1) BEST: A Charlie Brown Christmas

(1965) Almost unique among Christmas specials, this show focuses on the real real meaning of Christmas—not caring, sharing, and giving, but the birth of Jesus. When Linus gets onstage and recites from the second chapter of Luke, the show suddenly and surprisingly shifts direction. Even more than the Vince Guaraldi music, that moment sets it apart.

2) STRANGEST: Star Wars Holiday Special

(1978) In a two-hour hodgepodge that was shown only once, Chewbacca returns to his home planet, Kashyyyk, for a Wookie holiday called Life Day. Along the way, Art Carney interacts with magical holograms, Bea Arthur sings cabaret, the Jefferson Starship performs for storm troopers, and Harvey Korman appears in drag. The climax comes when Carrie Fisher sings off-key for Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. (Illicit copies of this monstrosity, varying widely in quality, are available on eBay for $10 to $20. Stills can be seen at www.timewarptv.com )

3) FUNNIEST: Saturday Night Live Christmas

(1999) A compilation from “SNL”’s first 25 years, with John Belushi as a drunken department-store Santa, Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford trimming the tree (literally), and Dana Carvey as Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey getting even with Mr. Potter.

4) BEST LITTLE-KNOWN RANKIN/BASS SPECIAL: Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

(1977) Arthur Rankin, Jr., and Jules Bass popularized stop-motion animation with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. In this forgotten special, Nestor’s ears act like Rudolph’s nose.

5) BEST VERSION OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL : Mr. Magoo’s Christmas

(1962) Many television shows have adapted our most venerated secular Christmas scripture. “Mr. Magoo” does it best, with “The Odd Couple” a close second.

6) MOST EFFECTIVE TEARJERKER: A House Without a Christmas Tree

(1972) Jason Robards stars in a heartwarming story about a tree—and a Christmas—that he does not want his daughter to have.

7) BEST CHRISTMAS EPISODE OF A SERIES: The Honeymooners

(1955) Through an O. Henry-inspired plot, Ralph Kramden learns that Christmas is not about gifts but about spending time with the ones you love.

8) MOST MEMORABLE SONGS: The Year Without a Santa Claus

(1974) Mention Heat Miser or Snow Miser to anyone who grew up in the 1970s and watch a smile come to their face.

9) MOST ENTERTAININGLY BAD: Mr. Ed’s Christmas Story

(1963) Mr. Ed tells Wilbur the story of Christmas from a horse’s point of view. (Sadly, “Mr. Ed” videos are hard to find, but they can be taped off the air, and some fans have copies available to swap.)

10) BEST SANTA CLAUS STORY: Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town

(1970) Another Rankin/Bass classic. Fred Astaire narrates the story of how Kris Kringle grew up to