Wednesday, November 30, 2005

A Schedule of TV Christmas Specials
I don't know about the rest of you, but it just isn't Christmas unless you catch all the classic Christmas specials like Charlie Brown, Rudolph and Frosty. Thanks to the DVR, I'm not going to miss a single one this year, thanks to this list. The stuff on the bottom aren't classics to me, but the kids might like them, so they're staying. They have a list of the classic movies as well if you click the link.

Updated to add the Grinch

From FOXNews.com - Foxlife - 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' Still Leads Holiday TV Pack After 40 Years:

  • "A Charlie Brown Christmas," directed by animator Bill Melendez, airs 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, on ABC. It's paired with "Charlie Brown Christmas Tales," based on Schulz's work and featuring each of the Peanuts characters, including Snoopy, in individual vignettes.

  • "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, CBS. A shy reindeer battles the Abominable Snowmonster and finds that his vibrantly colored nose makes him a hero, not a misfit, when Santa Claus needs a guiding light.

  • "The Happy Elf," 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, NBC. Harry Connick lends his voice and original songs to the story of Eubie the elf, who must rescue the unhappy town of Bluesville. The voices of Carol Kane, Lewis Black, Mickey Rooney and Rob Paulsen also are featured.

  • "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, ABC. Fred Astaire was the narrator for this 1970 tale about how Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney) overcomes a ban on toys in his native Sombertown and ends up becoming Santa Claus, the world's biggest toy distributor.

  • "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!" 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, ABC. Rerun, younger brother of Linus and Lucy, gets more than he bargained for when Snoopy the beagle invites his brother, Spike, for a visit.

  • "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," 7 p.m, Cartoon Network: The mean one tries to spoil Whoville's holiday.

  • "Rugrats Chanukah Special," 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, Nickelodeon. Grandpa Boris and his old rival, Shlomo, perform in a play about the holiday's meaning and, with the help of the babies, find a way to reconcile.

  • "Frosty the Snowman," 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, CBS. Jimmy Durante narrated the tale of the brave snowman pursued by evil Professor Hinkle on a mission to rescue the North Pole. Followed at 8:30 p.m. by "Frosty Returns," narrated by Jonathan Winters.

  • "A Rugrats Kwanzaa," 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, Nickelodeon. When Aunt T. arrives to celebrate the Kwanzaa holiday with the Carmichaels, little Susie learns what it means to honor "the legacy of our great people," and what greatness comes from.

  • "Arthur's Perfect Christmas," 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, PBS. Elwood City is abuzz with plans for the perfect holiday, whether Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, but everything doesn't go as planned for Arthur, D.W. and their family and friends.

  • "Chanukah Stories," airing on PBS stations in December (check local listings). Two children's books, "The Tie Man's Miracle" and "Moishe's Miracle," were adapted for this special, featuring Jami Gertz and Bob Saget.
A little family trivia

I am the 11th generation of my family in this country. They arrived in 1630 in Massachusetts. They settled in Ipswich in 1635. Nobody knows what in tarnation they were doing for five years before Ipswich. Possible indentured servitude? Who knows.

My great great grandfather died in the Civil War. He died of malaria like so many did back then.

My great great great grandfather was impressed into the British navy while out at sea in the late 1790's (you know, one of those issues we had with the Brits that brought on the War of 1812) When he finally got home, the entire family had up and moved from Ipswich MA to Nowhere Maine, somewhere near Augusta (think its called Hallowell or something or other)

My great great great great grandfather has no death date on his tomb. I have come to the conclusion that he's a vampire and that is the reason the entire family up and left. They were probably run out of town with torches and pitchforks. It's not like our family is a stranger to scandals.

Another great great great great grandfather was a Hessian soldier that jumped ship with his buddy. According to family legend, he had a Cinderfella kind of story, including an evil stepmother who he felt the need to run away from. So he ran away from home and wound up in BF Maine. Good thing he could swim.

My great great (crap, need to count fingers), well 5X great grandfather marched to Lexington in 1776. They missed the show, but he still get's a little flag and a medal on a stick on his grave. He would have got the "I marched to Lexington and Concord for nothing and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" t-shirt, but t-shirts hadn't been invented yet. He was in his 60's in 1776.

Gotta go get the kids... I'll finish this later.