Christmas TV History, episode 4: Variety

For many viewers, Christmas on TV means watching a favorite singer perform a nostalgic yuletide carol, a group of dancers expressing their joy of the Christmas season, and a comedian poking fun at our holiday foilbles. VARIETY on TV has a long, rich history on television with Christmas variety episodes and specials being some of the best entertainment.

In this 26-minute podcast, author Joanna Wilson explores the history of Christmas-themed TV variety shows and specials. Wilson covers the prolific output of Christmas variety shows and specials from performers Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Perry Como and Andy Williams, along with variety from other Hollywood and music luminaries. She includes discussion of long-running musical variety specials, such as Christmas in Rockefeller Center, as well as episodes of regular TV series that put on a "variety show within a show" for Christmas episodes, such as the Dick Van Dyke Show and Laverne and Shirley. Wilson also discusses the most recent variety specials, illuminating the tongue-in-cheek productions as well as the earnest creations.

Joanna Wilson is the author of Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials and Made-for-TV Movies. She has been researching AND writing about Christmas on TV for nearly 20 years. Wilson is finalizing the updated, 2nd edition of the encyclopedia which will come out next year in 2020. She is the author of Triple Dog Dare: Watching & Surviving the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story, The Christmas TV Companion, and Merry Musical Christmas: Vol. 1: The Best Musical Performances in Sitcoms and Dramas. Her books are available at ChristmasTVHistory.com
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