Rudolph is coming home to NBC, and bringing Frosty with him

 Rankin-Bass' adaptation of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer is returning to NBC next month, and he's not coming alone.

Rudolph, based on the song by Johnny Marks, made famous by Gene Autry, and narrated by Burl Ives, will air December 6 with an extended running time, commercials included, of 75 minutes.

Rudolph & Hermy.

Frosty The Snowman, featuring the talents of Jackie Vernon, Billy DeWolfe, & narrator Jimmy Durante, makes his NBC debut the preceding night, on December 5. The specials will stream on Peacock, I think, as well as on Hulu.

Frosty, oh, by the way, turns 55 this year, while Rudolph marks 60 years on television, and his return to NBC after 53 years away.

Toon Legends: Tom & Jerry in The Hollywood Bowl (1950)

 The title says it all. Tom & Jerry are at the Hollywood Bowl, where Tom is conducting an all-feline orchestra, most of whom are replicas of him. Jerry gets in on the action. This was the 3rd musical short for the two, and, I believe, the last under Bill Hanna & Joe Barbera. We know, of course, that Chuck Jones would serve up the jazzy "Rock 'n' Rodent" several years later.

The music, under the real life direction of Scott Bradley, is Johann Strauss' overture to "Die Fiedermaus".

Rating: A.

Looney TV: Beep, Beep (1952)

 The Road Runner has to elude the Coyote, and this time it includes a race through a mine that might've been a prototype for some old school video games. Chuck Jones directs "Beep, Beep":

Rating: A.

You Know The Voice: Shari Lewis (1961)

 In the early days of children's television, it was common to have live-action hosts like, for example, Buffalo Bob Smith or Shari Lewis cross over into primetime for guest appearances.

In a case of intra-network synergy, Shari, with Lamb Chop & Charlie Horse in tow, visits The Ford Show with Tennessee Ernie Ford. Lamb Chop starts it off by doing the usual notation of the show airing in living color, or, as Lamb Chop says, from the sound of it, "loving color". Then, we get an animated intro with Charlie Brown & Schroder from Peanuts. Ford, remember, utilized Charlie and friends in advertising for a number of years.

Toons After Dark: The series premiere of The Flintstones (1960)

 Preeeeeeesenting......"The Flintstone Flyer":

Fred (Alan Reed) would embark on a few more get-rich-quick schemes over the course of the series. Today, bowling would be more of a family event or a date night. I should know.

Rating: B.

Toon Legends: A complete episode of Space Ghost & Dino Boy (1966)

 Enjoy this while it's here.

Space Ghost in "The Ice Man". Zeron (Paul Frees) envisions himself Emperor of The Universe. But, freezing the Ghost Planet? That's asking for trouble!

Dino Boy in "The Vampire Men". Well, it's more like humanoid bat-creatures, but you get the idea.

Space Ghost in "The Time Machine". Jace (Tim Matheson) accidentally sends Jan (Ginny Tyler) back to Viking days. That forces Space Ghost (Gary Owens, The Green Hornet) to take Jace and track Jan.

What I don't understand is why actors like Paul Frees and Keye Luke (the original voice of Brak) were not given screen credit. 

Rating: B.

Toon Legends: Tom & Jerry meet Big Feet (1975)

 That's not a misnomer, folks. Tom & Jerry take jobs at a logging camp when the lumberjacks all quit because of the hermit known as "Big Feet" (Don Messick). His story has a happy ending.

Standard 70's fare.

Rating: B.