Twenty-six years ago today, a Christmas special first aired on Fox, but it’s largely vanished from television and been forgotten over the years. It’s a good time to rewatch holiday favorites, but it’s become harder to do so. These specials used to air regularly on TV, making it easy to catch them. Now, with so many streaming options, finding and watching them is more difficult.
You know, it’s getting really hard to find some of those older holiday specials! It’s especially tough when they haven’t made it onto streaming and aren’t shown on TV anymore. I was just thinking about Olive the Other Reindeer – can you believe it first aired on Fox 26 years ago today, December 17th, 1999? It’s cool because it was made by Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, and his studio. They even gave it a great launch, airing it alongside Futurama back then! But honestly, it’s almost completely vanished – it’s just not available to watch anywhere legally these days, which is a real shame because it’s such a sweet Christmas special.
What Is Olive the Other Reindeer?
I remember watching Olive the Other Reindeer and learning it came from a children’s book by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold. The story centers around Olive, a dog voiced by Drew Barrymore, whose owner is frustrated because she doesn’t behave like a typical dog. Things get really interesting when a news report announces one of Santa’s reindeer can’t fly. Santa says the other reindeer will have to make up for it, and that’s actually how the whole adventure begins!
Olive mistakenly believes Santa is calling for her – thinking he’s saying “Olive, the other reindeer!” Determined to save Christmas, she sets off for the North Pole. During her journey, she teams up with a talking flea and eventually gains the help of a penguin, despite his initial attempts to trick her. She’s also constantly pursued by a mailman who’s trying to stop her. This TV special originally aired on Fox and became popular enough to be shown on other networks like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
What Happened to Olive the Other Reindeer?
Most fans will probably remember seeing Olive the Other Reindeer on Cartoon Network, as that’s where it aired for the longest period of time each year. The special stopped being shown on the network sometime in the early 2010s and hasn’t been on television since. Unfortunately, it’s also difficult to find on popular streaming services. While you might be able to find unofficial ways to watch it, it’s not nearly as accessible as it once was.
It’s unfortunate that Olive the Other Reindeer has faded from memory, as it’s a truly wonderful special. It’s well-crafted and short – under half an hour – with plenty of funny moments. The show feels like a natural extension of Matt Groening’s other work, and its distinctive animation style, based on the original book, is something we haven’t seen replicated since.
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2025-12-17 23:41