Everyone Christmas specialed out yet? We’re not. We have a secret weapon that protects us through the holiday season.
Anti-Christmas specials. Now, now, don’t get the wrong idea. We’re not talking about shows that advocate driving a stake of holly through anyone’s heart. We’re talking about the ones that add just enough darkness to compensate for all the sugar that gets thrown at us this time of year.
Rowan Atkinson’s “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” is a good example. The brilliant, rubber-faced comedian turns Dickens’ holiday staple on its head with hilarious results (“I trust Christmas brings to you its traditional mix of good food and violent stomach cramp”).
Other goodies on our viewing list this season include “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (“Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?”), “Gremlins” (“And that's how I found out there was no Santa Claus.”), “A Christmas Story” (“Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.”) and, for just plain weirdness, “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special” (“Hey Miss Yvonne, come stand over me!”) or “A Wish for Wings That Work” (“Excuse me, is this cockroach cross-dressers in crisis?”).
Tuesday, December 23
Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun
Heather McDonald, Brad Wollack, Sarah Colonna – “Chelsea Lately”
Darlene Love – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Natalie Cole – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Greg Giraldo, Old Crow Medicine Show – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”
John Legend – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Conor Oberst – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Wayne Brady, P.O.D. – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Wednesday, December 24
Cher, The Pussycat Dolls, Missy Elliot – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun
Sarah McLachlan – “The Tavis Smiley Show” – rerun
Arden Myrin, Chris Franjola – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Michael Buble – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos” – rerun
Emmy Rossum – “The Bonnie Hunt Show” – rerun
Fall Out Boy – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Thursday, December 25
Kid Rock – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun
Bret Michaels, TJ Miller, Heather McDonald – “Chelsea Lately”
Bob Newhart – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos” – rerun
Super Diamond – “Late Show with David Letterman” – rerun
Relient K – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
Billy Joel – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Robin Thicke – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Shirley Manson, Cut Copy – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Friday, December 26
Chris Rock, Jonas Brothers, Randy Travis – “Live with Regis and Kelly” – rerun
Chris Rock – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun
Quincy Jones – “The Tavis Smiley Show” – rerun
Wayne Newton – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos” – rerun
Lance Bass – “The Bonnie Hunt Show” – rerun
Tracy Morgan – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Sean Combs, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
Isaac Hayes – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Hinder – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Taylor Swift, Anthony Green – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Saturday, December 27
Wilco – “Austin City Limits” – rerun
David Cook – “Saturday Night Live” – rerun