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Of course, youre notreallysupposed to believe any of that.
Its the fantasy that makes this holiday special like so many that have come before so much fun.
But when did the tone start to shift?
Perry Como hosted three different weekly television series between 1948 and 1962.
(Yes,mimes.)
The old guard also got extra-festive in the 70s.
Bob Hope shot a special with the troops in Vietnam.
Dean Martin did a series of specials that showed how Christmas was different out in California.
Bing Crosby even sang a duet with David Bowie.
They spoke lovingly of the performance, while essentially admitting they thought it was all so very silly.
One key exception to the trend?
A new way of making Christmas specials more conceptual, and self-referential had arrived.
Kathie Lee made five Christmas shows between 1994 and 1998.
That pretty much tells the story of the decade.
Frankly, the paper missed the mark.
Also, champion figure skater Elvis Stojko has a cameo as himself.)
A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy(debuting at 10 p.m. ## Related
