Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

I can't believe nobody else has commented on this yet. This is definitely one of the best Christmas specials ever, for any age. I watch this almost every Christmas. It's a fun video to enjoy. Bert, Ernie, The Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and Kermit all go ice skating, which is fun to watch. They sing Feliz Navidad. Bert and Ernie act out the classic O. Henry story "The Gift of the Magi", with each selling a precious possession to buy the other something, only to render each other's gifts useless without the items they sold. Mr. Hooper is on there too and that's really neat seeing him on there. Big Bird, Kermit, and Grover all do interviews with children, trying to find out how Santa Claus gets down the chimney. Big Bird is worried about people getting gifts at Christmas if Santa Claus can't fit down the chimney. Of course, this is prompted by Oscar the Grouch's teasing, who is actually sorry and worried about Big Bird at the end. The movie is very fun, filled with great songs, and really funny moments, like watching Cookie Monster try to send a letter to Santa Claus without eating his writing utensils in anticipation of the cookies he's going to ask for. You can get this movie on VHS video at Amazon.com and now it's on DVD.

I never watched this movie as a kid, so the element of nostalgia that shades most people's perceptions of it isn't there for me. Which makes my absolute adoration of this movie all the more impressive- I watched it as a young adult with no kids and still saw so much joy in it, and was brought back into that feeling of love and whimsy that comes from Christmas at childhood. Very few movies have given me that feeling; cynicism has infected modern film far too much. But this one, with all of its sweetness, sincerity, and love, has instantly become a classic and one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves along with other specials like A Charlie Brown Christmas that it deserves.

Christmas Eve is upon the entire Sesame Street gang in this funny and sweet one-hour television special. Oscar the Grouch has Big Bird worried about Santa Claus arriving and bringing everyone presents. Meanwhile, Bert and Ernie struggle to get something nice for each other in a brilliant re-telling of "Gift of the Magi." And Cookie Monster is having trouble conveying to Santa Claus just what he would like for Christmas. Filled with laughter (the scenes with Kermit and Grover questioning the kids are priceless!), music, and all-around Christmas magic, "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" is a wonderful Christmas special, and provided childhood memories that I will always treasure.

I first saw this when I was about 4 and I've watched it every Christmas since. It is still entertaining, funny, and heartwarming. From the opening scene at the ice skating rink to the songs to Big Bird's exchanges with Oscar the Grouch. Oscar the Grouch's song is great: "I hate Christmas". Probably the best in the whole movie is Bert and Ernie's scene with Mr. Hooper. Such a shame he died.

Kermit the Frog is funny, too. These were the good days of Sesame Street, before Elmo-mania.

My kids grew up on this special and it remains as wonderful as it does timeless. Oscar's nasty question gives way to a presentation of the magic of Christmas. I love it even more now in my '60s with my grandkids growing up in a world where it feels tenderness and kindness are in short supply.