Rewind: 10 Classic 1980s TV Christmas Specials

Rewind: 10 Classic 1980s TV Christmas Specials

Author: Jamie Logie | 1980s Pop Culture & Nostalgia December 24, 2025 Duration: 32:11

It's Christmas Eve, so we're rewinding the VHS tape to revisit 10 iconic 1980s TV Christmas specials. 

In this remastered edition of one of my previous shows, we dive back into the golden age of holiday programming, when we were all watching the same things at the same time.

Highlights of this episode include a few comic strips that came to the small screen, a few Christmas offerings from Jim Henson (including the one that appears to have influenced a future Pixar film), and a certain Saturday morning performer making his prime-time debut.

This list includes a few classics, some you may have forgotten about, and some that may be brand-new to you. But they were all a big part of the holiday season during the 1980s.


Step back into a world of neon, synth-pop, and big hair with Everything 80s. Hosted by Jamie Logie, this podcast is a deep, affectionate dive into the decade that shaped modern pop culture. It’s less a formal history lesson and more like rifling through a time capsule with a friend who remembers every detail. Episodes explore the films, television, music, and toys that weren't just entertainment-they were the shared language of a generation. You’ll hear specific discussions on everything from the rise of MTV and the cinematic magic of John Hughes to the toy-box revolutions of Transformers and the fantasy realms of He-Man. The conversation naturally spans the iconic, like Michael Jackson’s Thriller era, to the foundational moments of home gaming with Nintendo. This isn't just about listing favorites; it's about understanding why these cultural artifacts from the 1980s still resonate so powerfully today. For anyone feeling a pull of nostalgia or a curiosity about the era's lasting impact, this podcast offers a consistently engaging and insightful listen. Tune in to rediscover the sounds, stories, and sensations that defined an unforgettable ten years.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Everything 80s
Podcast Episodes
The Magical Summer of 1985 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:07
By the summer of 1985, we had reached the halfway point of the decade. And when it came to all things pop culture, the summer of '85 may have been the decade's peak. Today, we look back on the movies, music, and innovati…
40 Years of Back to the Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:40
On July 3rd, 1985, came the movie that would not only be the standout film of the year, but also one of the standouts for the entire decade: Back to the Future. It's the 1980s movie that blew many people's minds, quickly…
The Rise of Heavy Metal in the 1980s: A Music Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:04
From the underground clubs to sold-out arenas worldwide, the 1980s marked the explosive growth of Heavy Metal. But it was much more than loud music, as the Heavy Metal of the 80s caused a cultural shift--especially with…
The Battle for Tetris: How a Soviet Game Took Over the 1980s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
In the mid-1980s, a Soviet engineer created a simple puzzle game he called Tetris. What was made for fun quickly spread throughout the USSR, and little did he know, but he had created something that would ignite a global…
The 1980s Late-Night Talk Show Wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:10
The Late-Night Talk Show scene of the 1980s was a smaller space than today, but it was even more powerful. It was an era filled with drama, ratings wars, and legendary hosts. From Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show to th…
10 Iconic 1980s Albums That Just Turned 40 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:54
Let's go back 40 years and revisit 10 of the best albums of 1985, a year that was a landmark one in the history of music. From synthpop, hip-hop, metal, and classic rock, 1985 quickly became a standout year for 1980s mus…
ThunderCats, Ho! The Rise of an 80s Cartoon Phenomenon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:54
1985 was quickly becoming one of the most competitive years in the history of animation, setting the stage for future 80s nostalgia. There were so many classic 80s cartoons released in 1985-- including a unique new serie…
Did a 1980s TV Movie Save the World...? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:09
There are only a handful of broadcasts in the history of television that became must-see, cultural events. The ABC movie, 'The Day After', from 1983, is one of them. In the early 80s, as fear of Nuclear War ramped up, AB…
Start Here: The Everything 80s Podcast Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:33
Are you ready to head back to the greatest decade ever and the ultimate nostalgia hit? The Everything 80s Podcast is your weekly time machine to revisit 1980s movies, 80s TV shows, 80s music, toys, sports, tech, and ever…
When Pepsi Bought a Cold War Navy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
It was a time of high tension, fierce back-and-forth, and a relentless pursuit to dominate the world--and that was just between Coke and Pepsi. When you throw the Cold War into the mix, not only do you get a tumultuous t…