George C. Scott actually refused the Oscar he won for his role as Patton made in 1970. He didn't think much of the whole Academy Awards process. Sixteen years later, Scott reprised his Patton title role in a made-for-television sequel, The Last Days of Patton, which was produced in 1986. The movie was based on Patton's final weeks after being mortally injured in a car accident, with flashbacks of Patton's life.

In 1984, Scott was cast in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in a television adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Critics and the public alike praised his performance. Some have said his Scrooge ranks alongside Alastair Sim's portrayal. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for the role.