The 1987 version is also on Amazon Prime. Which is a shame as it appears to be the best looking of the 3 (HD and correct ratio). I'm not subscribed to Peacock so I can only base this off the trailer for the special on Peacock, but it appears to be not HD and stretched to fit widescreen. Then TH-cam is proper 4:3 ratio but 480p.
I'm so glad they restored the piano scene. it's my favorite scene in the show, and I can't hear "Oh, Christmas Tree" without hearing her "whoop-boop-be-doop" at the end.
I remember having a copy of A Garfield Christmas on DVD and noticed that the piano scene was cut out! That bothered me because seeing Grandma being silly on the piano is the best part!
It also makes it feel more bittersweet. When you lose someone you’ve shared your soul with, it feels like that part of your soul goes with them. You may find other things, other people to help you feel whole again, but that part of you is still gone, and there are times when you still feel it. This scene and Pat Caroll’s performance perfectly captures that.
After seeing both versions of A Garfield Christmas, I found the 1991 version better because of the piano scene and the animation where Grandma was telling Garfield about her late husband.
@ I love they scene. It is so warm and sad and nostalgic. She really misses him. I primarily think of this as full of laughs so that was a very touching moment.
Fun fact: Jon Arbuckle’s grandma is voiced by Pat Carroll, who many of you may know as the voice of Ursula the Sea Witch from Disney’s The Little Mermaid!
I also like the darker tone in the animation of Grandma misses Grandpa scene. It really makes you feel sorry for her as she revealed that she missed him the most on Christmas Eve. 😢
I KNEW something was up when watching this again years later!! Our family always had a tape of the 1987 version. My mom was a master of recording tv shows. We had dozens of mixed show vhs tapes to watch as kids. An episode of dark wing duck followed by The Racoons and then Size Small Island or the multiple “Christmas shows” tapes. 25 years later, I’ve still kept them save. 😊
Those are amazing treasures you were able to hold on to. My parents made a holiday tape that would be stored away with the autumn/ winter decorations I always got to enjoy at the end of the year. Wish I still had it. Even the commercials that slipped through I'd die just to experience again. We were apart of a lucky generation.
@@Ihatethewaythatyou isn’t it weird how as kids we hated commercials? Now as middle age adults we actually enjoy old commercials from as far back as the 80’s? 😳
@@AMTheOcarinaPlayer as even the younger generation can see, even ads and the people who made them didn't just put effort into it for you to buy or remember their products but create something unique and entertaining.
Back when I was a young kid my most two favorite Christmas cartoons were a Garfield Christmas and a Charlie Brown Christmas, even though I'm 47 years old, I still enjoy them and I still love them to this day. They are like the most epic Christmas cartoons of all times.
@@TheEman590 YES!!! From what I recall, those two would be aired back-to-back, and Charlie Brown & Grinch would be on other nights. Mickey’s Christmas Carol is another one not on TV any longer.
@@patrickc3419 I watched Charlie Brown, Grinch and Mickey Christmas Carol a lot as a kid as well. Bless DVD and Streaming so I can watch them every year again. On television, they would air 3 winter themed shorts beforehand with an intro by Michael Eisner. A Muppet Family Christmas was another one. It had all the Muppets, Sesame Street gang and Fraggles all under one roof. It's a lot of fun.
It was forgettable in 1987/1991, and it’s forgettable now. It’s just a very cynical attempt to try and get that Charlie Brown Christmas special magic (and this is coming from a HUGE Garfield fan in the 80’s).
Just discovered the 24hr Garfield & Friends channel I have on Sling and the 1991 just happened to air this Christmas midnight. Still the most wholesome special ever
Not only do I own the Holiday Collection DVD already, I watch all three specials during each month (the first one on Halloween, the second during Thanksgiving and I most certainly break out the third every Christmas)
Awesome ep! This is one of my favorite Christmas shows and I own the Holiday Celebrations DVD. However we’ve also streamed it on Amazon and Apple over the years when the DVD was packed away and I just kept thinking I must not have remembered some scenes when I’d see an “added” one!
Interestingly enough, I watched the "1987" version my whole life, like 20 times as a kid. I was watching it on the Garfield YT channel this year with my own son and I had no idea there were 2 versions. I remember thinking "I don't remember seeing the photo of Grandpa" and now that you mention it, the animation is better and cozier. Thanks for making this random video 7 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can definitely see why they redid the scene where Garfield sat with Grandma. The 87 version just doesn't hit as hard with its color palette. 7:05 is the best example of the 87 version not working. A random shot of a fireplace just doesn't work, especially paired with Grandma's dialogue.
Actually as far as color pallet is concerned it’s a stark direction change from the rest of the special. Notice they recolored the surround shots and scenes leading up to it to get into that cooler tone, otherwise it would look completely out of place.
I was just watching the special through Prime Video since it was available through my Prime membership and the transfer being of higher quality and after watching it, it felt rather difficult than I remembered when I noticed that the scene with Garfield and the grandmother wasn't the same. And now I know. The 91 version is available for free on TH-cam officially BTW.
I'm watching this on DVD. October 29th 2024. Drinking a glass of wine and feeling nostalgic & a little meloncholy. Even the Thanksgiving one, where they all sit at the table & the song that's played, "even though tomo will take us all far away" "we have today" I remembered Thanksgiving's where I fixed hugh meals with a 12 foot table and had 30 + family members attend. And Christmas was the same....all the decorations & presents. So many they wouldn't fit under a 10 foot tree! 😂❤ And I remembered holidays with loved one's & sons overseas & in war..... I've lived a long, full life & one thing is always certain....Nothing ever stays the same. Everything changes....everything always changes. Nothing lasts forever. Hold love ones close. Do not hold grudges. Forgive everyone, no matter how cruel they are. That's for you, not them. Live a peaceful life. Enjoy the small things. Appreciate everything. Always be grateful. Peace to everyone reading this ❤
Wow, I never knew there were 2 versions! I only remember the 1991 version, but since there's home video of me (age 3) watching it on New Year's Eve in 1990, I've obviously seen both.
This is fascinating thank you! We had this on our family holiday VHS mix tape and I now realize it was the 91 version and I’m grateful for those subtle changes. Would love to talk to the creators and get their side! Thanks again!
OMG. I showed my class the 1991 version on youtube and I thought the scene with the grandma looked different as well as the opening and thought I was misrembering. Thanks for this making this video.
Is it from the official Garfield TH-cam Channel or by a random person on the internet? I knew that the special was there, but I never got around to watching it.
Thank you so much for posting this video. I've been going on to my family about the differences between two different versions of A Garfield Christmas for years. Now this is the evidence I need. Worth noting, however, in the scene where Odie goes to the barn to make Garfield's gift and Garfield discovers the letters from grandpa, the 87 version has much better musical timing. The version from 91 just doesn't flow very well. I think somewhere between both versions, there is a perfect version of the special. Maybe I need to edit together that version myself.
I always watched the '87 version; my family recorded it when I was little, and that was always the one we plugged in every year. I didn't even know about the '91 version until YEARS later. My grandparents sadly passed away before I found it, and watching the updated version where they actually show Grandpa Arbuckle.....it got me teary-eyed. Thank you for showing this to everyone. :')
I’ve had enough of this year already. One of my favorite Christmas specials, and the highlights are Lorenzo Music and Pat Carroll. Mr. Music passed away in 2001, and now Ms. Carroll has just passed away. This and Ursula is how I will remember her, oh god this year…
I actually learned about the 1987 version after I got a copy of the Happy Holidays, Garfield! DVD at a Kmart during the 2010’s. It wasn’t until I watched it that I learned that there was a different version of it. I was confused and disappointed that it didn’t have the scene with John’s grandma jamming on the piano and how visually different the scene of grandma sitting on her rocking chair and talking to Garfield about her deceased husband. I only knew about the 1991 version because I used to watch it every year as a kid through a collection of holiday specials that my dad recorded on a blank VHS tape at the time. I’m glad he did. And I’m glad to know that there was more to this special than I thought. You pretty much answered my questions about why there were changes and thus two different versions of the same special. Thanks for that! And also thanks for letting us know which DVD to look for when it comes to the 1991 version 😊
Grandma's scene with Grandpa's picture and remembering loved ones we lost makes me tear up every time. Also- they cut "One more remark like that, and you'll see stars, Woman". Leave shit alone!
Thank you for mentioning the "... you'll see stars woman" line missing. This missing line is how I first knew there were 2 versions as that line is in the original Garfield Christmas book.
No way!!!! Now I've got to dig deep and about which one I grew up with. But this is going to help me know that for sure I grew up with the 1991. I was born in 1987 but I grew up with this on a vhs compilation that's lost. I knew that it airs with will vinton, but I never knew what year my mom taped. It had to of been 1991 or later bc that grandma scene is the most memorable
I grew up on both versions but I was younger when I saw the 1987 version and my memory of it had faded after the 1991 cut. When they started airing 1991, I loved that they added the piano scene but couldn't figure out why the songs had been trimmed down from what I remembered along with some changes in the scenes. It wasn't until I found this video a few years ago that it made sense what happened.
It's weird. I love the piano scene and the changes when Grandma was talking to Garfield in the chair, but I still prefer the 1987 version because the songs are complete and not trimmed. I have to watch both every year.
Jon's parents looked like my grandparents. 😂 Also, you know they were desperate to save on animation in 1987 when Grandma's monologue about her husband has a few shots focus on the fireplace, of all things.
Thank you for talking about the chair scene. I always figured Odie bounced off his lap (or lower).....or years later jumped off of it when he leapt off. Unlike the other changes, i noticed this one, it was funny (like the "like Binky says it. HHHHEEEYYY KKKIIDDSS" and the "let's see if Binky says Christmas again this year"), would watch that scene a couple times, so it was engraved in my memory, and i noticed that change immediately
I'm a lifelong Garfield fan all the way back to the first special "Here Come's Garfield", reading the original long book formats, and of course reading the weekday and Sunday newspaper comic strips. I must have forgotten there were two versions, and now with proper context both actually work well. I have the fully Garfield holiday special that included Halloween, and sadly it is still out of print still.
Peacock has an HD version of this special and we were excited to watch it. Unfortunately, it's the 1987 version and grandma's piano scene is missing. I'd love to find an HD copy of the 1991 version.
I actually have the Garfield’s Holiday celebration on dvd. I grew up watching the 1991 version of the Christmas Special. When I switched to streaming, and downloaded the Christmas special, I was surprised and confused on why some scenes were missing from the special until doing some research a few years back.
Another beautiful scene that always warms my heart was when Garfield gave the old letters he found to Grandma because then it turned out that they were old love letters that Grandpa wrote to Grandma during their courtship.
I still have the 87 version on VHS somewhere when I recorded it when I was a kid. Like the 91 version more and glad I’m able to Watch it on TH-cam the last 8 years for nostalgia during Xmas
1:46 not only was Garfield wide eyed but Jon and his father too were wide eyed like something weird happened suddenly and also Jon just says "Why don't YOU play for us Mom?" Like someone else had already played the piano.
I had this special on VHS years, the unedited version of course. I also had the book adaptation of it that included whole scenes and/or sequences cut from the special, eg. Jon struggling with the chores on the farm. Minute albeit, but still interesting.
I wish I had found this video long ago to explain that chair scene you talk about at the end. I remember as a kid, the dad getting trampled as they run off to bed, but every version I've seen as an adult is the '91 edit. I was starting to think I was crazy in remembering it being there, and had no idea there was 2 versions. It's nice to know my memory was correct.
3:01 I like how mom's legs disappear within the piano cutout after sitting down, but we can also see (what I am guessing is) the tip of her hand movement right at the corner.
In the days of DVD releases where runtime doesn't matter in slightest because there's no timeslot, I don't see why they don't release an extended edition that includes the piano scene and the updated animation of the one scene, but also includes the minor missing bits that were in the original release.
I haven't seen this Christmas Special in years!! Including this year, & I remember the "cut" part of this Chinese classic. And, Garfield was pretty big in the 80's I ❤ this Christmas special 🎄 🌟 🥧
Thank you, i knew there was something off with the "making present scene". It felt like the music starting in the scene started in the wrong time. I couldn't understand why but it felt the song was edited, or if the song was mistimed to the scene. My dad recorded it off the tv when it first aired, and we rewatched it a ton of times, for decades until the tape and vcr broke. I couldn't figure out what was up (watching on tv the few times it showed or on youtube). Seeing the year at the end of the credits, 1991, also felt off. I was sure it was in the 80s, but couldn't say for sure.
So I watch this every and found it weird that I saw two different versions. The one on the offical Garfield and Friends channel on TH-cam has the 91 version while on Peacock, it has the 87 version.
Am I crazy or were there 2 versions of Garfield in Disguise? I recall a scarier ending where the ghosts pirates follow Garfield and Odie back to Jon's place and only leave when Garfield gives them back a piece of jewelry he stole from the treasure. I've had people say that this version never existed and I'm just remembering the stuff from the book that went along with the special that had that ending, but I recall remembering this stuff even before I knew about the books that went along with the movies.
I used to have the original '87 version recorded from when it had first aired.. I recall the first few moments and most of Garfield's dream was all messed up on the tape I had watched it so much as a kid :p Didn't even know about any of the edits until decades later when I got the DVD's.
I remember seeing a scene where after Jon's Dad reads the story, Odie hops off his lap, and knocked the book out of his hands, and it hit him upside the head, causing him to be dazed. Yet, the version I have on DVD shows him just leaning to the side rolling his eyes. People told me I was confused and misremembering, but I KNEW it was that way.
Good video. I was surprised when I first heard about the original 1987 version... As a kid, I had fallen upon the 1991 version first, on Dailymotion. 3:56 - I have a twisted mind... right before you start talking again, we hear Jon say "I can almost smell Mom's chest--" XD
I grew up on the 1991 version. We VHS taped it, along with A Charlie Brown Christmas, and I’d rewatch them on Christmas. This might be heresy to many but I feel like the Garfield Christmas Special just holds up better and has a more compelling plot than A Charlie Brown Christmas.
That was a cool video. I learn some weird stuff like this about my favorite holiday stuff! Tried find the original 1987 version all I could see was the 1991 version. If u have it u should try posting it here!
@@MichaelLeroi no, I never did. You don't need to send me anything! I can still watch it, which is what's really important 😳😁 Thanks for the offer though!
as a kid, you don't really appreciate grandma's story scene, so when i grew up and began to appreciate and like that scene (alot), not remembering the photo never rang any bells about being different (i did feel something was off, but just chocked it up to memory)
That's not what she said, dumbass. She said he wasn't personally comfortable showing outward affection except at Christmas. That not even close to the same thing as straight up not being allowed to, idiot.
One to keep in mind for Christmas 2025 is A Muppet Family Christmas. They left out a few songs on the DVD release, probably due to copyright issues. But does cause for some continuity awkwardness.
91' version is now available on TH-cam from the official Garfield channel. I watch it every year probably my favorite Christmas special up their with flintstones Christmas carol
I knew I wasn't crazy when I saw the "1991". I was 14. I knew I saw the Christmas Special in elementary school. I still liked Garfield at 14 but was WAY more excited at 10. I thought maybe I was remembering wrong.
In all the years I've watched this, I had no idea that a couple of scenes were re-animated for the 1991 home video release vs the original 1987 broadcast version. The darker colors in Grandma's scene in the '91 version are much more fitting to the mood. Really, the only other difference is a small one. After Dad finishes reading, in the '87 cut, he gets stepped on and his eyes roll around. In the '91 cut, he simply leans back.
Wait a minute! Maybe it was just in the book but when Grandma's feeding Garfield and Odie under the table. The father inquires why she's packing away the food tonight. She states, "I'm eating for two now dear". At that point it's father who is wide-eyed 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😁
This is crazy, I've always had a copy of the 1991 special ever since I was young so I had no idea there was another version. Although I think I'm glad I got the version I did cause the piano scene was always one of my favourites, also the scene with Garfield in the rocking chair just hits different in the 1991 version
I was watching this on Amizon Prime, noticed the scene with Grandma playing the piano missing and wondered what was going on, did some research before finding it was not in the original release. Yet I really don't remember the scene with Dad reading the Binky the Clown story at all.
I've definitely only seen the 1991 version since I didn't even know some of this alternate animation existed. Looks like all the changes they made in the newer version were definitely for the best!
I have a Mandela Effect for this special... I remember as a kid, when Odie went out to the barn to make Garfield's gift he couldn't get the stick to stay on the base. Odie leaves to find a remedy and while he's gone Garfield builds the gift and when Odie returns he is surprised but happy it's made and throws the bag on it and brings it inside. Anyone else remember this??
Oh wow! I don’t remember that and I’m not aware of a version like that. But, since you mentioned the Mandela Effect, maybe that version existed in another timeline. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
That’s what happened in the comic version so that’s why you remember it that way, you must’ve seen it in the comic. That version was never animated though.
I watched the original version, my mom recorded it on VHS. I have the cassette in storage with other specials. The grandma scene was there, don't know where your info came from. But, if I had a VCR, I could prove it.
The set I have they mixed up the cds the Thanksgiving one is the Christmas one or something and vice versa. Actually it's one disc it's the menu thats screwed up.
I am probably late to this and this might be a bit of a moot point but the 1991 special is available on VHS. CBS Video and Fox Video (NOT CBS FOX) put it out. I don’t know if other vhs releases exist or have this version.
It'd be nice to get a complete cut of this, using the 1991 version of Grandma and Garfield. Unless I am mistaken, the DVD has the 1991 version but didn't have the extra clips they trimmed from 1987
The 1987 version is on Peacock and the 1991 version is on the Garfield & Friends TH-cam channel.
@@jedi328 Nice! Thank you!
Really! I'm on it
And all this time I thought I dozed off when it was supposed to come on.
Why did they change it?
The 1987 version is also on Amazon Prime. Which is a shame as it appears to be the best looking of the 3 (HD and correct ratio).
I'm not subscribed to Peacock so I can only base this off the trailer for the special on Peacock, but it appears to be not HD and stretched to fit widescreen. Then TH-cam is proper 4:3 ratio but 480p.
I'm so glad they restored the piano scene. it's my favorite scene in the show, and I can't hear "Oh, Christmas Tree" without hearing her "whoop-boop-be-doop" at the end.
Right!? That was one of my favorite scenes ever as a kid. Use to crack me up so much I would rewind the vhs over and over again.
Same I have it saved on Amazon and I was wondering why there wasn't a piano scene. Even asked my brother and he remembered it too.
I remember having a copy of A Garfield Christmas on DVD and noticed that the piano scene was cut out! That bothered me because seeing Grandma being silly on the piano is the best part!
W Piano is quite funny. The piano scene was fun.
The darker night w grandma arbuckle is better than the bright, it feels very cozy.
It also makes it feel more bittersweet. When you lose someone you’ve shared your soul with, it feels like that part of your soul goes with them. You may find other things, other people to help you feel whole again, but that part of you is still gone, and there are times when you still feel it. This scene and Pat Caroll’s performance perfectly captures that.
After seeing both versions of A Garfield Christmas, I found the 1991 version better because of the piano scene and the animation where Grandma was telling Garfield about her late husband.
@ I love they scene. It is so warm and sad and nostalgic. She really misses him.
I primarily think of this as full of laughs so that was a very touching moment.
RIP Pat Carroll. Garfield Christmas is one of my favourite specials, and this scene always manages to get a small tear out of me
Is that because your legs hurt?
Fun fact: Jon Arbuckle’s grandma is voiced by Pat Carroll, who many of you may know as the voice of Ursula the Sea Witch from Disney’s The Little Mermaid!
Oh I never realized that! I can definitely hear it now that you pointed it out. Thanks for sharing!
This is one of my favorite performances from Pat Carroll. RIP to an acting legend
Pat Carroll and Lorenzo Music will always be a timeless pair
You know what? I'll never be able to unhear that, thank you... but in a _sincere_ way.
I loved being a kid in the 80's. Christmas's were magical in those days. I only know the 87 version of Garfield Christmas and I still love it.
The change to Grandma misses Grandpa story was a big change to me. The photograph was an important part and needed to seen.
Yes, having the grandfather’s picture made the whole scene more meaningful.
I also like the darker tone in the animation of Grandma misses Grandpa scene. It really makes you feel sorry for her as she revealed that she missed him the most on Christmas Eve. 😢
I KNEW something was up when watching this again years later!! Our family always had a tape of the 1987 version. My mom was a master of recording tv shows. We had dozens of mixed show vhs tapes to watch as kids. An episode of dark wing duck followed by The Racoons and then Size Small Island or the multiple “Christmas shows” tapes. 25 years later, I’ve still kept them save. 😊
awesome, love those shows
Those are amazing treasures you were able to hold on to. My parents made a holiday tape that would be stored away with the autumn/ winter decorations I always got to enjoy at the end of the year.
Wish I still had it. Even the commercials that slipped through I'd die just to experience again.
We were apart of a lucky generation.
@@Ihatethewaythatyou isn’t it weird how as kids we hated commercials? Now as middle age adults we actually enjoy old commercials from as far back as the 80’s? 😳
@@AMTheOcarinaPlayer as even the younger generation can see, even ads and the people who made them didn't just put effort into it for you to buy or remember their products but create something unique and entertaining.
That rocks maybe tru uploading them to share with us.
Back when I was a young kid my most two favorite Christmas cartoons were a Garfield Christmas and a Charlie Brown Christmas, even though I'm 47 years old, I still enjoy them and I still love them to this day. They are like the most epic Christmas cartoons of all times.
If you want to view the 1991 version, you can find it on TH-cam. I barely see the 1987 version pop up when searching for it.
There's A Fan-Made Remaster on Archive.org
The 1987 version is on Peacock.
The 1987 version is on Pluto.
I miss that this isn’t broadcast on TV anymore.
@N Diesal Probably. Doc Boy always seemed like the type.
When I was a kid they would air this with the Claymation Christmas. The California Raisins were popular like Garfield at that point. Ah, the memories
@@TheEman590 YES!!! From what I recall, those two would be aired back-to-back, and Charlie Brown & Grinch would be on other nights.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol is another one not on TV any longer.
@@patrickc3419 I watched Charlie Brown, Grinch and Mickey Christmas Carol a lot as a kid as well. Bless DVD and Streaming so I can watch them every year again. On television, they would air 3 winter themed shorts beforehand with an intro by Michael Eisner. A Muppet Family Christmas was another one. It had all the Muppets, Sesame Street gang and Fraggles all under one roof. It's a lot of fun.
It was forgettable in 1987/1991, and it’s forgettable now. It’s just a very cynical attempt to try and get that Charlie Brown Christmas special magic (and this is coming from a HUGE Garfield fan in the 80’s).
Just discovered the 24hr Garfield & Friends channel I have on Sling and the 1991 just happened to air this Christmas midnight. Still the most wholesome special ever
Not only do I own the Holiday Collection DVD already, I watch all three specials during each month (the first one on Halloween, the second during Thanksgiving and I most certainly break out the third every Christmas)
Awesome ep! This is one of my favorite Christmas shows and I own the Holiday Celebrations DVD. However we’ve also streamed it on Amazon and Apple over the years when the DVD was packed away and I just kept thinking I must not have remembered some scenes when I’d see an “added” one!
Interestingly enough, I watched the "1987" version my whole life, like 20 times as a kid. I was watching it on the Garfield YT channel this year with my own son and I had no idea there were 2 versions. I remember thinking "I don't remember seeing the photo of Grandpa" and now that you mention it, the animation is better and cozier. Thanks for making this random video 7 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can definitely see why they redid the scene where Garfield sat with Grandma. The 87 version just doesn't hit as hard with its color palette. 7:05 is the best example of the 87 version not working. A random shot of a fireplace just doesn't work, especially paired with Grandma's dialogue.
It also fixes the issues with the window and the snow falling outside.
Actually as far as color pallet is concerned it’s a stark direction change from the rest of the special. Notice they recolored the surround shots and scenes leading up to it to get into that cooler tone, otherwise it would look completely out of place.
I was just watching the special through Prime Video since it was available through my Prime membership and the transfer being of higher quality and after watching it, it felt rather difficult than I remembered when I noticed that the scene with Garfield and the grandmother wasn't the same. And now I know. The 91 version is available for free on TH-cam officially BTW.
Awesome, thanks for that info!
I'm watching this on DVD. October 29th 2024.
Drinking a glass of wine and feeling nostalgic & a little meloncholy. Even the Thanksgiving one, where they all sit at the table & the song that's played, "even though tomo will take us all far away" "we have today" I remembered Thanksgiving's where I fixed hugh meals with a 12 foot table and had 30 + family members attend. And Christmas was the same....all the decorations & presents. So many they wouldn't fit under a 10 foot tree! 😂❤ And I remembered holidays with loved one's & sons overseas & in war.....
I've lived a long, full life & one thing is always certain....Nothing ever stays the same. Everything changes....everything always changes. Nothing lasts forever. Hold love ones close. Do not hold grudges. Forgive everyone, no matter how cruel they are. That's for you, not them. Live a peaceful life. Enjoy the small things. Appreciate everything. Always be grateful. Peace to everyone reading this ❤
@@ayabokti161 What an amazing comment. Thank you for this. 🙏 🌲 🍷 ❤️
Rest In Peace Pat Carroll 🕊🕊🕊
Wow, I never knew there were 2 versions! I only remember the 1991 version, but since there's home video of me (age 3) watching it on New Year's Eve in 1990, I've obviously seen both.
This is literally the only time I heard Jon sing. He sounds great!
Neat! I never realized there was more than one version.
What a beautiful video...all the memories
This is fascinating thank you! We had this on our family holiday VHS mix tape and I now realize it was the 91 version and I’m grateful for those subtle changes. Would love to talk to the creators and get their side! Thanks again!
OMG. I showed my class the 1991 version on youtube and I thought the scene with the grandma looked different as well as the opening and thought I was misrembering. Thanks for this making this video.
Is it from the official Garfield TH-cam Channel or by a random person on the internet? I knew that the special was there, but I never got around to watching it.
@@honeybnoir824 I think it was on the Garfield and friend's channel.
Pat Carroll (grandma) passed away nearly a year and a half ago, she lived to be 95, rest in peace 1927-2022. Merry Christmas 2023 y'all!
Thank you so much for posting this video. I've been going on to my family about the differences between two different versions of A Garfield Christmas for years. Now this is the evidence I need.
Worth noting, however, in the scene where Odie goes to the barn to make Garfield's gift and Garfield discovers the letters from grandpa, the 87 version has much better musical timing. The version from 91 just doesn't flow very well.
I think somewhere between both versions, there is a perfect version of the special. Maybe I need to edit together that version myself.
I always watched the '87 version; my family recorded it when I was little, and that was always the one we plugged in every year. I didn't even know about the '91 version until YEARS later. My grandparents sadly passed away before I found it, and watching the updated version where they actually show Grandpa Arbuckle.....it got me teary-eyed. Thank you for showing this to everyone. :')
I’ve had enough of this year already. One of my favorite Christmas specials, and the highlights are Lorenzo Music and Pat Carroll. Mr. Music passed away in 2001, and now Ms. Carroll has just passed away. This and Ursula is how I will remember her, oh god this year…
I actually learned about the 1987 version after I got a copy of the Happy Holidays, Garfield! DVD at a Kmart during the 2010’s. It wasn’t until I watched it that I learned that there was a different version of it. I was confused and disappointed that it didn’t have the scene with John’s grandma jamming on the piano and how visually different the scene of grandma sitting on her rocking chair and talking to Garfield about her deceased husband. I only knew about the 1991 version because I used to watch it every year as a kid through a collection of holiday specials that my dad recorded on a blank VHS tape at the time. I’m glad he did. And I’m glad to know that there was more to this special than I thought. You pretty much answered my questions about why there were changes and thus two different versions of the same special. Thanks for that! And also thanks for letting us know which DVD to look for when it comes to the 1991 version 😊
Thank you for making this informative video! You did an excellent job!
Grandma's scene with Grandpa's picture and remembering loved ones we lost makes me tear up every time.
Also- they cut "One more remark like that, and you'll see stars, Woman". Leave shit alone!
Thank you for mentioning the "... you'll see stars woman" line missing. This missing line is how I first knew there were 2 versions as that line is in the original Garfield Christmas book.
i love this special so much. had no idea there were different versions!
I absolutely adore this special and I’ve watched it every Christmas Day since 1991
No way!!!! Now I've got to dig deep and about which one I grew up with. But this is going to help me know that for sure I grew up with the 1991. I was born in 1987 but I grew up with this on a vhs compilation that's lost. I knew that it airs with will vinton, but I never knew what year my mom taped. It had to of been 1991 or later bc that grandma scene is the most memorable
I grew up on both versions but I was younger when I saw the 1987 version and my memory of it had faded after the 1991 cut. When they started airing 1991, I loved that they added the piano scene but couldn't figure out why the songs had been trimmed down from what I remembered along with some changes in the scenes. It wasn't until I found this video a few years ago that it made sense what happened.
It's weird. I love the piano scene and the changes when Grandma was talking to Garfield in the chair, but I still prefer the 1987 version because the songs are complete and not trimmed. I have to watch both every year.
Jon's parents looked like my grandparents. 😂
Also, you know they were desperate to save on animation in 1987 when Grandma's monologue about her husband has a few shots focus on the fireplace, of all things.
Having grown up with both, 1991 version is the best. Glad they have that on the Garfield and Friends Channel.
I thank you from 7 years in the future.
One of my favorites as a child and I was lucky enough to see BOTH versions through the 90s with I was a kid.
Great video. Nicely done.
I love this movie as a kid and still watch it when kid
Thank you for talking about the chair scene. I always figured Odie bounced off his lap (or lower).....or years later jumped off of it when he leapt off. Unlike the other changes, i noticed this one, it was funny (like the "like Binky says it. HHHHEEEYYY KKKIIDDSS" and the "let's see if Binky says Christmas again this year"), would watch that scene a couple times, so it was engraved in my memory, and i noticed that change immediately
I'm a lifelong Garfield fan all the way back to the first special "Here Come's Garfield", reading the original long book formats, and of course reading the weekday and Sunday newspaper comic strips. I must have forgotten there were two versions, and now with proper context both actually work well. I have the fully Garfield holiday special that included Halloween, and sadly it is still out of print still.
Peacock has an HD version of this special and we were excited to watch it. Unfortunately, it's the 1987 version and grandma's piano scene is missing. I'd love to find an HD copy of the 1991 version.
I actually have the Garfield’s Holiday celebration on dvd. I grew up watching the 1991 version of the Christmas Special.
When I switched to streaming, and downloaded the Christmas special, I was surprised and confused on why some scenes were missing from the special until doing some research a few years back.
I got so caught up in that beautiful scene with grammas story I forgot about the rest of the video
Another beautiful scene that always warms my heart was when Garfield gave the old letters he found to Grandma because then it turned out that they were old love letters that Grandpa wrote to Grandma during their courtship.
@ awe! Now I gotta see the whole thing
I still have the 87 version on VHS somewhere when I recorded it when I was a kid. Like the 91 version more and glad I’m able to
Watch it on TH-cam the last 8 years for nostalgia during Xmas
1:46 not only was Garfield wide eyed but Jon and his father too were wide eyed like something weird happened suddenly and also Jon just says "Why don't YOU play for us Mom?" Like someone else had already played the piano.
When we see the 1991 version, we found out that someone else tried to play the piano! Who would've guessed that it was Doc-Boy then Grandma! 😂
I had this special on VHS years, the unedited version of course.
I also had the book adaptation of it that included whole scenes and/or sequences cut from the special, eg. Jon struggling with the chores on the farm. Minute albeit, but still interesting.
Thank you for this detailed breakdown! Important piece of history for a classic
The masses require a SUPER CUT! ☝🏼
I wish I had found this video long ago to explain that chair scene you talk about at the end. I remember as a kid, the dad getting trampled as they run off to bed, but every version I've seen as an adult is the '91 edit. I was starting to think I was crazy in remembering it being there, and had no idea there was 2 versions. It's nice to know my memory was correct.
Thank you Russ for this content.
@@grille239 Thank YOU!
@@Russkafin I am SOOOOO looking forward to your Superman 2 Cut/Cut!
I adore these Garfield tv specials. My favorite is Garfield’s Halloween Adventure. I think at 47 years old I have it memorized now.
Always loved Garfield and friends I use to wake up at 6am to watch it before school
3:01 I like how mom's legs disappear within the piano cutout after sitting down, but we can also see (what I am guessing is) the tip of her hand movement right at the corner.
In the days of DVD releases where runtime doesn't matter in slightest because there's no timeslot, I don't see why they don't release an extended edition that includes the piano scene and the updated animation of the one scene, but also includes the minor missing bits that were in the original release.
Probably because it was re-aired on television in '91 and had all those ad breaks to work around.
@TheRealJJJ But I'm talking about a potential DVD release
@@curtthegamer934 Don't think that's gonna happen. You're better off making an edit of your own
I'd like a versio were nothing was cut , all scenes from these two in one version
Impossible, dumbass since many scenes coinside. But I get what you mean.
Rip the DVDs and make your own edit. Davinci Resolve and Kden Live are both free.
I haven't seen this Christmas Special in years!! Including this year, & I remember the "cut" part of this Chinese classic. And, Garfield was pretty big in the 80's
I ❤ this Christmas special 🎄 🌟 🥧
Thank you, i knew there was something off with the "making present scene". It felt like the music starting in the scene started in the wrong time. I couldn't understand why but it felt the song was edited, or if the song was mistimed to the scene. My dad recorded it off the tv when it first aired, and we rewatched it a ton of times, for decades until the tape and vcr broke. I couldn't figure out what was up (watching on tv the few times it showed or on youtube). Seeing the year at the end of the credits, 1991, also felt off. I was sure it was in the 80s, but couldn't say for sure.
So I watch this every and found it weird that I saw two different versions. The one on the offical Garfield and Friends channel on TH-cam has the 91 version while on Peacock, it has the 87 version.
Oh that is really good to know! Thank you!
I wish there was just a full cut. The dvd only has the 91 version
Am I crazy or were there 2 versions of Garfield in Disguise? I recall a scarier ending where the ghosts pirates follow Garfield and Odie back to Jon's place and only leave when Garfield gives them back a piece of jewelry he stole from the treasure. I've had people say that this version never existed and I'm just remembering the stuff from the book that went along with the special that had that ending, but I recall remembering this stuff even before I knew about the books that went along with the movies.
I used to have the original '87 version recorded from when it had first aired.. I recall the first few moments and most of Garfield's dream was all messed up on the tape I had watched it so much as a kid :p
Didn't even know about any of the edits until decades later when I got the DVD's.
I remember seeing a scene where after Jon's Dad reads the story, Odie hops off his lap, and knocked the book out of his hands, and it hit him upside the head, causing him to be dazed. Yet, the version I have on DVD shows him just leaning to the side rolling his eyes. People told me I was confused and misremembering, but I KNEW it was that way.
Good video. I was surprised when I first heard about the original 1987 version... As a kid, I had fallen upon the 1991 version first, on Dailymotion.
3:56 - I have a twisted mind... right before you start talking again, we hear Jon say "I can almost smell Mom's chest--" XD
I grew up on the 1991 version. We VHS taped it, along with A Charlie Brown Christmas, and I’d rewatch them on Christmas. This might be heresy to many but I feel like the Garfield Christmas Special just holds up better and has a more compelling plot than A Charlie Brown Christmas.
That was a cool video. I learn some weird stuff like this about my favorite holiday stuff! Tried find the original 1987 version all I could see was the 1991 version. If u have it u should try posting it here!
Did you ever find a copy? If not, I have a copy of the 87 cut ripped from a VHS I can send to you
@@MichaelLeroi no, I never did. You don't need to send me anything! I can still watch it, which is what's really important 😳😁 Thanks for the offer though!
as a kid, you don't really appreciate grandma's story scene, so when i grew up and began to appreciate and like that scene (alot), not remembering the photo never rang any bells about being different (i did feel something was off, but just chocked it up to memory)
I forgot about grandma mentioning how dads weren’t allowed to love their kids back then. Such a strange time.
That's not what she said, dumbass. She said he wasn't personally comfortable showing outward affection except at Christmas. That not even close to the same thing as straight up not being allowed to, idiot.
The 1991 special is currently on the Garfield and Friends TH-cam channel
i grew up with the 1991 version and i gotta say the grandma talking to garfield about grandpa still makes me tear up.
One to keep in mind for Christmas 2025 is A Muppet Family Christmas. They left out a few songs on the DVD release, probably due to copyright issues. But does cause for some continuity awkwardness.
Glad I got that dvd a long long time ago. ^_^
They need a cut with all of the cut out scenes but with the 1991 graphics that gives it that beautiful darker style to it.
It sounds weird, but they made her chest smaller, too. I remember she was stacked in the ‘87 version! She’s a bit less busty in the ‘91 animations.
91' version is now available on TH-cam from the official Garfield channel. I watch it every year probably my favorite Christmas special up their with flintstones Christmas carol
I knew I wasn't crazy when I saw the "1991". I was 14. I knew I saw the Christmas Special in elementary school. I still liked Garfield at 14 but was WAY more excited at 10. I thought maybe I was remembering wrong.
In all the years I've watched this, I had no idea that a couple of scenes were re-animated for the 1991 home video release vs the original 1987 broadcast version. The darker colors in Grandma's scene in the '91 version are much more fitting to the mood. Really, the only other difference is a small one. After Dad finishes reading, in the '87 cut, he gets stepped on and his eyes roll around. In the '91 cut, he simply leans back.
Wait a minute! Maybe it was just in the book but when Grandma's feeding Garfield and Odie under the table. The father inquires why she's packing away the food tonight. She states, "I'm eating for two now dear". At that point it's father who is wide-eyed 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😁
This is crazy, I've always had a copy of the 1991 special ever since I was young so I had no idea there was another version. Although I think I'm glad I got the version I did cause the piano scene was always one of my favourites, also the scene with Garfield in the rocking chair just hits different in the 1991 version
I was watching this on Amizon Prime, noticed the scene with Grandma playing the piano missing and wondered what was going on, did some research before finding it was not in the original release. Yet I really don't remember the scene with Dad reading the Binky the Clown story at all.
I've definitely only seen the 1991 version since I didn't even know some of this alternate animation existed. Looks like all the changes they made in the newer version were definitely for the best!
I have a Mandela Effect for this special... I remember as a kid, when Odie went out to the barn to make Garfield's gift he couldn't get the stick to stay on the base. Odie leaves to find a remedy and while he's gone Garfield builds the gift and when Odie returns he is surprised but happy it's made and throws the bag on it and brings it inside. Anyone else remember this??
Oh wow! I don’t remember that and I’m not aware of a version like that. But, since you mentioned the Mandela Effect, maybe that version existed in another timeline. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I remember it as odie building the whole thing. I had the 87 version taped from tv
That’s what happened in the comic version so that’s why you remember it that way, you must’ve seen it in the comic. That version was never animated though.
Yeah, that part was definitely in a version of the special. I remember it from the CBS broadcast version in the 90s-2000.
In the book, Garfield finished Odie's Gift
I was confused about the grandma part, I knew it was different when I was a kid!
I KNEW THERE WAS ANOTHER VERSION
9:22 I think I found this in FYE for like 5 bucks a few years back.
As a kid, I remember saying they changed it and my dad going "No they didn't!! Why would they do that?"
The 1991 version is available on TH-cam. I also have the OOP dvd. I saw the special streaming on Peacock but it's the 1987 version.
The end credits look like an homage to those in A Clockwork Orange (1971).
so 7 yrs have passed must be a lot of CUT CUT to check out.
Edit: oh there are 2
I want them to make more of these!
I watched the original version, my mom recorded it on VHS. I have the cassette in storage with other specials.
The grandma scene was there, don't know where your info came from. But, if I had a VCR, I could prove it.
Hmm now I wonder what year I recorded it on vhs . I'll have to look at it.
The set I have they mixed up the cds the Thanksgiving one is the Christmas one or something and vice versa. Actually it's one disc it's the menu thats screwed up.
Interesting! I'm glad you still have them both though. What a unique item you have there!
interesting note:
1987- 65 mph only applied to rural interstates,
1991- 65 mph also applied to rural non-interstate expressways.
I am probably late to this and this might be a bit of a moot point but the 1991 special is available on VHS. CBS Video and Fox Video (NOT CBS FOX) put it out. I don’t know if other vhs releases exist or have this version.
It'd be nice to get a complete cut of this, using the 1991 version of Grandma and Garfield. Unless I am mistaken, the DVD has the 1991 version but didn't have the extra clips they trimmed from 1987
You are correct. I might edit it together one day
How am I just learning that Jon has a family???
Im confused i saw it all the first time and recorded it and doc boy sings