No Right Answer: Best Christmas Special Ever
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Charlie Brown is fine... the first time. But seeing it more than once, it gets old. I honestly prefer the Garfield Xmas special more than that, and that's just one special. There is Futurama's story. The Simpsons' xmas special. So many other options. Charlie Brown, can't compare anymore.
This is the first time in a while Kyle remembered the whole point of the drinking segment was to get a spit take disqualification. Granted, it didn't work, but try to make Chris laugh, Kyle!
Despite saying he would come back to it, we never heard about how awesome the music is for Charlie Brown Christmas. This was what put Vince Guaraldi in every home in America and associated his work with Charlie Brown for all time. Muppet Christmas Carol is the only TV special or movie I can think of whose soundtrack would even compare to Charlie Brown.
Also, on top of the message about commercialization (which is still a pointed commentary 45 years later, even though no one remembers aluminum Christmas trees any more, except your dad when he was Charlie Brown's age), there is Linus' recitation of the gospel message at the end. It nearly didn't air for that reason but it was a dealbreaker for Schulz, kinda like the network specifically wanted Rodenberry to take Spock out of Star Trek, and he changed the entire crew EXCEPT for Spock. And you basically still won't see anything like that these days; for everyone else the True Meaning of Christmas (tm) is being with your family or giving gifts rather than getting them (another timeless commentary, Schulz?). Frankly, it blew my mind to see the recent Glee holiday episode toss in their reference to that scene; that would have been the last show I'd expect to see that.
If I had to go by only the material offered in this episode, Charlie Brown would win going away. But Everything Else was poorly defended. People have mentioned the Muppet Christmas Carol multiple times and it's right there with Charlie Brown for me. But It's a Wonderful Life is not only my favorite holiday movie, it's my favorite movie of any sort, anywhere, ever. As charming as the Charlie Brown special is, that movie is just too classic to deny.
Armchair Quarterback says: a better holiday NRA might have been something like:
- Best Scrooge Ever: Bill Murray vs. Mr. Magoo
- Best Holiday Song Ever: Do They Know It's Christmas vs. Same Auld Lang Syne
Also, on top of the message about commercialization (which is still a pointed commentary 45 years later, even though no one remembers aluminum Christmas trees any more, except your dad when he was Charlie Brown's age), there is Linus' recitation of the gospel message at the end. It nearly didn't air for that reason but it was a dealbreaker for Schulz, kinda like the network specifically wanted Rodenberry to take Spock out of Star Trek, and he changed the entire crew EXCEPT for Spock. And you basically still won't see anything like that these days; for everyone else the True Meaning of Christmas (tm) is being with your family or giving gifts rather than getting them (another timeless commentary, Schulz?). Frankly, it blew my mind to see the recent Glee holiday episode toss in their reference to that scene; that would have been the last show I'd expect to see that.
If I had to go by only the material offered in this episode, Charlie Brown would win going away. But Everything Else was poorly defended. People have mentioned the Muppet Christmas Carol multiple times and it's right there with Charlie Brown for me. But It's a Wonderful Life is not only my favorite holiday movie, it's my favorite movie of any sort, anywhere, ever. As charming as the Charlie Brown special is, that movie is just too classic to deny.
Armchair Quarterback says: a better holiday NRA might have been something like:
- Best Scrooge Ever: Bill Murray vs. Mr. Magoo
- Best Holiday Song Ever: Do They Know It's Christmas vs. Same Auld Lang Syne
That stupid British comedy that Germans watch religiously at Christmas for the win!
Sarcasm? Because making money producing cheap knock-offs about getting away from the commercialisation of Christmas and back to the true (religiously neutral, happy holidays everyone) meaning of Christmas is all there is on Christmas, on account of people being fine connoisseurs of ironyazurine said:
The best way to show that everything other than Charlie Brown is the best, is to prove that the parody of Charlie Brown is better than Charlie Brown.
I can't remember if I've seen that Charlie brown Christmas thingie, but danish television sends Die Hard about every year.
I vote for everything else.
I vote for everything else.
They actually did one of the best translation from text to screen out of any of The Christmas Carol movies out there. Something you wouldn't expect from a Muppet Movie.ChrisW212 said:
Since I'm a little late on this topic, I just want to add the original A Christmas Carol book probably saved the traditional Christmas we have today. It came out at a time when many people were abandoning the holiday especially in the United States. It also popularized the phrase "Merry Christmas".
But I want to add Woodland Critter Christmas is still #1 for me.
