Only time will tell if “A Very Murray Christmas” will join the ranks of seasonal classics like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special.”
But in the here and now, this hour-long special — which starts streaming Friday on Netflix — is an endearingly oddball tribute to the variety specials of yore.
Written by star Bill Murray, his “Scrooged” accomplice Mitch Glazer and director Sofia Coppola, the show exudes an air of goofy cool without appearing to try too hard — kind of like Murray himself.
The guest list is packed with the simpatico likes of Amy Poehler, Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Chris Rock and David Johansen. It’s a fun gang, if not nearly as daringly nutty as the one assembled for “Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas” — in which the aging crooner paired up with David Bowie in 1977 — or the aforementioned Pee-Wee special.
The show starts with Murray in a swanky hotel suite, a nod to “Lost in Translation,” his breakthrough collaboration with Coppola.
Here, though, we’re not in Japan but at New York City’s Carlyle hotel, where Murray and music director Paul Shaffer’s cabaret act at the hotel’s Bemelmans Bar is scheduled to air live on Christmas Eve.
(Because we all know cabaret is a ratings magnet.)
Alas, a paralyzing blizzard turns Christmas into “Christ-mess,” in the words of Murray’s manager (Michael Cera). None of the guests can make it, so the team is left contemplating placeholders (Pope Francis was to be seated between Paul McCartney and Iggy Azalea).
Never mind: The show may be officially canceled, but it will go on anyway, if only for the hotel’s guests and employees — who, wouldn’t you know, all happen to enjoy singing.
Well, except for Chris Rock, who’s drifted in but can’t hold a tune and merely repeats select words in a psycho-killer whisper in his and Murray’s rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear.”
Elsewhere, Murray interjects po-faced comments (“Your hands are like ice”) during Jenny Lewis’ lovely “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” This is the show at its best, effectively balancing wry humor with a straightforward affection for the Christmas songbook (the regular one, not some hipster alt-holiday universe version).
But there’s a bit of that, too, when Murray and Clooney duet on the funky “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’” or when members of Phoenix (whose singer is married to Coppola) launch into the pop ditty “Alone on Christmas Day” — which will be released as a single on Friday. The vibe stays mellow throughout, which is probably why a key verse of the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” was cut.
Don’t want to offend anyone on Christmas!
Best Christmas specials
During the 1960s, television was gifted with a wave of Christmas specials that were primitively animated (by today’s standards) but offered a sentiment that had universal appeal — ensuring their popularity for decades to come. Several of them will broadcast this week and later in the month. — Robert Rorke
• ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ (1965)
Charlie Brown may turn out to be the most popular character in a TV show, as evidenced by the fuss surrounding the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which aired Monday night along with an hourlong musical special. The infectious score by the late Vince Guaraldi keeps the story of Charlie’s search for meaning in a commercialized Christmas season humming along.
• ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ (1964)
Tuesday, 8 p.m., CBS
The Johnny Marks score includes the title tune, “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “We’re a Couple of Misfits.” “Rudolph” celebrated its golden anniversary last year with the issue of four commemorative stamps (Rudolph, Santa, Hermey and the Abominable Snow Monster, aka Bumble) by the US Postal Service. While most new series are lucky if they can get double-digit ratings, “Rudolph” raked in nearly 11 million viewers in 2014.
• ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (1966)
Wednesday, 9 p.m., NBC
Boris Karloff narrated the justly famous tale of the Whos, darling little creatures from Whoville whose favorite holiday is Christmas, and their battle royal with the evil Grinch, who wants to steal the holiday. Hollywood tried to give this classic an update with Jim Carrey, but there’s nothing like the original. Songs by Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague.
• ‘Frosty the Snowman’ (1969)
Watch Frosty, a roly-poly goofball with a heart of gold, strike up a friendship with cute kid Karen as he tries to get to the North Pole in this 1960s classic.
• ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ (1968)
Dec. 24, 8 p.m., The CW
This stop-motion classic about the little orphan boy who didn’t have anything to give to the infant Jesus except his drumming prowess has a spiritual message that resonates with today’s consumer: Things are not everything. Really? Really.