How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV special) animation divisions of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, where Jones was under contract at the time. CBS, coming off the surprise success of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" a year before, allotted Jones and MGM a $315,000 budget, more than four times what Bill Melendez was offered to produce "A Charlie Brown Christmas". The original broadcast was sponsored by the Foundation for Full Service Banks whose sponsor plugs within the original airing were later edited out for subsequent broadcasts. The entirety of the book's text, with some slight embellishment, was adapted into the special; to pad the special to a full 30-minute time slot,
The Two Ronnies 1987 Christmas Special The Two Ronnies 1987 Christmas Special The Two Ronnies 1987 Christmas Special was first broadcast on BBC1 on Christmas Day 1987 as part of the 12th series of the show starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, being also their last outing as Barker decided to retire from showbiz. Memorable sketches included "Pinocchio II: Killer Doll", a parody of the slasher films popular at the time. The musical guest was Elton John. At the time the special aired, no one except Corbett knew about Barker's decision, mostly influenced by concerns over his own health: The deaths of fellow comedians Richard Beckinsale