Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Video Store Podcast! I’ve picked out a few lesser-known Christmas specials from Rankin/Bass for this week’s show.

The first is The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold from 1981. Originally conceived as a St. Patrick’s Day special, this story was reimagined as a Christmas special for ABC. Join sailor Dinty Doyle as he works to guard the Leprechaun’s gold from the evil banshee, Mag the Hag.

Next is 1974’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, starring George Gobel, Joel Grey, and Tammy Grimes. Clockmaker Joshua Trundle has made a clock that will bring back Christmas cheer and make amends with an offended Santa Claus. However, when a curious mouse gets into the clock…well…kerplunk? Kerplooey. Can they fix it in time to save Christmas? Watch and find out.

Nestor, the Long-eared Christmas Donkey from 1977 is next on our playlist of Rankin/Bass B-sides. Based on the Gene Autry song of the same name, Nestor is a long-eared donkey who is bullied for his unusually long ears. It’s those ears that get him into trouble, but they also allow him to do something no one else can do—safely take Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where the Lord Jesus will be born. This is a tear-jerker, so grab some tissues along with your eggnog.

The last selection for our show today is The Little Drummer Boy: Book II from 1976. This lesser-known sequel to 1968’s The Little Drummer Boy takes the little drummer boy, Aaron, King Melchior, and a bellmaker named Simeon on a quest to retrieve Simeon’s stolen bells he made to ring in the birth of the Christ child. Can they get the bells back? You’ll have to watch and find out.

Thanks for joining us this holiday season on the Video Store Podcast. We hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday and a blessed new year.

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