12 Smart & Savvy Days of Christmas - Day 8 - Guest Post from MC Decker

Happy New Year! I'm a little late with the post, so apologies! I hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve and are enjoying the day. Today I welcome MC Decker to the blog and she's talking about her favorite Christmas specials. Welcome!! 

Day 1 |Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

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Top Five Christmas Specials:

1). Christmas Eve on Sesame Street – This holiday special has been on my ‘must watch’ list since I was just a little girl. Who doesn’t love the banter between Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird about ‘how Santa will fit down that skinny little chimney?’ Big Bird decides to solve the mystery himself by asking Santa, but everyone else panics as they think Big Bird has gone missing. The conundrum of how Santa actually fits down the tiny chimney is never really solved, but Santa does deliver presents and everyone, including Big Bird, is reunited on Christmas Eve once again. The story includes all of the beloved Sesame Street characters including Cookie Monster, Grover, Kermit and Bert and Ernie. If you haven’t seen this classic Christmas special, which originally aired in 1978, I recommend it for children, of all ages.

2). Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas – I know, I know … You are all saying to yourself, ‘Where’s ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ ‘Rudolph,’ or ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.’ .. And, what is ‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’?’ This little-known holiday special, which was created by Jim Henson, was also a childhood favorite. I remember watching our taped, from television, scratchy version year-after-year. I hadn’t seen the clever special which features Emmet and Ma Otter for several years when I suddenly came across the DVD while shopping a few years back.

I quickly snatched it up and it has become a staple in my holiday viewing collection once again. And, this time, it is commercial free! The story features Emmet and his mother who form a Jug-Band in hopes of winning a holiday contest in order to purchase each other Christmas presents. The two encounter many obstacles along the way, including losing the competition to The Riverbottom Nightmare Band, but in the end they are able to earn enough money to purchase their gifts. Like my first selection, this special also includes Kermit as the guest narrator. I mean, who doesn’t love a holiday special that includes Kermit?

3). A Garfield Christmas – No, this one doesn’t include Kermit, but it does feature that orange, lasagna-loving cat and the always obnoxious Odie. I remember watching this television special each year following ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’ Charlie Brown will get an honorable mention on my list, but for some reason I don’t remember as many laughs as I do with Garfield and his friends. During the special, Garfield finds himself visiting Jon’s family on the old family farm. During the visit, Garfield learns a lot about Jon’s family as well as learning to understand the true meaning of Christmas. He even learns to love Odie in the process! I can’t wait to watch this one again this year.

4). How the Grinch Stole Christmas! – Nothing will ever compare to the original animated ‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ Sure, Jim Carrey gave it a whirl, and did a fairly decent job, but it just wasn’t the same as that slithery green animated creature who sews antlers on his dog and tries stealing Christmas from Cindy Lou Who and the rest of those in Whoville. Who knew that the Grinch’s heart would grow three sizes … not even the Whos knew. The score of this special also produced the classic, ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch’ which happens to be my holiday ringtone for my husband!

5). Mickey’s Christmas Carol – I think this one is fairly self explanatory. Mickey Mouse + a cartoon adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic of ‘A Christmas Carol’ = Christmas fun for the entire family!

Honorable Mention: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bugs Bunny’s Looney Christmas Tales and He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special

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Thank You, MC! You can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Her debut novel, Unwritten, is currently on sale, but you can win a KINDLE copy here by commenting and tell me whether you have any resolutions for 2015. 

Note: All winners will be announced on January 6th.