Grandma Got Run Over by a Blog

You may be thinking to yourself that LD has finally lost it because Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is a Christmas song, not a special, but you would be wrong.  It is actually both.  Also, it isn’t just some Christmas song; it was recently voted the second most annoying Christmas song played on the radio.  That’s a pretty big honor because it is on a list with Santa Baby (also a bad Christmas Special, with Jenny McCarthy), I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.  All of these are terribly annoying Christmas songs that cause the majority of us to switch radio stations when they come on.  One would think a Christmas special about one of these would be too unappealing to even watch once, but I’ve watched it at least 3 times (I have been ridiculed for watching it as well).

As you should know by now that there is really very little rhyme or reason as to whether or not I like a particular Christmas special.  One may assume I’d be ripping this one to shreds because that could be done very easily.  Well, I implore you not to assume (because it makes an…you should know the saying) because I actually kind of like this special.  I’m not sure why either, there isn’t really anything that sticks out as great to me and I definitely don’t like the song for which it was inspired.  Perhaps it is just the pure uniqueness of the whole thing.  It really is the only special I have seen featuring a missing Grandma, a wicked cousin, a courtroom, and fruitcake.  See, those 4 things and now I have all of you intrigued to this special as well.  Since I can tell you are all anxious to see this special now, I promise to do my best not to reveal too much of it.

Potential Spoiler Alert: It wasn’t Egg Nog that got Grandma ran over.  I won’t tell you what it was though.  Egg Nog is one Christmas tradition that I myself have never indulged in myself.  To me, Egg Nog just doesn’t sound appetizing.  I haven’t had it spiked either.  Even though I must admit I kind of want to try some Nog-A-Sake, a mixture of Egg Nog and sake (a drink I heard about from Andrew Bernard of the Office).  I really just want Nog-A-Sake because it is fun to say (and I hope you just said it out loud).  I guess also because it was mentioned on the Office, even though I haven’t been impressed with recent episodes of the Office.  But, this is about Grandma and her Egg Nog addiction not the quality decline of the Office.  I did say that Egg Nog did not cause Grandma to be run over, but she really did have too much.

Nag-A-Sake

Despite Grandma’s Egg Nog addiction, she did make the best fruitcake.  Now, I know that the topic of fruitcake has been done to death by just about any comedian out there.  I’m not calling myself a comedian to clarify, but I’m just saying the topic has been well covered.  With this topic being so well covered it would be crazy for me to try to add more to it.  Well, call me crazy.  The thing is I’ve never had fruitcake.  I’ve sold it when I worked at GFS but I never have tasted it.  From what I’ve heard from various people, including comedians, I think it has kind of a bad wrap (get it? Since it is Christmas).  To me, it sounds like a pound cake with Skittles in it.  How could that be so bad?  Maybe somebody should just start making pound cakes with Skittles in them and call them fruitcakes.  Actually, Skittles should patent the idea and call them SkittleCakes.  I would totally try a SkittleCake.  I’m not big on desserts but I love Skittles and I’m not against cake.  I think SkittleCake could be my best idea since December 15^th being Die Hard day. 

So, I don’t think I really talked about the special.  I may have mentioned it but the majority is more rants about Egg Nog and fruitcake (and the soon to be holiday treat, SkittleCake).  I feel good about that.  The random rants feel natural and organic so I’m leaving them.  Also, I like how my blog is self-aware.  I say that meaning that when I type I know it’s a blog and not some great piece of literature.  There are probably tons of grammatical errors but as long as it can be read an understood I’m ok with it.  I mean, this is for entertainment not some English course, am I right?  Of course I’m right.  It is my blog.  I’m always right (ok, I know I’m not always right, infact, I was corrected on the Elf blog that the whale with a unicorn horn is a real animal called a narwhal).  Anyways, I’ve kept you from trying to find and watch Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer long enough.

As for me and Grandpa, we believe,

-LD

Frosty the Blogman

I don’t know about you, but I build at least one snowman every winter.  It became a bit more difficult when I wasn’t living in out in the country with a ton of yard to work with but I still did it.  Some of you who know me will know that I built snowmen in the small grassy area by the W.E.B. and also in the front yard that the Highley’s (also Terel and Robbie for a small period of time) used to live.  This post isn’t about my awesome snowman building abilities though (but I am a pro), instead it is about the most famous snowman of all time, Frosty.  Frosty has at least 4 well-known specials which is pretty impressive, even though he has to share the title of one of them with that little red-nosed punkdeer better known as Rudolph.

Me with one of the W.E.B. Snowmen I built

Frosty is pretty great, he may not be the smartest character but he had a heart of gold.  When I say not the smartest character I’m being kind too (he was unable to count to 10).  But, he literally sacrificed himself to save that little girl in the first movie (this movie is old and popular enough I feel no need for spoiler alerts).  You may not remember, but she was about to freeze to death but Frosty saved her.  After finding a greenhouse (and if you haven’t been in one, they are hot and humid) Frosty, braves the heat and brings her inside.  Now, he ends up getting trapped in the greenhouse and melts but the point is that he did it all to save that little girl.  Like I said, not bright but heart of gold, well, classic Frosty that is.  No offense to John Goodman, but I’m not a huge fan of Frosty Returns.  The animation looks like a rip-off of Charlie Brown and it just seems too, I don’t know what but there is just too much of it.  It is a shame too though, because I do like Goodman’s voice for Frosty (I don’t care what you say, but to me he has the voice for a jolly fat man of snow).

Frosty...Duh

In fear of ticking off Jack Frost, I will give him a quick tip of the magic hat here.  If you are wondering what Jack Frost has to do with Frosty then you haven’t seen Frosty’s Winter Wonderland.  If you had seen it, then you will recall that Jack gets jealous of all the attention Frosty gets and attempts to ruin all the fun for Frosty.  Well Jack, I just want to say that I myself really like your very own self titled Christmas Special (which I sadly do not own…yet).  I know that without Mr. Frost there wouldn’t be any snow to make Frosty.  I also want to clarify when I’m talking about Jack Frost I am talking about the guy who looks like a chilly elf who nips at your nose, not that movie about the dead musician dad who comes back as a snowman.  Think I just made up that last part?  Go ahead; question my knowledge of all crummy Christmas movies.   Look it up, you will find that I am 100% correct.  Guess you just got Christmas movie owned.  Anyways, Jack Frost deserves props for snow so we can have Frosty.

Jack Frost (see, chilly looking elf)

Snowmen are great because they aren’t just Christmasy.  That is the very reason why I purchase some sort of snowman decoration for my dear mother every Christmas.  I literally (also, when I say literally it is in the correct context, I know the difference between literally and figuratively and if you don’t then you need to learn or you shouldn’t use those words at all, ever) started her snowman collection.  Others now will buy my mom snowman stuff because she now officially collects them.  I think that it is a better Christmas gift then any sort of Santa decoration (no offense to the big man) because you shouldn’t be displaying Santa all winter long (I guess it is “tacky”).  But a snowman on the other hand, you can keep those out for all to see up until spring time.  To me, you are getting a lot more bang for your Christmas gift that way.  Someday I should really get mom an actual Frosty figurine; she doesn’t have a legit Frosty one yet, just a bunch of generic snowmen.

I hope the weather soon will give me good packing snow so I can build my annual snowman.  I’ve never placed a hat upon ones head before so maybe this year I will try that because secretly every time I build a snowman I hope it comes to life like Frosty.  Seriously, if you know me then you probably know that I will do just about anything for the story but could you believe how awesome of a story that would make.  I could start up a whole new blog dedicated to stories about me and my snowman.  It could easily become a book.  Then it would become a crummy Christmas movie with sequels upon sequels.  I can see it now.  Well, now I’ve lost all interest in this blog and I’m daydreaming about the adventures I will have with my snowman, Franklin (like the puppet from Arrested Development).

Happy Birthday,

-LD 

Does Everyone Know What Time it is? Blog Time!!!

No, this isn’t a post about Home Improvement or Tool Time (which was actually a part of Home Improvement) but it is a post about the Santa Clause series.  The connection if you haven’t made it already is that Tim Allen is the star of both.  That’s right, the Tool Man replaced his Neanderthalic grunts for jolly ho ho ho’s.  He traded in his hot rod for a shining red sleigh with 8 reindeer power.  He’s trading in Al for a sidekick elf name Bernard.  He gave up his shop full of tools for a workshop full of working elves and toys.  I could keep going but they really only make sense if you have seen both and I question how popular they are with my blog audience.

That all being said, I know many probably don’t care much for the Santa Clause but my mother thinks it is pretty swell so I have bought for her the first 2 (she admits to not caring much for the 3^rd).  I must agree with her that the first two are pretty good as far as feature Christmas movies go.  Now, for me it is always difficult to please me when you are dealing with Santa.  As you may have noticed from previous posts, I have pretty strong feelings about how I like my Santa portrayed. Luckily for the Tool Man, he didn’t screw up the part.  They also did a good job of keeping the general Santa story intact as far as the elves and the milk and cookies and reindeer.  Sometimes when a movie takes their own idea about Santa they end up changing too much which turns me off to the whole concept.  This one was very unique and even I was able to get into it and support it.  I was also surprised at how jolly Tim Allen was once he put on the Christmas suit.  Though, now that I think about it, I shouldn’t have been.

Tim the Toy Man Taylor (lame I know)

Tim Allen not only did the 3 Santa Clause movies but he was also in another Christmas movie, Christmas with the Kranks (base on Grisham’s novel Skipping Christmas).  Granted, he does play a bit of a scrooge in the film but it is still a Christmas movie.  But that was after the Santa Clause movie.  What should have led me on to Tim’s ability to be full of Christmas cheer was Home Improvement.  I do believe that ther was a Christmas episode every year.  Most of them focusing around Tim’s obsession to win the neighborhood lights contest (usually his were over the top and extreme and he lost to some doctor).  Now, I’m not going to give Tim Allen a pass for life like I did Chevy Chase, but I would give him a many hug with 3 back pats for his roles in these Christmas flicks. Now, regardless of how you feel about Tim Allen as a standup comedian or actor, the fact remains that the Santa Clause can be considered up there in the top Christmas movies that were released in theaters along with the likes of Christmas Vacation, Jim Carrey’s Grinch and Christmas Carol, Elf, and various others (I really haven’t seen as many as I would like but I hear Fred Clause is good too).

Bernard the Elf (or the Dude from Numb3rs)

I know this is one of my shorter Christmas Special posts but I have a confession to make.  I know this is a public blog so it isn’t a secret, just a confession.  As you may know, it is well into the evening on December 20, 2010 and I have yet to begin wrapping presents.  I also have to completely clean house before any guests arrive which will definitely be on Christmas and maybe even before.  Instead of focusing anymore time on this I will begin to clean.  Hopefully I can get enough of a head start on cleaning that I can have time to wrap presents tomorrow (also, I have to wrap whatever my dad has bought for my mother).  Luckily, I have completed all of my Christmas shopping (even though one item isn’t due to arrive until Christmas Eve).  So with all this I hope you forgive how I rushed this blog.

Something clever involving Tim Allen and Christmas

-LD

Friends Call Me Blog Miser

If any one of you called me on my cell phone right now I would be altered with a ringtone of FM Static’s cover of Snow Miser.  This is because The Year Without a Santa Claus is my favorite Christmas Special.  I’m not saying it is the best Christmas Special, but it is my favorite.  The reason for that is mainly because of the Snow Miser and the Heat Miser (which Thousand Foot Crutch did a rockin’ cover of the Heat Miser song).  I’m not sure why but I truly enjoy their portion in the special.  Also, this special has my favorite version of Santa (the only reason it isn’t the one from Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town is because that Santa is young throughout the majority of the special).  Well, guess that’s enough of an intro, let us dive in shall we?

I want to start off by defending Santa in his decision to take a holiday and skip Christmas.  Firstly, it was the elf doctor who told him that he should spend the day at home recovery from a bad cold.  Granted, he was a very scroogey elf doctor, but Santa was just following doctor’s orders.  Also, how old is Santa by then anyways?  I work for a retirement company and I can tell you one thing for certain, Santa is way past retirement age.  Sure, we all know Santa is magic but there is only so much magic can do to prevent the aging process, look at Dumbledore (also, I do not support the way ABC Family always shows Harry Potter during its 25 Days of Christmas).  Even if we take Santa’s age out of the equation, how many of us can claim we have enough of a work ethic to never take a vacation from work or school?  If you said you do then I will call you out as a liar right now.  We all need a break to recharge our batteries no matter what it is we are doing.  Also, even though he is obviously under the weather he still goes after Jingle and Jangle Bells (by the way, those are the best names for 2 elves ever) and little Vixen when they go to find some Christmas Spirit.  This act proves that Santa isn't completely selfish.  Also, Santa sings that song I had previously mentioned in another blog about how he believes in Santa like he believes in love.  Now, does that sound like a man who doesn't deserve a holiday?

Snow Miser and Heat Miser (in respective order)

Now, I can totally look past the fact that the main kid, Iggy, is a ginger.  Guess it is because of the Christmas Season also, the Snow and Heat Miser just the special for me.  I realize the songs they sing aren’t by any means masterpieces or really all that clever.  All I do know about those songs is that they are darn catchy and I love them (thus the ringtone).  Heck, it could’ve been these songs that subconsciously made me decide to play the trombone (heavily featured in the songs).  It was these songs that began my love for these two characters, so when they were given their own Christmas Special on ABC Family I had to watch it (and DVR it).  Now, the Miser Brothers’ Christmas wasn’t really everything I had hoped it would be.  The updated animation had me thrown off a bit and I couldn’t get past how much the North Wind (the bad guy in the special) looked like Jay Leno.  I could’ve gotten past the resemblance if Jay Leno would’ve done the voice for the North Wind.  I guess I just had too high of standards for the new Miser Brothers special.  Luckily, it didn’t tarnish my love for the original Heat and Snow Misers in the least bit.  I must be honest, of the two I prefer Snow Miser.  That is probably because physically I look more like the Snow Miser (tall and lanky) who is quite the devilishly handsome miser if I do say so myself.

Jay Leno...oops, I mean North Wind (see the confusion?)

Spoiler Alert: Santa doesn’t end up taking a holiday and Christmas goes on as planned.  You see, Mrs. Claus and the gang go through all this trouble to get people to let him have a holiday.  In doing this, the world reminds Santa of why he does Christmas in the first place.  There is a great scene where they show kids of every nation preparing Christmas presents.  Also, the best use of the song Blue Christmas is used in this special.  I don’t know about you, but when Santa blows his nose like a trumpet blast and tells the elves to prepare the sled for Christmas it brings a little tear of joy to my eye (my left eye to be exact).  I’m sure this is the Christmas Special that got me hooked on them and I can’t imagine a year without watching a Year Without a Santa Claus ( I know, a little lame and corny but if you know me at all then you know I had to type it).

There'll be no year without a Santa Claus,

-LD

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Blog

Today was this first time I had watched Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol and I was unsure what to expect.  I mean, I knew there would be 4 ghost (yes 4, because many forget about Jacob Marley’s ghost) and a tiny Tim because those are in every version of the Christmas Carol.  I watched it today because it was included in one of my Christmas Classic Collection sets.  Now with any Christmas Special I go into with an open mind and Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol was no different.

Now, I realize that the Christmas Carol isn’t the happiest story, well at least til the end.  There are many depressing aspects to this story.  That being said, I have never seen an animated/family version of the Christmas Carol that was so gloomy.  I was expecting more comic relief but the majority of that was just vague references to Mr. Magoo needing spectacles (for those who don’t know, Magoo is a pretty blind old man).  Usually I can fully appreciate old cartoons but perhaps I just don’t get Mr. Magoo.  I was able to look past the animation which is very basic but I just felt it needed more humor.  It’s not that it was a bad special by any means.  In fact, I liked how they switched up the order of the ghosts.  They actually had the spirits come with the Ghost of Christmas Present first and then the Ghost of Christmas Past flowing right into the Ghost of Christmases yet to come.  I’m just clarifying that I didn’t dislike this special.

Mr. Magoo

There were lots of musical numbers (probably because the premise is that Magoo is doing the Christmas Carol show on Broadway) which is always a plus for a Christmas Special.  The problem is that the majority of them are kind of sad.  There is one in particular that I really could’ve used some comic relief soon after, but it just didn’t come.  The song I’m discussing is when Scrooge is a young lonely lad.  He is in the school house alone singing about how alone he is and then the old Scrooge joins in the song.  How depressing is that?  Not all the songs are depressing though.  There is this song the Cratchit Family sings about what they want for Christmas Dinner.  It could be considered depressing but Tiny Tim gives it the old razzle dazzle (this is a great pun if you’ve seen it, because Tiny Tim keeps bringing up razzleberry sauce).  It’s quite cute and the song ends up having a very good message at the end.

Alright, I feel like I’m forcing this blog.  I guess I just need to relax and let it flow more.  I feel I’m over thinking it because of my unfamiliarity with Mr. Magoo.  The only experience I’ve had with Mr. Magoo before watching this special was the Leslie Nielson (I took a brief moment of silence after typing that in remembrance of him) movie in the late 90’s.  Leslie was a great comedic actor.  From Naked Gun to Airplane he has had some memorable roles.  Surely you must have seen one of the many films he has been in (and I hope somebody out there said out loud, “Don’t call me Shirley”).  Now, much like I said with Will Ferrel, I think Leslie is a hilarious actor, but I’m not necessarily a fan of all his movies.  I must admit, most of his roles late in life were not in films that I never saw nor did I have a desire to see.  He was in a lot of the recent spoof and satire movies which in my opinion aren’t quite as good as the older satire movies.  Spaceballs being one of my favorite satire movies of all time (I realize Mr. Nielson was not in Spaceballs).  Keeping with the Christmas theme I want to point out Leslie played Santa Claus in a TV movie called Santa Who?. Mr. Nielson will always be remembered whenever I watch the movie Airplane.

I hope the topic switch to a recently deceased actor didn’t depress you.  If it did, I apologize and I recommend you not watch Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol because it may depress you as well.  I don’t mean for this to sound like I’m coming hard on Mr. Magoo, but I guess it just isn’t the Christmas Carol for me.  The Christmas Carol for me is more up the Muppets Christmas Carol route.  Which I have been unable to locate in the stores so I count myself as blessed that I have friends who own it and will allow me to watch it with them (because that is what Christmas is all about).

Have a Razzle Dazzle Christmas

-LD

Christmas Blogcation

You guessed it, Christmas Vacation.  This is probably one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time.  This is one of those few Christmas movies that could easily be considered just a good movie.  I have watched the Griswolds every year since I can remember.  In fact (and I know my friend Nate can attest to this), one Christmas season not too long ago, I was searching online and on the Dish to see when they would show Christmas Vacation and on what channel so I wouldn’t miss it.  My tireless search came to no avail and I was unable to locate a time this movie would be aired.  I did the only thing that I could.  I went to Wal-Mart and I walked straight to the DVD section, found it, and purchased it.  Once I was back at the apt I immediately opened it up and Nate and I watched it.  That is how important this Christmas Special is to me.

I am willing to make the bold statement of saying that Christmas Vacation is Chevy Chase’s best movie.  In fact, Chevy Chase has earned a pass for life for me just because of his performance in Christmas Vacation.  Sure, he has had some pretty bad cameos and guest starring roles like in Chuck (really bad, I swear).  Even is role in Community is really only mediocre.  I’m sure the last one could make some a little perturb but this is my blog and my opinions so deal with it.  Seriously, whenever I watch this movie I have to fight myself from saying all of Clark’s (Chevy Chase’s character) lines.  So much of this movie is quotable.  In fact, you all need to watch this movie so I can feel free to quote it whenever and you will know what I’m quoting.  I hate it when I quote movies and TV shows and nobody knows what I’m quoting (some of the main ones are Seinfeld, Arrested Development, South Park, Tommy Boy, and especially Dumb and Dumber…if you haven’t watched Dumb and Dumber your job is to watch that after Christmas Vacation).

It seems everybody in Clark’s family is crazy, but none more than is cousin in-law Eddie.  As it turns out, Eddie is crazy in real life.  I’m not sure if any of you heard about this but about a month or so ago Randy Quaid, who played Eddie, and his wife were on their way to Canada to seek asylum.  Turns out he and his wife were arrested for residential burglary and illegal squatting.  It cost them a tidy little price of $500,000 for bail, which they lost due to their Canadian escape.  What could possibly make these too run from California to Canada?  I have 2 words for you: “Star Whackers”.  Apparently Cousin Eddie is convinced that there is a secret society in Hollywood and they have a hit list.  His theory is that they have been the ones behind many of the recent Hollywood deaths, including Heath Ledger’s.  Quaid is certain that he is next on the hit list.  I know that we shouldn’t be laughing because there are really only too possible options here and neither is funny.  Option number 1 is that Quaid is wrong and thus he is crazy and mental illness is not a laughing matter.  But the other option is much more grave and serious.  What if he is right and there is a Hollywood hit list being carried out by the “Star Whackers”.  Who is going to be next?  Jaleel White (Urkel)? Jonathon Taylor Thomas?  The Hanson Brothers?  I believe we need a federal investigation before something happens to these stars.

Cousin Eddie (in keeping with my keeping my blog clean I won't quote the line he is in the middle of saying)

Enough with conspiracy theory, there are so many classic scenes that I could literally discuss each and every one of them.  Instead I will choose the one of which I have the most fond memories.  That would be the sledding scene where Clark adds a super friction reducer to his sled and goes flying down the hill at exceptionally dangerous speeds.  This is brings back memories of my childhood.  I remember going sledding and my dad trying to make our sleds go faster.  He never found that super friction reducer but he did try (he tried Pam Cooking Spray, and different brands of silicone spray).  None of his attempts gave quite the same result as Clark’s but of course, that was a movie.  I know that following up Cousin Eddie’s conspiracy theory about the Hollywood hit list and the “Star Whackers” is pretty weak, but that is just really hard to follow.  I could’ve changed the order around but I wanted my blog to be more natural an organic so it is staying just like this.

 Mele Kalikimaka

-LD

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Blogdeer

We all know the song and I hope that the majority of you have seen the claymation special.  In fact, it is the longest running Christmas TV special and has been shown at least once a year since 1964.  This fact alone could arguably make Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the most classic Christmas Special still around.  I watch it every year but, I only watch it out of respect of its classicness and longevity.  This is because Rudolph is my least favorite Christmas Special.  I despise him and his little dentist elf friend, Hermey (not that I have a problem with elves, but I do not like the dentist). 

Hermey the wanna-be dentist and Rudolph

Firstly, I have one major problem with the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special that I must get off my chest right now.  Why is Santa skinny?  The Santa in this special is not only skinny but he is mean and ill tempered (probably because Mrs. Claus has him on a diet which is making him testy).  I don’t know about you, but the Santa I know and love would not have put down Rudolph like the one in this special.  The Santa I know sings about believing in love (like in the Year Without a Santa Claus) and would never discriminate against a young reindeer calf (yes, it is calf and not fawn because a reindeer is technically a caribou and not a deer) just because of a red nose.  I don’t know why this grumpy curmudgeon of a Santa Claus isn’t pointed out more often.  To me, Santa is supposed to be like that loving grandpa that everybody loves, not the old man sitting on a rocking chair on his porch yelling cruel (and sometimes bigoted) insults at pedestrians as they pass, which in my mind is the Santa depicted in Rudolph.  Somebody needs to get that Santa some milk and cookies stat.

A skinny Santa preparing to verbally abuse Rudolph and his mother

Let us overlook the poor depiction of Santa Claus and do a quick examination of Rudolph.  Why is it that we are meant to cheer for such a cry baby with a whiney voice?  I think we should start calling him Rudolph the Emo Reindeer.  He continually goes on about his red nose and how everything is his fault.  For some reason Clarice actually likes him.  I mean, she is one cute reindeer (if I do say so myself) yet she goes off searching for Rudolph when he runs away.  If I was her I would’ve let that red-nosed cry baby go and I would find myself a real reindeer.  But nope, she likes Rudolph, and even though Rudolph has this cute reindeer who wants him, he is still a crying little baby.  If you can’t reindeer up and deal with a little bit of teasing then I don’t want to watch a special all about you.  Let alone 2 other specials (I don’t include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys).

Clarice the Cutie

How is it that both Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July and Rudolph’s Shiny New Year are supposed to take place after Rudolph had saved Christmas (with his shining nose during the fog…you know the story) yet in these specials he is back to being a young reindeer?  At the end of the original special, Rudolph has grown up and has a full set of antlers, yet some how he must’ve found a time machine and was transformed back into a pre-teen reindeer for his sequels.  I don’t know about you, but that kind of irks me.  Also, why is Rudolph and Frosty even in the circus together?  The concept makes no sense at all.  You’re telling me that Frosty leaves those kids who created him (some of them cry when he leaves) so he can join the circus with an emo pre-teen reindeer and I’m supposed to be ok with that?  I don’t buy it.  It was a weak attempt to combine the most beloved snowmen with a reindeer I don’t much care for.  As far as Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, what really makes Rudolph qualified to save Baby New Year?  His job in saving Christmas was essentially the same as a headlight on a car.  If one of my friends loses a baby, I’m not just going to hop in my car and turn on the high beams.  As you can tell, I have no faith in Rudolph.

Now, I don’t like the specials as you can tell, but I must admit they aren’t all bad.  I do like Burl Ives as Sam the Snowmen.  I like Burl Ives when he sings Christmas songs because that is down right classic right there (it makes me want to have a holly jolly Christmas).  Also, I get a kick out of Yukon Cornelius mainly because he of his infinite knowledge of the Bumble Monster (the Abominable Snow Monster of the North) and his almost Walker Texas Ranger like (he sniffs the air and licks his pick ax) search methods for silver and gold (actually turns out he was searching for peppermint).  But even all the moments I like don’t redeem any of these specials for me.  I still watch them, but I don’t enjoy them quite like I do with most Christmas Specials.

4 down and 8 to go, what will I write about next?

-LD