It’s the most wonderful
time of the year… for entertainment!
Ray Shackett,
entertainment reporter
One of my favorite times of the year for
TV and movies begins now. Just
after Thanksgiving, and sometimes a few
days earlier if we’re lucky, the
networks serve up their holiday cheer in
the form of Grinches, red-nosed reindeers
and happy birthday wishing snowmen.
It’s that time once again for an
onslaught of holiday classics, specials
and marathon movies.
Now, I’m Catholic. Well, a
recovering Catholic at best. So my
holiday celebration comes in the form of
decorated trees, overpriced gifts and
songs about grandmothers subjected to
horrible hit and run accidents.
While I honor and respect all
celebrations equally, Chanukah, Kwanzaa,
Festivus, nothing lifts my spirits more
than colored lights wrapped around dried
up pine trees. Let the celebration
begin!
Ahead is a guide for what I believe to be
the best of holiday television
offerings. They are divided into
three categories.
The Classics
Specials and movies that have stood the
test of time. Must-sees every year
and sometimes so good you sneak them in
six months later for a very special
“Christmas in July”.
The Instant Classics
Recent additions to the holiday lineup,
say, within 10 years that instantly warms
the soul (or is that the rum soaked
eggnog?).
The So-Bad
You-Have-To-Watch-It-Every-Year-Classic
(personal favorite)
So bad they’re good.
I should start with a bold statement that
I always get flack about. I do not
cherish nor do I celebrate the black and
white classics. There, I said
it. Don’t like ‘em!
Although I will briefly recognize them as
Mandatory Classics (category four)…
blah, blah, blah. Miracle on 34th
Street, White Christmas and, of course,
It’s A Wonderful Life. Let’s
move on.
The Classics
These are just some of the specials and
movies that I usually schedule into my
decorating itinerary or save for the days
leading up to Christmas. Nothing
gets me in the spirit more than
decorating the tree, hanging the
mistletoe and kicking off my holidays
than a hot chocolate induced viewing of
Home Alone.
The movie about child neglect you
ask? Indeed, but it’s so
much more. It’s a story of
Christmas wishes. There’s a
candy cane sweetness throughout that
makes you remember what Christmas is all
about… family.
Another dysfunctional family classic is
Christmas Vacation staring the road
tripping Griswold family. This year
they stay home to host Christmas for the
entire family and hilarity ensues.
But, again, behind the laughs is a warm
story about family bonds and
traditions.
I usually save this next one for late in
the season. Mostly because there’s
a 24 hour TBS marathon that runs every
year on Christmas Eve. A Christmas
Story.
The classic tale of boy wants BB gun, boy
gets BB gun, boy shoots his eye out
(almost). I’m not sure it has
any deep messages but it’s a fun
watch for the entire family. I
double dog dare you to NOT watch it.
As far as classic specials go there are a
few that I either always set the TiVo for
or now own on DVD for anytime
viewing. A Charlie Brown
Christmas.
Nobody makes you appreciate the true
meaning of Christmas more than that
obsessive blanket carrying kid Linus.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas. My
heart grows three sizes by the conclusion
of this classic. The Instant
Classics
There are just a few from the past ten
years or so that have been worthy of
Classic status. Elf is one of those
movies that make my list. The 2003
Will Farrell flick about Buddy, the human
raised by elves in the North Pole, who
ventures out into the real world to find
his biological father. There’s
an innocence about the adult-sized Buddy
that we all long to recapture.
Snowball fights, visits from Santa,
singing carols and even the simplest of
activities like smiling (one of Buddy’s
favorite things to do) will make it one
of your classics this season.
The Polar Express is a given. Based
on the classic bedtime storybook, this
one is both visually and spiritually
uplifting.
Some honorable mentions from the past
decade on my list include Shrek the
Halls, a TV special with your favorite
characters from the Shrek movies, and Bad
Santa… not one for the kids!
The-So-Bad-You-Have-To-Watch-It-Every-Year-Classics
These specials and movies usually creep
up on me every season. Forgotten
guilty pleasures that are always good for
some holiday cheer… at least
once. I think the titles say it all…
A Very Brady Christmas, Eight is Enough:
Yes Nicholas, There Is A Santa, Christmas
With The Cranks, He-Man and She-Ra: A
Christmas Special, Jingle All The Way,
Jack Frost.
Well we covered more ground than Santa
delivering his gifts. Now go forth
and have yourself a merry little viewing
of these holiday classics.
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy
Kwanzaa and Festivus (for the rest of
us)! I hope whatever you choose to
celebrate this season it brings you and
yours happiness and joy.
Ray Shackett is the co-host of Merrimack
Magazine Afternoon Edition and host of
Living For The Weekend on 980 WCAP.
For questions, comments or suggestions,
email Ray at ray@980wcap.com
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