40 best Christmas-related pop-culture items (#10-1)

It’s the wrap-up of my seasonal list.  And sure, I was without internet on Christmas day (seems grandmas can do without such things), so my final 10 are a wee bit after the fact, but let’s just consider it a continuation of the holidays.  Enjoy!

10. The Polar Express

Book, Houghton Mifflin, 1985

Written and illustrated by Chris van Allsburg

9. Moroccan Christmas

The Office episode, NBC, 2008

With Steve Carell, Kate Flannery, and Phyllis Smith

8. White Christmas

Film, Paramount Pictures, 1954

With Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney

7. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Television special, CBS, 1965

With Peter Robbins, Sally Dryer, and Chris Shea

6. Home Alone / Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Film, 20th Century Fox, 1990/1992

With Macaulay Culkin, Catherine O’Hara, and Joe Pesci

5. Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

The Simpsons episode, FOX, 1989

With Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, and Nancy Cartwright

4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Television special, NBC, 1964

With Burl Ives, Billy Richards, and Larry D. Mann

3. It’s a Wonderful Life

Film, RKO Pictures, 1946

With James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore

2. “The Christmas Song”

Song, Mel Torme and Bob Wells, 1946

Performed by Nat King Cole

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Book/Television special, Random House/CBS, 1957/1966

Written by Dr. Seuss/With Boris Karloff and June Foray

Happy Holidays All!

40 best Christmas-related pop-culture items (#20-11)

Part three keeps bringing the holiday cheer (hopefully) with my next ten entries to the list of 40 – just remember, if you’re not seeing your favorite flick, song, or book, it’s not sheer quality that landed these folks on my rankings – it’s entirely up to my susceptible little heartstrings.

20. A Christmas Carol

Book, Chapman & Hall, 1843

Written by Charles Dickens

19. A Christmas Album

Album, Myrrh/Word, 1983

Performed by Amy Grant

18. The Muppet Christmas Carol

Film, Jim Henson Productions, 1992

With Michael Caine, Frank Oz, and The Muppets

17. Christmas Special

30 Rock episode, NBC, 2008

With Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and Jane Krakowski

16. While You Were Sleeping

Film, Hollywood Pictures, 1995

With Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, and Peter Boyle

15. John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together

Album, RCA, 1979

Performed by John Denver and The Muppets

14. A Wish for Wings That Work

Book, Little Brown & Co., 1991

Written and illustrated by Berkeley Breathed

13. Mickey’s Christmas Carol

Short film, Walt Disney Pictures, 1983

With Wayne Allwine, Clarence Nash, and Hal Smith

12. Frosty the Snowman

Television special, CBS, 1969

With Jimmy Durante, June Foray, and Billy de Wolfe

11. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Film, Touchstone Pictures, 1993

With Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara, and Chris Sarandon

**The final 10 are soon on their way!**

40 best Christmas-related pop-culture items (#30-21)

The countdown continues – I’m taking a peek at my 40 favorite Christmas-related pop culture things – it’s purely sentimental and highly subjective, but what the heck, right?

30. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

Song, Johnny Marks, 1958

Sung by Brenda Lee

29. The Santa Clause

Film, Walt Disney Pictures, 1994

Starring Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson, and Judge Reinhold

28. “All I Want for Christmas is You”

Song, Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, 1994

Sung by Mariah Carey

27. Jingle Balls

Will & Grace episode, NBC, 2001

With Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally

26. The Jolly Christmas Postman

Book, LB Kids, 2001

Written and illustrated by Janet and Allen Ahlberg

25. Christmas Scandal

Parks and Recreation episode, NBC, 2009

With Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, and Aubrey Plaza

24. The Preacher’s Wife

Film, Touchstone Pictures, 1996

With Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington, and Jenifer Lewis

23. Miracle on 34th Street

Film(s), 20th Century Fox, 1947/1994

With Edmund Gwenn/Richard Attenborough

22. The One with the Holiday Armadillo

Friends episode, NBC, 2000

With Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, and David Schwimmer

21. Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

Television special, ABC, 1970

With Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, and Keenan Wynn

Come back for #20-11 tomorrow!

40 best Christmas-related pop-culture items (#40-31)

In honor the impending holidays, I figured I would throw together my favorite things entertainment related having to do with Christmastime – feel free to voice your thoughts below, always remembering the sentimental nature attached to decisions such as these…

40. A Garfield Christmas

Television special, CBS, 1987

Starring Lorenzo Music, Thom Huge, and Pat Carroll

39. Carl’s Christmas

Book, Farrar Straus and Giroux, 1992

Written and illustrated by Alexandra Day

38. Love Actually

Film, Universal Pictures, 2003

Starring Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, and Emma Thompson

37. “Jingle Bell Rock”

Song, Joe Beal and Jim Boothe, 1964

Sung by Brenda Lee

36. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas

Film, Walt Disney Pictures, 1997

Starring Paige O’Hara, Jerry Orbach, and Angela Lansbury

35. Woodland Critter Christmas

South Park episode, Comedy Central, 2004

Starring Trey Parker and Matt Stone

34. Gremlins

Film, Warner Bros. Pictures, 1984

Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, and Hoyt Axton

33. A Season for Miracles

Television film, Hallmark, 1999

Starring Carla Gugino, Patty Duke, and Lynn Redgrave

32. Christmas in the Aire

Album, American Gramaphone, 1995

Performed by Mannheim Steamroller

31. A Christmas Story

Film, MGM Studios, 1983

Starring Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, and Darren McGavin

Check back tomorrow for Nos. 30-31!