Christmas is finally here and you've overcome the masses from last minute shopping for gifts and food for the Christmas feast, but you're looking for something to enjoy while you recuperate on the couch with your loved ones. Maybe I could help in that regard... While I've been pretty light on new content over the last few weeks - swamped actually in terms of little to no free time if I'm perfectly honest - I did want to share this short article for my birthday today, discussing a few of my favorite holiday-themed specials across popular media.
By the way, I have no idea if the videos linked here will be taken down or not but I want to clarify that they are NOT my own content, so don't scold me for sharing. Spectacular Spider-Man was on Disney+ last I checked and Batman: The Animated Series/New Batman Adventures are on the DC Universe Online streaming app.
The New Batman Adventures - "Holiday Knights"
On December 22, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy contemplate their ill fate close to the festivities. Aware that hiding away in a scuzzy hotel is not up to their standards, Ivy comes up with a plan that will make them enjoy their Holidays.
Moments later, Bruce Wayne finds himself surrounded by high society ladies at Veronica Vreeland's party and during their inappropriate reaction, Bruce is kissed by a mysterious woman. Upon leaving the party, Bruce goes to his vehicle, but he is compelled to stop midway and get inside Harley and Ivy's car. Ivy was the mysterious woman who kissed Bruce, dosing him with a special chemical, which turns Bruce into an obedient person to their wishes.
Like this, Harley and Ivy take advantage of Bruce and they go on a shopping spree, wasting a great part of Bruce's money. After a long session, Ivy and Harley take Bruce to a hotel, but the effects of the chemical start to wear off. Harley tries to give Bruce another dose, but Bruce backs away from her until he falls inside an empty elevator shaft and is apparently killed. As the two ladies get away from the crime scene, Batman starts chasing them.
The girls notice the Dark Knight on their trail and the lead him into a toy store. With all the lights out, Harley and Ivy take advantage of the darkness and use the environment as a weapon against Batman and after apparently defeating the hero, they hurry to the exit. Batman recovers in time to use his batrope and cause a big Christmas tree to fall on top of Harley and Ivy, stopping them from getting away.
On December 24, Barbara Gordon is making some late Christmas shopping when she suddenly notices a small kid shoplifting. When she tries to stop him, the kid's hand dissolves in her hand, leaving her baffled. Meanwhile, Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya are posing as Santa and his elf, when they are informed of the unusual activities. Several small kids have been shoplifting all over the mall and when they are cornered by Bullock and Montoya, they come together to form Clayface.
Barbara notices this and finds an unseen spot to change into Batgirl. Bullock and Montoya are no match for Clayface, who is then kicked by Batgirl and sent to the outside of the mall, breaking the ice-skating ring below. Clayface recovers soon and Batgirl instructs Bullock and Montoya to shoot the power lines, which drop on Clayface and electrocute him, leaving him unconscious long enough for Bullock to retrieve the stolen items from Clayface's body.
On December 31, Commissioner Gordon shows Batman a recorded threat sent by the Joker, who is apparently going to kill millions of people. Thanks to information provided by Gordon, Batman deduces that Joker will strike at Gotham Square.
Batman and Robin arrive at the place, but they are stumped when they realize that all the peole celebratingNew Year's Eve are wearing Joker masks, making it almost impossible to distinguish the real Joker. Eventually, Batman is able to recognize Joker and his goons thanks to the information given by Gordon.
Batman and Robin then fight Joker and his men, ending their evil plans and destroying the killing machine.
A few hours after midnight, on January 1, Commissioner Gordon goes inside a tavern, where he waits until Batman shows up for their annual meeting. After a quick exchange and a hot drink, Gordon prepares to leave, but unaware to him, Batman is already gone, leaving the tab behind. A bit frustrated, yet pleased, Gordon goes home as Batman swings back into the night.
I'm sure most people will go with "Christmas with the Joker" as their favorite holiday themed episode of Batman: The Animated Series, but the three non-related holiday stories from The New Batman Adventures here that served as the formal introduction to this series are at the top of my list of favorite holiday narratives. That look of absolute rage when Harley and Ivy had Bruce brainwashed to spend his money on them shopping will never stop being hilarious to me.
I don't get why Jim gets upset that Bats always leaves promptly and pays for their bill. At least he's always the one paying. It could be worse... That rich bastard could leave Jim with the bill every year.
Freakazoid - "In Arms Way"
Freakazoid's Christmas shopping is interrupted by Arms Akimbo's crime spree.
I still quote parts of this episode to this day to friends and it saddens me that next to no one gets where it's from. Freakazoid was so ahead of it's time at the birth of the popularity of the internet. I would love to see this show come back in some capacity now that memes are at an all-time high when Freakazoid himself was a living meme.
You can't go wrong with Oops insurance, folks.
Spectacular Spider-Man - "Reinforcement"
As Christmas approaches, the Sinister Six reconstitutes under the Master Planner with Sandman, Rhino, Vulture, Electro, and new members Mysterio and Kraven. All they want for Christmas is Spider-Man — destroyed. Meanwhile, Peter Parker finds his wandering eye prevents him from being with Gwen Stacy. He'll have to learn to focus if he wants to get the girl, and if he wants to stay alive.
Sure, this isn't a full blown Christmas special, but I get a kick out of that scene linked above between Spidey versus Sandman and Rhino. It just serves as one of many reminders of the excellence that was Spectacular Spider-Man. Besides, who doesn't love these battles against all of the Sinister Six in this series? At least in this one, the Venom symbiote doesn't have Spidey's body on auto-pilot.
SpongeBob Squarepants - "Christmas Who?"
As long as SpongeBob has been around, I still feel like the series was at it's peak of it's charm and hilarity in it's first few seasons before Nickelodeon ran it into the ground to present. FYI the bulk of the memes and quotes that people use in memes are from the first few seasons anyway.
I can't ever get this song out of my head either when I hear it. My oldest niece used to sing it all the time when I would babysit her around the holidays too in her childhood years. So that's another reason why this Christmas special will always be a favorite of mine.
Married... With Children - "It's a Bundyful Life" (Parts 1 & 2)
(Part 1) Al has finally saved up some cash to buy his family Christmas presents this year. Unfortunately, a mob of late customers in the shoe store prevents him from getting to the bank in time and retrieving the money he needs.
(Part 2) Al's guardian angel shows him what life would be like for Peggy and the kids if he'd never been born, a question Al posed after a drunken Marcy left him with no money for the gifts he promised.
Married... With Children has at least nine (or more) holiday themed episodes and while I love all of them (save for the one where the mall Santa lands in their backyard as IMO that's the weakest of these specials), this two-parter that serves as a hilarious parody of "It's a Wonderful Life" always manages to give me a good laugh. I always remember seeing this two-parter as one hour long episode, but occasionally split up in reruns over the years.
The sad part is that Sam Kinison who plays Al's guardian angel died shortly after playing this role, so this is one of the last performances of his career was appearing in this iconic American sitcom.
