I do this thing where I convert stuff into 3D using AI software and host it in virtual cinemas in VR.
Every year I do the Star Wars trilogy for instance.
I decided, come this december, I'll do a bunch of Christmas stuff.
I'm looking for good forgotten specials, like how in the 70s they'd have that more often.
Stuff that's not cynical, has heart, etc.
So far I know I'm doing Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Andy Griffith Season 1 Christmas episode, Twilight Zone episode "the night of the meek", Scrubs Season 1 Christmas episode.
These streams, I let them go for 2-3 days even while I sleep, so I'm wanting as much recommendations as possible to fill out a long equivalent of a "day of programming" if that's a helpful way to think of it.
Again prefer stuff from the past. You'll notice my most recent choice is from 2001.
I know the 70s had tons and tons of specials that are just forgotten to time now, but can be found on the Internet Archive, so if there's any that you can recommend to me, I'd greatly appreciate it, or TV show Christmas episodes that aren't too cynical.
For instance, I like That 70s Show, but all their Christmas episodes are sort of subversive and anti-Christmas, whereas Scrubs despite all of its irreverent humor, has a really good message in its Christmas episode.
How about the 1978 Star Wars Christmas Special?
Do not listen to this post.
Listen to your feelings. As bad as it was, you know it's still not as awful as the sequel trilogy. Also, first Boba Fett appearance.
Jontron's video on it to conclude Starcade was pretty great too.
That animation is the only good thing. The rest is comparable to the sequel trilogy, which shouldn't be watched as well.
The meme of how bad it is is worse than the entire thing itself, ironically similar to the trend the prequels would go through.
Its bad compared to the originals, but its only this affront to god level horror if you hold up the originals as some perfect unquestionable masterpiece that should never be tarnished with such a laughably low thing.
As someone who was never a "big fan" of Star Wars, it was no worse than the same little specials any other franchise gets, and had some dumb funny bits in between the rough acting. And at this point its not even in the bottom 50% of garbage in the Star Wars universe, most of which is canon.
Very funny :)
No? Then for a more serious suggestion, how about good old Charlie Brown?
Rankin Bass has a load of classics beyond Rudolph. There's Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, the animated Frosty the Snowman special, and the Year without a Santa Claus, which has the Miser Brothers' banger of a theme song.
My man, beat me to it. Tim Allen is a patriot and that show is classic. I think they had one every season, so there's a bunch of Christmas episodes
Recently watched Lois & Clark (1990s) with the fam, and there's a pretty good Christmas episode that also has the second most iconic villain of the entire show: Twas the Night Before Mxymas
There were other Christmas episodes in the show, but that one is now one of my favourite episodes.
Leverage had a few decent Christmas episodes.
And I swear there were at least one or two House MD Christmas-themed episodes that were pretty good. House's cynicism contrasting against the overall positive Christmas vibes from everyone else in the episode.
And there was a pretty classic Christmas episode in Malcolm in the Middle, which sticks to the usual "outside the box" kind of style that defined the series.
There were Christmas themed episodes of both Hercules (https://hercules-xena.fandom.com/wiki/A_Star_to_Guide_Them) and Xena (https://hercules-xena.fandom.com/wiki/A_Solstice_Carol).
The Shop Around the Corner from 1940 is only partially set during Christmas (the latter part of the movie) so it's not primarily about Christmas, though it does feel festive once it wraps up. You might want to check it out.
Maybe Miracle on 34th Street, either the 1947 version or the 1994 version (or both, why not).
You could probably milk double digit hours from various adaptations of A Christmas Carol alone, of which I seem to remember enjoying Scrooge from 1951.
Also A Christmas Story (1983) seems like it might fit the bill.
If you're hosting animated stuff too then you could probably find countless cartoon specials among old disney, loony tunes and WB stuff. This is a random Chip and Dale one I remember from when I was a kid.
Edit: also just stumbled on this YT collection of retro Christmas cartoons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=177VS5CILCk
Shame about the watermark, but maybe the playlist is a good reference.
Appreciate it. Your recommendations are more of what I'm looking for.
Anime? The Christmas Arc (17-19) in Toradora is pure gold. Just watch the whole show! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Toradora!_episodes
Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973)
Probably the most well-known Christmas film in all of Mainland Europe, yet for some reason they aired it like once in the US and then never again.
I hated the Scrooge musical from the 70's. Everyone hated him, but they went out of their way to do it. It really did get to a point where I thought maybe Ebeneezer should move.
Sentai Christmas specials are always awesome and insane. Imagine a cute Santa who accidentally released Gollum on a city. Another one has a guy dressed up as a woman and tell an orphan that he's Momma. The pirate themed season where they find the garden of Eden and the villains mention Jesus Christ isn't a Christmas episode, but so freaking hilarious.
Scrooged with Bill Murray.
Mr Krogers Christmas is sad and sweet.
Try and find Christmas specials that weren't written and produced by Jews.
WKRP in Cincinnati "Jennifer's Home for Christmas." Dukes of Hazzard "The Great Santa Clause Chase."
White Christmas
Charlie Brown Christmas
Muppet Christmas Carol
The stop motion Frosty/Elf boy/Rudolph animations
I'm sure you could find Nativity biblical content if you're into that
Die Hard, of course
Not really specials per se, but all are great and would fill time.