Carol with Susan Lucci-although i have a sneaking fondness for that one.
    How did Prancer not make it on this list?

  • Jen S 1.0 says:

    @Pamela,
    YES on that violating Grinch abomination, yes a thousand times!! I love, love, love the original Christmas specials from my childhood–Charlie Brown and Grinch being the top two–and am transported back to my youth, giggling at the absurd Suessian toys, laughing like a maniaic at the Grinch’s gring when he gets his Terrible Grinchy Idea–and now, I’ll come home from a hard day at work, flop on the sofa and begin scanning the channels: “Ohhh, Grinch is on! Oh, hooray, I haven’t missed i–wait a minute. ABC Family? This is that gruesome unholy thing with Carrey, ISN’T IT? DAMMIT TO HELL!”

    @Ashely, I’ve never watched Holiday Inn all the way through but with a heavy heart had to vote for The Magi, for similar reasons. Not that there’s blackface in that story, but when I looked up O.Henry’s other stories on the Gutenberg Project–well, let’s just say his language is a bit–well, no. Not a bit. Some of it’s flat out racist. I could never feel the same way for The Magi after that.

    And finally WORD to all those who realize that Chris Van Allsberg’s beautiful, haunting, quiet books are tiny illustrated wonders that do NOT need to be turned into live action tornadoes of crap (Jumanji) or Horrible Alternate Zombie Universe Christmas Specials (Polar Exepress.)

    Whew. All I can say is I Love You Phillip Morris had better be really really fucking good.

  • Mystery Amanda says:

    I’m SO glad I’m not the only one who voted for A Charlie Brown Christmas. I have always loathed Peanuts. Every single character is irritating, Snoopy is totally that guy, we don’t need to make Charles Schultz feel good about himself anymore – WHY IS THIS STILL RUNNING?

  • Tracey says:

    All copies of the Jim Carrey version of The Grinch should be thrown into a volcano, and we must never speak of it again.

    I didn’t have enough votes to include it, other things on the list being more worthy of my hate, but Polar Express is so creepy! The animation gives me the willies.

    Note to self: schedule annual viewing of the George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart versions of A Christmas Carol.

  • TipperTapper says:

    I’m all “wait, what people voted for How The Grinch Stole Christmas as worst thing–oh right, Jim Carrey version. Carry on, then.”

    ******

    I never understood Christmas Story. I don’t get why it’s supposed to be funny. My mom goes bananas every time the bully shows up and they play “Peter and the Wolf”. I don’t get it. My sister keeps yelling “TRIPLE DARE” every time someone around her says “dare”.

    …of course, there’s me, who yells “RAH-JEE-LAY, must be ITALIAN” any time I see the word “fragile”. But then, that whole bit was the only part of the movie that I found laugh-funny, as opposed to snerk-funny.

    (And to bring it home to Tomato Nation, the Sky Mall catalog sells replicas of the stocking-leg lamp.)

    ******

    Bishop’s Wife: Another one that my mom likes and I completely don’t get. I love how they go to such incredible lengths to make it absolutely clear that Cary Grant is an actual angel who comes from heaven where angels are, because they realized that the whole scenario is creepee with a capital “pee”.

  • TipperTapper says:

    Incidentally, more on “Bishop’s Wife”: I actually would have liked it if the movie had gone for the creepy vibe, putting a little mystery into things and making us wonder whether Cary Grant was actually an angel or just a weird guy. It would have actually had a better lesson at the end, I think, if Cary Grant were just the “right man in the right place at the right time”, because that’s more like something you’d expect from divine intervention. Sending down an actual angel to do miracles is a bit too pat–it leaves the viewer wondering why everyone doesn’t get their own personal angel.

  • Trish says:

    Who doesn’t like Scrooged? Please explain yourselves. “Sometimes you have to slap them in the face just to get their attention” is one of my all-time favorite movie lines.

  • Jen S 1.0 says:

    I’ve never seen the movie version, but The Best Christmas Pagent Ever has been on my “read every year” list since fourth grade. As a kid it made me laugh, and as an adult I’m amazed at how little it’s dated over the years–the dialogue, the scenario, are just as fresh and believable as when it was written.

    I still remember when I read the passage when the mom in charge of the pagent is asking the dad what he’d think of the Christmas story if he’d never heard of it and someone read it to him. Dad pauses and than says “Well, I guess I would think it was pretty disgraceful that they couldn’t find any room for a pregnant woman except in the stable.”

    This just blew my mind. It seems so obvious when you think about it for one second, but I never had. So I was like the characters–learning the Christmas story along with the Herdmans, in a whole new way.

    I’d like to recommend my two favorite stories of the season, both by Connie Willis (who would love these polls to death): Inn, and Epiphany. They can be found in her collection of Christmas stories and are both beautiful, funny, and profoundly moving.

  • Jeanne says:

    I. HATE. A Christmas Story. That is all.

  • Shannon says:

    Anyone who votes for Alastair Sim’s Christmas Carol is DEAD TO ME. It has no votes now, but I’m just throwing that out there.

    However, if the horrible colourized version of it was an option, I’d vote for that. Ebenezer Scrooge does not walk around Dickensian London in a mint-green frock coat! No, just no. Black and white all the way.

    I have to confess that even though it sucks, I do have a soft spot for A Very Brady Christmas. “Mom, Dad, I dropped out of business school to become a race car driver.” That’s a classic line right there. And I realized when I got older that Peter really acts like a jackass about his girlfriend being more successful then him. Still, I used to watch it every year. I don’t think they show it any more (in Canada, at least). It used to air on CityTV and when they ran promos for it, the voice over guy even made fun of it, pointing out that it was a different actress playing Cindy, “That’s not your daughter!”

  • KTB says:

    Awww, Muppets? Really? That might be my entire family’s favorite EVER, with “The Ref” coming in a close second. I also do not know anyone who doesn’t like the Muppets, and I don’t want to know them.

    That said, I also love WYWS, but don’t necessarily associate it with Christmas. Huh–now I’ll have to!

    “Light the lamp, not the rat!!”

  • Kriesa says:

    @Jen S 1.0: I love Connie Willis! You just reminded me that I haven’t reread her Christmas Story collection yet this year.

    I love all the movies on the list that I’ve seen, but I’ve avoided seeing Polar Express and Jim Carrey’s Grinch because they look too creepy, and I’ve never even heard of Tori Spelling’s Christmas Carol or the Sandra Lee special.

    I can’t believe that It’s a Wonderful Life is on the list, though. That’s one of my favorites (and the only bone I’d pick with Connie Willis :D). And the Ewok special and the Very Brady Christmas? I thought they were great when I was nine years old or so, and haven’t seen them since, so I have warm memories.

  • ferretrick says:

    Need clarification if we are talking about Polar Express the book or the movie. The book is lovely. The movie-if I didn’t hate Tom Hanks before. (I did).

    David Krumholtz is cute in anything, but in an elf outfit? Um, never mind….

  • Melpo says:

    If it were an option, I would use all 3 votes on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. That is some trippy BS right there. That squeaky sound his nose made when it lit up freaked the crap out of me when I was a kid.

    It was not in any way jolly.

  • adam807 says:

    @Jaybird My work here is done. Oh, wait, no it’s not: It involves a carrot.

    Also, not to gloat, but I was lucky enough to see Patrick Stewart do “A Christmas Carol” live a few years ago. He read the Dickens text, and acted out all the characters. It sounds like the stuff of “Waiting for Guffman,” but it was Patrick Fucking Stewart so it was amazing. I think he still does it now and then in various cities, so keep an eye out for it!

  • Lori says:

    @Lynne, it always bugged me that at least her hair would grow back and she’d get to use the combs eventually, but the man will never see his father’s pocket watch again—so unfair! I would be pissed if someone “sacrificed” a cherished object to get me a dumb gift, not to mention the added guilt involved once you find out what that person did for you.

    Gosh, I never realized how much that story bothered me.

  • Cindy says:

    A… Tori Spelling… Christmas Carol??? What in the what now? Am I to understand this is THE Christmas Carol story? Dickens must be turning over in his grave. How have I managed to get through life without knowledge of the existence of this masterpiece?

  • Karen says:

    Its a Wonderful Life makes me want to punch a baby. Is there a more overrated film (holiday or otherwise)?

  • Keckler says:

    For the record, I complied this list truly not knowing what bugs people (well, except I knew people hated Carrey’s Grinch and I hate the animated Polar Express) in terms of holiday specials.

    I actually do love “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas,” but that’s because I make sure to watch only once a year (if that). And I also pretty much love most of the specials on this list. Others, like “Home Alone,” are a “it’s okay to watch once, but I’ll never watch again” thing.

    I will put “A Christmas Story” on when they are doing the 24-hours back-to-back airings of it. I will never get tired of that one. Especially when I found out that my husband has relatives with the last name of Bumpus. That will never stop being the best thing about being married to him.

  • patricia says:

    I have to cast my write-in for “Christmas Shoes.” That abomination is as bad as the song (which I would have voted for 1000 times in the songs poll if I could have). And what I somehow find worse about it all is that the SONG inspired the MOVIE, not the other way around.

    @adam: the fact that we live in a world where this string of words actually somehow makes sense and refers to something specific-“horror movie… about a killer, rapey snowman”- almost makes me lose my will to live.

  • Kathryn says:

    Boy am I glad so many other people hate “A Christmas Story”. I’ve had people telling me for YEARS that I just HAD to see it, it’s SO funny. So I tried, and made it maybe fifteen minutes into it before shutting the damn thing off. Maybe it’s better if you saw it as a child, or when it first came out, but for me? Bleck.

    Christmas movies get played to death every year, so nobody’s vote really surprises me. What DOES surprise me about the poll is a) No “Christmas Shoes”? and b)The “Star Wars Christmas Special” is NOT at the top of the list? Even George Lucas wishes he could buy up every copy of that movie and throw them all into a volcano. All I can say is that Jim Carrey’s version of “The Grinch Stole Christmas” must be eye-hurtingly bad.

  • Lindsay says:

    @Holly — I’m with you. I voted for 2 (Polar Express & Sandra Lee) on General Principle. Jim Carrey’s Grinch also gets a vote — in fact, all unnecessary remakes deserve a lump of coal in their stocking.

  • Keckler says:

    Oh, and because I put this on the Christmas specials list I sent to Bunting and because she didn’t ever say anything about it (she thought I was making notes to myself — WTF?), I give you: A Vagina For Christmas.

    http://www.avaginaforchristmas.com/

    It might be the worst thing I’ve ever seen.

  • Claire says:

    Oh how I hate Nightmare Before Christmas LET ME COUNT THE WAYS. Except there are really only two: 1) It blows and 2) No, quoting it and forcing it upon me every two months does not make it blow less, annoying high school theater department friends.

  • Bess says:

    Dear 3 people who voted for the Muppets:

    I choose to believe that you are elderly, reside in Florida, and meant to vote for Jim Carrey but were confused by the new ballot. There are hanging chads, right? Your votes were stolen by the Republicans. It’s the only way your existence makes sense in my head because the Muppets are the best thing ever in the world.

    How can you deny the pure joy of Miss Piggy belting “five GOOOOOOOOOLD RIIIIIIINGS…ba dum dum dum!” with John Denver in the background? How do you not revel in this time of year when you don’t look like a whackjob for watching The Muppet Christmas Carol more than once in a single day? Haven’t you ever longed for a boomerang fish??!?

    Ahem…what I am trying to say is that I know it’s not what you meant to do and I forgive you. But only just barely.

    Love,

    Bess

  • Jen S 1.0 says:

    Keckler…wha…how…why? Why is this in the same universe I inhabit, why?

  • cmcl says:

    Re: the unfairness of Gift of the Magi — As a kid, I always wondered why they didn’t just sell the combs and use the money to get the watch back. Eventually the hair would grow back too, as noted above, and everybody would’ve learned a valuable lesson. Buh?

  • mctwin says:

    @Karen, most overrated movie ever? 2001: A Space Odyssey. They should prescribe that movie for insomniacs!

    @Bess, to quote my bus driver when someone cuts her off, “Jesus, help that person!” People who don’t like the Muppets deserve our prayers, our sympathy, and a ticket to the moon!! Later, Grumpy pusses!

    Anybody remember Nestor, the Long-Earred (sp?) Donkey? It must have been from Disney ’cause the mom gets killed off. Traumatizing for 6-year olds!

  • Janna says:

    @Bess – for reals. People, it is not Christmas without randomly yelling at relatives/friends to “be careful of the icy patch!”

    Also: “Oooh, der gobbla gobbla huMUNGA!” Which we still say every time my mom takes the turkey out of the oven.

    Also also: “And Tiny Tim … who did NOT die…”

    You guys, I’m over 30 and I still love the Muppets, and I am so glad I’m not alone.

  • Soylent Green says:

    @McTwin Oh god, Nestor the Long-Earred Donkey. That’s still traumatising.

    I love all the Rankin Bass specials except for the Little Drummer Boy. It’s like the song, only even more torturous

  • JeniMull says:

    I wish to cast all 3 of my votes for the Jim Grinch Grinch. Thank you.

  • Sue says:

    We used to have live readings of Capote’s a Christmas Memory and the Dylan Thomas as part of the Christmas festivities at my church. Having them read aloud made them awesome for me, anyway. And watching the reader of Capote get emotional each year – not a put-on, really!

    But there are many that get a bye because I avoid watching them. Christmas Story is really not that great and overquoted to death. But watching someone open up a leg lamp replica at our annual recycled Christmas (basically, a white elephant) party? Priceless.

  • Jet B says:

    While I certainly found three worthy contenders to vote for, I have to protest the absence of “The Little Match Girl.” An impoverished child hallucinates and freezes to death on New Year’s Eve?! And this WTF-ery still makes it into the canon of Yuletide Literature?

  • kategm says:

    So I like to watch Christmas specials this time of year (obviously) and I’ve added a new one to my rotation: “Amends” from season 3 of Buffy. I know it’s as cheese-tastic as any Christmas special but I’m a sucker for it.
    My favorite part might be Giles grabbing the crossbow before inviting Angel in when he asks for help.

  • Michael says:

    I remember loving the Star Wars Holiday Special when it first aired. By the way, my lawn…get off it. I, and 2 of my friends had an opportunity to see it again in the mid 90’s at the Library of Congress (really). I don’t know how they got the rights to show it – George Lucas had little to do with the project, and he’s pretty much barely acknowledged the special’s existence ever since. It has never been released on home video and probably never will, at least as long as Lucas is alive. The copy the Library of Congress had was taped off of television with 1978 era VCR quality (and commercials!!).
    What had seemed cool at 8 years old, was painfully bad at mid-twenties (except for the cartoon segment that introduced Boba Fett). If I recall correctly, Carrie Fisher has said she was so coked up at the time, that she has almost no memory of making the special. Most of the Star Wars characters we’re familiar with make token appearances, but the bulk of the film takes place on Chewbacca’s home planet with his family waiting for Chewie and Han to arrive for the Life Day celebrations. The worst part is not the musical number by Jefferson Starship (!), the musical number by Bea Arthur, the multiple characters played by Harvey Korman, or even Art Carney.
    Nope, the worst part is the creepy Diahann Carroll holographic seductive dance segment which Chewbacca’s father watches with lecherous intent, a late-70’s prediction of what virtual reality porn would be like. Although fully clothed, still definitely not appropriate for a kid’s special. Or a Christmas/Life Day special. Or anything other than motel room pay-per-view. Yuck.
    The entire special was so bad, my best friend started heckling the screen Mystery Science Theater 3000 style. I may have contributed a line or two, and then the guys immediately to our left took over. No one in the 54-seat auditorium complained, because the heckling was so sorely needed. Now, whenever someone suggests they watch The Star Wars Holiday Special for nostalgic or ironic reasons I recommend against. What has been seen cannot be unseen.

  • K. says:

    @Keckler: Thanks a lot. I can’t un-see that! The part where he pulls up his skirt will haunt my dreams, to say nothing of the song itself. [shudder]

  • Sarah D. Bunting says:

    @Keck: Well, what would you have thought if you found “(vagina for Christmas?)” at the bottom of the list? I was like, I don’t know what she’s talking about but clearly that isn’t supposed to be here. BECAUSE VAGINA.

  • Profreader says:

    I used to have a VHS tape that had all sorts of variations on A Christmas Carol that I had taped off TV (that creaking sound you hear is my rocking chair…) The traditional ones: Alastair Sim (the best B&W), George C. Scott (best color), Reginald Owen, Scrooge…
    The oddball ones like “An American Christmas Carol” starring Henry Winkler (made in the 70s or early 80s; you don’t see it much anymore. It was the story set in Massachusetts … I believe during the Great Depression.)

    Believe it or not I actually appreciate “Ebbie” the Susan Lucci version — not as campy as you’d expect it to be (the Vanessa Williams version takes that honor.) Cicely Tyson (!) made a version also: Ms. Scrooge. It’s oddly serious.

    I really dislike It’s A Wonderful Life (a.k.a. “George Bailey: You’re A Doormat”!) but oddly have an affection for the Marlo Thomas remake from the 70s (I know, sacrilege to some.) It’s gender-reversed (with Cloris Leachman as the angel); “Mary” Bailey’s sacrifices seem so much more painful. The movie is also an hour shorter than the original, which helps.

    The Jim Carrey Grinch: I went to see it (why? why? why?) and wanted to wail and gnash my teeth. Yeeeeeeek. Of all things that did not need to be made… they clearly did not understand the original AT ALL.

    Is “Christmas Comes to Walton Mountain” the new title for what used to be called “The Homecoming” — the Waltons movie before the series happened, with Patricia Neal as the mother? I LOVED that when I was a kid, and I haven’t seen it on TV in years and years.

    John Denver and the Muppets: in the elite group of perfect holiday specials along with A Charlie Brown Christmas and Grinch Original Recipe. A close runner-up for me is Emmett Otter’s Jug Band Christmas.

    Re “Christmas Story” — I had a “meh” reaction the first time I saw it, but the marathons are nice video wallpaper, and I enjoy it now. A couple of years ago, I went to a movie theater (one of the old remaining movie palace type places) when they were playing it as a one-day-only special event. It was nice to see it all the way through.

    Nestor the Long Eared Donkey: the mother FREEZES TO DEATH protecting him … and they say that right out. Hello, emotional scarring.

  • Cassie says:

    I have never liked It’s a Wonderful Life, and I don’t think I ever will – I have a deep, abiding dislike bordering on hatred for Jimmy Stewart.

    And I can’t even explain WHY I hate Frosty so much – the song, the special, everything just drives me f’ing crazy! Rudolph, however, I could watch until I went catatonic and still be happy – there’s something about Yukon Cornelius that strikes a chord with me, and I could sit through any amount of shmaltz for that.

    As a side note, my favorite Christmas special didn’t make it on here; probably because no one ever, ever watches it anymore. I LOVE Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, always have, always will.

  • Rinaldo says:

    [Christmas Carols] George C. Scott (best color)

    Indeed. And for me, the best of all of them. It just gets everything right.

    Second place? Mr. Magoo. (Seriously. If you haven’t watched it, do.)

  • Cyntada says:

    Lynne, I now see that I wasted a vote by not casting it for Gift of the Magi. Been trying to remember that freaky story the pastor read out loud for our small church some years back… he usually picked awesome stories, but that one just left my head spinning. Merry… Christmas?? What the hell?

    Shannon, I am totally with you on Alistair Sims. That movie (BW only of course) gets bonus points with me because I saw it with my Dad. Everything I see with my Dad gets bonus points, because my Dad is awesome.

    That said, An American Christmas Carol has become my other favorite Scrooge tale. Well worth checking out if you-all have never seen it.

  • Profreader says:

    Cyntada! Thanks for that link for An American Christmas Carol — I don’t know why I never thought to look for it on DVD — I was only looking for rebroadcasts. Huzzah.

    Re “Gift of the Magi” — I’m remembering something based on this, which might have been an SNL skit, or just a passing mention by a comedienne like Gilda Radner, Ellen DeGeneres or Amy Sedaris. It was like “Darling, I sold my watch to buy you some earrings.” “Oh no! I sold my ears…”

    Ring any bells for anyone?

  • Keckler says:

    @Bunting: I thought you would have ASKED, at least! I mean, what if I needed a vagina for Christmas? Wouldn’t you be concerned and wouldn’t a concerned friend ASK?

  • Ix says:

    One of my three votes went to Gift of the Magi, because shut up O. Henry.

  • Maren says:

    So glad to find other people who love Muppet Christmas Carol here — that’s my family’s favorite, but hardly anyone I know has seen it or even know it exists. Also glad to get in on a little Christmas Story-bashing, which I honestly think one can only love if you saw it young enough.

    It’s a Wonderful Life used to bore me until the last couple of years, when I suddenly realized it was about a man who’d never seemed to achieve any of his dreams and been beaten down by life appreciating the things he HAD achieved without even knowing it. Getting older gives you perspective, I guess? Also I love Jimmy Stewart and all the flashback stuff about the high school dance and “Buffalo Gals,” aw. But I acknowledge that it’s a movie that takes patience and a long stretch of time to appreciate.

    The Star Wars Christmas Special is the fucking worst. I thought it would be one of those “so bad it’s good” things, but even the Rifftrax commentary can’t save it. It is just bad bad BAD.

  • Amy says:

    @Tracey (and anyone else wanting the George C Scott Christmas Carol)
    Netflix has it. Streaming, even.

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