When one takes a moment to contemplate how many [del]franchised[/del] beloved TV and movie characters have saved Christmas over the years, one might be forgiven for thinking it’s a wonder Santa Claus ever managed to get out of bed and down to the workshop every morning without impaling himself on a bannister.
Just googling the term “saves Christmas,” I am informed that Christmas has been saved by Elmo the red toddler Muppet, Ernest P. Worrell, Tomato the Tow Truck from Cars, a talking dog named Hercules (who probably doesn’t count as beloved just yet), Steven Colbert, and somebody named NODDY.
I did some contemplation of that nature last night while I was at work (performing tasks that were not impeded by such wool-gathering, I assure you). It occurred to me to wonder if by any chance Christmas has been saved more than 2012 times (which, if this paradoxical number were achieved, would make Santa Claus the biggest goldbricker in history).
It’s been saved by Rudolph, of course, as well as by a skeptical mouse who had an eleventh-hour change of heart, Mrs. Santa Claus (at least twice, IIRC), Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday, The Grinch, the heavy metal musical combo known as KISS, Lizzie McGuire, Brian and Stewie Griffin, Billy and Mandy, the Flintstones (I never quite understood how that came about), and Garfield the Cat.
Who else?
And for extra fun, whom would you like to nominate to ALSO save Christmas?
I was going to go with Darth Vader, but I suddenly remembered that last week in the Hallmark Store, I saw these guys, so i decided I’d let the palpitations subside before I nominate any Sith Lords.
So, I’ll just say Sonny Wortzik and Sal Naturile* from Dog Day Afternoon.
*I know, some of you will quibble that Sal got his brains blown out in the getaway limo by the FBI. To which I respond: It’s a Christmas MIRACLE!!!