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.)
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!
TVGuide.com confirms this. Make a note!
And when I was a kid, you young punks, I saw it in black & white and Santa was riding a Noëlco Electric Razor!
Hrrmmph
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. 
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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!
It’s been like that for years now.
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.
That is truly funny. I can see a 4 year old with her little plush toys, saying “are the lambs still screaming, Clarice?”
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!
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.
Best Hal Briston dig of the year.
I’m fighting boredom at work today and have read through this **entire **thread, start to finish.
Hal Briston, this gave me the biggest laugh. If I had kids, I’d do the same. Congratulations!
…and I *love *the fact that this thread has been going for 9 years now.