List of United States Christmas television specials

For a more in-depth description of made-for-television Christmas movies, see Lists of Christmas films.

For a list of Christmas-themed episodes of regular television series in the United States, see List of United States Christmas television episodes.

Christmas films

List of Christmas films

Christmas television specials (U.S.)

The following is a list of Christmas television specials partly or completely originating in the U.S.

Christmas-related specials

• Amahl and the Night Visitors (1951) (most of the 1951 cast members stayed with this production until 1963)
• Amahl and the Night Visitors (1963) (all-new production)
• Amahl and the Night Visitors (1978) (all-new production)
• Babes in Toyland (1950)
• Babes in Toyland (1954)
• Babes in Toyland (1960)
• Babes in Toyland (1986)
• The Balloonatiks: Christmas Without a Claus (1996)
• B.C.: A Special Christmas (1981)
• The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1973)
• The Bell Telephone Hour Christmas specials (1959–1968)
• Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (1978)
• The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree (1979)
• A Chipmunk Christmas (1981)
• Christopher the Christmas Tree (1994)
• A Christmas Calendar (1987)
• A Christmas Carol (1954)
• A Christmas Carol (1971)
• A Christmas Carol (1984)
• A Christmas Carol (1999)
• Christmas Every Day (1996)
• Christmas in Tattertown (1988)
• A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
• A Cool Like That Christmas (1993)
• Edith Ann's Christmas: Just Say Noël (1996)
• The Enchanted Nutcracker (1961)
• A Family Circus Christmas (1979)
• A Garfield Christmas (1987)
• The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (1999)
• The Glo-Friends Save Christmas (1985)
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000)
• The Great Christmas Light Fight (a recurring reality series) (2013-present)
• The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
• How Murray Saved Christmas (2014)
• In the Nick of Time (1991)
• Jingle Bell Rock (1995)
• The Little Rascals Christmas Special (1979)
• The Littlest Angel (1969)
• Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)
• A Mouse, a Mystery and Me (1987)
• My Christmas Special (2009)
• The Nativity (1952)
• The Night the Animals Talked (1970)
• Noel (1992)
• The Nutcracker (1958) (presented on Playhouse 90)
• The Nutcracker (1965) (German-American co-production, with changed plotline)
• The Nutcracker (Baryshnikov version) (1977)
• The Nutcracker (2011) (presented on Live from Lincoln Center)
• Nutcracker on Ice (several versions)
• The Nuttiest Nutcracker (1999)
• Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999)
• Online Adventures of Ozzie the Elf (1997)
• The Pink Panther in: A Pink Christmas (1978)
• The Promise (1963)
• Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper (1978)
• Santabear's High Flying Adventure (1987)
• Santa and the Three Bears (1970)
• Simple Gifts: Six Episodes for Christmas (1977)
• Snowden's Christmas (1999)
• A Snow White Christmas (1980)
• The Spirit of Christmas (1953)
• The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
• The Stingiest Man in Town (1956) (original live-action version)
• The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) (animated version)
• The Story of Santa Claus (1998)
• The Tiny Tree (1975)
• Trollies Christmas Sing-Along (1993)
• Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977)
• A Very Merry Cricket (1973)
• A Very Retail Christmas (1990)
• Up on the Housetop (1992)
• A Wish for Wings That Work (1991)
• The Wish That Changed Christmas (1992)
• We Wish You a Turtle Christmas (1994)
• Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (1974)
• Ziggy's Gift (1982)

Franchises and groupings

Rankin/Bass

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
• The Cricket on the Hearth (1967)
• The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
• Frosty the Snowman (1969)
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)
• Festival of Family Classics: A Christmas Tree (1972)
• Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
• The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
• The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow (1975)
• Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976)
• The Little Drummer Boy, Book II (1976)
• Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)
• The Stingiest Man In Town (1978)
• Jack Frost (1979)
• Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)
• Pinocchio's Christmas (1980)
• Leprechauns' Christmas Gold (1981)
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1985)
• Santa, Baby! (2001)

Sequels not made by Rankin/Bass

• Frosty Returns (1992) (Broadway Video, CBS Productions)
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (2001) (Golden Books Family Entertainment, Tundra Productions)
• The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2004) (Classic Media, Studio B Productions)
• A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008) (Warner Bros. Animation, Cuppa Coffee Studios)

Charlie Brown / Peanuts

• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965-2000/CBS, 2001-/ABC)
• It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)
• Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002)
• I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003)

Walt Disney

• From All of Us to All of You (1958)
• A Disney Christmas Gift (1982)
• Prep & Landing (2009)
• Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa (2010)
• Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011)

Mickey Mouse

• Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
• Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
• Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
• Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - Mickey Saves Santa (2006)

Winnie the Pooh

• Welcome to Pooh Corner: "Christmas at Pooh Corner" (1983)
• Welcome to Pooh Corner: "Christmas is for Sharing" (1984)
• Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (1991)
• Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999)
• Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
• My Friends Tigger & Pooh: A Super Sleuth Christmas Movie (2007)

Disney VHS

• Jiminy Cricket's Christmas (1993)
• A Walt Disney Christmas (1996)

Pixar

• Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014)

Hanna-Barbera

• A Christmas Story (1972)
• Casper's First Christmas (1979)
• The Smurfs' Christmas Special (1982)
• 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy (1987)
• The Town Santa Forgot (1993)

The Flintstones

• The Flintstones: "Christmas Flintstone" (1964)
• A Flintstone Christmas (1977)
• A Flintstone Family Christmas (1993)
• A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994)

Yogi Bear

• Yogi's First Christmas (1980)
• Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas Caper (1982)

Jim Henson / The Muppets / Sesame Street

• The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970)
• Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)
• A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978)
• John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979)
• Fraggle Rock: The Bells of Fraggle Rock (1984)
• The Christmas Toy (1986)
• A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
• Dinosaurs: Refrigerator Day (1991)
• Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (1995)
• Elmo Saves Christmas (1996)
• The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss: Mrs. Zabarelli's Holiday Baton (1996)
• Bear in the Big Blue House: A Berry Bear Christmas (1999)
• Elmo's World: Happy Holidays! (2002)
• It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
• A Sesame Street Christmas Carol (2006)
• Elmo's Christmas Countdown (2007)
• A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa (2008)
• Sid the Science Kid: Sid's Holiday Adventure (2009)
• Dinosaur Train:
  • Dinosaurs in the Snow/Cretaceous Conifers (2009)
  • Don's Winter Wish/Festival Of Lights (2012)
• Lady Gaga and the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular (2013)
• No, You Shut Up!: War on Christmas (2013)
• The Muppets: Single All the Way (2015)

Power Rangers

• Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers "Alpha's Magical Christmas" (1994)
• Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers "I'm Dreaming of a White Ranger" (1995)
• Power Rangers Zeo "A Season to Remember" (1996)
• Power Rangers Samurai "Christmas Together, Friends Forever" (2011)
• Power Rangers Super Samurai "Stuck on Christmas" (2012)
• Power Rangers Megaforce "The Robo Knight Before Christmas" (2013)
• Power Rangers Dino Charge "Race to Rescue Christmas" (2015)

DreamWorks Animation

• The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005)
• Shrek the Halls (2007)
• Merry Madagascar (2009)
• Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)
• Gift of the Night Fury (2011)

Looney Tunes

• Bedtime for Sniffles (1940)
• Gift Wrapped (1952)
• Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (1979)
• Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas (2006)

Davey and Goliath

• Davey and Goliath: Christmas Lost and Found (1965)
• Christmas Is... (1970) Produced by the same Lutheran Television as Davey and Goliath and starring the voices of Hans Conried, Don Messick and June Foray among others.
• Davey and Goliath's Snowboard Christmas (2004)

Precious Moments, Inc.

• Timmy's Gift (1991)

My Little Pony

• My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas (2005)

Celebrity-hosted and variety shows

This list includes U.K. productions shown in the U.S.

• Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas (1987)
• The Captain and Tennille Christmas Show (1976)
• The Johnny Cash Christmas Special (1976–1979)
• A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All (2008)
• John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas (with The Muppets) (1975)
• Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special (2008)
• Early, Early, Early Christmas Special (1981)
• Dave Foley's The True Meaning of Christmas Specials
• Freddie the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner (1981)
• The Judy Garland Christmas Show (1963)
• The Mitzi Gaynor Christmas Show (1967)
• Rich Little's Christmas Carol (1979)
• Luther Vandross: This is Christmas (1996)

The Carpenters

• The Carpenters at Christmas (1977)
• The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait (1978)

Kathie Lee Gifford

• Kathie Lee Gifford: Looking for Christmas (1994)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: Home for Christmas (1995)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: Just in Time for Christmas (1996)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: We Need a Little Christmas (1997)
• Kathie Lee Gifford: Christmas Every Day (1998)

Jackie Gleason

• Jackie Gleason's Honeymooners Christmas (1978)
• The Honeymooners Christmas Special (1977)

The Osmonds

• The Donny and Marie Christmas Special (1979)
• The Osmond Family Christmas Special (1980)
• Marie Osmond's Merry Christmas (1986)

Andy Williams

• The Andy Williams Christmas Special (1973)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1974)
• Andy Williams' Early New England Christmas (1982)
• Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa (1985)
• The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1994)
• The Daily Show Andy Williams Christmas Special (1997)
• Happy Holidays: The Best of the Andy Williams Christmas Specials (2001)

Bob Hope

• The Bob Hope Christmas Special (1953, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1981)
• The Bob Hope Christmas Show (1965, 1985)
• The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show (1966)
• The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO (1969)
• The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show (1971)
• The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special (1977)
• Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut (1984)
• Bob Hope Winterfest Christmas Show (1987)
• Bob Hope's USO Christmas from the Persian Gulf: Around the World in Eight Days (1987)
• Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show (1988)
• Bob Hope's Christmas Special from Waikoloa, Hawaii (1989)
• Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia (1991)
• Hope for the Holidays - A Bob Hope Christmas (1993)

Bing Crosby

• Happy Holidays with Frank and Bing starring Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby (1957)
• The Bing Crosby Christmas Show (1961, 1962, 1965)
• The Hollywood Palace with Bing Crosby (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968)
• Bing and Carol Together Again for the First Time (1969) Bing Crosby, with Carol Burnett
• Goldilocks (1969) Bing Crosby with Kathryn Crosby, Mary Frances Crosby and Nathaniel Crosby along with Avery Schreiber and Paul Winchell
• Bing Crosby's Christmas Show (1970)
• Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas (1971)
• A Christmas with the Bing Crosbys (1972)
• Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show (1973)
• A Christmas with the Bing Crosbys (1974)
• Merry Christmas, Fred, from the Crosbys (1975) Bing Crosby, with Fred Astaire
• The Bing Crosby White Christmas Special (1976)
• Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas (1977) with David Bowie, Twiggy, and Ron Moody
• The Christmas Years (1978) tribute program

Dean Martin

• Dean Martin's California Christmas (1975)
• Dean Martin's Christmas in California (1977, 1979)
• Dean Martin Christmas Special (1980)
• Dean Martin's Christmas at Sea World (1981)

Perry Como

This is only a partial list of Perry Como Christmas programs. He would always include a Christmas-themed program every year while his television series was on the air.

• Perry Como's Christmas In New York (1959)
• The Perry Como Holiday Special (1967)
• Christmas At The Hollywood Palace (1969)
• Perry Como's Winter Show (1971)
• The Perry Como Winter Show (1972, 1973)
• Perry Como's Christmas Show (1974)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Mexico (1975)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Austria (1976)
• Perry Como's Olde Englishe Christmas (1977)
• Perry Como's Early American Christmas (1978)
• Perry Como's Christmas In New Mexico (1979)
• Perry Como's Christmas In The Holy Land (1980)
• Perry Como's French-Canadian Christmas (1981)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Paris (1982)
• Perry Como's Christmas In New York (1983)
• Perry Como's Christmas In London (1984)
• Perry Como's Christmas In Hawaii (1985)
• Perry Como's Christmas In San Antonio (1986)
• Perry Como's Irish Christmas (1994)

Television series-related

Specials based on a television series but which were not a regular time-slot episode.

• A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! (2008)
• Care Bears Nutcracker Suite (1988; Canadian production)
• He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)
• Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas (1992)
• A Pinky and the Brain Christmas (1995)
• Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift (1990)
• Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Merry Christmas (2003)
• A Very Merry Curb Appeal

See also

• Christmas in the media
• List of Christmas television specials
• List of United States Christmas television episodes
• List of A Christmas Carol adaptations
• List of theatrical Christmas films
• List of made-for-television and direct-to-video Christmas films
• Christmas music
• List of Halloween television specials
• List of Thanksgiving television specials