Good Grief, Christmas with Chuck

One of my most cherished memories of the holiday season was the annual run of Christmas specials on network television. Of course, the Rankin/Bass puppet animated programs would top any list of favorites: Rudolf, Frosty, The Year Without a Santa Clause (who can forget Heat Miser and Snow Mizer?).

I tell my wife, Katie, that I can't wait until Josh is old enough that we can sit and watch these shows together. As usual, she shakes her head as if to say there is something seriously wrong with her waiguoren husband.

Of course, the granddaddy gold standard against which all other Christmas programming must be judged is A Charlie Brown Christmas. From Bill Melendez's simple animation to Vince Guaraldi's haunting jazz soundtrack, it is pure genius. The soundtrack still ranks among my favorite holiday music.

While doing a Youtube search for some clips to put me in a holiday mood, I came across the following spoof. It's from a Saturday Night Live episode a few years ago and I believe Al Franken makes a cameo doing one of the voice-overs. Enjoy. I'll probably be getting coal in my stocking for posting this.