Section 59: The Holiday Special

SECTION 59: THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Lesson Objective(s):
»» The student will identify the television special and list three iconic examples.

A television special is a one-off or annual event. The most common type is the Christmas
special, but many other types have aired. Specials are usually heavily advertised in an attempt
to boost ratings.

Animated specials
The 1960s and 70s saw the creation of a number of animated holiday specials that would
become classics, airing annually even today.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” aired on CBS in 1965. The show, in which Charlie directs
his friends in a Christmas play, examines the materialistic nature of holiday and the main
character’s depression. The show is remembered for Charlie Brown’s pathetic Christmas tree
and for its creation of jazz/holiday standard “Christmas Time is Here” written by producer
Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi.

The special was highly successful, receiving an Emmy and a Peabody award. Numerous
“Peanuts” specials followed including “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “A Charlie
Brown Thanksgiving.”

Tower 12 Productions, created by “Bugs Bunny” animator Chuck Jones, made a number of
animated specials. The best-known is 1966’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” narrated by
horror movie icon Boris Karloff. The special, which is based on a book by Theodor “Dr. Seuss”
Geisel, spawned the popular song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

Stop-motion animation company Rankin/

Bass Productions is responsible for creating
a number of holiday specials that are still
aired annually. 1964’s “Rudolph the Red-
Nosed Reindeer” was their most successful
program, adapted from the song by Johnny
Marks. The show is narrated by singer Burl
Ives. It aired every year on NBC before
moving to CBS in 1972. It remains one of
the longest-running Christmas specials in
television.

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The 1969 Rankin/Bass cartoon “Frosty the Snowman” is another enduring holiday program.
The show is narrated by Jimmy Durante, who sings the title song. Rankin/Bass made numerous
additional specials including “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” (voiced narrated by Fred Estaire)
and “Here Comes Peter Cottontail.” 1974’s “The Year Without a Santa Claus” features Shirley
Booth and Mickey Rooney.

Other holiday shows

Many music-centered specials have aired over the years with famous musicians like Andy
Williams or Perry Como. The hosts often bring in a roster of special guests to perform holiday
music. Modern music specials are produced by organizations such as the Country Music
Association.

Guy Lombardo’s orchestra was broadcast live on New Year’s Eve for nearly 50 years. From 1929
Side note: to 1959 they performed at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, and they played from the
Lombardo’s Waldorf Astoria through 1976. Millions of Americans used the broadcast as a soundtrack to
band, The Royal their New Year’s Eve parties, and Lombardo was dubbed “Mr. New Year’s Eve.”
Canadians,
continued the The special program ran on the radio until 1956, when they had their first television broadcast.
special for two The television shows featured a live segment from Times Square. The show lost many of its
years after his
younger viewer in the 1970s to “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rocking’ Eve.”
death. Their
recording of “Auld
Lang Syne” is still Dick Clark’s show broadcasts live on ABC from Times Square, featuring musical performances
played in Times and coverage of the ball drop at midnight. Clark conceived the show, which built upon his
Square on New popularity from hosting “American Bandstand.” The first two shows were broadcast on NBC
Year’s Eve. with hosts Three Dog Night and George Carlin (Clark reported from Times Square). Afterward
the show moved to ABC and Clark became the host.

Clark’s show dominated New Year’s Eve after the death of Guy Lombardo. “New Year’s Rockin’
Eve” still airs today and is the highest-rated New Year’s Eve special on American TV. The 2012
show was watched by 22.6 million viewers.

Clark hosted from 1974 until 2004 when Clark suffered a stroke. Regis Philbin guest-hosted
in 2005. Clark returned in 2006, but speech difficulties forced him to give up hosting duties.
Ryan Seacrest took over and Clark died in 2012.

Holiday specials remain relevant even today. Online streaming service Netflix released a “A
Very Murray Christmas” in 2015. The show is directed by Sofia Coppola and stars Bill Murray
and Miley Cyrus.

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LESSON QUESTIONS • • • •
1. How would you describe the significance of one specific holiday special?
2. How would you trace the history of New Year’s Eve specials in America?
3. How would you describe a special that was not centered around Christmas or New
Year’s Eve?

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ANSWERS • • • •
1. How would you describe the significance of one specific holiday special?
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” was one of the first great holiday specials. It is
memorable for its jazzy soundtrack and for Charlie’s wimpy tree. The show deals
with the materialistic element of Christmas.
2. How would you trace the history of New Year’s Eve specials in America?
Guy Lombardo was “Mr. New Year’s Eve” for many years. His band was broadcast
live on the radio and then TV from 1929 until 1976. Dick Clark’s “New Year’s
Rockin’ Eve” first aired in 1974 and gained popularity after Lombardo’s death. The
show still dominates New Year’s Eve ratings, now hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
3. How would you describe a special that was not centered around Christmas or New
Year’s Eve?
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” Is a “Peanuts” Halloween special. It is
interesting as a “Peanuts” special because it focuses on supporting character Linus.

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