"Rudolph" T.V. Special

[jsc1953]

Something I never noticed in my previous 40 viewings...maybe somebody else did, but I'll be damned if I'm going to read through 5 pages to find out...

When Cornelius & the Bumble go over the cliff, Burl Ives intones "they were all saddened at the loss of their friend", and all the reindeers bow their heads.

Except Clarice. Apparently she wasn't sad at all. Bitch.

[Philster]

Whole frigging Rudolph thing dusgusts me. Ain't no Rudolph, and if there was, I suspect that he would have lucked out getting some tail like Clarice, because she must have other things in mind for that glowing/humming honker that dufus Rudolph has.

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by jsc1953

Something I never noticed in my previous 40 viewings...maybe somebody else did, but I'll be damned if I'm going to read through 5 pages to find out...

When Cornelius & the Bumble go over the cliff, Burl Ives intones "they were all saddened at the loss of their friend", and all the reindeers bow their heads.

Except Clarice. Apparently she wasn't sad at all. Bitch.

No, that had not been mentioned.

Good call!

[Annie-Xmas]

Since everything has been the election and the economy, I thought we would use a break. In the BEST SDMB Thread Bumping tradition, here's Rudolph.

[Khadaji]

Originally Posted by Annie-Xmas

Since everything has been the election and the economy, I thought we would use a break. In the BEST SDMB Thread Bumping tradition, here's Rudolph.

There's a Rudolph sighting already? What day and what time?

[kingpengvin]

Too soon... too soon!
Can't I still enjoy the Halloween afterglow?!?! Don't rush Christmas!!!!

[Avast]

You just bumped it! You can't UN-bump it!

[DrFidelius]

This is pushing the season too much. Rudolph shouldn't reappear until Thanksgiving.

[Walloon]

Several of the Rudolph sequels are already scheduled on the ABC Family channel, but no sighting yet of the original Rankin-Bass special from 1964, which usually plays on ABC itself.

[BMalion]

Too early.

[kittenblue]

But....we need a little Christmas, right this very minute......

[mobo85]

Yeah, Rudolph isn't the guy who comes before Thanksgiving to mark the new start of the Christmas season- it's the Grinch over on TBS. (November 15 this year.)

But since Rudy's been brought back for '08- It's Time for Regis! And Rudolph! And...The Trumpster?

[Hazle Weatherfield]

Hijack...See, now I'm really confused. How is this not a Zombie and not just a bump? I'm sure I've seen threads newer than this closed as being Zombies. Can someone clear it up for me? Thanks!

[mobo85]

Originally Posted by Hazle Weatherfield

Hijack...See, now I'm really confused. How is this not a Zombie and not just a bump? I'm sure I've seen threads newer than this closed as being Zombies. Can someone clear it up for me? Thanks!

This thread is sort of like a Christmas tradition on this board, and thus is bumped every year around the time the Rudolph special airs. This time, it was bumped early.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Hazle Weatherfield

Hijack...See, now I'm really confused. How is this not a Zombie and not just a bump? I'm sure I've seen threads newer than this closed as being Zombies. Can someone clear it up for me? Thanks!

We have special dispensation for the Rudolph thread. Just like the special itself, the thread is a Christmas-time tradition that we're allowed to "re-run". Somebody just figured the end-of-campaign tension would be alleviated a bit with a fun thread that everyone pretty much loves.

[Ellen Cherry]

THIS relieves tension? Bird murder, socieopathic toys, abusive shop foremen, gender-confused dentists and animal dismemberment? All in the name of "the holiday spirit?"

We are, indeed, a twisted group. RIP, Poopah, and merry early Christmas, everyone.

[Khadaji]

Originally Posted by mobo85

Yeah, Rudolph isn't the guy who comes before Thanksgiving to mark the new start of the Christmas season- it's the Grinch over on TBS. (November 15 this year.)

But since Rudy's been brought back for '08- It's Time for Regis! And Rudolph! And...The Trumpster?

I always post an early Grinch spotting, but it never goes over.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Ellen Cherry

RIP, Poopah, and merry early Christmas, everyone.

Oh, gosh...I always forget that poopah chalupa (grhs) was the OP of this monstrosity!

[RachelChristine]

Just caught the air date of this -- Wednesday December 3, 8 pm, CBS
Set your DVR or whatever to record a few extra minutes. The past few years mine has cut off early, and so I still can't answer the burning question -- Is it murder or suicide?

[Annie-Xmas]

It's time to get this thread bumped,
Cause we do it every year.
Dex says it's okay
So step into the Cafe
For a Straight Dope cup of cheer.

It's time to get this thread bumped
Cause it's something we all need
Started long ago,
But those in the know
Know it's a damn fine read.

Getting old Rudolph bumped
Is on my Christmas list.
"twas started by poopah chalupa
Who is sorely missed.

(Get this thread bumped.
Get this thread bumped)

It's time to get this thread bumped.
And in case you didn't hear
Oh, by golly
Have a holly jolly
Thread bump this year.

[jayjay]

*doffs hat in honor of poopah*

Okay, let's get this red-nose-light party started!

[BMalion]

I was at first thinking that we should have waited at least until Friday but since it's already been on TV and that was a great song parody,what the heck.

"On Dasher, on Prancer, on Doofus and Schmendrick..."

[CalMeacham]

"But Gandalf, we thought you were dead!"


"Dead!Didn't I ever tell you the truth about Balrog? Balrogs Bounce!"



(Balrog enters. Everyone falls back in terror)


"No, no, no-- this is one reformed Balrog! Lookee what he can do!"


The Balrog -- who notably lacks all his teeth -- places Vilya atop The Two Trees, which he can do because he's so tall. Everyone "Ahhhhs" in delight. The Balrog grins, sheepishly, and his flame glows a little brighter.

[FriarTed]

Originally Posted by CalMeacham

"But Gandalf, we thought you were dead!"


"Dead!Didn't I ever tell you the truth about Balrog? Balrogs Bounce!"



(Balrog enters. Everyone falls back in terror)


"No, no, no-- this is one reformed Balrog! Lookee what he can do!"


The Balrog -- who notably lacks all his teeth -- places Vilya atop The Two Trees, which he can do because he's so tall. Everyone "Ahhhhs" in delight. The Balrog grins, sheepishly, and his flame glows a little brighter.

What about his wings?

*d&r*

[jayjay]

Gollum the Ring-Slaved Hobbit

Gollum the Ring-slaved hobbit,
lost his very shiny ring.
And he just could not find it,
stolen by that Baggins thing!
All of the orcs around him
used to poke and roust him out.
They never let poor Gollum
alone to do much more than pout.

When captured by the Mordor orcs,
Sauron came to say,
"Gollum with your ring-sense keen,
won't you tell me where It's been?"

Then how the Nazgul jeered him,
as they took to "horse" and rode.
"Gollum the Ring-slaved hobbit,
you look just like a hunchbacked tooooooad!"



Okay, it's not as heartwarming as the original. I still like it...

[MovieMogul]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Gollum the Ring-Slaved Hobbit

Gollum the Ring-slaved hobbit,
lost his very shiny ring.
And he just could not find it,
stolen by that Baggins thing!
All of the orcs around him
used to poke and roust him out.
They never let poor Gollum
alone to do much more than pout.

When captured by the Mordor orcs,
Sauron came to say,
"Gollum with your ring-sense keen,
won't you tell me where It's been?"

Then how the Nazgul jeered him,
as they took to "horse" and rode.
"Gollum the Ring-slaved hobbit,
you look just like a hunchbacked tooooooad!"



Okay, it's not as heartwarming as the original. I still like it...

You forgot the intro:

"You know Gandalf and Pippin, Frodo and Merry
Samwise and Strider and Gimli so hairy.
But did you forget...
the reason why they all first met?"

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by ArchiveGuy

You forgot the intro:

"You know Gandalf and Pippin, Frodo and Merry
Samwise and Strider and Gimli so hairy.
But did you forget...
the reason why they all first met?"

Perfect!

[MovieMogul]

You set a high bar.

[Wile E]

This thread is awesome. To those of you who may say "I didn't want to read all those early pages" you have to read them, they are the best part. I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats. I really want to watch Rudolph this year to catch all that I missed as a naive child.

[Freudian Slit]

Originally Posted by BMalion

I was at first thinking that we should have waited at least until Friday but since it's already been on TV and that was a great song parody,what the heck.

"On Dasher, on Prancer, on Doofus and Schmendrick..."

It was already on?! I missed it?

[JThunder]

As God was his witness, the elf thought birds could fly.

[mobo85]

Rudolph and his pals seem to show up in a TV commercial every year. Last year it was Aflac, this year Verizon features the Misfit Toys as they continue their war against AT&T's poor 3G coverage. (I think this ad is amusing, even as an iPhone-using AT&T subscriber.)

[Wile E]

Heads up!

According to my "What's On" iPhone app, it airs Wednesday December 2nd at 8pm EST, on CBS.

That's a week from today.

So did the elf really murder the owl toy? Is Santa actually a tool? How big are Mrs. Claus's hooters? Is Hermie really a hermie? Tune in next week to find out!

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Heads up!

According to my "What's On" iPhone app, it airs Wednesday December 2nd at 8pm EST, on CBS.

That's a week from today.

TVGuide.com confirms this. Make a note!

[BMalion]

And when I was a kid, you young punks, I saw it in black & white and Santa was riding a Noëlco Electric Razor!

Hrrmmph

[Annie-Xmas]

Originally Posted by Annie-Xmas

First you ask "Who did Santa shoot," then you comment on the missing reindeer. I think you answered your own question.

Watching the show this year, I realize there is a second shot right after Mrs. Santa leaves the room.

That's one way to get rid of a yenta of a wife.

[BMalion]

I just picked it up from the library, I'll watch it tonoght!

With my aluminum Xmas tree, the color-wheel on and the Partridge Family Christmas album on the record player for later.

[kingpengvin]

Another year watching that poor guy trying to get his ancient jalopy out of the snow in the opening newsreel.

He should really by a newer car.

Oh and once again I must complain about SantaJerk and his toolish behavior.

My pet peeve this year (and every year):
The overdone bored act during the Elf dress rehearsal. He goes out of his way to show he doesn't want to be there like some petulant 3 year old being told they have to eat their green beans. Worse though is the quick dismissal of their efforts and potshot remark as he leaves. He is just galling!! I mean if he didn't care why did he have to go and criticize them like that?

Luckily these are non union elves who like his Mrs.

And luckily He has Mrs S. The glue that holds that hideous Ogre's operation together!

SantaJerk!


Oh and I never really got the Voice change of the head elf in that scene. I mean I guess it's to show his deference to the Fatheaded Jolly old Crabmeister, but it really doesn't work. It almost sounds like they couldn't afford to pay the original voice actor to come back and re-dub a few lines that were muddled because the Jerk playing Santa stayed in character and decided to do voice exercises in the background while they were recording.


Merry Christmas

[Freudian Slit]

Originally Posted by kingpengvin

Oh and I never really got the Voice change of the head elf in that scene. I mean I guess it's to show his deference to the Fatheaded Jolly old Crabmeister, but it really doesn't work. It almost sounds like they couldn't afford to pay the original voice actor to come back and re-dub a few lines that were muddled because the Jerk playing Santa stayed in character and decided to do voice exercises in the background while they were recording.

Oh, me too. I always had the same assumption, but couldn't they have made it work better? Like, had the guy talk in a gruff but slightly higher voice? So there's SOME resemblance? A lot of people either list this as a mistake or think it's two characters who look the same.

Anyway, if we were listing the Santas in Rankin Bass/general Xmas specials, this one would be the tooliest. I think the Year Without a Santa Santa was nice. A little heavy on guilt (the whole no one really appreciates me/Xmas thing), but overall, I liked him. Way better than this skinny CEO of Christmas in Rudolph.

The only warm person in Rudolph was Burl Ives-snowman.

[kingpengvin]

Originally Posted by Freudian Slit

The only warm person in Rudolph was Burl Ives-snowman.

Yeah but he was the replacement after the first airing of the original cut where Santa narrated.

Essentially Santa made snide comments about how whinny and unusual Rudolph was and how his parents should be ashamed for bringing such a deficient child into the world. He questioned whether he was a pure breed or breed mutant.

After the scene where Yukon goes over the cliff Santa doesn't relate to the kids how "they missed their friends" instead he went on some psychotic rant about Aryian purity and how Yukon's curly beard and hair made Santa suspect him of being Jewish.

Finally, instead of shouting Merry Christmas he upset every child watching by threatening them with no Christmas unless Daddy had norelco products in the house by Dec 13th

Of course Self absorbed quiter Santa of A Year without Santa Claus is a better step up. Not as great at Hippy red headed Santa from Santa Claus is comin to town.

[Freudian Slit]

Originally Posted by kingpengvin

Yeah but he was the replacement after the first airing of the original cut where Santa narrated.

Did he really narrate? Rudolph Santa is to Xmas as Martha Stewart is to Domesticity. Oh, sure, they get the job done, but there's zero warmth. No love. It's all about profit margins and results.

Not as great at Hippy red headed Santa from Santa Claus is comin to town.

Is this the one about the origins of Santa, from when he started out as a young man/teen? Because I vaguely remember him being cool.

I still don't understand WHY Donner was meant to be ashamed of Rudolph, and what they were meant to do about him. Like was putting the stuff on his nose to cover it up not enough? I honestly think the only thing that would make Santa happy was abandoning Rudolph Eskimo style...

[jsc1953]

Did anyone notice (this year) that the sound was off? Particularly in the "Silver & Gold" song, there was noticeable warping & wobbling. Like CBS just pops a 40-year-old tape in a 40-year-old VCR.

[NDP]

Originally Posted by kingpengvin

Yeah but he was the replacement after the first airing of the original cut where Santa narrated.

Essentially Santa made snide comments about how whinny and unusual Rudolph was and how his parents should be ashamed for bringing such a deficient child into the world. He questioned whether he was a pure breed or breed mutant.

Well, as I pointed out in a previous post a few years ago, maybe Santa should've been a little more careful when he was guiding his team through all those areas where there had been atmospheric nuclear testing. But I guess it was all about shaving those few precious seconds off delivery time. So what if it results in your progeny getting a red glowing nose or something else like antlers growing out their butt? Those sleeping brats need their Chatty Cathy dolls and Hula Hoops!

[interface2x]

Originally Posted by jsc1953

Did anyone notice (this year) that the sound was off? Particularly in the "Silver & Gold" song, there was noticeable warping & wobbling. Like CBS just pops a 40-year-old tape in a 40-year-old VCR.

It's been like that for years now.

[Attack from the 3rd dimension]

Surveillance footage:

Bird launch begins at 1:50.

.

[Hal Briston]

Before this one gets put to bed for another year, I have to explain the delightful way I've gotten my wife pissed off at me.

The Littlest Briston received Rudolph and Clarice dolls for Christmas last year. She played with them for a bit, then I put them away for the year. She was thrilled when I brought them back out this season, and she kept them with her every time she watched the show.

Every now and then, she's hold up Rudolph's leading lady, and ask "Daddy, what's her name again?"

"Clarice", I'd say. But it was the way I'd say it that has my wife seeing red. Each time, I'd give it just the right inflection, and now TLB has it down pat. If you ask her the name of Rudolph's girlfriend, she'll happily tell you that her name is "Clarice"...in a perfect Hannibal Lecter tone of voice.

It's wonderful, hearing that come out of a four-year-old girl -- really, it is.

[jsc1953]

That is truly funny. I can see a 4 year old with her little plush toys, saying "are the lambs still screaming, Clarice?"

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Annie-Xmas

That's one way to get rid of a yenta of a wife.

You know, I completely passed this one up until now. It never occurred to me, but Santa actually MUST be Jewish. After all, he works on Christmas! Then again, what happens when Christmas falls on Shabbat?

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by jayjay

You know, I completely passed this one up until now. It never occurred to me, but Santa actually MUST be Jewish. After all, he works on Christmas! Then again, what happens when Christmas falls on Shabbat?

Then they call Hanukkah Harry!

[muldoonthief]

Originally Posted by Hal Briston

Before this one gets put to bed for another year, I have to explain the delightful way I've gotten my wife pissed off at me.

The Littlest Briston received Rudolph and Clarice dolls for Christmas last year. She played with them for a bit, then I put them away for the year. She was thrilled when I brought them back out this season, and she kept them with her every time she watched the show.

Every now and then, she's hold up Rudolph's leading lady, and ask "Daddy, what's her name again?"

"Clarice", I'd say. But it was the way I'd say it that has my wife seeing red. Each time, I'd give it just the right inflection, and now TLB has it down pat. If you ask her the name of Rudolph's girlfriend, she'll happily tell you that her name is "Clarice"...in a perfect Hannibal Lecter tone of voice.

It's wonderful, hearing that come out of a four-year-old girl -- really, it is.

Damn, I do the same thing at bedtime - "Well goodnight Clarice." My wife hasn't heard it yet, and the girls haven't imitated me though.

Originally Posted by jsc1953

That is truly funny. I can see a 4 year old with her little plush toys, saying "are the lambs still screaming, Clarice?"

Best Hal Briston dig of the year.