Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Donate
Arts & Entertainment

Your Essential Guide To Christmas Television Specials On Netflix Instant

By
Jen Carlson

Published Dec 18, 2012

Modified Dec 18, 2012

Share

Never miss a story
Everyone has a go-to comfort thing, right? Maybe when you are stressed you go running, and that is great for you and a really healthy decision, but I watch those Lifetime/ABC Family/Hallmark movies, as well as their off-brand counterparts which may have never even aired on television. In order to make this feel like a more productive "pastime," I will now share with you my vast knowledge of these films and guide you towards the best ones so that you may join me in a yuletide shame spiral... for the best ones are the Christmas ones.The small screen holiday movie always, and without exception, includes the following characters: a young woman unlucky in love (if she is not a workaholic, she is a single mom and/or struggling with her career); a young man (literally any generically attractive one will do, sometimes they don't even get their own backstory); a best friend (usually it seems like the main character doesn't even like her); and a wise old man who will teach us all a lesson. The setting is either The Big City or Main Street, U.S.A. And even with this steadfast formula, they are somehow still all unique, like snowflakes.Click through for some of the best and worst of these cinematic stocking stuffers, which are all available on Netflix Instant. Honorable mentions go to Desperately Seeking Santa (which centers around a woman who seeks out a sexy Santa in order to save the mall she works for in Boston. I'd give it a solid B!); and Crazy For Christmas (which is really just kind of C-level heartwarming flick). There are, of course, also new ones I haven't even seen yet because I don't have television, but if you do, please let me know how this one starring Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years is? It's called Love at the Christmas Table, and it looks like it has a lot of potential.
Gothamist
By
Jen Carlson

Published Dec 18, 2012

Modified Dec 18, 2012

Share

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Tagged

abc family
christmas
cry for help
hallmark
lifetime
netflix
television
television movies
original
Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE arts-entertainment

Want tickets to 'Saturday Night Live?' Get in line.

The long, cold wait for a seat in Studio 8H.

By
Jamie McClellan

Published Dec 10, 2025

City development brings new performance space to Sunset Park

Get ready to rave, courtesy of Public Records and the NYC Economic Development Corporation

By
Ryan Kailath
Arts & Entertainment
City development brings new performance space to Sunset Park

Get ready to rave, courtesy of Public Records and the NYC Economic Development Corporation

By
Ryan Kailath
The MetroCard is becoming a museum piece in 'FAREwell' exhibit
By
Hannah Frishberg
The perfect Thanksgiving NYC indie film almost didn't get made
By
Ryan Kailath
NYC distributes first-ever nightlife grants, totaling over $350K
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

AdvertisingContact UsOur TeamRSS FeedDiversity (DEI)Careers
Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio.

AdvertisingContact UsOur TeamRSS FeedDiversity (DEI)Careers
FacebookTwitterInstagramYoutube
Terms Of UsePrivacy PolicyAccessibility
©2025 New York Public Radio. All rights reserved.