
Meanwhile, it wasn't a grief-filled Christmas for Charlie Brown. ABC's airing of the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas averaged 8.1 million viewers Dec. 7. Another broadcast Dec. 16 drew 6.4 million.
United Features Syndicate/Courtesy Everett Collection- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Tumblr
Charlie Brown, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman TV specials are just as much a part of Americans’ holiday traditions as ornaments and eggnog. But which seasonal mainstay managed to lure the most viewers this year?
When looking at total viewers of all holiday-themed specials that aired between Nov. 24-Dec. 28, CBS’ Hallmark Hall of Fame movie November Christmas actually pulled in the most eyeballs, averaging 13.5 million viewers for its Nov. 28 telecast. (We’re using total-viewer figures instead of specific demos based on the assumption that kids of all ages enjoy watching the holiday specials, some of which are decades-old classics.)
Related Stories
Coming in second was Santa’s four-legged friend Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer. The classic tied with NBC’s Christmas at Rockefeller Center, each pulling in 11.3 million Nov. 30.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t a grief-filled Christmas for Charlie Brown. ABC’s airing of the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas averaged 8.1 million viewers Dec. 7. Another broadcast Dec. 16 drew 6.4 million.
And good ol’ Santa Claus himself came in at No. 4, with ABC’s Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town delivering 7.4 million viewers Dec. 2.
At No. 5 was the relatively newer special ABC’s Disney Prep & Landing (from 2009), about an elite unit of elves, which averaged 7.6 million viewers Dec. 9.
Below, a sampling of how other new and classic holiday specials (many of which aired more than once) fared this season:
— Shrek the Halls (ABC), 7.4 million, Nov. 30, and 6.9 million, Dec. 9
— CMA Country Christmas (ABC), 7.3 million, Nov. 29, and 4.3 million, Dec. 22
— How the Grinch Stole Christmas (classic cartoon, ABC), 6.9 million, Nov. 30, and 6.2 million, Dec. 23
— The Santa Clause 3 (ABC), 6.9 million, Dec. 19
— Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey movie, ABC), 6.6 million, Dec. 23
— The Sound of Music (ABC), 6.2 million, Dec. 26
— SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (NBC), 6 million, Dec. 21
— The Santa Clause 2 (ABC), 6 million, Dec. 19, and 3.5 million, Dec. 24
— Merry Madagascar (NBC), 5.9 million, Nov. 24, and 3.5 million, Nov. 27
— Kung Fu Panda Holiday (NBC), 5.9 million, Nov. 24, and 3.4 million, Nov. 27
— I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! (ABC), 5.6 million, Dec. 14, and 3 million, Dec. 18
— Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You (ABC), 4.9 million, Dec. 13
— It’s a Wonderful Life (NBC), 4.9 million, Dec. 11, and 4.7 million, Dec. 24
— Yes, Virginia (CBS), 4.8 million, Dec. 17
— Frosty the Snowman (CBS), 4.5 million, Dec. 10, and 5.6 million, Dec. 17
— Frosty Returns (CBS), 4.2 million, Dec. 10, and 5.2 million, Dec. 17
— Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (ABC), 4 million, Dec. 28
— Phineas & Ferb Christmas Vacation (ABC), 2.1 million, Dec. 24
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day