December 9, 1965 strip followers Peanut Charles M. Schultz, they were in for a surprise. CBS presented a special episode in which the characters became the main characters who will go down in history. It was the first entirely Christmas themed production to be broadcast on a small screen channel. And while there have been various live performances and recorded theme parties before, the truth is that Schulz’s animated film, directed by Bill Melendez, was a milestone. It is the use of popular figures from the entertainment world to convey a message of love and peace.
Of course, this was not a new idea. Special productions dedicated to the most beloved dates were already part of the old cinematic tradition. But it was on the small screen that he became an integral part of pop culture. Moreover, in an attempt to make the formula more meaningful, the most popular characters were included in it. This made it more emotional to remember the good wishes that Christmas celebrations contain.
However, the experiment was not always successful. Over time, the need to make Christmas stories and performances more and more colorful has led to unexpected consequences. That is, to give way to unusual specials, in some cases meaningless or downright unpleasant stories. Something that has led them to rank on the list of the most shameful and inexplicable content in the entertainment world. We leave you with five that will demonstrate the madness that can be achieved with the best of intentions. A lesson that perhaps the rest of the entertainment world should take note of.
Star Wars Holiday Special
It was 1978, and by then Star Wars. Episode IV – A New Hope It was a resounding success, destined to change the Hollywood industry. Not only to demonstrate how profitable sci-fi cinema can be, but also to become an influential social phenomenon. The first part of the saga Space Opera A film favorite, it was a triumph not just as a proposition. At the same time, it captivated a diverse audience, giving the film an extraordinary level of popular recognition. In particular, he turned his characters into heroes beloved by a nascent and dedicated fan base.
So it’s no surprise that George Lucas decided now was the right time to turn his attention to spin-offs. The next two films were already in development, and sales of toys referencing the universe were in full swing. So how could a Christmas special based on the film not be a success? The fact that the story did not take place on our planet and that none of its characters had anything to do with Catholicism did not matter much. Celebrations of major dates transcended religious boundaries and landscapes. This is according to Lucas’ imagination.
This resulted in what is still considered the franchise’s biggest failure. Released on November 17, 1978, the script contained full dialogue in the Wookiee language, sexual innuendo, and an animated sequence in which Boba Fett made fun of him. As if that weren’t enough, Leah (Carrie Fisher) performed an a cappella solo in which she got frustratingly upset several times. A disaster of tuning and even more criticism that could not be seen for years, hidden like the shameful secret of a beloved space franchise.
The Smurfs Christmas Special
Released on December 13, 1982, it is anything but moving. Then, The Smurfs They became a hit that easily transitioned from the comics to the animated series. But his arguments were also surrounded by claims of political and ideological messages. However, the comments never went beyond providing the context surrounding illustrator Peyo in 1958. However, his holiday especially surprised – and not in a good way – a significant part of his fans.
To begin with, the essence of the argument is as follows. Christmas Stranger, a creature dressed in purple, more than clearly reminiscent of the Christian devil. This wouldn’t be too alarming unless he kidnapped two children, killed his grandfather, and had a legion of wolves under his control. Things get even darker when this harbinger of evil declares that he will kill his hostages by forcing them to cross a fiery portal. And all this between images that have little to envy in a low-budget horror film.
The biggest silliness comes when the Smurfs show up to defeat this mortal enemy… With the power of their voices. This turns every situation narrated into something less than a satire of the good and evil opposed to art. And this is with very low budget animation that uses the same the blue color of his characters’ skin and the sky, which provides one of the most cheerful moments of the production.
He-Man and She-ra: Christmas Special
As every fan knows, the world He’s a man It was always simple. Beyond his conflict with the villain Skeleton and his vision of magic, the story was always the same. The protagonist waited patiently until his strength was needed, and then triumphantly walked onto the stage. The enemies fled from him and little was added to the topic. The surprising appearance of his unknown sister She-ra It didn’t change anything. In fact, the latter’s adventures were almost identical to those of her twin (yes, that’s true).
But there was no Christmas in the world of Eternia. That, however, did not prevent history from receiving its special date of December 25, 1985. To solve the intergalactic problem of the lack of connection with religion on our planet, the plot used an Orc wizard who accidentally brought two visitors from Earth. This made Queen Marlena suddenly remember her origins and that perhaps she should celebrate the years she had lost. The combination of the two resulted in an unlikely battle between the heroes, including Shera and the phallic ship.
The most extravagant thing happens when the evil and hitherto irredeemable Skeletor receives his own Christmas present. And one gentle enough to provoke a hysterical—and, after a few minutes, disturbing—reaction from the character.
Friends – When Ross Shows Up (Season Eight, Episode 11)
The great small screen series of the nineties had an episode dedicated to parties in each year of its existence. And this despite the fact that none of them were called festive. But while most of them were funny and some were TV classics, the one that aired in 2001 is an exception. Not only is this one of the production’s least funny sequences, but it also highlighted one of the big problems the script was facing at the time. An inconsequential and almost annoying repetition of topics that didn’t make people laugh.
What happened to the episode? When Ross steps forward. In this case, the main character’s new girlfriend (David Schwimmer) develops a relationship too quickly for her liking. Including a photo of them both at Christmas. The whole story is riddled with absurd twists and turns and an absurd repetition of Ross’s need to understand where he is in the relationship. It ultimately fails to generate any interest and, in particular, shows that the series is going through some rough patches.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – Merry Christmas
(season two, episode 13)
The show, led by a very young Will Smith, is a classic and many of its episodes have received high praise from unconditional fans. Except for this Christmas special – although he won’t admit that it is one – which is just not funny.
The story of the Banks family taking Will on a ski cabin vacation is far-fetched and convoluted. There is no reason for a central rotation in which Will lets a stranger in – away from the bitter grievances the family shares with each other.
Either because it reflects the atmosphere behind the camera (by this time the actors were suffering from serious disagreements) or because of the poor quality of the script. The truth is that the story is stuffy, not very warm and with a noticeable lack of that organic sense of humor that characterized the program. A qualitative failure that is still remembered.
Source: Hiper Textual
