2:38-2:51 With all due respect, how is Rudolph and Clarice's relationship supposed to be "Uncomfortable"? They're both fictional reindeer who were simply voiced by female voice actors for a children's Christmas special.
@@Samuel-b yeah, that segment coul've been worded better, mentioning the irl actors was a mistake. I just think clarice's voice sounds too old for rudolph. To me, Rudolph sounds 10 years old and clarice sounds 20 years old, so their romance is uncomfortable to watch.
I think what’s interesting about the Jack Frost movie was how much it resembles Han’s Christen Andersen’s original Little Mermaid story. At least the general beats of it. A mystical being falling in love with a human they saved and now want to be with them forever and desiring to become human, after being turned human they have to work to marry the one they saved to live happily and stay human forever. But both characters ended up failing despite their efforts as the one they saved end up marrying another. The two accept there fates to “die” and become air spirits.
Olive The Other Reindeer is a worthwhile watch. Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer is the overplayed special that fits that description given how much it's in the public conscious.
Was just about to say the same thing about Olive! It's such a cute movie with fun songs and the visual gags for the adults watching are clever and not too distracting. And the animation is so unique and it looks pretty good for a CGI animated film from 1999, considering how limited the technology still was. Idk maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but I watch it at least once every year and I never grow tired of it. It's worth at least one watch.
I think this is a good video, I had no idea how many christmas specials they made. I think the biggest issue I noticed was the sound mixing which was a bit quite, but yeah I think it was pretty funny and informative
Year Without a Santa Claus was already my favorite Rankin Bass special. Then I learned, as someone heavily into Japanese culture, how involved the nation was with its development. _And then_ I ran into icesnort. There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the greatest pieces of Christmas media ever devised. To put it at A tier is a terrible disservice, but I won't press it seeing as you gave high praise to our boy Snow Miser. Happy New Year to you!
The life and adventures of santa Claus is based on a book by the same guy who wrote the wizard of oz. Sure it sounds od but makes sense considering the fact that Santa has magic reindeer and is magical himself.
I’m glad to see another Christmas in July fan I never understood why people hate the movie so much like you said it knows what it is and has fun with it
i will never understand how the people in these movies dont believe in santa lol, like do they not get suspicious of the gifts magically appearing under there tree??? lol
5:25 "...her grief blinds her on the spot. I- okay. I didn't know it worked like that." It's not often, but it can in fact happen. It's known as Conversion Disorder, or Functional Neurologic Symptom Disorder, where some form of stress inhibits regular bodily functions, including sight. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_disorder?useskin=vector
I actually got to see the original Rudolph and Santa figures they used for the original Rudolph movie at the Center for Puppetry Arts a few years back! It was pretty neat
In “The Night Before Christmas” Albert was a supercilious jerk. The letter he and his friends wrote was insulting and they signed it “All of us”. And he fooled around with the clock, which he had no business to touch. Albert was self-absorbed and he only grew after he heard “Even a Miracle Needs a Hand” about helping others.
*does Rudolph first* "Oh, okay, so it's best to worst, not worst to best, got it. Little unconventional, but I dig it!" *Critter on the Hearth* "Oh, so it's just a tier list video, then. Not a ranking. Guess ranking's just easier to say? Everyone does it now!" Though TBF, Rankin' Bass is a great pun.
21:59 I give you the DUMBEST CHARACTER in all of the Rankin Bass universe! Santa is a known and documented figure in this world! You literally have a mailing address and a number you can call to verify his existence! You have no excuse not to believe in him! Whats more Santa himself is a real jerk in this scenario too! Some one who is renowned for knowing when some one is good or naughty, doesn't know when a SINGLE letter didn't represent an entire town's opinion?!
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus at D-tier?! I politely disagree! Not only is this film based on a book by the same author of The Wizard of Oz, this was also ranking basis final stop motion film! The art direction was awesome and all the voice actors are straight from thundercats! Heck even Santa Claus himself is played by mumra!
The little drummer boy freaking traumatized me as a kid. I think it's lumped together with the classics cause it was on dvd box set with rudolph, frosty, and SCiCtT.
you definitely had valid points for frostys winter wonderland. it has become a favorite of mine over time purely because i cant help but tie correlation to my fiance and i lol, not because i suited her to my preference of course 💀
“The Night Before Christmas”: Santa is nearly two millennia into his gig by this point. I’m sure there were plenty of others that questioned his existence before wherever these mice exist was formally a nation.
Have Albert act like regular mice if you wanted us to hate them. Mouse dad is also an ass, but is it due to the mice *have* to believe in Santa so the humans don’t exterminate them?
OK, We’ve seen characters get shot and seeing characters freezing to death is fine according to Standards and Practices, but the Romans slaughtering Nestor would be considered too violent for families.
I generally have to agree with your Tier List; except in two areas: For one thing, I’ve always LOVED The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold as a sweet, fun story. For another thing, I’ve always HATED Pinocchio’s Christmas as Pinocchio is so absurdly unlikeable that it makes this film extremely painful to watch in its entirety.
02:20 - 02:52. How could you be so negative about Clarice? She is a gentle, lovely sweetheart! She is also a positive influence; for she is not prejudiced about Rudolph's nose and clearly wants to befriend him. Sounds to me like you have a prejudice about the two voice actors portraying Rudolph and Clarice. Both actors being female and of different age ranges. For crying out loud! Your criticism implies the two female voice actors were having a lesbian affair! YOU are the one being creepy and uncomfortable to listen to!
"The Year Without a Santa Claus" is one of my least favorites because the whole movie feels so pointless. Mrs Claus driving the sleigh would have been way cooler, but that would have been a completely different movie. Maybe Santa could still go to save the reindeer, but doing so makes him even more sick and so Mrs Claus HAS to fill in. But there's the a and b story/conflicts and they both just have nothing to do with each other in the end, besides lazily being tied together in the endby, "Maybe Santa was only sick because the people in this one town didn't believe in him enough." The music is the only thing that carries this movie. It's the definition of background Christmas special because the music is hype but if you actually sit and pay attention then the story sucks. And just to be an ass, Santa rides the sleigh at the end so it's not even a "year without Santa."
@@Galagaboy oh yeah, that looks interesting. I love Eartha Kitt, and it's cool seeing Gregory Hines from History of the World Part 1. think I'll have to do a follow up next year, there are a couple more movies I'd like to talk about, like the ones made by Warner Bros after buying the rights.
My top 10 favorite movies that were made by Rankin Bass. Yes. This includes non Rankin Bass movies. Get over it. 10. The Easter Bunny Is Coming To Town: This movie’s just okay. Even though this movie has lots of stupidness in it, it’s still kinda good. 9. A Miser Bros Christmas: This is the first non Rankin Bass movie on this list. I might get hate for this but I don’t care. This movie’s good but the songs (Except The Snow Miser And Heat Miser Song) were forgettable. 8. Rudolph’s Shiny New Year: Rudolph saved both Christmas and the New Year. What more could you ask for? He even got some more new partners after his team up with Hermie and Yukon. Overall it’s a nice movie to watch around the new year. 7. Frosty Returns: This is the second and last non Rankin Bass movie on this list. So this movie was animated by one of the animators of the Peanuts movies and it’s a nice touch to it. What worked for Charlie Brown and Snoopy seemed to do justice for Frosty and I like it. 6. Jack Frost: What’s the difference between a groundhog’s shadow and a magical being’s shadow? Not sure but this movie’s good despite it being confused for a Groundhog Day movie or a Christmas movie for some viewers. 5. Santa Is Coming To Town: Great Santa origin story. Nuff said. 4. Here Comes Peter Cottontail: Like Zoinks Scoob! I’m a bunny!, 3. Frosty The Snowman: I think this is Rankin Bass’s 3rd 2d animated movie and it’s a huge step up from their 1st and 2nd 2d animated movies. Does it hold up well? Yes. However you can notice the animation errors when you watch this movie for the first time where in some scenes, Frosty talks despite his mouth not moving but you can just ignore them. 2. The Year Without A Santa Claus: This movie’s still a real banger though and it still is to this very day. 1. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer: WHY WEREN’T YOU AT ELF PRACTICE!!!!!!!!????????
Frosty bothers me because the whole problem hinges on Karen stupidly getting in a train freezer car and expecting to not freeze. Also, Oatmeal is a much better name.
Nah fam, it's not because they're about Jesus. It's that the movies that involve Jesus don't do much with their original characters, important as Baby J might be. Just because Jesus is in it doesn't mean it's automatically better.
@SobiTheRobot He specifically pointed out the ones involving Jesus as inferior, then made a snide comment about religion. The reason for his dislike of those ones is clear.
With the exception of Little Drummer Boy I would never watch a Rankin Bass special and think "Religious". They're very obviously approaching Christmas from the cultural, secular angle: Like how I wouldn't say that National Lampoons Christmas Vacation was a "Religious" movie.
I mean let's be fair, the more overtly religious of these movies aren't as much fun as the non-religious ones, and the stories within pale in comparison to the rest of the Rankin Bass holiday catalogue. Is that a condemnation of the religion? Not necessarily; if anything it's simply a condemnation of the filmmakers for failing to make an entertaining story, even if it's meant to sit alongside a deeply important religious holiday's origins. (i.e. including Jesus doesn't automatically make something better)
Counterpoint: Christmas as a concept has been pretty far removed from Jesus. Most of the Rankin Bass movies are about Santa and Christmas Magic mythos, while the other movies climaxes literally are literally just the birth of Jesus. There’s a difference there
I'm all for it, Long Eared Donkey and Drummer boy were SO BORING and then all of the sudden, "IS THAT JESUS FKN CHRIST?!?" I love that baby Jesus and the Christian God exist in this universe along with Santa and Rudolph. Like I wonder, if Jesus is mad at Santa for kinda hijacking Christmas? Or since Rudolph appears in 'Nestor the Long Eared Christmas Donkey' is Jesus just irritated that he was born on Santa's present ritual day? I'd imagine the Christian God and Santa Claus would get into a lot of fights about Christmas. Jesus is one of the few prominent Rankin Bass charecters who don't appear in Frosty and Rudolph's Christmas special, which I think implies Jesus and Santa weren't on good terms.
@creedbratton4064 ...I think the bigger issue is the difference in time period. Santa Claus may be an immortal wizard, but Jesus is kind of dead, and by the time the RB specials were coming out in the 60s-80s, had been dead for over 1900 years. But think more pragmatically. Given the nature of the specials, would Jesus have been able to be a part of any Christmas special as an actual character? Or would he be trapped as this divine figure unable to really interact with anything? I wouldn't mind a Christmas special where Jesus appears as a divine ghost to partake in what is essentially his birthday celebration, perhaps offering guidance to those who need it around the holidays and otherwise being a cool dude. Maybe he even talks to Santa Claus, tells him he's doing a good job or something.
"Here's our first example of how you ruined everyone's Christmas with your opinions," killed me.
I need this as a soundclip so badly
R.I.P. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.
fr
I came here solely to see where it ranked cuz it's my personal favorite. Was a bit sad it wasn't here.
KARKAAAAAAAAAT❤❤❤
I want to"change the world with unrelenting kindness"... what a great line!
Year without a Santa Claus is easily S tier
I agree!
High A, meme potential has elevated everyone's idea of the movie beyond the actual content of the film.
@@TheWonkster In the name of Moog Modular, you are hereby under arrest!
2:38-2:51 With all due respect, how is Rudolph and Clarice's relationship supposed to be "Uncomfortable"? They're both fictional reindeer who were simply voiced by female voice actors for a children's Christmas special.
@@Samuel-b yeah, that segment coul've been worded better, mentioning the irl actors was a mistake. I just think clarice's voice sounds too old for rudolph. To me, Rudolph sounds 10 years old and clarice sounds 20 years old, so their romance is uncomfortable to watch.
I think what’s interesting about the Jack Frost movie was how much it resembles Han’s Christen Andersen’s original Little Mermaid story. At least the general beats of it.
A mystical being falling in love with a human they saved and now want to be with them forever and desiring to become human, after being turned human they have to work to marry the one they saved to live happily and stay human forever. But both characters ended up failing despite their efforts as the one they saved end up marrying another. The two accept there fates to “die” and become air spirits.
Olive The Other Reindeer is a worthwhile watch. Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer is the overplayed special that fits that description given how much it's in the public conscious.
Was just about to say the same thing about Olive! It's such a cute movie with fun songs and the visual gags for the adults watching are clever and not too distracting. And the animation is so unique and it looks pretty good for a CGI animated film from 1999, considering how limited the technology still was. Idk maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but I watch it at least once every year and I never grow tired of it. It's worth at least one watch.
"From the top everybody! GRANDMA GOT RUN-"
-BHultra, 'The Movie You Air Every Year When You Have Nothing Else To Show'
I think this is a good video, I had no idea how many christmas specials they made. I think the biggest issue I noticed was the sound mixing which was a bit quite, but yeah I think it was pretty funny and informative
Yeah, I noticed the sound issues right after posting, apologies.
Year Without a Santa Claus was already my favorite Rankin Bass special. Then I learned, as someone heavily into Japanese culture, how involved the nation was with its development. _And then_ I ran into icesnort. There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the greatest pieces of Christmas media ever devised. To put it at A tier is a terrible disservice, but I won't press it seeing as you gave high praise to our boy Snow Miser. Happy New Year to you!
The life and adventures of santa Claus is based on a book by the same guy who wrote the wizard of oz. Sure it sounds od but makes sense considering the fact that Santa has magic reindeer and is magical himself.
I’m glad to see another Christmas in July fan I never understood why people hate the movie so much like you said it knows what it is and has fun with it
i will never understand how the people in these movies dont believe in santa lol, like do they not get suspicious of the gifts magically appearing under there tree??? lol
22:14 is really really funny without context
I have no idea why this ended up in my feed, but overanalyzing Rankin Bass movies is an immediate like and subscribe.
Very nice this 'rankin' ' video is here
Great work on this comprehensive review.
5:25 "...her grief blinds her on the spot. I- okay. I didn't know it worked like that." It's not often, but it can in fact happen. It's known as Conversion Disorder, or Functional Neurologic Symptom Disorder, where some form of stress inhibits regular bodily functions, including sight. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_disorder?useskin=vector
I like your commentary in this video. Good stuff.
I actually got to see the original Rudolph and Santa figures they used for the original Rudolph movie at the Center for Puppetry Arts a few years back! It was pretty neat
So you're Ranking Bass?
Christmas in July and Pinocchio's Christmas are my guilty pleasures for holidays
Pinocchio's Christmas is visually stunning.
real
Snow Miser sounds a bit like Sheogorath, and I love that so much. Why isn't The Year Without A Santa Claus s-tier for the Misers alone?
why do so many movies have animal burlesque dancers???
In “The Night Before Christmas” Albert was a supercilious jerk. The letter he and his friends wrote was insulting and they signed it “All of us”. And he fooled around with the clock, which he had no business to touch. Albert was self-absorbed and he only grew after he heard “Even a Miracle Needs a Hand” about helping others.
*does Rudolph first*
"Oh, okay, so it's best to worst, not worst to best, got it. Little unconventional, but I dig it!"
*Critter on the Hearth*
"Oh, so it's just a tier list video, then. Not a ranking. Guess ranking's just easier to say? Everyone does it now!"
Though TBF, Rankin' Bass is a great pun.
21:59 I give you the DUMBEST CHARACTER in all of the Rankin Bass universe! Santa is a known and documented figure in this world! You literally have a mailing address and a number you can call to verify his existence! You have no excuse not to believe in him! Whats more Santa himself is a real jerk in this scenario too! Some one who is renowned for knowing when some one is good or naughty, doesn't know when a SINGLE letter didn't represent an entire town's opinion?!
Cricket on the Hearth is utter lunacy.
Just gonna throw this out there, anyone who could pull me out of the banshee would be crowned the next king of England
Olive the Other Reindeer does not deserve this slander.
Santa is such a jerk in rudolph
fr. he’s only nice to rudolph at the end because he needs to use him for something
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus at D-tier?! I politely disagree! Not only is this film based on a book by the same author of The Wizard of Oz, this was also ranking basis final stop motion film! The art direction was awesome and all the voice actors are straight from thundercats! Heck even Santa Claus himself is played by mumra!
the cricket on the hearth is an insane movie, like I wanna know why the cricket is such an incel
Now you have to do another one where you Bass all 18 movies
Such a jolly video
The little drummer boy freaking traumatized me as a kid. I think it's lumped together with the classics cause it was on dvd box set with rudolph, frosty, and SCiCtT.
you forgot one: a miser brother's christmas
no cricket on the harth slander allowed
2:15 Charlee, his name is Charlee
Isn't there a film called Santa Baby?
Yes, it was made after the company shut down
you definitely had valid points for frostys winter wonderland. it has become a favorite of mine over time purely because i cant help but tie correlation to my fiance and i lol, not because i suited her to my preference of course 💀
56:43 I lost my shit at the gypsy cat line! Solid editing!
“The Night Before Christmas”: Santa is nearly two millennia into his gig by this point. I’m sure there were plenty of others that questioned his existence before wherever these mice exist was formally a nation.
Have Albert act like regular mice if you wanted us to hate them. Mouse dad is also an ass, but is it due to the mice *have* to believe in Santa so the humans don’t exterminate them?
I always think the movie we just discussed is, “Year Without a Santa Claus.”
Does the special hand wave how Santa recoups?
OK, We’ve seen characters get shot and seeing characters freezing to death is fine according to Standards and Practices, but the Romans slaughtering Nestor would be considered too violent for families.
Yeah, should probably mention how these specials are crapping on those from the Middle East.
I generally have to agree with your Tier List; except in two areas: For one thing, I’ve always LOVED The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold as a sweet, fun story. For another thing, I’ve always HATED Pinocchio’s Christmas as Pinocchio is so absurdly unlikeable that it makes this film extremely painful to watch in its entirety.
Bizzare finding out Bill Melendez did Frosty's Return and *NOT* Rankin (pretty good rankin' by the way)
02:20 - 02:52. How could you be so negative about Clarice? She is a gentle, lovely sweetheart! She is also a positive influence; for she is not prejudiced about Rudolph's nose and clearly wants to befriend him. Sounds to me like you have a prejudice about the two voice actors portraying Rudolph and Clarice. Both actors being female and of different age ranges. For crying out loud! Your criticism implies the two female voice actors were having a lesbian affair! YOU are the one being creepy and uncomfortable to listen to!
Just wait until Logan figures out real reindeer don’t understand the concept of consent when mating.
Merry Christmas UwU
Nestor is a good one
"The Year Without a Santa Claus" is one of my least favorites because the whole movie feels so pointless. Mrs Claus driving the sleigh would have been way cooler, but that would have been a completely different movie. Maybe Santa could still go to save the reindeer, but doing so makes him even more sick and so Mrs Claus HAS to fill in. But there's the a and b story/conflicts and they both just have nothing to do with each other in the end, besides lazily being tied together in the endby, "Maybe Santa was only sick because the people in this one town didn't believe in him enough." The music is the only thing that carries this movie. It's the definition of background Christmas special because the music is hype but if you actually sit and pay attention then the story sucks. And just to be an ass, Santa rides the sleigh at the end so it's not even a "year without Santa."
Twas the Night Before Christmas is my favorite 😂😂😂
5:28 To be fair, it could have been a conversion disorder.
You forgot Santa Baby. Its not a well known feature
@@Galagaboy oh yeah, that looks interesting. I love Eartha Kitt, and it's cool seeing Gregory Hines from History of the World Part 1. think I'll have to do a follow up next year, there are a couple more movies I'd like to talk about, like the ones made by Warner Bros after buying the rights.
58:30
Well, that face is gonna haunt my nightmares
Olive the other Reindeer is good
True classics
Pretty sure from Jack Frost is not a Christmas special
Santa claus is coming to town is by far the best. Rudolph was a shitty plot not helped by all the characters being assholes.
My top 10 favorite movies that were made by Rankin Bass. Yes. This includes non Rankin Bass movies. Get over it. 10. The Easter Bunny Is Coming To Town: This movie’s just okay. Even though this movie has lots of stupidness in it, it’s still kinda good. 9. A Miser Bros Christmas: This is the first non Rankin Bass movie on this list. I might get hate for this but I don’t care. This movie’s good but the songs (Except The Snow Miser And Heat Miser Song) were forgettable. 8. Rudolph’s Shiny New Year: Rudolph saved both Christmas and the New Year. What more could you ask for? He even got some more new partners after his team up with Hermie and Yukon. Overall it’s a nice movie to watch around the new year. 7. Frosty Returns: This is the second and last non Rankin Bass movie on this list. So this movie was animated by one of the animators of the Peanuts movies and it’s a nice touch to it. What worked for Charlie Brown and Snoopy seemed to do justice for Frosty and I like it. 6. Jack Frost: What’s the difference between a groundhog’s shadow and a magical being’s shadow? Not sure but this movie’s good despite it being confused for a Groundhog Day movie or a Christmas movie for some viewers. 5. Santa Is Coming To Town: Great Santa origin story. Nuff said. 4. Here Comes Peter Cottontail: Like Zoinks Scoob! I’m a bunny!, 3. Frosty The Snowman: I think this is Rankin Bass’s 3rd 2d animated movie and it’s a huge step up from their 1st and 2nd 2d animated movies. Does it hold up well? Yes. However you can notice the animation errors when you watch this movie for the first time where in some scenes, Frosty talks despite his mouth not moving but you can just ignore them. 2. The Year Without A Santa Claus: This movie’s still a real banger though and it still is to this very day. 1. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer: WHY WEREN’T YOU AT ELF PRACTICE!!!!!!!!????????
yes I do like your Paul Frees impression
Frosty bothers me because the whole problem hinges on Karen stupidly getting in a train freezer car and expecting to not freeze. Also, Oatmeal is a much better name.
i can't say ive ever even heard of the cricket movie .
WHERE IS THE NUTCRACKER ONE
Cricket on the Hearth is the worst Rankin Bass ever
You put The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus low? Absolutely worthless tier list
I’ve never understood the love for Little Drummer Boy. Great video though
Wow...hating on Christmas shows cuz it's too much about Christ...what a mess. What a waste of time.
He never did that, you silly goose.
Nah fam, it's not because they're about Jesus. It's that the movies that involve Jesus don't do much with their original characters, important as Baby J might be.
Just because Jesus is in it doesn't mean it's automatically better.
@SobiTheRobot
He specifically pointed out the ones involving Jesus as inferior, then made a snide comment about religion. The reason for his dislike of those ones is clear.
“Waaaaah waaaaaaaaahhhh”
womp womp
I do think you're just anti-religious movies. Christmas literally has Christ in it's name. Glad you enjoyed Jack Frost though.
With the exception of Little Drummer Boy I would never watch a Rankin Bass special and think "Religious". They're very obviously approaching Christmas from the cultural, secular angle: Like how I wouldn't say that National Lampoons Christmas Vacation was a "Religious" movie.
I mean let's be fair, the more overtly religious of these movies aren't as much fun as the non-religious ones, and the stories within pale in comparison to the rest of the Rankin Bass holiday catalogue. Is that a condemnation of the religion? Not necessarily; if anything it's simply a condemnation of the filmmakers for failing to make an entertaining story, even if it's meant to sit alongside a deeply important religious holiday's origins. (i.e. including Jesus doesn't automatically make something better)
Counterpoint: Christmas as a concept has been pretty far removed from Jesus. Most of the Rankin Bass movies are about Santa and Christmas Magic mythos, while the other movies climaxes literally are literally just the birth of Jesus. There’s a difference there
I'm all for it, Long Eared Donkey and Drummer boy were SO BORING and then all of the sudden, "IS THAT JESUS FKN CHRIST?!?" I love that baby Jesus and the Christian God exist in this universe along with Santa and Rudolph. Like I wonder, if Jesus is mad at Santa for kinda hijacking Christmas? Or since Rudolph appears in 'Nestor the Long Eared Christmas Donkey' is Jesus just irritated that he was born on Santa's present ritual day? I'd imagine the Christian God and Santa Claus would get into a lot of fights about Christmas. Jesus is one of the few prominent Rankin Bass charecters who don't appear in Frosty and Rudolph's Christmas special, which I think implies Jesus and Santa weren't on good terms.
@creedbratton4064 ...I think the bigger issue is the difference in time period. Santa Claus may be an immortal wizard, but Jesus is kind of dead, and by the time the RB specials were coming out in the 60s-80s, had been dead for over 1900 years.
But think more pragmatically. Given the nature of the specials, would Jesus have been able to be a part of any Christmas special as an actual character? Or would he be trapped as this divine figure unable to really interact with anything? I wouldn't mind a Christmas special where Jesus appears as a divine ghost to partake in what is essentially his birthday celebration, perhaps offering guidance to those who need it around the holidays and otherwise being a cool dude. Maybe he even talks to Santa Claus, tells him he's doing a good job or something.
Justice for Albert