Here are some behind-the-scenes tidbits about a handful of holiday small-screen favorites.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
1. Which came first, the TV special or the song? Johnny Marks wrote the song in 1949. He was the brother-in-law of Robert L. May, the Montgomery Ward copywriter who'd created the story of the red-nosed reindeer for a department store coloring book. Even though Marks was Jewish, he had a good ear for a catchy holiday tune…