Christmas Special: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
{{Page should be category}}
[[File:Punisher.jpg|link=The Punisher|frame|He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!]]
[[File:He Man She Ra.jpg|link=He-Man and the Masters of the Universe|frame|Eternia celebrates the birth of Christ [[An Asskicking Christmas|with senseless violence]]!]]


A mostly American subgenre—special television shows, often one-shots, created with a winter or holiday theme for broadcast during the month of December. Most prominently feature [[Santa Claus]] and his associated mythology, as they try to preserve political correctness. Some try to elucidate to us on the [[True Meaning of Christmas]].
A mostly American subgenre—special television shows, often one-shots, created with a winter or holiday theme for broadcast during the month of December. Many prominently feature [[Santa Claus]] and his associated mythology, as they try to preserve political correctness. Some try to elucidate to us on the [[True Meaning of Christmas]]. Most, as pointed out by ''[[Wrong Hands]]'' [https://wronghands1.com/2021/12/03/tv-christmas-movie-essentials/ here], are [[Strictly Formula]].


Perhaps the best-known Christmas Specials are the animated ones (including the stop-motion animations produced primarily by [[Rankin/Bass Productions|Rankin/Bass]]) from the 1960s through the 1970s that rerun annually. Far more numerous, though, are the various celebrity specials, which usually take the form of a low-key holiday-themed [[Variety Show]]. Usually the latter are rather forgettable by virtue of their one-off nature, but sometimes they can generate moments that survive decades. A case in point would be the [[Bing Crosby]]-[[David Bowie]] duet of "The Little Drummer Boy", which has taken on a life of its own above and beyond the 1977 Crosby special from which it sprang.
Perhaps the best-known '''Christmas Specials''' are the animated ones (including the stop-motion animations produced primarily by [[Rankin/Bass Productions|Rankin/Bass]]) from the 1960s through the 1970s that rerun annually. Far more numerous, though, are the various celebrity specials, which usually take the form of a low-key holiday-themed [[Variety Show]]. Usually the latter are rather forgettable by virtue of their one-off nature, but sometimes they can generate moments that survive decades. A case in point would be the [[Bing Crosby]]-[[David Bowie]] duet of "The Little Drummer Boy", which has taken on a life of its own above and beyond the 1977 Crosby special from which it sprang.


Compare [[Christmas Episode]] ([[Separated by a Common Language|generally known as Christmas Specials]] [[A Very British Christmas|in the UK]]) and [[Halloween Special]]. If the holiday celebrated in the special only looks like Christmas but is renamed to match the setting, it's a [[You Mean "Xmas"]].
Compare [[Christmas Episode]] ([[Separated by a Common Language|generally known as Christmas Specials]] [[A Very British Christmas|in the UK]]) and [[Halloween Special]]. If the holiday celebrated in the special only looks like Christmas but is renamed to match the setting, it's a [[You Mean "Xmas"]].


[[The Wiki Rule]] applies to Christmas specials: http://christmas-specials.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
[[The Wiki Rule]] applies to Christmas specials; see [http://christmas-specials.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page here].


{{examples}}
{{examples}}
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* ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'' (2002)
* ''[[It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Caillou]]'s Holiday Movie'' (2003)
* ''[[Caillou]]'s Holiday Movie'' (2003)
* The TV adaptation of [[Terry Pratchett|Terry Pratchett's]] ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'' (2006)
* The TV adaptation of [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Hogfather]]'' (2006)
* [[Doctor Steel]]'s ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVfSJPKA0VM Dr. Steel Christmas Special]'' (2007) and ''[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/media/mp3/adrsteelchristmasmp3.mp3 A Dr. Steel Christmas]'' (2009).
* [[Doctor Steel]]'s ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVfSJPKA0VM Dr. Steel Christmas Special]'' (2007) and ''[http://www.toysoldiersunite.com/media/mp3/adrsteelchristmasmp3.mp3 A Dr. Steel Christmas]'' (2009).
* [[LeapFrog (animation)|LeapFrog]]'s ''A Tad Of Christmas Cheer'' (2007)
* [[LeapFrog (animation)|LeapFrog]]'s ''A Tad Of Christmas Cheer'' (2007)
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* ''[[Charlie and Lola]]'' had an episode with the siblings visiting the elves and saving Christmas.
* ''[[Charlie and Lola]]'' had an episode with the siblings visiting the elves and saving Christmas.
* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'' "A Very Venture Christmas" - introduced the Krampus to much of America.
* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'' "A Very Venture Christmas" - introduced the Krampus to much of America.
* ''The Adventures Of [[The League of STEAM]]'' episode, "The Fright Before Christmas".
* ''The Adventures Of [[The League of STEAM]]'' [[Christmas Episode|episode]], "The Fright Before Christmas".


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Christmas Tropes]]
[[Category:Christmas Tropes]]
[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Show Genres]]
[[Category:Show Genres]]

Latest revision as of 17:26, 11 April 2024

Eternia celebrates the birth of Christ with senseless violence!

A mostly American subgenre—special television shows, often one-shots, created with a winter or holiday theme for broadcast during the month of December. Many prominently feature Santa Claus and his associated mythology, as they try to preserve political correctness. Some try to elucidate to us on the True Meaning of Christmas. Most, as pointed out by Wrong Hands here, are Strictly Formula.

Perhaps the best-known Christmas Specials are the animated ones (including the stop-motion animations produced primarily by Rankin/Bass) from the 1960s through the 1970s that rerun annually. Far more numerous, though, are the various celebrity specials, which usually take the form of a low-key holiday-themed Variety Show. Usually the latter are rather forgettable by virtue of their one-off nature, but sometimes they can generate moments that survive decades. A case in point would be the Bing Crosby-David Bowie duet of "The Little Drummer Boy", which has taken on a life of its own above and beyond the 1977 Crosby special from which it sprang.

Compare Christmas Episode (generally known as Christmas Specials in the UK) and Halloween Special. If the holiday celebrated in the special only looks like Christmas but is renamed to match the setting, it's a You Mean "Xmas".

The Wiki Rule applies to Christmas specials; see here.

Examples of Christmas Special include:
  1. ↑ Probably better known for the album than the special but still ...
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