Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Media The 10 Best Specials of YouTube Christmas
Posted by Virginia K. Smith on Tue, Dec 25, 2012 at 10:00 AM
So, you've already watched every single holiday movie in your rotation. You've already over-eaten, gotten drunk with all of your childhood friends, and maybe gotten into a fight with your relatives. No time like the present to retreat to your room for a few hours to watch some weird holiday shit on YouTube, right?
We have you covered. In the likely event you need a break from weeping quietly in front of It's a Wonderful Life or actually conversing with your loved ones, here's a (totally arbitrary) sampling of the very best holiday specials YouTube has to offer. Chewbacca and Arnold Schwarzenegger included.
Pee Wee's Christmas Special
I plug this Christmas special as often as possible, with good reason. It is the single greatest holiday episode of any TV series, bar none. And, it's all viewable for free online. God bless us, every one!
Arnold's Very Special Christmas Party
This was only recently brought to my attention by the good people of Videogum, but it's a real keeper. Arnold's special not only includes a special appearance (and singing) by Mike Tyson, but also a segment in which Arnold reminisces about his childhood experiences with my beloved Krampus ("before Christmas, a devil would come"). It explains kind of a lot.
A Krampus Carol
Speaking of the Krampus, did you not already watch Anthony Bourdain's "Krampus Carol" video like I told you to yesterday? Fix that right now.
Star Wars: The Holiday Special
Notorious for very good reasons. Part 1 is above, and the rest is on YouTube (and well worth watching in its entirety).
He-Man and She-Rah: A Christmas Special
In which Skeletor gives the Krampus a serious run for his money.
Michael Jackson's First Christmas
In 1993, Elizabeth Taylor decided that her good friend (and former non-holiday-acknowledging Jehovah's Witness) Michael Jackson should have his very first Christmas ever. It was weird, and it was also filmed. Embedding on the clip is disabled, but you can watch Michael opening a super-soaker (then being overcome with guilt) here.
A Claymation Christmas
An Emmy-winning classic for numerous reasons, chief of which, I would argue, are the stellar cameos by none other than the California Raisins.
This Richard Simmons holiday greeting
Not a special, per se, but it will make you feel special. Aww.
Christmas Comes But Once a Year
If you don't want to watch this 1936 classic, in which Grampy saves Christmas for an entire orphanage, you might want to consider whether or not you've become a cold, unfeeling monster.
Yule Log
And, for those of you who brought Xanax home with you for the holidays, this video lasts for over 3 hours.
Follow Virginia K. Smith on Twitter @vksmith.
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