My Tribute-Five Favorite Less Known Betty White Roles

 So I guess I have to do this one, never really wanted to. I don't need to explain what an icon Betty White was we all know it. She has done a lot of movie and TV, and so as a tribute due to her passing today here are five of my favorites. We all know about stuff like Mary Tyler Moore, Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland but there were plenty more. 

Carol Butnett Show/Mama's Family

It's not talked about a lot but she made a lot of appearances on Carol Burnet, and it's spin off Mama's Family. On both she played the stuck-up daughter Ellen who was clearly Mama's favorite and was always fighting with Eunice. I think this character would have been one of her iconic one's, if not fot a certain character she created in 1986. 

A Look at "5 More Sleeps Til Christmas"

It's always awesome to see new Christmas specials every year. It had seemed for a while the only new one's we got were Pixar or Dreamworks properties given forced holiday stories. So it's nice to see new ideas. For example, Toon Disney gave us a brand-new CGI Mickey special with an original story. It started out ok but they wrote themselves into such a corner that the ending was totally forced and kinda ruined it for me. Another special that came along this year was a little treat called...

This apparently began life as a book by Tonight Show host and SNL alum Jimmy Fallon. It's a kids book so of course I never heard of it. How does the animated special hold up?

Six Best Christmas Songs That Came From Movies

It was ten years ago I talked about how sometimes a song from a Christmas movie may be more popular than the movie itself. Today I want to take a different approach, when a song that premiered in a movie does so well it becomes a timeless standard. It's easy for a movie to use a song that's already a classic, for the movie to produce the classic is a little harder! Here are five of my favorite Christmas songs that just happen to have started out on the big screen.

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

Judy Garland is awesome, and no matter how many cover this (even Frank Sinatra) her's is the best version of the song. From the movie "Meet Me in St Louis" Garland has proven that she has more to remembered for than just "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".

Top 5 Favorite Christmas Elves

Santa Claus can't do it alone. So of course, he had elves to help make the toys and other things around the workshop. Apparently, elves began being associates with Santa in the mid 1800's, and just kind became part of the folklore as the years went on. Apparently, they didn't so much make the toys as keep an eye on kids to see who was naughty and who was nice. Kind of sounds like a certain elf on the shelf we have these days.

It was probably movies and TV that took the legends and make the elves a regular part of the holiday. Though some movies don't portray them great. Polar Express made them annoying jerks. The TV movie Santa Baby made them dumber than rocks. On the other hand, Disney's Prep and Landing shorts were one of the only time Elves were the show and Santa was the side character. Not only were they competent but Santa needed them to operate! Some movies or shows make them such good characters, they almost steal the show! Oh and just to be clear, I am only talking about Christmas elves. Of course elves exist outside the holiday as seen in everything from Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter to some horror movies I could mention. But for today the one rule they have to help Santa at the North Pole. 

#5.Buddy (Elf)

Of course this movie had to be here. Even if I do have issues with it. Though he's at the top since he is really an honorary elf. But man, is this guy positive and exuberant! He has so much love and excitement you can't help but be affected by it. Will Ferrell of course played the character perfectly and made the movie a classic. But I prefer the animated version from NBC a few years with Jim Parsons in the lead role. 

Top 8 Everybody Loves Raymond Christmas Episodes

There aren't many series which have the amount of Christmas episodes Frasier had. Friends sort of did, but I talked about that already. Home Improvement did, but again I already went over those episodes. Family Matters comes close but a few of them I haven't even seen. The only one that compares that I haven't talked out is Everybody Loves Raymond which also had eight. Since I ordered Frasier from best to worst, I think it's time to sort these the same way. And this will be harder!  

"The Christmas Picture"

Ok if you've been around for awhile then you know I had some issues with this episode. And I will not give that rant again, let's just say what Debra does is appalling. While the situation of trying to do a family picture is relatable, it's kind of empty as far as Christmas is concerned. 

Top Nine Frasier Christmas Episodes

Frasier was one of the best sitcoms ever made, and like any good show they did a far amount of holiday episodes. I decided to rank them based on how much I like them, omitting the two Thanksgiving shows because I've discussed them elsewhere. I am including the New Year's Episode.

High Holidays

This episode makes the top of the list by default since it's really not a Christmas episode. Aside from the Decor, this could have been an episode set anytime during the final season. It's not a bad episode, but it is a bad Christmas episode. 

We Wish You a Merry Trek-Mas

 I have been putting this one off for a few years now, for a few reasons. One is that it has been done, a lot. Another being that there really aren't that many examples to pick from. However with all the talking I have done about this franchise it would only be right to do this subject. So...

Star Trek has often dropped mention of holidays, especially in the early days. One episode had a clear Thanksgiving call out and another was a full-blown Halloween episode. Christmas has also had a few nods here and there. 

Here now are five examples of Christmas in Star Trek.

My Next 12 Favorite Christmas Commercials Ever

 So I was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade when this ad came on:

It got me thinking, they don't make Christmas commercials anymore like they used to. There was a real charm and quality to those old ads. So, since it's been ten years since I discussed favorite Christmas commercials, it's only right to do another 12.

I did a whole article discussing Coca Cola's Christmas commercials. So it's about time Pepsi got some love. And is one of their better holiday ads.