Best Television Special

Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York showcases a pivotal performance from the band's career. Recorded at Memorial Ball Room in Reykjavik, Iceland, this live album features stripped-down versions of their iconic songs and several previously unreleased tracks. Kurt Cobain’s emotionally raw vocals and t...

Beyoncé’s *Lemonade* is a visually rich HBO television special presented as a visual album exploring themes of Southern Black womanhood, family, and infidelity. The project utilizes music, poetry, and cinematic imagery to create a powerful narrative. It's notable for its ambitious scope and innovati...

Bo Burnham: Inside is a 2021 Netflix television special created and performed by comedian Bo Burnham. Shot entirely within a single room during COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s notable for its innovative approach to stand-up comedy blending musical performance with introspective commentary on social media,...

The 1965 television special A Charlie Brown Christmas adapts the beloved Peanuts comic strip. It’s recognized for its poignant exploration of the true meaning of Christmas, contrasting commercial celebrations with sincere reflection. The soundtrack, featuring jazz music, adds to its enduring appeal....

The 9/11 television special documents the unfolding events of September 11, 2001, through raw, firsthand video captured by CBS News producers within the World Trade Center. This unique record offers a visceral account of the attacks and their immediate aftermath. It is notable for its unprecedented...

The television special “Liza with a ‘Z’” captures Liza Minnelli at the height of her stage presence in 1972. The show’s significance lies in its innovative choreography by Bob Fosse and its immediate recognition through four Primetime Emmy Awards – a rare achievement for a television special at the...

The 1968 “Comeback Special” features Elvis Presley’s historic televised concert, broadcast by NBC. It represents a significant moment in music history as it showcased his renewed commitment to live performance following a period of film dominance. The special provided a rare glimpse into Presley's m...

The Grinch Stole Christmas! is a beloved 1966 animated television special based on Dr. Seuss’s classic story. Chuck Jones directed this adaptation featuring iconic voice acting by Boris Karloff. It tells the tale of the grumpy Grinch who attempts to ruin Christmas for the Whos of Whoville, highlight...

The Beatles Anthology offers an extensive look at the iconic British rock group’s life and work. Featuring substantial amounts of previously unseen film and audio recordings, it details the band's evolution from their early days to their final breakup. Primarily intended for fans of The Beatles, mus...

Beyoncé’s Homecoming captures her electrifying 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival headlining set. The special is notable for its celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through music, visuals, and a powerful tribute to Black student life. It offers a significan...

The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a beloved animated television special originating from the Peanuts comic strip. Created in 1966, it depicts Charlie Brown’s persistent hope for the Great Pumpkin to rise from the pumpkin patch on Halloween night. This story resonates with children and adults who a...

Eric Clapton: Unplugged (1992) is an MTV Unplugged concert special featuring Eric Clapton in an acoustic performance whose accompanying album became one of the best-selling live records ever released.

Sinatra: A Man and His Music is a 1965 NBC television special built around Frank Sinatra performing songs associated with different stages of his recording career. Rather than using the guest-heavy format common to variety television, the program keeps its focus on Sinatra, an orchestra, and career-...

Bill Hicks’ “Relentless” offers a raw and uncompromising look at the comedian’s perspective on society, religion, and consumerism. Recorded in London in 1992, this television special showcases his distinctive blend of sharp wit and challenging observations. It is notable for its intellectual depth a...

My Name Is Barbra is Barbra Streisand's first television special, broadcast by CBS in 1965. Structured as a sequence of staged musical sections rather than a conventional guest-based variety show, it places Streisand alone at the center of most of the program and includes material associated with he...

Bo Burnham’s Inside (2021) is a Netflix television special presenting a deeply personal and innovative comedy performance. Filmed within a single room during lockdown, it showcases Burnham's remarkable musical talent and sharp observational humor reflecting on isolation, the internet, and contempora...

“The Last Dance” is a 2020 ESPN documentary series offering unprecedented access to Michael Jordan’s career, particularly his final season with the Chicago Bulls. The series details the team's 1997-1998 championship run through archival footage and interviews, providing insights into Jordan’s compet...

The Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever television special documented the iconic Detroit-based music label’s history. Featuring performances from Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, and Michael Jackson, it showcased a remarkable reunion of Motown talent. The broadcast notably included Mich...

Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii is a 1973 concert television special featuring Elvis Presley at the Honolulu International Center. The performance was transmitted by satellite to several countries, while the United States broadcast followed later on NBC and included additional material. Backed by his touri...

Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York is a seminal 1993 television special showcasing the band's raw and intimate performance. Featuring stripped-down versions of their hits alongside covers by artists like David Bowie and Bob Dylan, it demonstrated Nirvana’s musical depth and evolution. The recording...

Robin Williams: A Night at the Met is a 1986 HBO stand-up comedy special filmed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Williams moves rapidly among character voices, physical comedy, topical observations, and improvised-seeming transitions, reflecting the performance style associated with...

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is a 1978 holiday television special featuring the human and Muppet characters of Sesame Street. Its linked stories include Big Bird questioning how Santa Claus can fit through a chimney, Bert and Ernie exchanging prized possessions for gifts, and Cookie Monster repeat...

The HBO television special “Simon & Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park” captures a pivotal moment in music history. It documents the iconic 1981 reunion performance by the folk-rock duo at New York’s Central Park. Featuring beloved classics and showcasing their enduring harmonies, the concert re...

The Madonna: Blond Ambition World Tour Live television special captures the electrifying energy of Madonna’s 1990 tour finale. Broadcast by HBO, it documents her ambitious stage production featuring striking visuals and a dynamic performance style. This recording provides a rare glimpse into one of...

The 1965 CBS television special, My Name Is Barbra, marked Barbra Streisand’s groundbreaking first solo performance on national television. Featuring a diverse musical program encompassing pop, Broadway standards, and jazz, the show garnered widespread acclaim and secured five Emmy Awards. It remain...

Jerrod Carmichael’s Rothaniel is a comedy television special presented by the acclaimed stand-up performer. The show gained significant attention through Carmichael's deeply personal and public declaration of his sexual orientation. It offers an intimate exploration of identity and family relationsh...

George Carlin’s “Back in Town” showcases the iconic comedian's sharp, observational stand-up routines recorded in New York City during 1996. The special offers a potent distillation of his signature style—a fearless examination of American society and language through a deliberately provocative lens...

Beyoncé’s *Lemonade* is a groundbreaking 2016 HBO television special serving as an accompaniment to her celebrated visual album. The project explores themes of Southern Black womanhood, family, and infidelity through interwoven music, film, and performance art. It's notable for its ambitious cinemat...

Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall is a 1962 CBS television special starring Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett. Recorded at Carnegie Hall in New York, it combines songs, comic sketches, duets, and character pieces built around the performers' contrasting stage personas. The program was written as a tele...