T.V. Sets: Holiday Treats

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

The Film

The Plot

8 holiday episodes from the first season of eight television shows that span from 1955 and 1993.

Starring

Lucille Ball, Ricky Ricardo, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, Keith Thibodeaux, Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph, Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts, Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Ann B. Davis, Tony Danza, Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox, Kelsey Grammer, and more.

The Review

I Love Lucy, 1956

The Ricardo's and the Mertz's meet in the Ricardo's apartment to decorate the Christmas tree while little Ricky sleeps. While decorating the tree, they reminisce about events that happened in their lives. When they're done decorating the tree Ricky wakes up to find a beautifully decorated tree filled with gifts while the adults discover Santa Claus standing in the kitchen. (This episode appears in black and white.)

I am not a big fan of creating an episode that simply rehashes older episodes. Therefore, I would say this is not the episode I would have chosen to share. That being said, it's not a bad episode and I really enjoyed the bonus Santa skit.

The Honeymooners, 1955

This episode focuses on Ralph and Alice's Christmas exchange. After a neighbor arrives with a gift for Alice that is the "exact" gift Ralph purchased for her, he sets out to get his wife something else. The problem is that it's Christmas Eve and Ralph doesn't have any money. Determined to get his wife something nice for Christmas, he sells his bowling ball. When they exchange gifts, Ralph receives a bag for his bowling ball. After explaining that he no longer has the bowling ball, he says, "Christmas is the best time of the whole year…people are a little more friendly…and boy what a pleasure it is to think, you got some place to go and there is somebody in it that you really love; that you're nuts about." (This episode appears in black and white.)

I've never been a big fan of The Honeymooners so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this episode. But I have to tell you that it surprised me. It was funny and heartwarming and showed the true Christmas spirit. And an episode I look forward to watching each year!

The Andy Griffith Show, 1960

Andy and Barney decide to let the prisoners go home for Christmas, with the stipulation that they return once Christmas is over. But no sooner do they empty the jail does the local storekeeper, Ben, bring a bootlegger to the jail and demands that Andy arrests him. Determined to not allow his duties as Sheriff to interfere with the holiday celebrations, he deputizes his friends and family and decorates the jail. Upon seeing how much fun everyone was having, Ben sets out to get himself arrested. (This episode appears in black and white.)

This episode is a wonderful reminder that it's not where you celebrate the holidays but who you are with that makes the holidays special.

The Brady Bunch, 1969

Just days before her big performance at the church's Christmas service, Mrs. Brady gets laryngitis and loses her voice. Determined rest and relaxation will help her get well, Mr. Brady decides to put her on bed rest while the rest of the family takes care of all the holiday preparations. Saddened by Mrs. Brady's illness, the kids decide Christmas just won't be Christmas without mom and her voice. But it's little Cindy who steals the show when she tells Santa that all she wants for Christmas is for her mother to get her voice back and be able to sing during the church service. (This episode appears in color.)

This is definitely one of my favorite Brady episodes and the best episode on the entire disc. It reminds us that Christmas is more than what you get; it's about what you believe and having the faith to stand by your beliefs.

Taxi, 1978

Lou's little brother finally agrees to spend Christmas with his mother, but when he arrives he chooses to stay at the garage and swindle the taxi drivers out of their hard earned cash. (This episode appears in color.)

Personally, I did not feel this episode belonged on the DVD. It wasn't very "Christmassy" and left me feeling irritated by the selfishness of Lou's little brother.

Family Ties, 1983

Alex Keaton decides Christmas is a farce and wants no part of it. But, just like Dickens' tale, A Christmas Carole, Alex is visited by three Ghosts of Christmas and has a change of heart. (This episode appears in color.)

If you're tired of the sappy versions of A Christmas Carole, you'll get a kick out of this wacky episode. While Alex's persona isn't drastically changed upon waking, it's changed enough to make him realize that it's not only the thought that counts behind gift giving but that family is something you should treasure.

Wings, 1990

It's Christmas and everyone's working, but when the weather turns bad, the airport is shut down and all their Christmas plans become null and void. Instead of retreating to their homes, they choose to visit Faye, who is supposed to be hosting a holiday party. But when they arrive, Faye's home is dark and she is sitting alone, grieving the recent loss of her husband. (This episode appears in color.)

This episode reminds us that no matter how bad we have it, there is always someone else out there having a harder time and we can choose to sit back and sulk or we can choose to make the best of a bad situation by taking our eyes off ourselves and putting them on someone else.

Frasier, 1993

Depressed that his son won't be able to spend the holidays with him, Frasier chooses to sulk and spend the holidays hosting his call-in radio show. After the show ends, he is more depressed than ever, and in the tackiest clothes he owns, drives down to a local diner for Christmas dinner. There's just one problem, he's misplaced his wallet and cannot pay for his meal. As he tries to figure out how to pay for the meal, he befriends a nearby customer who, in the true spirit of Christmas, gets the customers to pitch in and pay for his meal. (This episode appears in color.)

If you enjoy a dry sense of humor, you'll enjoy this episode. The ending is very touching and reminds you what makes the Christmas season so special. It truly is the one time of year when we, as human beings, go above and beyond what is expected as we reach out and touch the lives of others.

The downside to this disc is that some of the theme songs are missing. And if you're looking for bonus features, you won't find any. The only "bonus" would be the two cartoon skits that rotate and play between each episode.

The upside is that the image quality and soundtrack are good! If you're looking for a little variety and comedy in your holiday line up, this is a good disc to get. I was pleasantly pleased.