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.

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