As a kid, one of my favorite parts of Christmas was the myriad of holiday specials that filled the television screen each year. Even though I don't watch much TV anymore, the fact that a bunch of unrelated shows can come together in the celebration of Christmas continues to put a smile on my face. Here are some of the best Christmas specials that are sure to transport you back to a better time.
1. "Christmas Who?"
The show that spawned millions of memes kicks off the list with an innovative spin on the genre of Christmas specials. Since Spongebob Squarepants and crew don't know what Christmas is, the whole episode takes all the old holiday traditions and turns them into something unique to Bikini Bottom. The humor's on point and the episode captures both the Christmas spirit and the charm of the original Spongebob series.
2. "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
Tim Burton's a genius. The man created a movie that appeals to lovers of the two most-celebrated holidays in America. More importantly, the movie he made turned out to be really good. Much like the Spongebob special, most of the main characters know nothing about Christmas, giving them the freedom to spice it up with some spooky Halloween elements.
3. "A Scooby-Doo! Christmas"
Not gonna lie, this is probably one of the most inconsistent specials on this list in terms of quality. Most of the episode revolves more around the mystery at hand than the holiday itself. However, there's just something about that classic Scooby-Doo style montage in the middle that wins me over. If you want to blast some cheesy rock music to get into the Christmas mood, this special is for you.
4. "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"
I'm going to lump all the old stop-motion classics into this category ("Drummer Boy," "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "The Miser Brothers," etc.), but all of these shows present the Christmas holiday at its core. While most of the other specials on this list try to turn Christmas tropes on their heads, these specials embrace all the timeless tales you've heard as a child. Anyone unfamiliar with what Christmas is all about need look no further than this collection of stories.
5. "Operation N.A.U.G.H.T.Y."
If you're sad that none of the X-Men or Fantastic Four are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, no need to worry; both groups can (kinda) be found in this action-packed Christmas special. What better way to save Christmas than teaming up with a group of bootleg Marvel characters to take down an evil substitute teacher? In typical Kids Next Door fashion, this episode delivers holiday cheer through battles instead of the usual life lessons.
If any of your loved ones try to suggest watching, "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer," these 5 Christmas specials can help steer the conversation toward much better alternatives.
