Bill Murray Brings the Yule

In the 1970s, a holiday staple was the Christmas TV special. While kids had shows like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” the more adult fare usually centered around a crooner of years past, a cheesy sitcom set and contrived appearances from current and past celebrities.

It’s no surprise then that Bill Murray chose to emulate and even lampoon the old style when Netflix gave him carte blanche to make a Christmas special.

Murray’s partner in crime, Sofia Coppola, served as director, and her visual style is on display from the outset, featuring Murray in a hotel room — a nod to their original film together, “Lost in Translation.” The setup: Murray has been talked into hosting a Christmas TV special in the vein of the day of yore, complete with celebrity appearances left and right.

As Murray’s luck would have it, a blizzard hits New York and all of his guests cancel. This sets up what could easily become the most depressing and melancholy Christmas special of all time. What Murray and Coppola pull off, though, is nothing short of majestic art.

It’s no easy feat to make a show that features a failed TV special, a canceled wedding and people generally feeling alone on Christmas and imbue it with a sense of optimism and hope, even if it only lasts one night. In what might be the grandest trick, Murray shares a fantastic duet with Jenny Lewis of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” The song, better known as a sexual harassment anthem in PC circles, is poignant in context.

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Paul Shaffer proves to be a wonderfully capable wingman for Murray among the varied celebrity appearances. Chris Rock being roped into being on the TV special and trying to sing along with “Do You Hear What I Hear?” might be the most awkwardly funny moment of the entire show.

Maya Rudolph absolutely crushes “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” with soul and longing that sets up an earnest duet between the charmingly off-key Jason Schwartzman and beautifully on-key Rashida Jones of “I Saw the Light (Only You).” Their missed connection sets the stage for melancholy hope in the rest of the show.

If the first half is dour, yet hopeful. The second half is pure throwback to Christmas specials of the past.

Miley Cyrus’ raw talent is on full display as she offers her sweet take on “Silent Night,” “Let It Snow,” and “Sleigh Ride.” Her delivery is so sincere and heartfelt that audiences can easily overlook the antics that have made her a sideshow attraction in recent years.

Meanwhile, George Clooney (who didn’t inherit his Aunt Rosemary’s voice) adds his own charm to the mix, popping out from behind trees during “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’.”

Only Murray could make a yule time TV special that includes songs like “Fairytale of New York” and “Christmas Blues” and still manage to make the show oddly uplifting. What could easily act as counter programming to traditional Christmas fare instead finds itself quite fitting in the same vein as Murray’s 1988 dark but uplifting “Scrooged” (if the climatic scene in that movie doesn’t give you a big lump in the throat, your Grinchy heart is three sizes too small).

Striking a balance between the faux joy of Christmas specials and the honest anxieties surrounding the holiday season is an artistic achievement in and of itself. This one is definitely for the adults, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But Murray might just bring you into the Christmas spirit.