Christmas Special Countdown #1

Christmas Vacation

This is the mother of all Christmas specials, this is the one that most of your family has seen hundreds of times, this is the movie that most people quote over and over around Christmas, this is Christmas Vacation! Clark Griswold wants nothing more than to give his family the perfect Christmas, and to do that he invites his whole family to stay at his house for the entire holiday season, and this can only turn into trouble. This film is loved by many of my family members and friends, and it’s a tradition to watch it every year. It has great music, great comedy, relatable family moments, and it expresses the true meaning of Christmas. I hope you have spent this holiday season with as much of your family and friends as possible and I know I’ve written a lot about Christmas specials over the last twenty-four days, but I had to. I had so many thoughts going on that I just needed to empty out my mind, the shitter was full. Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!!!

Christmas Special Countdown #2

Twas the Night Before Mxymas

Mr. Mxyzptlk arrives on earth on Christmas Eve with a plan to take over the planet by destroying hope. To do this, the magical imp puts a spell over the people of the world that causes them to relive Christmas Eve over and over again. His theory is if you take away tomorrow, you take away hope. The only person to notice that he is reliving the same day over and over again is Clark Kent, who begins to notice that the people of earth are becoming more hateful each time Christmas Eve resets itself. This Christmas special does take it pretty dark as there are talks of world war and wide spread disaster at points, but with Howie Mandel playing the part of Mr. Mxyzptlk the comedy helps balances out the story. Can Clark Kent stop the evil imp and save Christmas? This looks like a job for Superman!

Christmas Special Countdown #3

Christmas with the Joker

This is a classic Christmas tale about a psychotic killer who breaks out of jail on Christmas Eve. All he wants for Christmas is to toy with Batman for the night at the expense of people’s safety. This episode has everything, Christmas music, out of control trains, killer toys, even Joker in an ugly Christmas sweater. The special is part of the classic Batman: The Animated Series and still holds up today. What more can you ask from Christmas than hearing Mark Hamill singing “Jingle Bells Batman Smells” while riding a flying Christmas tree?  Check it out this year and remember to smile.

Christmas Special Countdown #4

Mickey’s Christmas Carol

To me, Mickey’s Christmas Carol is a timeless classic; it has timeless characters playing other timeless characters. The story of a Christmas Carol has been done to death, you can even find some of the examples in my countdown, but one of the best is with Mickey’s cast. Mickey plays poor Bob Cratchit who works for Ebenezer Scrooge. One of the best parts is Donald, playing Scrooge’s nephew, burst into the office trying to sell Christmas wreaths. Goofy plays Jacob Marley, and makes a pretty terrifying ghost in my opinion. All that set aside, the thing I love most about this special is that Scrooge McDuck plays Ebenezer Scrooge. When I was a kid, seeing Scrooge playing a different Scrooge blew my mind. This is a must watch every Christmas, and I highly recommend you grabs some friends and watch with them.

Christmas Special Countdown #5

Fred Claus

Fred is the brother of Santa Claus, and he works for a reposition company in Chicago. When Fred needs some extra cash he calls his brother, but Santa will only give his bro some money if he helps out around the North Pole for Christmas. This leads to Fred making changes of his own around Santa’s workshop in which leads to Santa getting upset at his brother. Vince Vaughn plays Fred and he’s great in the movie but my favorite character is played by Kevin Spacey. For those of you that know me well, there is an awesome Superman moment in this film with Lex Luthor himself. This is a fun movie that my friends usually get together to watch every year, if you haven’t seen it yet it’s a treat. Enjoy and Merry Christmas.

Christmas Special Countdown #6

A Very Supernatural Christmas

This is a fun special, but might not be for the kids in the family. The episode starts out with a grandfather dressed as Santa getting pulled up a chimney and murdered as his grandson watches from the stairs. As more and more murders begin to happen, Sam and Dean arrive in Ypsilanti, Michigan to investigate. For most of the episode, the Winchesters are hunting what they believe to be an Evil Santa, but it could be something else all together. Supernatural is great, especially when they do their experimental episodes. Grab some friends, turn out the lights and enjoy A Very Supernatural Christmas.

Christmas Special Countdown #7

The Looney Tunes Show

A Christmas Carol

A heat wave hits and everyone in Bugs’s town is losing their Christmas spirit, including Bugs. In an attempt to show a little Christmas cheer and raise everyone’s spirits, Lola decides to put on a play for the whole town. After she does a few rewrites and adds a few characters, she comes up with a messed up version of A Christmas Carol, and attempts to have Bugs and company learn the part in a few days so that they can entertain the town. Meanwhile, Daffy and Foghorn Leghorn make their way to the North Pole to install a massive fan that will blow cold air downward and wipe out the heat wave. Not only is this a funny Christmas special but it ends with a fantastic Christmas Song sung by the cast.

Christmas Special Countdown #8

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Invasion of the Secret Santas!

This is a fun episode, as most of the Brave and the Bold episodes are, and this one co-stars The Red Tornado and sends him on a search to find out exactly what Christmas spirit really is. For those of you who do not know, Red Tornado is an android and emotions are a mystery to him. There is a great segment where Tornado decorates his house, goes caroling, and even wraps presents. Sadly, Red Tornado has to put his search on hold when he discovers that the city is being attacked by flying saucers. Tornado rushes to the scene and finds Batman already in battle with the invaders. During the fight, Batman figures out who is really behind the invasion and sets out to stop the crazed villain before he destroys Christmas.

Christmas Special Countdown #9

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

It’s Christmas all over the universe and a space liner carrying over 4000 passengers gets caught in a freak storm cloud over a planet much like Earth, The Doctor shows up and attempts to save the ship and everyone on board, but due to the freak electric field around the cloud The Doctor cannot board the ship from his Tardis so he makes his way to the planet’s surface to discover the source of the freak electric storm. Here The Doctor finds a large tower, which is causing the storm, being run by the most uncaring, selfish, hateful person on the planet, Kazran Sardick. When The Doctor explains the situation he asks Kazran to shut down his tower so that the ship can land, but Kazran refuses. The Doctor doesn't have much time and he must find a way to turn this hateful scrooge into a more caring being. Thus begins The Doctors version of the Dickens Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol.

Christmas Special Countdown #10

Have Yourself a Morlock Little X-Mas

It’s Christmas at the X-Mansion and Jubilee wants to go shopping, and convinces Wolverine to go with her and Storm. While Christmas shopping, the X-Men witness two Morlocks attempting to steel medicine to heal their sick companion, Leach. Storm, being the leader of the Morlocks, decides to take her team down to the tunnels and attend to Leach. When they discover the horrible condition in which he is in, a plan is concocted. It’s dangerous and could kill Leach but giving his condition it may be his only chance, and it involves Wolverine. Will Wolverine be able to save Leach and perform Christmas miracle? If you want to see this special it can be found on Volume 4 of the X-Men the animated series DVD.

Christmas Special Countdown #11

X-Mas Marks the Spot

This Real Ghostbusters Christmas special is a classic in my book. The Ghostbusters walk through a portal in time and are sent back to the past, where they find an old man being terrorized by three spirits. Doing what they do best, Peter and the gang power up their proton accelerators and trap the three spirits, saving the old man from his night of horror. Making their way back where they came from the Ghostbusters return to their own time only to find out that Christmas has been all but forgotten and the day is now used to celebrate the life of Ebeneezer Scrooge. Having realized, what they had done the Ghostbusters have to find a way to get back to the past, and release the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future so that they can show Scrooge the error of his ways and save Christmas. Who you gonna call?

Christmas Special Countdown #12

I’m Dreaming of a White Ranger

Rita and Zedd send Goldar and Reto to the North Pole to force Santa into giving kids an evil spinning top that will hypnotize children into doing Zedd’s bidding. When Zordon discovers that the monsters have taken over Santa’s workshop he sends the Rangers to the North Pole to save Christmas. However, due to the powerful magic surrounding the North Pole the Rangers powers will not work there. This leaves the Rangers having to figure out how to beat Goldar and Reto with their minds instead of their powers. Can the Rangers save Christmas? Tune in and find out. I’m dreaming of a White Rangers is on season 3 DVD of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as well as Netflix and Hulu. It’s Morphin Time!!

Christmas Special Countdown #13

Justice League: Comfort and Joy

A Justice League Christmas special, ahh this one gets me every time. It is a twenty minute special broken up into three different parts. Green Lantern and Hawkgirl spend the holiday on a snow covered planet, where Green Lantern tries to show Hawkgirl how much fun can be had by playing in the snow, and hawkgirl retaliates by showing how much fun can be had at a bar. Then there is the Flash story, which shows the scarlet speedster visiting an orphanage and asking the kids what they want for Christmas. Of course, they all want the hottest toy on the market and the Flash sets out to find it. Then, in Smallville, Clark Kent brings the Martian Manhunter home for Christmas dinner. Interested in learning more about the Christmas holiday Manhunter tags along and this is the story that gets me every time. There is a part at the end that will bring a tear to your eye. I LOVE THIS special. Have a great day everyone, it’s almost Christmas.

Christmas Special Countdown #14

Jackie Chan Adventures: A Jolly J-Team X-Mas

Dalong Wong attacks the North Pole and kidnaps Santa Claus. His goal is to steal Santa’s chi magic and harness it for himself. In an attempt to stop Dalong Wong, the elves track down the one archaeologist who has beaten Wong time and time again, Jackie Chan. Along with Uncle, Jade, Tohru, Viper, Paco, and El Toro Fuerte, Jackie heads to the North Pole and begins a rescue mission. Christmas night is passing and presents need to be delivered, Tohru dawns the Santa Suit and heads out on the sleigh. This might not be one of the classic Christmas specials but watching Jackie team up with Santa and doing some fighting is great. Jackie Chan Adventures is an awesome show and is truly enjoyable by kids and adults. The Christmas special is a little hard to find but there is a version of it on youtube if you decided to check it out.

Christmas Special Countdown #15

Ace Ventura: The Reindeer Hunter.

It’s Christmas Eve in Miami and as Santa makes a stop so that he can deliver his presents, his reindeer are captured by a group of mysterious shadowy figures. When Santa returns to his sleigh and finds his reindeer missing he turns to the only man in Miami that can help, Ace Venture: Pet Detective.  Using Santa’s naughty list, Ace begins searching all of Miami for anyone naughty enough to steal Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve. This is a stupid stupid stupid Christmas special that I love and it always makes me laugh. This one is a bit harder to find but you can watch the entire episode on Youtube. Give it a try and you just might like it…Allllll Righty Then!

Christmas Special Countdown #16

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Christmas Aliens

“Twas the night before Christmas when all through the town, Turtle Santa drove like crazy to not let the kids down. Instead of a sleigh, a truck full of toys, destined to be the presents for good girls and boys. But evil thieves wanted to steal the toys at all cost. Poor, poor Turtle Santa, all hope was lost” Michelangelo sets the tone for this episode right from the beginning with a powerful monologue describing the plight that the children of The Brown Street Children’s Home faced on Christmas. The Purple Dragons have hijacked a delivery truck filled with presents for the kids and only Michelangelo stands in their way. Meanwhile, back at the turtle lair, Master Splinter and the other Turtles, along with April and Casey, prepare for Christmas dinner and the arrival of their other worldly guest. This is an awesome Christmas special with all kinds of great turtle action. Cowabunga!!!!!

Christmas Special Countdown #17

Batman: Holiday Knights

Three holiday tales from the final season of Batman: The Animated Series, with the first starting on December 22nd. Bruce is attacked by a mysterious woman in the mall who kisses him and then vanishes. It turned out to be Poison Ivy who kissed Bruce with a mind control toxin. Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn use Bruce to go on a Shopping spree days before Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, Clayface is stealing from stores in the Gotham Mall, and it’s up to Batgirl to save the day. In the final story, New Year’s Eve, the Joker vows at the stroke of midnight to go a whole year without killing, which means that he will kill as many people as he can before midnight. It’s up to Batman to save the citizens of Gotham and put the Clown Prince of Crime’s, plans to an end. This is another fun cartoon Christmas special that can be found on the season 4 DVD of Batman: The Animated Series.

Christmas Special Countdown #18

Scrooged

Scrooged is a crazy twist on the classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol. Frank Cross (played by Bill Murray) is a television program director who has become power hungry and fails to see the wonderful things that life can give. On the eve of his new live Christmas program broadcasting on televisions all over the country, Cross is visited by his long dead business partner who tells him how if he continues on his current path then he is heading for a future he will regret. In order for Cross to see the error of his ways he will be visited by three ghosts and from there the movie gets even crazier. Bill Murray is awesome and there a many laugh out loud moments. I've watched this film with friends every Christmas for many years and it still makes me laugh hysterically throughout the entire movie. The film is on DVD and Blu-ray as well as on Netflix, and will make for a wonderful night of Christmas magic.

Christmas Special Countdown #19

Santa’s Slay

After losing a bet with an angel, Santa was forced to deliver presents to children all over the world on the night of December 24th for one thousand years. In 2005, the thousand year bet is paid in full and Santa can finally get back to what he enjoys the most this time of year, KILLING! Santa descends upon the town of Hell and begins slaying the citizens in Christmas themed ways. This is an awesome/bad movie to watch with friends, and laughs will be had. The deaths aren't graphic but do have a somewhat comedic twist to them. Bill Goldberg plays Santa and does a pretty good job at playing an evil Saint Nick. This is one of those movies you can watch with a bunch of friends and laugh about; if you haven’t seen it I recommend it. Make a night of it.

Christmas Special Countdown #20

IT’S A WONDERFUL LEAF

Bushroot gets knocked around a bit at the mall doing some last minute Christmas shopping, and in his anger decides to make Christmas in St. Canard as awful as possible. Using his power over plants, Bushroot takes control over all the Christmas trees and uses them to take all the presents from homes and stores, around the city. As chaos spreads throughout St. Canard, Drake Mallard dawns his mask and heads out into the night as St. Canards protector Darkwing Duck, and sets on out a mission to save Christmas. This is another awesome cartoon Christmas special from the Disney Afternoon block from the early 90’s, and should be revisited by everyone. Say it with me, LET’S GET DANGEROUS!

Christmas Special Countdown #21

A Chipmunk Christmas

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are working hard in the recording studio practicing for their Christmas program that they are performing at Carnegie Hall on Christmas Eve. Alvin spends most of the time distracted by the thoughts of presents and wants nothing more than to go Christmas shopping. While Dave is setting up the studio Alvin and his brothers set out to see what wonderful items are in stores this year. Alvin makes his way to a music store and overhears a mother talking about her ill son, Tommy, to her daughter. The two are looking at the Golden Echo Harmonica, and thinking about how much better Tommy would feel if they could get it for him, but sadly the price was too high. Alvin, getting into the spirit of Christmas decides to give his Golden Echo Harmonica to Tommy as a gift. Returning home, Alvin and the Chipmunks are greeted by Dave, who has wonderful news for Alvin. Carnegie Hall wants him to do a Harmonica solo during the program and they want him to use his Golden Echo Harmonica. Now Alvin sets out to try and raise enough money to purchase the music stores harmonica before Christmas Eve. This special has a few tear jerk moments but overall is a wonderful and happy Christmas special with awesome music. I highly recommend checking this out this year, right Alvin?......Alvin?...... ALLLVVIIIINN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Countdown Special #22

Ernest Saves Christmas

A magical story about a kindhearted, loving, caring, idiot who only has other peoples well being in mind. Christmas is hours away from being destroyed and Santa has only hours to find a worthy successor to take his magical powers and take up the mantel of Santa Clause. Santa befriends Ernest, a carefree taxi driver, and together with Pamela, their teenage friend whom Ernest picked up off the street, set out on a mission to save Christmas. Santa has until 7:00pm on Christmas Eve to transfer his powers to his successor and before that can happen he must convenes Joe Carruthers that he is the next Santa Clause. Meanwhile, Pamela (you remember her; the teenager Ernest befriends and then takes on a road trip and offers her to stay at his house. You could never get away with this in a movie today, and still call it a family holiday special) decides to steal Santa’s sack (minds out of the gutter people). So here we are, Santa has to convince some one he just met to become Santa Clause, his magic sack has been stolen, and his reindeer and sleigh are locked up at the airport (which is where Ernest comes in.) This is one of my favorite Christmas movies to watch this time of year and it’s a film that doesn’t get the love it deserves. If you haven’t watched Ernest Saves Christmas this holiday season…or even this week, then do yourselves a favor and check it out. Know What I Mean?

Christmas Countdown Special #23

A Garfield Christmas Special

This is a classic Christmas tale about everyone’s favorite fat cat, Garfield.  I love this special and it still holds up pretty well after so many years. The musical intro at the beginning is pretty great and I wish I had that present machine. This special is about Garfield, Odie, and Jon heading to Jon’s parent’s house for the holiday. Here we get to see Garfield get in to some trouble, we get to meet Jon’s awesome grandmother, and the scene between Garfield and Odie’s gift exchange is great.  Grab some lasagna and check out this holiday classic.

Christmas Specials Countdown #24

Holiday in Handcuffs

This is my Christmas special countdown. For the next 24 days I'll be talking about Christmas specials I think should be seen by all. Let's begin. Holiday in Handcuffs is a fun little Christmas movie that my wife and I watch every year at the beginning of the holiday season. The movie is about Trudie (Melissa Joan Heart), whose family is expecting her to finally bring a boyfriend with her to Christmas dinner. When Trudie is dumped just hours before leaving for her family’s holiday cabin, she panics and kidnaps David (Mario Lopez) at gun point and forces him to attend her families Christmas dinner as her boyfriend. Things get better when David decides to play along so that when he is finally rescued by the police, Trudies humiliation will be even greater. This is a funny, stupid, awesome ABC Family original movie that is great to watch with family and friends. Enjoy and Happy Holidays.