Tis the Season TV: The Encyclopedia of Christmas-Themed Episodes, Specials and Made-for-TV Movies

by Joanna Wilson

Tis the Season TV: The Encyclopedia of Christmas-Themed Episodes, Specials and Made-For-TV Movies, by Joanna Wilson, is the comprehensive guide to Christmas television programming. Spanning over 60 years of television history and containing more than 3,000 entries, Tis the Season TV is the first reference book to catalog information and synopses about episodes, specials, made-for-TV movies, and theatrical release movies that have gone on to wider viewership on television. Or, as Savannah Schroll Guz wrote for Library Journal, “Wilson’s compilation is the most comprehensive guide now available to Christmas-, Hanukkah-, Kwanzaa-, and New Year’s themed TV.” This nostalgic reference book places entries alphabetically at the reader’s fingertips in a wonderful easy-to-use resource for enjoying holiday-themed programming all year long. It covers everything from All in the Family to Ziggy’s Gift, and from Bob Hope’s Christmas Specials to Larry the Cable Guy. Wilson’s book contains an index of guest stars for further ease of use, and 17 sidebars which present informative lists of related programs such as different versions of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, as well as programs with a similar theme, such as Christmas and the Old West, and Television’s First Christmases. Tis the Season TV also includes listings from programming devoted to New Year’s, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa celebrations.


The complete Library Journal review:
In the works since 2002, Wilson's compilation is the most comprehensive guide now available to Christmas-, Hanukkah-, Kwanzaa-, and New Year's themed TV. The book appears to be a thematic expansion of her 2009 guide, The Christmas TV Companion, which surpassed Diane Werts's 2005 title, Christmas on Television. Here, entries are alphabetized first by program name, then by episode title. Each details year, director, and production staff, with a synopsis of program contents. Although it focuses solely on U.S. programming, it offers an engaging read for pop-culture enthusiasts and American television history buffs. ­Savannah Schroll Guz, formerly with Smithsonian Libs., Washington, DC --Library Journal

Genres: Nonfiction, Christmas

800 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2010

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dangerous book, which has already caused me to add some old tv series and movies to my Netflix and instant-watching queues and, even though it's not yet the season, to watch Christmas episodes of Family Ties and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. There's a lot listed here that I'll never watch (either because it's unavailable to someone who doesn't have a million cable channels, or because I'm not interested) but there's plenty of information for anyone who's at all interested in Christmas film and video.

[Vincenzo Ridente · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ultimate guide to television Christmas themed programs