Christmas in July 2021: Camp Lazlo (2007)

 

Remember the campers of Camp Kidney? (L to r): Cam, Raj, and Lazlo.

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #14 of the Christmas in July party. All month long I'll be celebrating Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a FUN IN THE SUN attitude. Expect a run of Christmas in July stories, tropical yuletides, and island themes. Just a little something different and a way for me to show off the diversity of holiday stories I've collected in the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV (the updated and expanded 2nd edition being released later this year). 

 

On an excursion, the campers come across Santa Claus!

 

This week I'm sharing summer camp yuletide stories. Today's Christmas in July episode is from the animated series Camp Lazlo from Cartoon Network. In the 2007 episode "Kamp Kringle," the campers go on another Camp Kidney field trip, this time to the Mt. Whitehead where they discover Santa’s new home and toy workshop. It is July and Santa is ahead of schedule in toy production, ready to take a well-deserved vacation. But tragedy strikes when a falling meteorite destroys all the pre-made toys. Santa requires a relaxing vacation so Lazlo promises St. Nick a rest at Camp Kidney rather than canceling Christmas all together. While Santa finds extreme pleasure in tetherball, Scoutmaster Lumpus has taken over Santa’s workshop.

This episode’s talking meteorite pays homage to the Sam the Snowman character from the Rankin/Bass’ “Rudolph” TV special. Just when you think you’ve seen it all: the flatulence performance of “Jingle Bells” at the episode’s end certainly ties in to summer camp exuberance. (I was looking for a video clip--can't find it. Sorry. Look for the whole episode--it's worth it.)

 

 

Our Christmas in July party will continue all month long. Got another favorite summer camp Christmas episode? There's more to come. Feel free to leave comments down below.

 

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for a 2021 release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com