Christmas TV History

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Christmas in July 2022: The Emperor's New School (2006)

Merry Christmas in July! It is Day #26 of the month-long celebration of Christmas/holiday entertainment. Each day this month I will be sharing brief reminisces about Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a IT'S A WONDERFUL SUMMER attitude. Yes--this month I'm sharing brief essays about TV adaptations of the 1946 movie "It's a Wonderful Life" along with TV programs with significant references to the movie. 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 soon).

Today's discussion is on the Disney Channel animated series The Emperor's New School which is a follow-up to the animated Disney movie The Emperor's New Groove from 2000. The series centers on the character Kuzco who is focusing on his education before becoming emperor. The villain here is the adviser Yzma who wants to be empress instead. The first season episode "Yzmopolis" draws upon the 1946 holiday movie It's a Wonderful Life for its inspiration. I've chosen to discuss this episode because the series is set during the Pre-Columbian era featuring people from the Incan culture. I hope you're as impressed as I am to see how far the It's a Wonderful Life-story structure has traveled and yet remains meaningful to viewers. Let's look more carefully at the episode.

l to r: Kronk, Kuzco, and Malina.

In the 2006 episode "Yzmopolis," Kuzco knows that in his role as emperor, he doesn’t fit in with everyone else. After he upsets his friends Chicha, Kronk and Malina, Kuzco goes to the Temple of the Sky God and wishes he were never emperor. When Kuzco discovers his wish has come true and he can now fit in with the others, he happy to live the life of a peasant.

The villainous Yzma is voiced by Eartha Kitt.

But Kuzco finds being a peasant isn’t as he imagined when Yzma is the emperor, Kronk is the school principal, and Malina is in violation of Yzma’s law. Kuzco finally realizes he is ready to resume his life as an emperor, however Yzma holds his fate in her hands.

The voice cast includes J.P. Manoux as Kuzco, Patrick Warburton as Kronk, Eartha Kitt as Yzma, Wendie Malick as Chicha, and Jessica DiCicco as Malina.

Even though this story is an adaptation of the 1946 holiday movie It’s a Wonderful Life, the 2006 episode is not a Christmas story. "What kind of Christmas could Incans celebrate anyway" you may ask. This is directly addressed in the 2007 episode “A Giftmas Story.” In that 2nd season episode, the holiday celebrated by Kuzco and his friends is creatively called Giftmas--a clear parallel to Christmas. The holiday features a gift-giver named Papa Santos who has a nice and naughty list from which he gathers names to give gifts. Papa Santas lives in the Ice Fortress (read: North Pole) and delivers his gifts on Giftmas Eve from a rickshaw to those who believe in him. Sounds pretty familiar, no?

Even though the 1st season episode "Yzmopolis" does not take place at Christmas or Giftmas, it is interesting to see how the story structure from the 1946 holiday movie is repeated in a meaningful way--in a story for young viewers. Merry Christmas in July!

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 an upcoming 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

Monday, July 25, 2022

Christmas in July 2022: Alf (1987)

Merry Christmas in July! It is Day #25 of the month-long celebration of Christmas/holiday entertainment. Each day this month I will be sharing brief reminisces about Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a IT'S A WONDERFUL SUMMER attitude. Yes--this month I'm sharing brief essays about TV adaptations of the 1946 movie "It's a Wonderful Life" along with TV programs with significant references to the movie. 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 soon).

Alf is handed out as a stuffed toy at the children's hospital.

Today's discussion is on the second season's hour-long installment known as Alf's Special Christmas. In this story, the Tanner family celebrates Christmas in the rustic cabin where Willie spent the holidays of his childhood. When the cabin's owner Mr. Foley drops by, Alf hides in his truck amongst a stack of Christmas presents. Alf is mistakenly given away as a doll at a children’s hospital!

Alf learns about the true Christmas spirit from Tiffany.

At the hospital, Alf befriends a young girl named Tiffany who is terminally ill. Trying to get back to the Tanners, Alf gets trapped in the hospital elevator with a pregnant woman and he ends up delivering her baby.

Alf steps in as Mr. Foley's guardian angel to remind Foley that still people need him.

Meanwhile, Mr. Foley is so depressed, he contemplates jumping off a bridge until Alf confronts him, much like the guardian angel in the 1946 movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Alf brings together Mr. Foley and Tiffany so each of them has someone who needs them.

In addition to the nod to It's a Wonderful Life, this extended episode makes two references to the famous editorial “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus” in the context of honoring the hope of children for the future of society. The heart-felt message seems even more poignant in this already emotional episode. There are also several references to Alf being a fan of Perry Como and he’s disappointed to have to miss the annual Perry Como Christmas TV special while staying at the cabin.

The cast includes Max Wright as Willie Tanner, Anne Schedeen as Kate Tanner, Andrea Elson as Lynn Tanner, Benji Gregory as Brian Tanner, and puppeteer Paul Fusco as the voice of Alf. Special guests include Cleavon Little as Mr. Foley, Molly Hagan as the new mother Denise, and Keri Houlihan as young Tiffany.

Cleavon Little as Mr. Foley.

At the end credits, there is a dedication to Tiffany Leigh Smith. She was a real-life terminally ill girl that inspired this Christmas special.

Even if the reference in this episode to It's a Wonderful Life is fairly short, it is certainly memorable and the emotional climax of the story. On the icy bridge, Alf is dressed as Santa Claus and Mr. Foley wonders if his angel is actually St. Nicholas/Santa Claus. Foley is comforted by the sentiment in the editorial "Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" that we should all embrace the hope that comes with the idea of Santa Claus, as he chooses to step down from the railing of the ice-covered bridge. This sentiment is certainly beautiful year-round. Merry Christmas in July!

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Christmas in July 2022: Benson (1984)

The character Benson DuBois was created for the TV series Soap, but Robert Guillaume received his own spin-off sitcom Benson.

Merry Christmas in July! It is Day #24 of the month-long celebration of Christmas/holiday entertainment. Each day this month I will be sharing brief reminisces about Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a IT'S A WONDERFUL SUMMER attitude. Yes--this month I'm sharing brief essays about TV adaptations of the 1946 movie "It's a Wonderful Life" along with TV programs with significant references to the movie. 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 soon).

Today's discussion is on the 1984 episode "Home for Christmas" from the sitcom Benson. In this story, Benson accidentally hits his head while last-minute Christmas shopping, and he finds himself in heaven talking with his mother Lois. She offers to show him what his friends’ lives will be like without him. In a retelling of the 1946 movie It’s a Wonderful Life, Benson learns how much his friends need him when he sees that the scheming Clayton is now Governor, Governor Gatling is the mansion’s servant, young Katie is already divorced and directionless, and Kraus has fallen on hard times. Benson’s “angel” shows him the office Christmas party and he sees how much they’ve lost their holiday spirit.

Although Benson’s friends can’t see him, he sings “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and his spirit inspires them. When he awakens in the hospital, Benson chooses to continue to help and support his friends.

Just before the credits, the cast break the fourth wall to each offer their holiday greetings to viewers watching at home.

The cast includes Robert Guillaume as Benson DuBois, James Noble as Governor Gatling, Missy Gold as Katie, Inga Swenson as Kraus, Rene Auberjonois as Clayton, and Beah Richards as Lois.

This month, I've shared a wide variety of adaptations, parodies, and significant references to the holiday movie It's a Wonderful Life. There have been comedies, dramas, TV movies--and some adaptations are found in children's programs. I've even tried to share a few examples of TV programs that adapt It's a Wonderful Life's narrative structure in episodes that are not Christmas stories. The influence of Frank Capra's movie is powerful. I have just one more week of Christmas in July. Thanks for joining me in this journey.

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Christmas in July 2022: Even Stevens (2000)

Merry Christmas in July! It is Day #23 of the month-long celebration of Christmas/holiday entertainment. Each day this month I will be sharing brief reminisces about Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a IT'S A WONDERFUL SUMMER attitude. Yes--this month I'm sharing brief essays about TV adaptations of the 1946 movie "It's a Wonderful Life" along with TV programs with significant references to the movie. 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 soon).

Today's discussion is going to expand to include a Hanukkah episode from the children's live action Disney Channel series Even Stevens. This episode's title is "Heck of a Hanukkah." In this story, mischievous Louis Stevens goes in search for the hidden Hanukkah gifts and when he finds them, in order to avoid being caught, he throws them out the window. When he's punished, Louis feels unjustly penalized for ruining the family’s Hanukkah gifts and wishes he was never born.

In this loose adaptation of the holiday movie It's a Wonderful Life, a guardian angel in the form of one of Louis' ancestors named Bubbe Rose shows him his family members’ lives if his wish were true and he were never born. Louis is horrified to discover a pleasant and thoughtful sibling named Curtis would replace him!

While Curtis brings goodness to the Stevenses, the imbalance brought to the family without a rascal like Louis ends up harming the other members of the family. Louis sees that his family truly needs him! This Hanukkah episode brings thoughtfulness and charm to the familiar story of It's a Wonderful Life.

The cast includes Shia La Beouf as Louis Stevens, Christy Carlson Romano as Ren Stevens, Donna Pescow as mother Eileen Stevens/Bubbe Rose, Nick Spano as brother Donnie Stevens, and Chris Marquette as Curtis.

Friday, July 22, 2022

Christmas in July 2022: Wacky Races (2017)

Merry Christmas in July! It is Day #22 of the month-long celebration of Christmas entertainment. Each day this month I will be sharing brief reminisces about Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a IT'S A WONDERFUL SUMMER attitude. Yes--this month I'm sharing brief essays about TV adaptations of the 1946 movie "It's a Wonderful Life" along with TV programs with significant references to the movie. 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 soon).

Today's discussion is on the 2017 episode "It's a Wacky Life" from the reboot of the 1960s Hanna-Barbera animated series. It made its debut and is currently streaming on Boomerang+. In this story, the villainous Dick Dastardly is too busy planning more schemes with his vehicle to attend the Wacky Racers' Christmas party.

Dastardly's full name: Richard Milhouse Dastardly.

When Dick eventually does see what’s going on at the party, he’s humiliated in a rap battle against Penelope Pitstop. Returning to his race car to work on more boobie traps, he finds that once again, the contraptions only harm him. His spirit is separated from his body and floats to heaven where he meets an angel (resembling I.Q.). The angel reviews with Dastardly how disastrous his scheming efforts have been in life. When Dastardly expresses that he wished he were never born, the angel shows him what his fellow racers’ lives would be like without him. Tiny is a TV talk show host, Muttley is President of the United States, and Peter Perfect has won even more racing awards. This convinces Dastardly that he has much to live for--in order to continue his schemes!

Dick's guardian angel resembles the Wacky Racer I.Q. Ickly--the intellectual driver in the on-going races.

The voice cast includes Diedrich Bader as Peter Perfect, Christopher Judge as Brick, Tom Kenny as Bella, Nicole Parker as Penelope Pitstop/Pandora Pitstop, Jill Talley as IQ/Maurice, Billy West as Muttley/Tiny, and Peter Woodward as Dick Dastardly.

This holiday story is a loose adaptation of the 1946 movie It’s a Wonderful Life. It is also a parody of the original intent of the meaning in the Frank Capra original--here, Dastardly is only motivated to return to his original life because he has much more villainy to commit! While this episode is certainly not the first parody of It's a Wonderful Life, it is a reminder that the original story is so well known that humor is derived from turning the familiar story on its head.

So much more yet coming in the month-long tribute to It's a Wonderful Life. Merry Christmas in July!

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Christmas in July 2022: Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (1998)

Merry Christmas in July! It is Day #21 of the month-long celebration of Christmas entertainment. Each day this month I will be sharing brief reminisces about Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a IT'S A WONDERFUL SUMMER attitude. Yes--this month I'm sharing brief essays about TV adaptations of the 1946 movie "It's a Wonderful Life" along with TV programs with significant references to the movie. 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 soon).

This is a feature-length children’s movie that was released directly to video in 1998, and eventually made its TV debut on Fox Family channel in 1999. The story centers around the immensely wealthy character Richie Rich who was first introduced in Harvey comic books in the 1950s. This holiday story is a follow-up to the 1994 movie Richie Rich starring Macaulay Culkin. Here, the character is played by David Gallagher--who was then also appearing in the TV family drama series 7th Heaven.

In this live action holiday story, Richie’s attempts to deliver Christmas gifts to the orphanage by a remote controlled sleigh are sabotaged by his nasty rival Reggie Van Dough. Frustrated, Rich asks Professor Keenbean’s latest invention, the Wish Machine, what life would be like if he were never born. What follows is a plot taken straight from the movie It’s A Wonderful Life--Richie wakes up to discover that no one in Richville recognizes him any longer and Reggie is now the Rich’s son.

As Richie wanders this new world that exists without him, he learns that Reggie has closed the local factory, charity hospital, and orphanage while threatening to cancel Christmas! Richie decides to help make things right, however Reggie orders the police to throw Richie in jail. It becomes a race against time for Richie to convince his former butler Cadbury and his former friends to help him get Professor Keenbean to re-invent his Wish Machine so Richie can return the world to its proper order before Christmas is canceled altogether.

This movie’s story also references O.Henry’s popular short story “The Gift of the Magi.” Mr. and Mrs. Rich exchange gifts for which they have sacrificed their precious yacht and golf course in order to buy a solid gold anchor and a high-end golf cart for each other.

The metal band members of Root Canal include Broadway’s Rex Smith as Rudy and Fleetwood Mac’s Billy Burnette as Nigel.

The cast includes David Gallagher as Richie Rich, Martin Mull as Mr. Rich, Lesley Ann Warren as Mrs. Rich, Keene Curtis as the butler Cadbury, Michelle Trachtenberg as Gloria, Jake Richardson as Reggie Van Dough, Marla Maples as Mrs. Van Dough, Richard Fancy as Mr. Van Dough, Richard Riehle as Sgt. Mooney, Kathleen Freeman as the orphanage director Mrs. Peabody, and Eugene Levy as Professor Keenbean.

This is another example of an adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life aimed at young viewers. Did you see the 1946 movie It's a Wonderful Life or an adaptation first? Please feel free to leave comments below. Merry Christmas in July!

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Christmas in July 2022: Moonlighting (1986)

Merry Christmas in July! It is Day #20 of the month-long celebration of Christmas entertainment. Each day this month I will be sharing brief reminisces about Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a IT'S A WONDERFUL SUMMER attitude. Yes--this month I'm sharing brief essays about TV adaptations of the 1946 movie "It's a Wonderful Life" along with TV programs with significant references to the movie. 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 soon).

Today's discussion is on the third season episode "It's a Wonderful Job" from the detective series Moonlighting starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. This episode departs from the style and tone of a typical Moonlighting episode--its wisecracking irreverence and flippancy is absent in this emotional Christmas story.

Maddie's guardian angel Albert is played by actor Richard Libertini.

In this tender re-telling of It’s a Wonderful Life, detective agency owner Maddie Hayes comes to regret her life and work when the employees of Blue Moon Investigations are angry with her for making them work over Christmas. Maddie feels unappreciated and regrets her own sacrifices to keep the business open. She's sad enough to contemplate suicide on the rooftop of a high-rise building when her guardian angel Albert comes to her, willing to make her wish that she'd never opened the agency come true.

Jonathan and Jennifer Hart are not seen, but Maddie bumps into their chauffeur Max and the Harts' dog Freeway in the office.

Albert shows her what life would be like if she had never taken over the agency. Maddie sees that Blue Moon would now be Hart Investigations--the detective agency run by Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, as in the TV series Hart to Hart. Hart to Hart ran on the ABC network from 1979-84 and Moonlighting also ran on ABC starting in 1985. The implication here is a pop culture/TV reference and inside joke that if Maddie never started the Blue Moon Agency, then Hart to Hart would have lasted longer!

Agnes DiPesto in this alternate life--cue the theme song to TV series "Dynasty."

Miss DiPesto would be a cold-hearted corporate executive, a business-focused person Maddie unhappily recognizes as someone like herself.

1980's Model Cheryl Tiegs appears here as herself.

And, David Addison is marrying model Cheryl Tiegs. This is meaningful when viewers remember that Maddie used to be a model too and in a world where David and Maddie never work together, he chooses to fall in love with another model--just not her. Albert and Maddie overhear David speaking with his brother Richard about how he's not really happy even though he's marrying a beautiful woman like Cheryl Tiegs. Although Maddie feels jealous, this news breaks Maddies' heart.

Without the agency, Maddie's life would be meaningless too.

In this emotional story, Maddie sees how her friends' lives are all effected for the negative if she had never opened Blue Moon. But she's overwhelmed with regret when she learns her own life would be meaningless without the agency too--she wouldn't have any friends and she would be suicidal at the holidays. Maddie begs her guardian angel to take her back to her own life and she awakens in the bar where she first met Albert. She returns to the agency and apologizes to her staff.

David and Maddie embrace in a kiss and look into the camera saying "And to All a Good Night!"--the final line from the Moore poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

The cast includes Cybill Shepherd as Maddie Hayes, Bruce Willis as David Addison, Richard Libertini as Albert, Lionel Stander as Max, Allyce Beasley as Miss DiPesto, Curtis Armstrong as Burt, Cheryl Tiegs as herself, and Charles Rocket as Richard Addison.

This TV adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life is especially emotional and touching considering the series is usually far less serious. However, the quirky pop culture references are still abundant. Do you have a favorite TV adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life? There are so many--and there are more discussions coming all month long during this Christmas in July marathon. Merry Christmas in July!

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About Christmas TV History