# What's this Rudolph plot line? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344 "2008-12-22T18:38:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/1 "2008-12-22T18:38:41Z")
I just watched Rudolph (1964 Rankin/Bass/Laws) on DVD the other night. There were several scenes that I don’t remember from watching it on TV lo these past four decades. I guess they were cut to make room for commercials, and I know that one song was changed the year after it was released. _Fame and Fortune_ replaced _We’re a Couple of Misfits_. _We are Santa’s Elfs_ was quite a long number, with a good bit of an instrumental section. And Cornelius does, in fact, find a treasure at the end. (Trivia question: What was it?) And my official ruling is that it’s Herbie in the first half, Hermey in the 2nd half. In the Spanish dubbed version, it’s Hermey all the way through. All well and good. But last night I was watching A&E’s Biography of Santa Claus. There was a clip from RtRNR that wasn’t on the DVD. I couldn’t hear all of the dialog, but Santa was saying something about Christmas being less than a wekk away. Then he said “Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won’t you set these six days right?” Rudolph says yes, and heads off into a night-time storm. What was that plot all about? And why was it cut even from the DVD version? ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/2 "2008-12-22T18:46:27Z")
Ah, that particular scene wasn’t from _Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer_; it was from _Rudolph’s Shiny New Year_. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/3 "2008-12-22T18:59:33Z")
Ah, so it is. I thought that RSNY was that horrible CGI thing that came out more recently. Thanks! And impressive cast. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/4 "2008-12-22T19:03:55Z")
Probably from the '76 follow-up _Rudolph’s Shiny New Year_, since there are six days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. As for what Yukon was looking for- the setup remains in the CBS telecast (with Yukon claiming gold, silver, etc. before changing his mind), but cuts out the final gag in the plotline for time. Only on the DVD can you see the final punchline, where Yukon finally finds his claim: peppermint! (CBS has restored _We’re A Couple of Misfits_ and the extended _We Are Santa’s Elves_ in years past, however.) Addendum: “that horrible CGI thing” was _Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys_. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/5 "2008-12-22T19:08:11Z")
Opps, it occurs to me that I didn’t actually address the plot line as requested. Rudolph is trying to rescue the baby New Year, who has been abducted by a scary-as-hell giant vulture named Eon. Despite the title, the New Year in question is not especially shiny as infants go; but does have freakishly large ears. Joseph Campbell was always careful to steer clear of discussions about the Rankin/Bass _oeuvre._ ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/6 "2008-12-22T22:47:09Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > As for what Yukon was looking for- the setup remains in the CBS telecast (with Yukon claiming gold, silver, etc. before changing his mind), but cuts out the final gag in the plotline for time. Only on the DVD can you see the final punchline, where Yukon finally finds his claim: peppermint! (CBS has restored _We’re A Couple of Misfits_ and the extended _We Are Santa’s Elves_ in years past, however.) Did they restore the song that has been MIA for years from _Santa Claus is Coming to Town_: “If You Sit on my Lap Today”? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/7 "2008-12-23T02:09:55Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > (CBS has restored _We’re A Couple of Misfits_ and the extended _We Are Santa’s Elves_ in years past, however.) Was the head elf in that scene supposed to be the same one as the other scenes? Looks pretty close to me, but he’s got a hell of a voice change in that scene! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/8 "2008-12-23T06:49:14Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > Was the head elf in that scene supposed to be the same one as the other scenes? Looks pretty close to me, but he’s got a hell of a voice change in that scene! I always assumed the head elf was talking differently because he was sucking up to Santa. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-rudolph-plot-line/478344/9 "2008-12-23T14:23:03Z")
Was that the one that started “Oh what a good girl/Oh what a good boy?” I haven’t seen that show in a number of years, but that song has always been in it every time I’ve watched.