[The long of it]
Before watching "Simpsons Christmas Stories," I was interested by the idea of exporting the "Treehouse of Horror" three-story format to other areas. It worked out well for historical tales ("Margical History Tour (FABF06)") and Biblical stories ("Simpsons Bible Stories (AABF14)"). I still like the three-story format and imagine it would work well for Christmas tales, but tonight only one of the three sketches really capitalized on its promise.
The show begins, appropriately enough, in the Simpsons' church. At the start of "The First D'oh-El [*]," both Rev. Lovejoy and his designated backup, Ned Flanders, aren't available to deliver the Christmas sermon. Homer volunteers and promptly makes a hash of recounting the story of Jesus' birth. Quite a lot of the humor was in historical anachronisms. A sign at the Bethlehem Inn welcomes "the Class of 20BC." Homer (as Joseph) tries to watch the Orange Bowl -- literally, a bowl full of oranges. When a Roman soldier expresses misgivings at being sent to kill a baby, Chief Wiggum consoles him by saying, "No one will write this down or speak of it ever again." Homer and Skinner do a send-up of the Three Stooges.
It isn't bad, and in looking back on it I'd have to say a lot of the jokes worked, but I had the sense that the writers felt constrained a bit by the subject matter. In this segment, Bart plays the infant Jesus. This is a nice a bit of casting against type, but that's as far as the writers can carry it. Bart can't do anything *really* mischievous, or else half of Christendom would storm the Fox studios the next morning. It's telling that tonight's "Family Guy" also featured a nincompoop's look a religion but was riskier and funnier.
"I Saw Grampa Cussing Santa Claus" is a curious send-up of those Christmas specials where an old authority-figure type tells a story of saving Christmas. (Or rather, of helping Santa Claus complete his toy-delivery rounds, which is pretty much the same thing.) Abe recalls the time during World War II when he and Mr. Burns served together in the Pacific theater. They're stranded on an island after a kamikaze attack on their ship. On Christmas Eve, Burns shoots at a passing aircraft, which turns out to be St. Nick's sleigh. The story is surprisingly complicated, involving shifts in time, a betrayal, and the introduction of a long-lost relative, but the plot unwinds smoothly and never feels rushed. There aren't many laugh-out-loud moments, though. I liked the way Abe introduced his brother Cyrus, saying he never mentioned him before and vowing that he will never talk about him again. When the Japanese attack, Cyrus shouts, "Kamikazes at 2:00!" Abe answers, "I never drink after noon, but ..." The last joke of the skit is pretty good too (I won't spoil it, though), but that's about it. "Cussing" is a strange story, and interesting for that reason, but it's not much more than that.
"The Nutcracker ... Sweet" is both interesting and funny, making it the night's best segment. The plot is so simple as to be practically nonexistent: After watching an uninspiring school presentation of "The Nutcracker Suite," Homer says he hopes he'll never hear that music again. No such luck for him, because most of the rest of the "dialogue" is actually sung to music from the famous ballet. The skit, like the episode itself, is divided into three parts, all of which I liked. First, the townspeople get ready for Christmas. Next, Moe continues his annual holiday tradition of trying to kill himself (and botching it). There's a funny attempt at sledding into a busy highway, which seems to harm everyone *but* Moe. Finally, Marge gives a Christmas present to Homer, who suddenly realizes he doesn't have anything to give his wife. This touches off a frantic last-second search for presents, set to Tchaikovsky's music. Not only is this the most interesting segment, but it also delivers the night's most poignant moment as well when Marge finally gives Homer her very pragmatic gift. The music, an instrumental piece I didn't recognize (presumably it's from "The Nutcracker Suite"), really helped set the mood, too.
I came in curious to see how the three-story idea would work for a Christmas special, and I leave wondering something else entirely. Would a "Simpsons" operetta work for another episode, as it did for "The Nutcracker ... Sweet"? Probably not for a full-length show, since there are only so many opera scores people are familiar with, but the idea still intrigues. As for my original question, I do think the three-story idea can work for a Christmas special, even though tonight's version is one-third of a great episode. It's kind of like getting a battery-operated toy for the holidays, but not the batteries. The gift doesn't work right away, but at least you can see the potential for something cool.
[*] I'm relying on Don Del Grande's Upcoming Episodes listing for the sketch titles, because they weren't shown on screen.
[The short of it]
I was intrigued by the notion of applying the three-sketch format to a Christmas special, but only one of the three sketches really capitalized on its promise. Homer's retelling of the birth of Jesus has some fine anachronistic jokes, but needed some edgier humor, too. The Abe-and-Burns sketch was interesting in a strange fashion but not much more than that. The send-up of the nutcracker was hands down the night's best -- interesting premise, funny execution, and good music to boot. This episode is like a battery-powered toy, but without the batteries; it doesn't quite work as-is, but at least you can see the potential for something cool. (C+)
[DYNs]
... the Star of David over Herod's throne is oriented the wrong way?
(perhaps this was done to avoid offending modern-day Jews)
... in the second act, Marge has kitchen stuff in her stocking?
... Maggie gets a Bongo doll (from "Life in Hell")?
... Lisa has school supplies in her stocking?
... Bart gets a slingshot in his stocking?
... Abe ("Grampa") has a pair of slippers (along with Cyrus's watch,
of course)in his stocking?
... at least half the audience at "The Nutcracker" is asleep?[References]
"guns don't kill people, people kill people" (anti-gun control slogan) - Herod shouts, "Kings don't hurt babies, giant pointy swords hurt babies!"
"I Dream of Jeannie" (TV series) - when baby Jesus turns the wine into water, He makes the same gestures Jeannie does when she casts a spell
the Three Stooges (comedy team) - Joseph (well, Homer) and Skinner act like them when performing their physical comedy
Paul Harvey (radio host)
- the way Homer finishes his sermon ("... and that baby Jesus grew
up to be [pause for dramatic effect] Jesus") similar to the way
Paul Harvey finishes his "The Rest of the Story" segment~ "Futurama" (TV series) - Cyrus's haircut, with its upward flip at the front, reminds me of Fry's
"The Nutcracker Suite" (ballet) - in the third sketch, the characters give the old tunes new lyrics - the original production received poor reviews from critics, like Springfield Elementary's version
Bed, Bath & Beyond (chain of bedding and bath accessory stores) - Cletus shops at Inbred, Bath & Beyond
"A Christmas Carol" (story) - Burns says Christmas is all "Bah, humbug," which was Scrooge's signature line - after he says it, he uses a portable vacuum to suck up the spirit of Christmas Past - Willie dreams of himself dreaming of the part of the story where Tiny Tim's family sits down to a Christmas feast
"The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" (TV series) - Johnny's most popular segment is one where a hatchet-thrower nails the groin of a cardboard target; Krusty's snowball act looks similar
[Previous Episode References]
[7F04] Lisa as angel [3F19] Abe Simpson and Monty Burns serve together in World War II
[FFF]
Newspaper banner:
COUCH GAG THRILLS NATION
Myrrh gift tag:
To: Frink ["Frink" crossed out]
King of
the JewsInn sign:
BETHLEHEM
INN WELCOME CLASS OF
20 B.C.Warning sign on aircraft carrier:
KEEP CLEAR OF PROPELLERS
[this is seen as the camera pans up, right after Cyrus spots the
kamikaze pilots]Sign at Springfield Elementary School:
THE NUTRCRACKER [green letters]
"PERHAPS THE
WORST VERSION EVER"
SUPERINTENDENT CHALMERS
NO LEAVING AFTER
YOUR KID'S PART IS DONENovelty tie slogan:
WIDE
LOADBedding store:
INBRED, BATH &
B E Y O N DMoe's suicide note:
No one
gets my
organsGift tag on Homer's gift:
To
Marge
From
HomerMoe's closing banner
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Ned's ringtone is "Jingle Bell Rock." I was a bit surprised that he'd choose one of the more secular Christmas songs. Perhaps he thought a ringtone would be too frivolous a use for "Silent Night" or "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing."
In case your newspaper also dropped it, Hagar the Horrible is a popular comic strip. (Well, popular in the sense that it appears in a lot of newspapers. In most of the polls I've seen of peoples' favorite strips, it finishes about in the middle of the pack.) It revolves around the life of Hagar, a Viking who lived back during the Viking's loot-and-plunder golden age. Surprisingly, even though he makes a living raiding castles, Hagar is a likeable guy, which may account for the strip's longevity.
Abe mentions the TVA, without any further explanation. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was one of President Franklin Roosevelt's "alphabet soup" agencies created during the Great Depression. The TVA was responsible for bringing electricity to the poor and rural Tennessee Valley region in the Appalachians. I think the idea was that if the people living there had a better infrastructure, they'd attract jobs and industry to the area. The TVA was given the task of building dams and electric power plants, and wiring the region's homes to receive that electricity.