What Christmas Is All About...
I tend to confuse people around the holidays.
With a name like David Solomon people don't expect me to be searching the internet for a copy of the currently out-of-print dvd of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
The truth is I am a half-jew with a secret fetish for rare and sometimes cheesy Christmas specials.
Maybe it is the fact that I was raised with both a menorah and a christmas tree with sporadic trips to either a synagogue or church, and that the only holiday constant seemed to be Charlie Brown and his droopy little christmas tree with the one red ornament.
And although Linus' little speech on the true meaning of Christmas says more than any priest or rabbi (?) ever could...for me, the images of Christmas specials past (and present) really create a feeling of warmth and spirit around the holiday season. They make me feel like a little kid again.
So, for the holiday season...I present you with images from some of my favorite christmas specials!
In the beginning, there was...
CHRISTMAS EVE ON SESAME STREET.Did it ever get much better than this? Giant big bird skating with shy girl, cookie monster eating his typewriter, Kermit interviewing kids about how santa gets down the chimney, Bob and Linda singing with deaf children, Elmo not yet born...
Mr. Hooper giving Bert and Ernie back their paperclips and rubber duckies...
...Big Bird waiting for Santa...
okay, I'm getting a little choked up...
and moving on...
THE POLAR EXPRESS -- In IMAX 3-D.
and only in IMAX 3-D. amazing. and for 3 simple reasons.
1. it's just gorgeous.
2. it almost made me puke. (you really feel high...and you're just sitting there....and not just because...well, okay that too)
3. seeing your friends wearing those ridiculous 3-D glasses. trust me. funny.
Opus and Bill The Cat in A WISH FOR WINGS THAT WORK
a lost treasure. i still have my old video taped off tv. hard to find, but one of the best! what other christmas special has a cross-dressing cockroach and a pig named Truffles who is convinced he is a rhinoceros. Highly recommended.
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
the beginning of south park. the 5-minute short that started it all.
Jesus: I come seeking...retribution.
Stan: *gasp* He's come to kill you cuz you're Jewish, Kyle!
(easy to find online.)
THE SNOWMAN
based on the Raymond Briggs book. the music alone kills my soul. beautiful and incredibly tragic. just like Christmas should be.
**
"did you see the tree, audrey?"
"she'll see it later, Clark. her eyes are frozen."
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION.What's this?! Santa and Mrs. Claus caught in a blizzard...about to freeze to death...
but then...
pure holiday magic occurs.
SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE.
a big floppo from the people that made Superman. But get over yourselves peoples...this is how it really happened! The true story...right down to Dudley Moore as Patch the elf and John Lithgow as the evil corporate toy man with dangerous lollipops. This movie is just fucking brilliant.
**
Carol Kane stars as a modern day scrooge and Bill Murray makes a brief appearance as a kooky fairy with a lisp in...
SCROOGED.
and who can forget that other dim-witted fairy, Cindy Lou Who...
whose Christmas is almost ruined by the infamous...
GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS.and so many great classical actors have played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge...
Albert Finney in SCROOGE - (the musical!)
and the #1 Scrooge of all time:
Scrooge McDuck
also, noteworthy:
Cathy Rigby.
**
Okay, I know these next few aren't really Christmas "specials" or Christmas movies....
but around this time of year who doesn't think of
BAMBI
and (most of all)
EYES WIDE SHUT
or what about that McDonald's commercial they used to play when I was a kid. The one with the sad i-can't-skate boy and the animated forest creatures. And Ronald comes and takes sad boy skating!
I think it is because of this commercial...and the ones with the polar bears for Coca Cola...that even today, I crave McDonald's and Coke around the holidays. And these are things I don't usually crave and don't even like!
That's how truly magical Christmas can be!
**
And the gays were always well represented in holiday specials
**
A few more Christmas quirps and questions
1. See BAD SANTA
Trust me. It's actually an incredible movie that is smart and funny and strangely moving.
Then you can fix yourself some sandwiches.
2. Is THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie?
3. What happened to The Sweeney Sisters??
I can't find this SNL sketch anywhere?!?! I mean, really!!
The Christmas Medley!! one of the most brilliant moments in SNL history.
It's not on the Christmas dvd...Hello?! Someone help me find this!??
All I want for Christmas is Jan Hooks and Nora Dunn singing Christmas carols in my living room. Thanks Santa.
**
So, in closing...
As Linda and the cast of Big River remind us,
"Keep Christmas With You All Through The Year
When Christmas Is Over Save Some Christmas Cheer
These precious moments, hold them very dear
And keep Christmas with you, all through the year."
HAPPY HOLIDAYS HALF-JEWS and ALL!
posted by Dave at 12:39 AM
