List of United States Christmas television specials explained

The following is a list of Christmas television specials partly or completely originating in the U.S.

Christmas-related films and specials

Dates and networks shown correspond to the special's first telecast.

• 5 More Sleeps ’til Christmas (November 27, 2021, NBC)
• 12 Days of Christmas (1993, NBC)
• 12 Tiny Christmas Tales (December 7, 2001, Cartoon Network)
• The Adventures of Candy Claus (December 25, 1987)
• Aliens First Christmas (1991, Disney Channel)
• Amahl and the Night Visitors (1951, NBC) (most of the 1951 cast members stayed with this production until 1963)
• Amahl and the Night Visitors (1963, NBC) (all-new production)
• Amahl and the Night Visitors (1978, NBC) (all-new production)
• Babes in Toyland (1950)
• Babes in Toyland (1954)
• Babes in Toyland (1960)
• Babes in Toyland (1986, NBC)
• The Balloonatiks: Christmas Without a Claus (December 14, 1996, FOX)
• B.C.: A Special Christmas (1981, HBO)
• The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1973, NBC)
• The Bears Who Saved Christmas (1994, syndication)
• Beebo Saves Christmas (December 1, 2021, The CW)
• The Bell Telephone Hour Christmas specials (1959–1968, NBC)
• Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (1978, ABC)
• The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree (1979, NBC)
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (December 5, 1983, HBO)
• Bluetoes The Christmas Elf (1988)
• Brer Rabbit's Christmas Carol (1992)
• The Cabbage Patch Kids' First Christmas (1984, ABC)
• Charlie's Christmas Secret (December 20, 1984, syndication)
• A Chipmunk Christmas (December 14, 1981, NBC)
• A Christmas Adventure (1991, syndication)
• A Christmas Calendar (1987, PBS)
• A Christmas Carol (1954, CBS)
• A Christmas Carol (1971, ABC)
• A Christmas Carol (1984, CBS)
• A Christmas Carol (1999, TNT)
• Christmas Every Day (1996, The Family Channel)
• Christmas In Rockefeller Center (1998, NBC)
• Christmas in Tattertown (1988, Nickelodeon)
• Christmas Is (1970, syndication)
• The Christmas Raccoons (1980)
• The Christmas Tree (1991, USA Network)
• Christopher the Christmas Tree (December 24, 1993, FOX)
• The City That Forgot About Christmas (1974, syndication)
• A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987, CBS)
• CMA Country Christmas (2009–present, ABC)
• A Cool Like That Christmas (December 23, 1993, FOX)
• Cranberry Christmas (December 8, 2008, ABC Family)^[1]
• Deck the Halls (1994, syndication)
• Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls (1983, NBC)
• Donner (2001, ABC Family)
• Ed, Edd n Eddy's Jingle Jingle Jangle (2004, Cartoon Network)
• Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noël) (December 14, 1996, ABC)
• (December 16, 2014, NBC)
• The Enchanted Nutcracker (1961, ABC)
• A Family Circus Christmas (1979, NBC)
• Father Christmas and the Missing Reindeer (1998)
• Felix The Cat Saves Christmas (2004)
• A Garfield Christmas (1987, CBS)
• The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (1999, Fox Family)
• The Glo-Friends Save Christmas (1985, syndication)
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000, The WB)
• The Great Christmas Light Fight (a recurring reality series) (2013–present, ABC)
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022, Disney+)
• Gwen Stefani's You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017, NBC)
• The Happy Elf (2005, NBC)
• A Hollywood Hounds Christmas (1994, syndication)
• Hoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas (2011, CBS)
• The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972, CBS)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966, CBS)
• How Murray Saved Christmas (December 5, 2014, NBC)
• (November 24, 2011, FOX)
• In the Nick of Time (1991, NBC)
• It's Christmas, Dr. Joe! (2004, syndication)
• Jingle Bell Rap (1991, syndication)
• Jingle Bell Rock (1995, ABC)
• John Grin's Christmas (1986, ABC)
• Jolly Old St. Nicholas (1994, syndication)
• Little Orphan Annie's A Very Animated Christmas (1995)
• The Little Rascals Christmas Special (1979, NBC)
• Little Spirit: Christmas in New York (December 10, 2008, NBC)
• The Littlest Angel (1969)
• Lollipop Dragon: The Great Christmas Race (1985)
• A Merry Mirthworm Christmas (1987, Showtime)
• Milroy: Santa's Misfit Mutt (1987)
• Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962, NBC)
• The Moo Family Holiday Hoe-Down (1992)
• A Mouse, a Mystery and Me (1987, NBC)
• My Christmas Special (2009, PBS)
• The Nativity (1952, CBS)
• Nick & Noel (1993)
• The Night B4 Christmas (2003)
• The Night Before Christmas (1968, syndicated)
• The Night the Animals Talked (1970, ABC)
• Nine Dog Christmas (2004)
• Noël (1992, NBC)
• The Nutcracker (1958, CBS) (presented on Playhouse 90)
• The Nutcracker (1965, CBS) (German-American co-production, with changed plotline)
• The Nutcracker (Baryshnikov version) (1977, CBS)
• The Nutcracker (2011, PBS) (presented on Live from Lincoln Center)
• Nutcracker on Ice (several versions)
• The Nuttiest Nutcracker (1999, CBS)
• O Christmas Tree (1994)
• Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999, FOX)
• Online Adventures of Ozzie the Elf (1997)
• Pillow People Save Christmas (1988)
• (1978, ABC)
• P.J.'s Unfunnybunny Christmas (1993, ABC)
• The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas (1992)
• (2004, FOX)
• The Promise (1963)
• Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper (1978/CBS)
• Red Boots for Christmas (1995)
• Reindeer In Here (2022, CBS)
• Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever (1998)
• Santa and the Three Bears (1970, syndication)
• Santa Claus and the Magic Drum (1996)
• The Santa Claus Brothers (December 14, 2001, Disney Channel)
• Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer (2000, Fox Family)
• Santa's Christmas Crash (1995)
• Santa's First Christmas (1992)
• Santa's Last Christmas (1999)
• Santa's Pocket Watch (1980)
• Santa's Magic Toy Bag (1983, Showtime)
• Santabear's First Christmas (1986, ABC)
• Santabear's High Flying Adventure (1987, CBS)
• Santa vs. the Snowman (December 12, 1997, ABC)
• Simple Gifts: Six Episodes for Christmas (1977)
• Snowden's Christmas (1999)
• A Snow White Christmas (1980, CBS)
• A Solid Gold Christmas (1982, syndication)
• The Spirit of Christmas (1953)
• The Stableboy's Christmas (1979, syndication)
• A Star for Jeremy (1982)
• The Stingiest Man in Town (1956, NBC)
• The Story of Santa Claus (1998, CBS)
• The Soulmates in the Gift of Light (1991)
• Timothy Tweedle: The First Christmas Elf (December 25, 2000, Toon Disney)
• The Tiny Tree (December 14, 1975, NBC)
• Tom and Jerry in A Cat and Mouse Christmas (1977, ABC)
• (2014)
• The Trolls and the Christmas Express (1981, HBO)
• Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977, ABC)
• The Twelve Days of Christmas (1993, NBC)
• The Ugly Duckling's Christmas Wish (1996, syndication)
• Up on the Housetop (1992, syndication)* A Very Boy Band Holiday (2021, ABC)
• A Very Merry Cricket (December 14, 1973, ABC)
• A Very Pink Christmas (2011)
• A Very Retail Christmas (December 24, 1990, NBC)
• A Very Solar Holiday Opposites Special (2021, Hulu)
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1994, syndication)
• A Wish for Wings That Work (1991, CBS)
• The Wish That Changed Christmas (1991, CBS)
• Where's Waldo? The Merry X-mas Mix Up! (1992)
• Why the Bears Dance on Christmas Eve (December 12, 1977, ABC)
• The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (2016, ABC)
• Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (1974, ABC)
• Ziggy's Gift (1982, ABC)
• The Zoomer Crew's First Christmas (2000)

Franchises and groupings

Rankin/Bass

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964/NBC; has aired on CBS since 1972)
• Cricket on the Hearth (1967/NBC)
• The Little Drummer Boy (1968/NBC)
• Frosty the Snowman (1969/CBS)
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970/ABC)
• Festival of Family Classics: "A Christmas Tree" (1972/syndication)
• Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974/CBS)
• The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974/ABC)
• (1975/NBC)
• Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976/ABC)
• Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976/ABC)
• The Little Drummer Boy, Book II (1976/NBC)
• Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977/ABC)
• The Stingiest Man in Town (1978/ABC)
• Jack Frost (1979/NBC)
• Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979/ABC)
• Pinocchio's Christmas (1980/ABC)
• The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold (1981/ABC)^[2]
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1985/CBS)
• Frosty Returns (1992/CBS)
• Santa, Baby! (2001/FOX)
• The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2004)
• A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008/ABC Family)

Charlie Brown / Peanuts

• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965/CBS)
• It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992/CBS)
• Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002/ABC)
• I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003/ABC)
• (2021/Apple TV+)

Walt Disney

• From All of Us to All of You (1958/ABC)
• A Magical Disney Christmas (1981/CBS)
• A Disney Christmas Gift (1982/CBS)
• A Goof Troop Christmas (1992 & 1993/ABC)
• Prep & Landing (2009/ABC)
• (2010/ABC)
• (2011/ABC)

Mickey Mouse

• Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983/NBC)
• Mickey Mouse Works: "The Nutcracker" (1999/ABC)
• Mickey Mouse Works: "Mickey's Christmas Chaos" (2000/ABC)
• House of Mouse: "Clarabelle's Christmas List" (2002/Toon Disney)
• House of Mouse: "Pete's Christmas Caper" (2002/Toon Disney)
• Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special (2016/Disney Channel)
• Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (2021/Disney Junior)
• Mickey Saves Christmas (2022/Disney Junior)
• Mickey's Christmas Tales: Starstruck (2023/Disney Junior)

Winnie the Pooh

• Welcome to Pooh Corner: "Christmas at Pooh Corner" (1983/Disney Channel)
• Welcome to Pooh Corner: "Christmas is for Sharing" (1984/Disney Channel)
• Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (1991/ABC)
• Seasons of Giving (1999)

Pixar

• Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014/ABC)

Hanna-Barbera

• A Christmas Story (1972/syndication)
• Silent Night, Holy Night (1976/syndication)
• Casper's First Christmas (1979/NBC)
• Christmas Comes to Pac-Land (1982/ABC)
• The Little Troll Prince (1987/syndication)
• The Town Santa Forgot (1993/NBC)

The Flintstones

• The Flintstones: "Christmas Flintstone" (1964/ABC)
• A Flintstone Christmas (1977/NBC)
• A Flintstone Family Christmas (1993/ABC)
• A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994/ABC)

The Smurfs

• The Smurfs' Christmas Special (1982/NBC)
• 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy (1987/NBC)
• (2011)

Yogi Bear

• Yogi's First Christmas (1980/syndication)
• Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas Caper (1982/CBS)

Jim Henson / The Muppets / Sesame Street

• The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970/CBS)
• Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977/HBO)
• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978/PBS)
• A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978/CBS)
• (1979/ABC)
• The Christmas Toy (1986/ABC)
• A Muppet Family Christmas (1987/ABC)
• Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (1995/CBS)
• Elmo Saves Christmas (1996/PBS)
• It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002/NBC)
• A Sesame Street Christmas Carol (2006/PBS)
• Elmo's Christmas Countdown (2007/ABC)
• (2008/NBC)
• Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular (2013/ABC)
• Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas (2016/HBO)

DreamWorks Animation

• Joseph King of Dreams (2000)
• Shrek the Halls (2007/ABC)
• Merry Madagascar (2009/NBC)
• Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010/NBC)
• Trolls Holiday (2017/NBC)
• (2019/NBC)
• (2021/NBC)

Looney Tunes

• Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (1979/CBS)
• Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas (2006)
• Looney Tunes Cartoons: "Bugs Bunny's 24-Carrot Holiday Special" (2020/HBO Max)

• The Toy That Saved Christmas (1996)
• The Star of Christmas (2002)
• Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving (2009)
• It's a Meaningful Life (2010)
• The Little Drummer Boy (2011)
• Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas (2013)
• Beauty and the Beet (2014)

Chucklewood Critters

• The Christmas Tree Train (1983, syndication)
• T'was the Day Before Christmas (1993, syndication)

Davey and Goliath

• Davey and Goliath: Christmas Lost and Found (1965/Syndication)
• Davey and Goliath's Snowboard Christmas (2004/Hallmark Channel)

Precious Moments, Inc.

• Timmy's Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas (1991, NBC)
• Timmy's Special Delivery: A Precious Moments Christmas (1993)

Celebrity-hosted and variety shows

This list includes U.K. productions shown in the U.S.

• The Judy Garland Christmas Show (1963)
• The Ray Conniff Christmas Show (1965)
• The Mitzi Gaynor Christmas Show (1967)
• John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas (with The Muppets) (1975)
• The Captain and Tennille Christmas Show (1976)
• The Johnny Cash Christmas Special (1976–1979)
• Paul Lynde: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977)
• A Christmas Special With Love, Mac Davis (1979)
• Rich Little's Christmas Carol (1979/HBO)
• Freddie the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner (1981/HBO)
• The George Burns Early, Early, Early Christmas Special (1981)
• Barbara Mandrell's Christmas: A Family Reunion Special (1986)
• Motown Merry Christmas (1987)
• Dolly Parton: Home For Christmas (1990)
• John Denver: Montana Christmas Skies (1991)
• Dave Foley's The True Meaning of Christmas Specials
• Nick & Jessica's Family Christmas (2004)
• (2008/Comedy Central)
• Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special (2008/Comedy Central)
• CMA Country Christmas (2010–present)
• Kelly Clarkson: Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale (2013/NBC)
• Darci Lynne: A Hometown Christmas (2018)
• Holidays with the Houghs (2019)
• Kelly Clarkson: Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around (2021, NBC)
• Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas (2023/Apple TV+)

Julie Andrews

• Merry Christmas... with Love, Julie (1979)
• Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas (1987)

The Carpenters

• The Carpenters at Christmas (1977)
• The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait (1978)

Kathie Lee Gifford

• Kathie Lee Gifford: Looking for Christmas (1994)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: Home for Christmas (1995)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: Just in Time for Christmas (1996)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: We Need a Little Christmas (1997)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: Christmas Every Day (1998)

Jackie Gleason

• Jackie Gleason's Honeymooners Christmas (1978/CBS)
• The Honeymooners Christmas Special (1977)

Amy Grant

• Headin' Home For The Holidays (1986/NBC)
• A Christmas To Remember (1999)

The Osmonds

• The Osmond Family Christmas Special (1976/ABC)
• The Osmond Family Christmas Special (1977)
• The Donny and Marie Christmas Special (1977/ABC)
• The Osmond Family Christmas Special (1978/ABC)
• The Donny and Marie Christmas Special (1979/ABC)
• The Osmond Family Christmas Special (1980/NBC)
• Marie Osmond's Merry Christmas (1986)

Andy Williams

• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1964)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1965)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1966)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1967)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1968)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1969)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1970)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1971)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1973)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1974)
• Andy Williams' Early New England Christmas (1982)
• Andy Williams Christmas from Washington (1983)
• Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa (NBC/1985)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1994)
• The Daily Show Andy Williams Christmas Special (1997)
• Happy Holidays: The Best of the Andy Williams Christmas Specials (2001)

Bob Hope

• The Bob Hope Christmas Special (1953, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1981)
• The Bob Hope Christmas Show (1965, 1985)
• The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show (1966)
• The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO (1969)
• The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show (1971)
• The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special (1977)
• Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut (1984)
• Bob Hope Winterfest Christmas Show (1987)
• Bob Hope's USO Christmas from the Persian Gulf: Around the World in Eight Days (1987)
• Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show (1988)
• Bob Hope's Christmas Special from Waikoloa, Hawaii (1989)
• Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia (1991)
• Hope for the Holidays - A Bob Hope Christmas (1993)

Bing Crosby

• Happy Holidays with Frank and Bing starring Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby (1957)
• The Bing Crosby Christmas Show (1961, 1962, 1965)
• Christmas with Andre, Bing, and Mary (1962)
• The Hollywood Palace with Bing Crosby (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968)
• Bing and Carol Together Again for the First Time (1969) Bing Crosby, with Carol Burnett
  • Goldilocks (1969) Bing Crosby with Kathryn Crosby, Mary Frances Crosby and Nathaniel Crosby along with Avery Schreiber and Paul Winchell Bing Crosby's Christmas Show (1970)
• Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas (1971)
• A Christmas with the Bing Crosbys (1972)
• Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show (1973)
• A Christmas with the Bing Crosbys (1974)
• Merry Christmas, Fred, from the Crosbys (1975) Bing Crosby, with Fred Astaire
• The Bing Crosby White Christmas Special (1976)
• Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas (1977) with David Bowie, Twiggy, and Ron Moody
• The Christmas Years (1978) tribute program

Dean Martin

• Dean Martin's California Christmas (1975)
• Dean Martin's Christmas in California (1977, 1979)
• Dean Martin Christmas Special (1980)
• Dean Martin's Christmas at Sea World (1981)

Perry Como

This is only a partial list of Perry Como Christmas programs. He would always include a Christmas-themed program every year while his television series was on the air.

• Perry Como's Christmas In New York (1959)
• The Perry Como Holiday Special (1967)
• Christmas At The Hollywood Palace (1969)
• Perry Como's Winter Show (1971)
• The Perry Como Winter Show (1972, 1973)
• Perry Como's Christmas Show (1974)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Mexico (1975)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Austria (1976)
• Perry Como's Olde Englishe Christmas (1977)
• Perry Como's Early American Christmas (1978)
• Perry Como's Christmas In New Mexico (1979)
• Perry Como's Christmas In The Holy Land (1980)
• Perry Como's French-Canadian Christmas (1981)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Paris (1982)
• Perry Como's Christmas In New York (1983)
• Perry Como's Christmas In London (1984)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Hawaii (1985)
• Perry Como's Christmas In San Antonio (1986)
• Perry Como's Irish Christmas (1994)

Mariah Carey

• Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You (2010, ABC)
• Mariah Carey's Merriest Christmas (2015, Hallmark Channel)
• Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (2020, Apple TV+)

Television series-related

Specials based on a television series but which were not a regular time-slot episode.

• (2008/Comedy Central)
• Care Bears Nutcracker Suite (1988/Disney Channel; Canadian production)
• (1985/syndication)
• Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas (1992/NBC)
• The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas (1996/FOX)
• A Pinky and the Brain Christmas (1995/The WB)
• Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988/CBS)
• Puff the Magic Dragon Christmas (1980/CBS)
• Dragon Tales Merry Christmas (2006/PBS)
• (1990/PBS)
• Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Merry Christmas (2003)
• A Very Merry Curb Appeal

See also

• Apollo 8 Genesis reading
• Christmas in the media
• List of Christmas television specials
• List of United States Christmas television episodes
• List of A Christmas Carol adaptations
• List of Christmas films
• Christmas music
• Santa Claus in film
• List of Halloween television specials
• List of Thanksgiving television specials

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ocean Spray special features Manilow music . . November 10, 2008 . . November 27, 2023.
2. Web site: WEDNESDAY 8:30 p.m. ABC, 'The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold.' Art... . . December 19, 1981 . . December 26, 2020.