59 Fun Facts About Christmas TV

Who narrates the 1964 Rankin/Bass special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as Sam the Snowman?

Burl Ives was hired to give the sponsor a big name; Sam was originally going to be voiced by Larry D. Mann, who ended up as Yukon Cornelius instead.

What career does Hermey the elf abandon Santa's workshop to pursue in the 1964 Rudolph special?

Dentistry: Hermey wants to be a dentist rather than make toys, and he proves it by pulling every tooth from the Abominable Snow Monster, who is then tamed and helps trim the tree.

Which company sponsored the first broadcasts of Rudolph in 1964 under its own Fantasy Hour title?

General Electric sponsored the special, which premiered on NBC on December 6, 1964 as the General Electric Fantasy Hour; its production budget was about $500,000.

In which city was the 'Animagic' puppet footage for Rudolph actually filmed?

Tokyo: the 'Animagic' puppet footage was shot in Japan at Tadahito Mochinaga's Tokyo studio, while the voice cast recorded its dialogue in Toronto.

Roughly how much did the original 1964 Rudolph and Santa puppets fetch at auction in 2020?

$368,000: the Rudolph and Santa puppets, rediscovered in a family attic after a Rankin/Bass secretary gave them away, sold at auction in November 2020 and were donated to Atlanta's Center for Puppetry Arts.

What year does the famously erroneous copyright notice on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer give?

1164: the credits read MCLXIV instead of MCMLXIV, dropping one M, and the invalid copyright notice has been left on prints ever since.

Which comedian narrates the 1969 Frosty the Snowman special, in his final film role?

He had also been one of the first to record the song back in 1950. A different narrator had to be found for the 1976 sequel after Durante retired.

In the 1969 Frosty special, what is the inept magician whose discarded hat brings the snowman to life called?

Professor Hinkle is the washed-up magician whose discarded silk hat brings Frosty to life; his own rabbit, Hocus Pocus, sides with the children, and Santa finally warns Hinkle he gets no presents unless he reforms.

Where does Frosty melt in the 1969 special after the villain locks him in with Karen?

A greenhouse: Frosty carries the shivering Karen into a greenhouse to warm her, the magician locks them in, and the heat melts him; Santa then revives Frosty with a blast of cold winter wind.

Who is the toy-hating mayor of Sombertown in the 1970 special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town?

Burgermeister Meisterburger bans all toys after tripping over a toy duck, which is why Kris starts slipping presents down chimneys and into stockings.

What kind of animal is Topper, the lost creature Kris Kringle befriends on his way to Sombertown?

A penguin: Topper is a lost penguin who becomes Kris's sidekick on the journey to Sombertown; the Winter Warlock later captures the pair, then switches sides after Kris gives him a toy train.

In The Year Without a Santa Claus, who forces the feuding Snow Miser and Heat Miser to compromise?

Mother Nature is the Misers' mother; she summons both sons and makes them compromise, so Southtown gets a day of snow while the North Pole gets a day of warm weather.

Which reindeer ends up in the Southtown dog pound in The Year Without a Santa Claus?

Vixen: the elves Jingle and Jangle ride Vixen to Southtown, where a dog catcher mistakes her for a stray dog and locks her in the pound.

Which actress narrates The Year Without a Santa Claus as Mrs. Claus, in her final acting credit?

Shirley Booth, an Oscar winner for Come Back, Little Sheba and a three-time Tony winner, made the 1974 special her final acting credit; the 2008 sequel recast Mrs. Claus.

In Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976), what kind of creature is the villain Eon the Terrible?

A vulture: Eon the Terrible is a giant vulture fated to live exactly one eon and then turn to ice and snow, so he kidnaps Happy the Baby New Year to stop the year ending.

Rankin/Bass's 1968 special The Little Drummer Boy centres on an orphaned drummer whose name is what?

Aaron is the orphaned drummer; Samson and Joshua are his donkey and camel, and the third animal, a lamb named Baba, is hurt by a chariot, which brings Aaron to the manger.

Who voices the Grinch and narrates the 1966 animated TV special based on Dr. Seuss's book?

Boris Karloff's voice had its high frequencies stripped out to create the Grinch's gravelly growl, and on the LP he read every part, including Cindy Lou Who.

The song 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch' is often misattributed to the narrator. Who actually sang it?

The singer, also the voice of Tony the Tiger, was left out of the credits by mistake. Dr. Seuss apologised and wrote to columnists nationwide to set the record straight.

Which legendary Looney Tunes director made the 1966 Grinch special?

Chuck Jones directed the special; he and Dr. Seuss had already worked together on the Private Snafu army training cartoons during World War II.

CBS gave the 1966 Grinch special a then-record cartoon budget of about how much?

$315,000: CBS gave the 1966 special a record budget for a half-hour cartoon, several times what Bill Melendez had to make A Charlie Brown Christmas the year before.

What holiday are Chewbacca and Han trying to reach Kashyyyk to celebrate in the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special?

Life Day: the Wookiee holiday is the special's whole premise, with Han trying to get Chewbacca home to Kashyyyk for it; the show aired on CBS on November 17, 1978.

Which bounty hunter made his onscreen debut in an animated segment of the Star Wars Holiday Special?

Boba Fett first appeared in the special's cartoon segment, made by Toronto studio Nelvana, which later produced the Droids and Ewoks Saturday-morning series; his live-action debut came in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

In the Star Wars Holiday Special, which Golden Girls star runs the Mos Eisley cantina?

Bea Arthur plays Ackmena, the cantina's bartender, who sings 'Goodnight, But Not Goodbye' to clear the bar at the Imperial curfew, set to the tune of the 1977 film's cantina band number.

In Friends, what costume does Ross improvise to teach Ben about Hanukkah when he can't rent a Santa suit?

The Holiday Armadillo episode, from 2000, ends with Ross, Chandler in a Santa suit and Joey as Superman all crammed into the apartment.

In The Office episode "Christmas Party", how much did the boss spend on the video iPod for the $20 Secret Santa?

$400: Michael admits he spent $400 on the video iPod, twenty times the $20 limit, and his disappointment with Phyllis's homemade oven mitt is what triggers the Yankee Swap.

What Secret Santa gift, with a private letter inside, does Jim give Pam in The Office's 'Christmas Party'?

A teapot: Jim's gift is a teal teapot stuffed with inside-joke mementos and a private letter; Pam only reads the letter in the final season, when Jim gives it to her during 'A.A.R.M.'.

Which Seinfeld episode, named for Kramer's H&H Bagels labour dispute, introduced Festivus?

'The Strike' (1997): Kramer's 12-year strike against H&H Bagels ends when the minimum wage rises to meet his demand, but he walks out again when refused time off for Festivus.

What fake charity does George invent on Seinfeld to avoid buying Christmas gifts for his co-workers?

The Human Fund ('Money for People') is George's invented charity; he gives co-workers cards claiming donations in their names, then his boss Kruger's $20,000 company donation exposes the scam.

At what odds does Homer bet it all on Santa's Little Helper in the first Simpsons episode?

99-1: Homer bets his last $13 on the long shot Santa's Little Helper at 99-1; the greyhound finishes last and is abandoned by his owner, so Homer and Bart take him home.

Community's 'Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas' pays homage to Rankin/Bass by rendering the episode in what style?

Stop motion: the episode was animated frame by frame with puppets, Rankin/Bass style, and won Community a Primetime Emmy for animation; John Oliver's Professor Duncan poses as a 'Christmas wizard'.

Which alien race invades Earth in Doctor Who's 'The Christmas Invasion'?

The Sycorax: the newly regenerated Tenth Doctor sleeps through most of the episode, then wakes to beat the Sycorax leader in a sword duel for Earth, losing and regrowing a hand.

Which pop star played the waitress Astrid Peth in the 2007 Doctor Who special 'Voyage of the Damned'?

Kylie Minogue played Astrid Peth, a waitress aboard the starship Titanic; the 2007 special drew 13.31 million viewers, the show's largest audience since 1979.

Which date replaced Christmas Day for Doctor Who's festive specials between 2019 and 2022?

New Year's Day: from 'Resolution' (1 January 2019) to 'Eve of the Daleks' (2022) the specials aired on 1 January; Russell T Davies reclaimed Christmas Day with 'The Church on Ruby Road' in 2023.

What finally happens between Mary and Matthew in Downton Abbey's 2011 Christmas special?

He proposes to her: Matthew proposes to Mary in the snow outside the house as the 2011 special ends, after she breaks off her engagement to Sir Richard Carlisle; Nigel Havers appeared as Lord Hepworth.

The 2019 Gavin & Stacey Christmas special ended on a cliffhanger when Nessa did what?

The episode pulled in 18.49 million viewers, the most-watched comedy in 17 years, and won a BAFTA Must-See Moment award for the scene.

Which soap's 1986 Christmas Day episode drew more than 30 million UK viewers?

EastEnders: the episode in which Den Watts hands his wife Angie divorce papers drew 30.15 million viewers once the Sunday omnibus repeat was counted.

Which BBC newsreader famously showed her legs in a dance number on a Morecambe and Wise Christmas show?

Angela Rippon, who trained in ballet as a girl, stepped from behind the newsdesk to high-kick through a routine on the 1976 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, one of the duo's most famous moments.

Who scripted King George V's first Royal Christmas broadcast on the radio in 1932?

Rudyard Kipling wrote the short address King George V read live from Sandringham on 25 December 1932, a broadcast BBC founder John Reith had first proposed a decade earlier.

In what year was the Queen's Christmas message first shown on television?

1957: the Queen's first televised Christmas message went out live from Sandringham on 25 December 1957; radio-only messages followed in 1959 and 1963, and no broadcast at all in 1969, when the Royal Family documentary took its place.

The original 1966 WPIX Yule Log was filmed in the fireplace of which New York building?

Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence, hosted the 1966 shoot; a spark from the unscreened fire damaged an antique rug, and when WPIX wanted to refilm, City Hall refused, so the 1970 loop was shot in California.

How long was the original 1966 film loop of the WPIX Yule Log?

17 seconds: the 1966 footage was a 17-second loop whose jerky repeat was obvious, so WPIX refilmed a log in a California fireplace in 1970, producing a loop of about six minutes.

What reason did WPIX give for reviving its long-cancelled Yule Log broadcast?

Comfort TV following the 9/11 attacks: WPIX brought the Yule Log back on Christmas morning 2001 as a nostalgic balm for a grieving city, after an online fan campaign had lobbied for its return.

Why was a counterpoint written on the spot for David Bowie's 1977 duet with Bing Crosby?

Bowie told the musical directors he hated the song, so Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman and Buz Kohan wrote 'Peace on Earth' in a basement in about an hour.

How long after taping the Bowie duet for his Christmas special did Bing Crosby die?

About a month: the duet was taped on 11 September 1977 and Crosby died of a heart attack on a Spanish golf course on 14 October, five weeks later; the special aired posthumously that November.

Where did the 1982 single of the Bowie–Crosby duet peak on the UK Singles Chart?

Number 3: released by RCA in November 1982, five years after the taping, 'Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy' climbed to No. 3 in the UK, its peak position.

Which crooner earned the nickname 'Mr. Christmas' from his perennial television specials?

Andy Williams hosted annual Christmas specials from the early 1960s, often with his brothers and the Osmonds, and recorded a string of Christmas albums, including 1963's The Andy Williams Christmas Album with 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year'.

Which basketball star appeared in the 1988 Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special?

Magic Johnson appeared alongside a guest list that included Little Richard, Charo, k.d. lang, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers, Grace Jones and Dinah Shore.

In Mickey's Christmas Carol, which Disney character plays the ghost of Jacob Marley?

Goofy plays Jacob Marley's ghost, rattling chains into Scrooge McDuck's house; Donald is nephew Fred, Jiminy Cricket the Ghost of Christmas Past and Pete the Ghost of Christmas Future.

Hallmark Channel's 'Countdown to Christmas' programming block began in what year?

2009: Hallmark Channel launched Countdown to Christmas in 2009 with just four original movie premieres; the block later grew to dominate the schedule from late October through New Year's Day.

Which company commissioned and sponsored A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965?

Coca-Cola: its ad agency McCann Erickson called producer Lee Mendelson after Peanuts made the cover of Time in April 1965, and the special was written in weeks and made in about six months.

Who sang the only song in the 1982 animated film The Snowman?

Auty was a St Paul's Cathedral choirboy. Jones's cover became the famous chart hit, which is why he so often gets the credit.

What does Lucy say she really wants for Christmas in A Charlie Brown Christmas?

Real estate: Lucy tells Charlie Brown she never gets what she really wants — 'real estate' — rather than the toys, bicycles and clothes she is usually given, in the 1965 special.

Which 1996 Only Fools and Horses Christmas episode drew a record 24.3 million UK viewers?

Time on Our Hands: the 1996 special in which the Trotters finally become millionaires drew 24.3 million viewers, the biggest UK audience ever recorded for a sitcom episode; three more specials followed in 2001–03.

In Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988), what does the kindly Ebenezer Blackadder sell for a living?

Moustaches: he runs a 'moustache shop' and is the nicest man in England, until the special inverts Dickens by turning the nice man nasty; Hugh Laurie narrates.

The Snowman (1982) was directed by Dianne Jackson for which British broadcaster?

Channel 4, then barely two months old, first showed The Snowman on 26 December 1982; the dialogue-free film with Howard Blake's score earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short.

Which rock star was filmed introducing The Snowman for its sponsored US broadcast?

David Bowie filmed the introduction in 1983, playing the grown-up boy who finds the snowman's scarf in his attic; the scene replaced Raymond Briggs's original opening for the US broadcast.

In Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978), what does Bert trade to buy Ernie a soap dish?

His paper clip collection: Bert trades his paper clips to Mr. Hooper for a soap dish for Ernie's Rubber Duckie, while Ernie trades the duck for a cigar box, a riff on The Gift of the Magi.

Which Simpsons creator's company produced the 1999 special Olive, the Other Reindeer?

Matt Groening's Curiosity Company co-produced the special with Drew Barrymore's Flower Films; Barrymore voiced Olive and served as an executive producer, and it premiered on Fox in December 1999.

On which US network did A Muppet Family Christmas first air on December 16, 1987?

ABC aired the special on December 16, 1987; written by longtime Muppet writer Jerry Juhl, it gathers the Muppets, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock casts at Fozzie's mother's farmhouse.