Rudolph vs. Charlie Brown vs. The Grinch: Who's The Best?
Rick Retro’s Rankings #1: The Big Three Christmas TV Specials.
Rick Retro’s Rankings #1: The Big Three Christmas TV Specials. Rudolph vs. Charlie Brown vs. The Grinch: Who’s The Best?
I’ve now reviewed all three of the iconic Christmas TV specials some of us have seen too many times to count. Dozens, if not hundreds, of Christmas TV specials have been produced since these ones from the 1960s, but most people agree these were the best. The Charlie Brown special made all ten of the best Christmas movies lists I recently checked. Rudolph and Grinch both made nine of ten. They would be near the top, if not the top three, on most lists of Christmas TV specials, no matter what aspect of the specials is being ranked.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964)
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964) — Now, new and improved in HD! Don't be too cool to watch this again as an adult!
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965)
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) — 1960s shocker! Network TV actually broadcasts the true meaning of Christmas!
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966)
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966) — Spoiler Alert: By abusing his poor little dog, that's how!
Here are my takes on the respective strengths of these three specials that all received my highest grade, A+^. It’s not easy to decide on these rankings. They’re all great specials in their own right, and a lot of these are really close calls. Here goes:
Best Christmas TV Special
1 Charlie Brown
2 Grinch
3 Rudolph
Use this same order for:
Best Christmas TV Special for Adults
Best Christmas TV Special for Teenagers
Best Message in a Christmas TV Special
Best Script in a Christmas TV Special
Best Dog or Dogs in a Christmas TV Special (Snoopy, Max, Yukon's sled dogs)
Best Christmas TV Special for Younger Kids
1 Rudolph
2 Grinch
3 Charlie Brown
Use this same order for:
Best Visual Appearance of a Christmas TV Special
Christmas TV Special Most Improved by HD
Best Voice Cast in a Christmas TV Special
Best Plot in a Christmas TV Special
Best Cast of Characters in a Christmas TV Special
1 Charlie Brown
2 Rudolph
3 Grinch
Use this same order for:
Best Lead Female Character in a Christmas TV Special (Lucy, Clarice, n/a)
Best Supporting Male Character in a Christmas TV Special (Linus, Hermey, Max)
Best Christmas TV Special Soundtrack Album
Best Christmas TV Special for Older Kids
1 Grinch
2 Charlie Brown
3 Rudolph
Use this same order for:
Best Lead Male Character in a Christmas TV Special (The Grinch, Charlie Brown, Rudolph)
Best Supporting Female Character in a Christmas TV Special (Cindy Lou Who, Sally, Mama Claus)
Best Dark Whimsy in a Christmas TV Special
1 Grinch
2 Rudolph
3 Charlie Brown
Use this same order for:
Best Animation in a Christmas TV Special
Best Production Quality of a Christmas TV Special
The next three reviews will be from the second tier of Christmas TV specials, sitting just below the Big Three in stature, but still more renowned than all the rest.
Meanwhile, feel free to debate these rankings or post your own as comments! I especially want to know which rankings you think I got wrong!
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Text Group Comments:
W: Don't forget Cindy Lu Who! ;)
S: And Randy had a recording of A Charlie Brown Christmas that he played over and over and over and over - so I want to love it but kind of hate it. And still have every line and every inflection memorized.