Few things get people in the Christmas spirit quite like their favorite traditional Christmas specials. Whether your favorite is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, there’s truly something for everyone in the world of classic Christmas television.
But for every Rudolph and Frosty and Grinch, there are dozens more underrated Christmas specials that have been made for television and often overlooked and completely ignored over the years. Here, we’ve rounded up ten of the best specials you probably forgot all about - and maybe never saw at all.
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
Christmas music, whether traditional carols or newer classics that are on the radio nonstop, is one of the most beloved parts of any holiday celebration. But it’s rare that you find a special that’s almost entirely driven by its soundtrack and the creation of the soundtrack in the way that the 1979 special John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together is.
First premiering on ABC, the hour-long special finds The Muppets and John Denver coming together to celebrate Christmas, and also put together a musical, comprised of many duets between the felted-friends and Denver.
Trolls Holiday
Inspired by the 2016 Dreamworks movie Trolls, the adorable and upbeat special Trolls Holiday first aired on NBC in 2017. The special follows Poppy, Branch, and all their fellow trolls as they prepare to celebrate their many holiday traditions, and also seek to share their traditions with their new friends, Bridget and Gristle of the Bergen kingdom.
Though Poppy’s overenthusiastic attempts at spreading holiday cheer initially lead to a falling out between her and her best friend, Bridget, the friends reunite in the end with a holiday all their own: Troll-A-Bration, commemorating the new union between Trolls and Bergens.
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
Inspired by the iconic letter written in 1897 by eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon to The Sun newspaper, the animated special Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus tells the story of young Virginia’s quest to learn the truth about whether Santa is real or not. First airing on CBS in 2009, Yes, Virginia boasts an impressive cast of voices including Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Alfred Molina.
Some highlights of the special include Virginia’s adorable relationship with her young friend, Ollie, and the inclusion of a street corner Santa by the name of Scraggly Santa.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
To be honest, The Muppets don’t receive nearly as much credit as they should when it comes to creating wonderful and magical entertainment not just for children, but for audiences of all ages. The 1995 Christmas special Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree is just one of the many examples of that fact.
Adapted from a classic children’s book from the 1950s, the CBS special tells the story of a wealthy man named Mr. Willowby trying to create the perfect Christmas, while a small family of adorable Muppet mice try to ensure they have the perfect Christmas tree. In addition to Muppet performers, the half-hour special’s impressive cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Leslie Nielsen, and Stockard Channing.
Olive, the Other Reindeer
It’s not hard to hear some Christmas carol lyrics incorrectly, no matter how many times you’ve heard the song. For example, the line in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” that is correctly understood as “all of the other reindeer” served as the inspiration for a particularly adorable animated special: Olive, the Other Reindeer. Adapted from a children’s book, the special first aired on Fox in 1999 and tells the story of Olive, a Jack Russell terrier who longs to be a reindeer.
Teaming up with a penguin named Martini, and outsmarting an evil Postman at every turn, Olive plays a key role in saving Christmas, becoming an honorary reindeer. The adorable special also boasts an impressive cast, including Drew Barrymore, Ed Asner, Dan Castellaneta, and Joe Pantoliano.
The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow
One of the more overlooked of the Rankin/Bass classics, The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow first premiered on NBC in 1975. The special tells the story of Lucas, a young blind shepherd, and his role in the celebration of Christmas among nuns and other disadvantaged children.
After learning from one of the nuns who take care of him about the idea of snow, Lucas finds himself, of course, dreaming of a white Christmas, as so many often do. After being bullied by some other children, and through a true miracle, Lucas has his sight restored, just in time to witness the first Christmas snow.
Jack Frost
Another of the more overlooked Rankin/Bass stop-motion Christmas specials also happens to be one of the most bittersweet of them all. First airing on NBC in 1979, Jack Frost tells the story of the famous winter spirit, Jack Frost, and his desire to be human so he can experience love with a human named Elisa.
Father Winter gives Jack the chance to experience life as a human, with very strict guidelines. But in the end, though Jack becomes good friends with Elisa, her heart is won by another, and his humanity is fleeting. Other highlights of the special include the adorable tiny Holly the snow gypsy, Snip the snowflake maker, and Pardon Me Pete, the special’s groundhog narrator.
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
Speaking of bittersweet, the 1977 ABC special Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey tells a story much in the same vein as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but with a much more melancholy tone. Young Nestor is a donkey who was born with unbelievably long ears, and who finds himself derided and outcast because of his appearance time and again.
Nestor endures countless hardships, including one tragic loss, before he is guided along for his true calling by Tilly, a sweet cherub who knows he is destined for greatness. And in the end, Nestor truly is: he serves as the donkey that carries the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem.
Twas the Night Before Christmas
Most people undoubtedly know the famous story of Clement Clarke Moore’s beloved Christmas poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” But though you may know the story of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” you likely don’t know the adorable 1974 CBS animated special of the same name.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas tells two parallel stories, concerning a human family and a mouse family, as they face the potential of a Christmas without a visit from Santa Claus. After it is revealed that Albert, the scholarly son of the mouse family, sent a letter to Santa doubting his existence, Albert and his family, as well as the human Trundle family, do all that they can to ensure that Santa will visit again, restoring Christmas spirit among the family and the town through the construction of a beautiful musical clock in the town square.
Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas
If you haven’t realized it by now, it should be clear that Jim Henson and company are responsible for creating some of the best, and most often overlooked, Christmas specials of all time. The 1977 special Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas just might be the best of them all.
Inspired by the beloved children’s book, the special tells a story similar to “The Gift of the Magi,” as young Emmet Otter and his mother, Ma Otter, try to get each other the perfect Christmas gift with what little money they have. The adorable puppet characters take part in a town talent competition, filled with a richly moving soundtrack, and resulting in a happily ever after truly befitting of these most adorable critters.
