See that small logo attached to this post? If you’re a child of the ’70s and ’80s, it probably looks pretty familiar. It’s amazing, though, what happens when you put it into full motion with the brief but simple animation and soundtrack. Memories of youth smack you in the brain as quickly as with familiar smells. No matter how many times you see them today, you shake your head and say aloud, “Holy ship, I remember this from when I was a kid!” Yes, I said “ship” — just ask my son, right after he finishes the cookie I gave him for telling my wife that.

After seeing the Rankin-Bass logo appear before one of the Christmas specials this past holiday season, I set out to find it and any other intro/promo from my youth that strikes those same kinds of memories. Let’s start with the first one that brought this on for me, Rankin-Bass…

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Mmmm. Smell that aroma? A mix of pine, dirty Santa suits, chocolate coins, candles, and sweat from that dude pulling out his well-worn credit card for the 20th time today. Yes, it’s once again time for that festive season of Christmakwanzakuh. A time when all men and women get together – to be first in line at the store for the four laptops they are selling at $300 a piece; a time for friends and family – who will be regifting the gift you sent them last year; and a time for television viewing.

Although most of our shows will be taking the month of December off, there is plenty of viewing to be done, thanks to the plethora of holiday cartoons, movies, and specials that will be clogging the network arteries from now until the last hours of Christmas fade into a sleepy, ham-induced memory. As there is so much out there to watch, we here at CliqueClack TV feel it is our responsibility, nay, our sworn duty to the Lords of Television, to provide you with the most comprehensive list of holiday-themed programming that we can give.

So, after the jump, you’ll be able to view a guide of what you look forward to over the next few weeks. Please read it slowly, as the sugary content of some of these shows may cause diabetes. Oh, and if you miss the initial airing of your favorite special, don’t worry. It will be on at least two or 150 more times before Christmas. So, if the sugar plums are done dancing in your heads, away we go-Ho-Ho-Ho! Read the rest of this entry »