Below are 10 classic Christmas TV Specials from 1980-1989 currently available for free on YouTube. As a child of the 1980s, revisiting these holiday variety specials, running the gamut from Lawrence Welk to Pee-Wee Herman, filled me with so much Christmas spirit, I was practically bursting at the seams. My Christmas wish is that you find a video or two below that fills you with the same glee!
- Why I Love the 1980s
- 10 Classic 1980s Christmas Specials on YouTube
- 1) THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1980)
- 2) LAWRENCE WELK CHRISTMAS SHOW (1981)
- 3) ANDY WILLIAMS EARLY NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS (1982)
- 4) NEW YORK SOLID GOLD CHRISTMAS (1983)
- 5) PAT BOONE'S OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS (1984)
- 6) CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON (1985)
- 7) BARBARA MANDRELL CHRISTMAS FAMILY REUNION SPECIAL (1986)
- 8) A MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS (1987)
- 9) PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1988)
- 10) WALT DISNEY WORLD CHRISTMAS DAY PARADE (1989)
Why I Love the 1980s
I think we all have OUR decade – the 10 years that tend to stand out among the others. I entered 1980 as a 6 year-old and exited as a legally licensed driver. That’s quite the spectrum!
Maybe it’s just me, but the 1980s also felt like a bridge between the past and the present. I especially noticed this while preparing 30 years worth of Christmas specials.
The beginning of the decade seemed to continue the wholesome holiday specials of the 1970s. (See 10 CLASSIC 1970S CHRISTMAS TV SPECIALS FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE). As the 1980s came to a close, it seemed like things were getting a bit grittier and edgier – dare I say a bit more cynical.
10 Classic 1980s Christmas Specials on YouTube
Here are 10 Christmas specials, one from each year of the 1980s, that you can find for free on YouTube. When available, I have embedded the clip here so you can just sit back, watch and enjoy.
1) THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1980)
Originally Aired: December 16, 1980
Host: Dean Martin
Guest Stars: Beverly Sills, Erik Estrada, Mel Tillis and Andy Gibb
2) LAWRENCE WELK CHRISTMAS SHOW (1981)
Originally Aired: December 19, 1981
Host: Lawrence Welk
3) ANDY WILLIAMS EARLY NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS (1982)
Originally Aired: December 7, 1982
Host: Andy Williams
Guest Stars: James Galway, Dorothy Hamill, Aileen Quinn and Dick Van Patten
4) NEW YORK SOLID GOLD CHRISTMAS (1983)
Originally Aired: December 15, 1983
Host: Marilyn McCoo
Guest Stars: John Davidson, Donna Summer, America, Laura Branigan, Andrae Crouch, Roberta Flack, Crystal Gayle, The Oak Ridge Boys, Peter Paul & Mary, Jerry Reed, Sister Sledge, The Chipmunks, Jeff Altman and Wayland Flowers & Madame
5) PAT BOONE’S OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS (1984)
Originally Aired: December 1984
Host: Pat Boone
Guest Stars: Lee Greenwood, Danny Cooksey, The Acker Twins and Clyde Foley Cummins
6) CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON (1985)
Originally Aired: December 8, 1985
Host: Tom Brokaw
Guest Stars: Pat Boone, Natalie Cole and Amy Grant
7) BARBARA MANDRELL CHRISTMAS FAMILY REUNION SPECIAL (1986)
Originally Aired: December 17, 1986
Host: Barbara Mandrell
Guest Stars: The Mandrell family
8) A MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS (1987)
Originally Aired: December 16, 1987
Starring: The Muppets
9) PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1988)
Originally Aired: December 21, 1988
Host: Pee-Wee Herman
Guest Stars: Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Cher, Grace Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Joan Rivers, Charo, k.d. lang, Dinah Shore and Whoopi Goldberg
10) WALT DISNEY WORLD CHRISTMAS DAY PARADE (1989)
Originally Aired: December 25, 1989
Host: Mickey & Minnie Mouse
Guest Stars: Joan Lunden, Regis Philbin, Alan Thicke, Kermit the Frog, Joanna Kerns, Mark Price and Whitney Kershaw
Did any of these specials bring back any particular memories? Are there other holiday specials that have become a part of your annual holiday celebration? Share your memories with us below.
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