Television doesn’t often go in for retro. Everything in the TV business seems to be contractually required to scream “new and different,” even when the program in question is a pale imitation of dozens of others. So it’s notable that, every Christmas season, TV is suddenly awash in ultra-low tech, decidedly old-school holiday specials. It’s even more notable that viewers can’t seem to get enough of them. “It’s about the shared experience, the childhood memories that powerfully linger and the new memories adults are so desperate to create with their kids… Make no mistake, it’s the parents driving this train.”