Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, from the TV Ratings Guide to You

From all of us here at The TV Ratings Guide, we wish a very Merry Christmas to you and yours, and hope for all of our readers to have a wonderful and safe holiday. Enjoy the Official TVRG Christmas 2025 playlist below, and we hope it brings you some good cheer this holiday season.

Holiday Special Report Card

Holiday Special Report Card

A still from the NBC special.

Immediately after Thanksgiving ends, the major broadcast networks comb through their holiday special libraries to find the classic cartoons that will perform the best. Certain staples like Rudolph and Grinch have been around for decades, while others like How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming and Kung Fu Panda Holiday quickly faded away. Below is a chart detailing how the animated Christmas specials that aired in 2023 performed in the Adults 18-49 demographic*.

*Overall Average: 0.255

Reindeer in Here: Reindeer in Here debuted in November 2022 with a solid 0.42 rating, retaining a respectable amount of the 0.66 that its Rudolph lead-in posted. In 2023, Reindeer perked up to a 0.43 rating for its Saturday showing but was undoubtedly inflated by a football lead-in. This one clearly does not belong at the top of this list, but the power of NFL help elevated it to the number one spot. In 2024, expect it to be closer to the 0.21 it posted for its second 2022 telecast, unless it gets boosted again. Grade: B

How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Grinch managed a 0.41 for its first 2023 showing and then dropped to a 0.32 for its second. Though it remains one of the highest-rated of the bunch, it was down about 25% from 2022 (0.41 vs. 0.55) for the first airing. The year-to-year drop is a little concerning, but it's still a force despite the decline. This one gets an A for the actual ratings but a C for the overall trend. Grade: B

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town posted a 0.38 for its first telecast of December 2023, dealing with a light 14% dip from 2022's 0.44. It got to air again on Friday the 22nd and managed a solid 0.35. This Christmas staple aged gracefully in 2023 and impressed when placed on the air a second time. This feels like the healthiest of the current crop of specials, and ABC is lucky to have the rights to it. Grade: A 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph posted a massive 0.66 in 2022 but only managed a 0.39 last year, marking a 41% decline for the famous reindeer. It's still at the top of the pack, but this is an even worse decline than Grinch. If we're looking at the ratings themselves, this would be at least a B+. However, it gets a C- or a D+ when it comes to the year-to-year trend. Grade: B-

Prep & Landing: Prep & Landing and its sequel Naughty vs. Nice have been a part of ABC's holiday lineup since 2009 and 2011 respectively. In 2023, they both dropped by four-hundredths, with the original managing a 0.30 and the sequel posting a 0.28. These numbers are just fine. This is clearly not an IP with some sort of massive following behind it, so this is not terrible given that these two have been around for over a decade now. It's possible that they will eventually slip out of rotation, but they seem safe now that ABC no longer has the Peanuts library at their disposal. The Alphabet Network will probably want a meaningful cartoon presence for the holiday season, and these two fit the bill. Grade: C 

Shrek the Halls: Though other franchise-based specials like Toy Story That Time Forgot, Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas, and Merry Madagascar have fallen out of circulation, Shrek the Halls has proved to have some serious staying power. Shrek was a staple on ABC's Christmas lineup from 2007 to 2021 before being benched in 2022. NBC came to the rescue in 2023 and awarded it the post-Grinch slot. Shrek managed a strong 0.36 rating for its first showing and nearly eclipsed its final ABC broadcast (0.39) in the process. The 88% retention out of Grinch was remarkable, showing the incredible compatibility of this duo. And while the second showing only managed a 0.19, that one had the bad luck of airing on a Saturday, meaning many had already had their dose of Shrek for the year. Shrek may not be in the same league as a Frosty or a Rudolph just yet, but it is a seasoned veteran in its own right, especially compared to some of the newer disappointments. Thanks to the NBC pickup, this one likely has a bright future of yearly broadcasts ahead of it. Grade: B

Frosty the Snowman: Frosty dropped by almost 40% from its 2022 showing, going from a 0.43 to a 0.26. However, it retained most of the Rudolph encore (0.27) that led into it and had less lead-in help than in years past. For a Saturday, this is a fine performance. But, maybe more should be expected from a name like Frosty, so it gets some points knocked off for not being in the same league as the big 3. Grade: C

Frosty Returns: This one did a 0.33 in 2022 with a 0.43 lead-in and a 0.24 in 2023 with a 0.26 lead-in. Retention has clearly gotten stronger even though ratings diminished. Frosty Returns is a nice companion piece to the original Frosty, even though it usually lags behind. Since it dropped less than the original Frosty, it gets the better grade. Grade: C+

Olaf's Frozen Adventure: In its first 2023 showing, Olaf managed a meager 0.19 rating, falling a bit from its Mickey lead-in (0.21). In showing #2, Olaf grew to a 0.25 and easily outpaced its Mickey lead-out (0.20). Though any kind of growth is good, there really isn't much of a difference between these two performances strength-wise. The first aired in the dreadful 7:30 p.m. time slot and struggled, while the second had the local lead-in advantage and benefited because of it. All things considered, Olaf is a modest, albeit unremarkable, performer. Grade: C-

Robbie the Reindeer: Robbie the Reindeer is one of the more obscure items on here, and CBS clearly knows that as they only air it once a year...on a Saturday. Robbie averaged a 0.22 in 2023 for the two installments that aired (Hooves of Fire & Legend of the Lost Tribe). This is not particularly encouraging, especially with a 0.43 lead-in, but there are clearly weaker performers here. Robbie was way down from the 0.35 it managed in 2022, but it's possible that some sports inflation was baked into that airing. When looking at the broadcast history of this one, CBS had it on for a few years in the early 2000's, but it was completely absent from 2006 to 2015. With this abysmal showing and Reindeer in Here putting up larger numbers, it wouldn't be a surprise if they decided to shelve Robbie again. Grade: D

Mickey Saves Christmas: Mickey Saves Christmas exists in a strange space in the Christmas special ecosystem. The Mickey Mouse brand itself may be one of the oldest IPs on this list, but Saves Christmas is one of the newest specials on here, having just debuted in November 2022. Interest in this special is clearly not there as it only managed a 0.21 for its first showing and a 0.20 for its second. Though the 0.21 could be excused since it was placed in the 7 p.m. death slot on a Sunday night, it got to air on a Tuesday at 8:30 the second time around and did not improve. Considering that its grand 2022 premiere only managed a 0.28, it really didn't decline that much from where it started. Still, far more should be expected from the Mickey brand, and this one will probably fall out of rotation in the near future. Grade: D-

Trolls: Holiday in Harmony: Trolls: Holiday in Harmony is the second Trolls-based Christmas special to be made and seems to have knocked its predecessor (Trolls Holiday) out of rotation. Trolls Holiday managed a mammoth 1.5 for its 2017 launch but crashed to a 0.1 just two years later. Holiday in Harmony debuted in 2021 with a 0.35 and slipped to a 0.33 in 2022, nowhere near the highs of the special that came before it but also nowhere near the lows. In 2023, it aired on a Saturday and plummeted to a 0.20. It deserves a bit of praise for building on Shrek by 0.01, but this is nothing phenomenal. Holiday in Harmony probably won't stick around for much longer, but it did fine given the downgrade in time slot and night. Grade: C-

5 More Sleeps 'Til Christmas: 5 More Sleeps 'Til Christmas debuted in 2021 with a 0.40 and returned in 2022 with a 0.30. In 2023, it was removed from its 8pm at Fridays perch and was instead placed in the much more challenging 7pm slot on a Sunday. It completely bombed, posting just a 0.08 and dropping by over 70% from the 2022 showing. This one had an uphill battle given its terrible time slot, but that does not excuse the outright collapse. It would be a Christmas miracle if this one returned in 2024. Grade: F

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer is the lone holiday special that the CW airs regularly, though they have aired titles like It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and Merry Madagascar in the past. Grandma is an inoffensive performer for the CW. Its ratings are nothing spectacular, but it is on par with the rest of the network's programming. Considering how often it airs, it will likely stick around. Grade: C

Wednesday TV Ratings 12/25/19: NBA Game Tops an Otherwise Quiet Christmas, Grinch Specials Collapse (UPDATED)

Finals Update: The NBA game (+0.5) adjusted up.

Repeat of Blackish (-0.4), Mom (-0.1), and Whose Line Is It Anyway? (-0.1) adjusted down.

Time	Show	18-49 Rating/Share	Viewers (mil)	Channel
8 PM	NBA: Clippers vs. Lakers	2.2/9	5.36	ABC
	Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas (R)	0.5/3	2.47	NBC
	The Neighborhood (R)	0.4/2	3.35	CBS
	iHeartRadio Jingle Ball (R)	0.2/1	0.78	The CW
	The Moodys (R)	0.2/1	0.89	Fox
8:30 PM	How The Grinch Stole Christmas	0.6/3	2.38	NBC
	Bob Hearts Abishola (R)	0.3/2	3.06	CBS
9 PM	Mom (R)	0.3/2	3.11	CBS
	The Moodys (R)	0.2/1	0.79	Fox
9:30 PM	Carol's Second Act (R)	0.3/2	2.54	CBS
	Whose Line Is It Anyway? (R)	0.1/1	0.68	The CW
10 PM	All Rise (R)	0.2/1	2.00	CBS
10:30 PM	Blackish (R)	1.0/8	4.65	ABC

Ranking the Bob’s Burgers Christmas Episodes

Bob's Burgers is a show that does Christmas episodes better than just about any show. Their Christmas episodes are traditionally season-best episodes for one of TV's best-ever animated programs. The show is great year-round, but its holiday episodes always manage to stand out. Here's all eight Christmas episodes, ranked from worst to best.

8- Father of the Bob

There's nothing bad about Father of the Bob, but it's far from the show's best. The plot of the episode is fairly basic, focusing on Bob's tumultuous relationship with his father. That's a good premise, but the problem is that it doesn't allow for much focus on the Christmas spirit. It's an episode that just happens to take place on Christmas, which doesn't make it a contender for anything but last on this list. Aside from that, the episode itself is just average. I enjoy it, but it's not one of the show's best and upping the Christmas magic probably wouldn't have moved this up from last place, despite great guest spots from Bill Hader, Nick Offerman, and Carl Reiner.

7- Better Off Sled

Based on episode quality alone, this one's probably higher than #5. However, this was more of a winter episode than a Christmas episode, knocking it down a slot. It still did have a Christmassy feel to it (thanks to the Linda plot), but the main plot wasn't really about the holiday at all. It was still a fantastic episode though, and a very, very funny one, too. Linda's knitting-centric plot didn't get all that much screen time, which kept the Christmas spirit to a minimum, but it's still going to be viewed annually in my house. The ending scene was also one of the best endings to any episode on this list, with the kids fighting over who gets to keep Linda's raggedy old scarf while poor Bob looks on, feeling insulted because nobody loves his scarves. That's a classic scene in the making.

6- God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins

As the first of the show's line of Christmas specials, God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins gets some nostalgia points. It started the show's most wonderful tradition, and we can all be thankful for that. The episode is definitely an enjoyable one, with tons of funny moments (Louise wanting her own apartment and Gene wanting the Cool Running Bobsled are highlights) and a zany plot. It's really fun, but it's lacking a special "something" that the all-time great episodes have. It's a little weird for my tastes as well, as other Bob's Christmas episodes tend to be a bit more grounded in reality. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I still prefer those episodes. This is definitely an episode that I'll watch during my now-annual Bob's Burgers Christmas episode marathon, but I won't be begging for seconds like I will be with others on the list.

5- Have Yourself a Maily Linda Christmas

The show's most recent episode is a solid entry into the Bob's Christmas collection. One thing to credit the show on is that its Christmas episodes are never the same from one year to the other. This episode reinforces that by bringing in Linda's family for a side plot with Bob, while the main plot focuses on Linda getting a holiday job to pay for the holiday. Both plots work very well, and since I'm a sucker for any episode featuring Megan Mullally's Gayle, I particularly enjoyed seeing her appear in the annual Christmas special. Linda attempting to deliver a piece of mail to a child on Christmas Eve could've taken a turn (there could have been some poop in the package as was suggested, or the kid could have never existed at all), but per usual, the show took a more heartwarming approach by having Linda convince Mike the Mailman to give the gift to the child (who was real, and not getting poop for a present!), even if it wasn't the proper method of mail delivery. It's those kind of heartwarming moments that are the reason this show is so good at holiday episodes in the first place, and even if this episode doesn't compete with some of the classic Christmas episodes just yet, it fits in so well with the other seven Christmas entries.

4-Nice-Capades

Henry Winkler's guest voicing makes this episode great. It surely wouldn't have been as good with a different actor filling the role of Santa, as he added his special charm to the classic character. The kids putting on a show to prove to a mall Santa that they're good is great on its own, but the fact that their examples of goodness were so pathetic left me laughing hysterically. Viewers know that the Belcher kids are flawed, but Louise's grand Nice-Capades show proved that even they know that, and that was some character development that I enjoyed. Another great aspect was Bob's search for a gift in the closing mall, and his settling for a calendar is just the icing on the cake there.

3- The Last Gingerbread House on the Left

Starting with this episodes, we've reached the elites. The ones that will be Christmas classics that I'll make sure to watch each year before December 25th. It took me a second look to feel that way about The Last Gingerbread House on the Left, but I got there eventually. This one got better with age, going for an episode I felt was just average to one that I thought was truly great. I might have just needed a second look to get all of the jokes, but this one really worked after the second watch. The plot, starring Bob and one of the show's best recurring characters (Mr. Fischoeder), was really hilarious, and I loved the caroling subplot with Lin and the kids. That subplot was probably my favorite in any Bob's Christmas special, with a simple and fun nature to it that made it a treat to watch. The main plot was obviously great as well, and I loved the gingerbread contest's judge, Godfrey.

2- The Bleakening

The newest, longest, and most musical of the Bob's Christmas episodes, The Bleakening is a thoroughly entertaining episode for the show. It's not the show's best holiday episode, but that's an incredibly hard feat to accomplish. I was skeptical of this episode for many reasons, as I wasn't sure it could sustain itself for so long or make the musical aspect a meaningful addition to the show. It did both of those, far exceeding my expectations and delivering a season-best show. The length allowed for it the fully flesh out its plots, leaving nothing half-baked and feeling unfinished. The episode also incorporated all of the main characters in meaningful ways, with the kids and the parents all having something to do that impacted the plot. Teddy also provided for some hearty laughs, despite playing a minor role in the episode.

1- Christmas in the Car

The ultimate Bob's Burgers Christmas episode, and, in my opinion, the greatest Christmas episode of any show, Christmas In the Car is one of the funniest and best episodes of Bob's Burgers, period. Its plot is great and never drags, and I actually wish this one was an hour-long special. The episode is peppered with fantastic one-liners and jokes, such as Linda's Dutch Baby obsession, or Teddy's adventure with the Belcher fridge. The episode is plotted so well, with a great beginning, middle, and end and a natural progression for the storylines. Nothing was resolved quickly, and the writers clearly crafted this one very carefully. It's a masterpiece, and was, in fact, my first ever Bob's Burgers episode. My love for the episode, though, is far more than mere nostalgia. It holds up to this day.

What is your favorite Bob's Burgers Christmas episode? Vote in the poll below and let me know your personal rankings below!

Rebecca’s Top 20 Christmas Specials

Christmas is one of the absolute best times of the year for special events on TV, with Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas and the specials aired by the broadcast networks being must-see-TV for many during the month of December. But of all the Christmas classics, there are some clear favorites. Here are the top 20 greatest Christmas specials.

20- Shrek the Halls

I'm a sucker for all things Shrek, and this is no exception. While it's not as good as some of the early films, it's still a fun half-hour. Featuring a relatively basic story about Shrek just not wanting to deal with the hustle-and-bustle of the holiday, it makes up for unoriginality with its hilarious characters and comical voice work. It's one of the funniest Christmas animated specials that the networks air every year, and I can always appreciate the funny.

19- Twas the Night Before Christmas

With this animated special from 1974, Rankin/Bass took a classic tale known by all and turned it into something original. While it uses familiar evidence from the original story, it adds a background to the night where not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. While it isn't one of Rankin/Bass' best, it's still a nice way to spend a half-hour of a cold winter's night. Plus, the mice are just adorable.

18- Frosty Returns

It can't hold a candle to the original Frosty, but John Goodman still makes this special well worth the time. The plot is a little strange, but the writers manage to make it work anyhow. It even gave a nice little redemption arc to its villain. Plus, it also features the vocal talents of Laurie Metcalf and Andrea Martin, and that is very much appreciated.

17-The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow

This is one of Rankin/Bass's most simplistic tales, despite its far-from-simplistic (and quite frankly, confusing) title. Angela Lansbury stars in this tale of a nun who takes in an orphan boy who has just lost his sight in a tragic lightning accident. Lansbury's instantly-recognizable voice was a great choice for the role of Sister Theresa, and, despite some competition from the adorable Waggles the dog, she's the star of the show. The special's inclusion of the classic White Christmas was also genius.

16- Bah Humduck!

I've wasn't a huge Looney Tunes fan at first, but this special changed that view. Despite being a pretty by-the-book adaptation of A Christmas Carol, the unique world of Looney Tunes takes it a step above the rest. All of the Looney Tunes characters were great choices to fulfill their Christmas Carol counterparts. Daffy fulfilling the Scrooge role just makes almost too much sense, and Porky was a great Bob Cratchit.

15- Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

It may not hit you in the face with the Christmas spirit, but Emmet Otter and his Jug-Band Christmas are part of my annual holiday tradition. The plot of the special is a very sweet take on The Gift of the Magi, and it's much better than a special about otter puppets has any right to be.

14- Prep & Landing

It's not always the cheeriest Christmas special, but Prep & Landing does up the holiday cheer towards the end. Before that though, it provides plenty of holiday laughs and even a bit of snark, before the titular Prep & Landing team ultimately is able to save Christmas and give a nice, happy ending.

13- Mickey's Once/Twice Upon a Christmas

These two are more movies than specials, but they only run for about an hour apiece, so I'll let it slide. It's hard to pick a favorite, though the smaller amount of stories in the original does make it a bit easier to give some real plot development to each. Either way, they both deliver some memorable, delightful Christmas-related stories featuring our favorite Disney characters. The Mickey and Minnie take on the famous "Gift of the Magi" story is probably the best part of either movie.

12- How Murray Saved Christmas

The most recent special on this list, Murray is certainly a unique entry. It's a far cry from the sweeter specials on this list that almost always have a heartwarming ending. While this one ends happily, I don't think anyone could describe any part of this one as heartwarming. It's a very funny special though, and it features a great vocal performance from Jerry Stiller as the titular Murray. I am a little surprised, however, that Murray celebrates Christmas and not Festivus.

11- Olive the Other Reindeer

This special is an iconic one from my childhood that has still remained entertaining many, many years after its first viewing. While it's definitely a little corny at points, it's still great fun that anyone in the family can enjoy. Martini the penguin provides great comic relief, while Drew Barrymore's performance as Olive is most certainly the highlight of the whole special.

10- Mickey's Christmas Carol

While it's not my favorite adaptation of A Christmas Carol (I'm partial to the Muppet version), the Mickey version is the sweetest one out there. With Scrooge McDuck serving as the special's version of Ebeneezer Scrooge, and plenty of other Disney characters along for the ride, it takes us on a short trip through the past, present, and future life of Scrooge without ever running too long or feeling tired, which Christmas Carol adaptations sometimes suffer from.

9- Christmas In the Car

I tried to avoid including episodes of TV shows on this list, but this one works so well even as a standalone episode that it would be a crime not to include it. From start to finish, even as the Belchers  get chased down by a crazed driver in a candy cane truck, this animated classic is filled with Christmas cheer. A side plot featuring a quest to catch Santa adds to an already-great main plot. And unlike a lot of the sappy, saccharine specials on this list, this one is side-splittingly hilarious, mostly thanks to one-liners from Linda.

8- Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

This one wins the award for the most depressing Christmas special ever, but I still love it. Nestor's mom's death is the emotional heart of this short film, but poor Nestor is followed by bad luck throughout the story, until his luck finally changes and he becomes a hero. It's not the most unique story, but the vocal talents and the adorable animation, plus the incredibly-satisfying triumph of the titular character, make this one a true Christmas classic.

7- Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

While I don't like it as much as a few of Rankin/Bass's other '60s cartoons, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town is still a Christmas classic that deserves all the acclaim and love it's gathered over the years. Featuring what just may be the best narration of any Christmas special, Rankin/Bass or otherwise, from Fred Astaire and a cast of supporting characters that are plenty interesting in their own right (Topper, Winter, the Kringles, even the villainous Burgermeister Meisterburger), the special is just so much fun. Plus, who can help but sing along to the theme song?

6- A Charlie Brown Christmas

While other Charlie Brown specials are considered classics that are played annually during their own respective holidays, A Charlie Brown Christmas is the best of the bunch. Featuring a truly great message about the true meaning of Christmas, a somewhat-pathetic Christmas tree and Sally's letters to Santa, Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the best annual specials that TV has to offer.

5- How the Grinch Stole Christmas

He's sure is a mean one, but The Grinch is also a great one. A great animated special, that is. The shortest adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss story is also the most recognizable and the best. While the later Jim Carey and Benedict Cumberbatch takes are more comical, Boris Karloff's Grinch is untouchable. It also introduced Thurl Ravenscroft's Christmas classic, You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch, which should all be thankful for.

4- Frosty the Snowman

This is one of those specials that everyone has seen and pretty much everyone loves. The story itself is pretty simple, but the vocal talents and the story progression help make it great. Best of all is Jimmy Durante as the narrator and singer of the iconic Frosty song, though Hocus Pocus is pretty great, too. The relationship between Frosty and Karen is beautiful and touching, and it's why none of Frosty's many sequels and reboots could ever match up, despite all being relatively entertaining themselves. Well, if you ignore Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas in July.

3- Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer

This special, which is one of the newest specials on the list, might not have a reputation as a great Christmas classic. And while it is quite frankly one of the most insane Christmas specials out there, it's also one of my favorites. It reminds me, more than any other special, of my childhood. The song is one of my seasonal favorites, and the special is something I just grew up with, watching it with my entire family every single year, at least twice a year. The songs in the special, as zany as some may be, help make this special a lot different than anything else out there. The vocal cast is also great, especially Elmo Shropshire (the song's original singer) as Grandpa. As the song goes, it's just not Christmas without Grandma.

2- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

This is the quintessential Christmas special. It isn't Christmas without seeing Rudolph. And there's a reason for that: it's wonderful. It's so much fun from start to finish, especially when Rudolph finally gets appreciated and is no longer a laughing stock for just being himself. The side characters, particularly Hermey, Cornelius and Bumble, make this special about overcoming adversity an absolute delight, and the trip to the Island of Misfit Toys makes it even better. It's hard to find a bigger crowd pleaser for the entire family than Rudolph.

1- The Year Without a Santa Claus

It might not get the attention of Rudolph, Frosty, or even the original Santa Claus special from Rankin/Bass (Santa Claus is Comin' to Town), but The Year Without a Santa Claus has always been my favorite of theirs. The addition of Heat Miser and Snow Miser and their classic theme songs makes puts this one a step above the rest. The main story, about Santa just not feeling the Christmas spirit and taking time off, was also original and unique to this special, at least at the time it was made. Mrs. Claus takes a starring role here and it works so well, as does everything about Southtown and honestly every single part of this special.