Some time back, I wrote a piece where I spoke of my dread of the new ABC Family Christmas special, A Miser Brothers’ Christmas, based on the beloved characters from The Year Without a Santa Claus. Based on what I had seen of it, I predicted it would be dreadful. I also promised that if I was wrong and enjoyed it, I would write a glowing review.
I don’t have to write that review. This “new Holiday classic” was pretty lousy.
The plot was about Santa being disabled while testing a new sonic sled, and the Miser Brothers, Heat & Snow, being framed for it by their brother North Wind who, for reasons not disclosed during the special, wants Santa’s job for himself. The Misers then have to fill in for Santa.
For those of you who missed the show, I’ll save you the trouble; eventually, Christmas goes on as planned. By the way, some villain wanting Santa’s job is a staple of Holiday classics, and I’ve never understood it. Who wants to tear around the globe in the freezing cold and come home stinking of reindeer droppings and stale cookies? Is it because you only have to work one day a year?
There was a lot to dislike in this special, so I’ll take it point by point.
- The character designs were nothing like the Rakin-Bass specials of the past. Snow Miser looked like Frankenstein, and I don’t know what they were thinking with Mother Nature. Why the producers didn’t utilize cartoonist Paul Coker Jr., who designed most of the R-B specials, is beyond me. Perhaps they did approach him, but he declined. Seeing characters you designed merchandised out the whazoo and you not seeing a penny of the proceeds rankles some artists, so that might have been a factor.
- We were introduced to some new characters on the show. Gone were the elves Jingle and Jangle. In their place, the imaginatively named “Bob” the elf. That’s right, “Bob.”
- Speaking of the elves, in this time of political correctness we saw a racially-diverse elf base. With the exception of Muslim elves, of course.
- It WAS a joy to hear Mickey Rooney and George S. Irving reprising their roles, but since Dick Shawn has passed away, he was unable to reprise his role as Snow Miser. He was replaced by Juan Chioran, whose shrieking line readings had you praying Snowy would eventually be struck mute. Sadly, this never happened.
- The songs were awful. Yes, they of course reprised the Heat/Snow Miser songs, to mixed results. However, Mrs. Claus’s ballad, “Brothers Should be Friends,” made me glad I don’t have a brother. Or a friend.
- The character of the North Wind makes it appear that someone at Warner Bros. Animation has an issue with Jay Leno. You’d have to have seen the show to understand that comment, so please just trust me on this one.
All in all, I didn’t enjoy this special. However, the 13-year-old who watched it with me said he preferred it to “Nester, the Long Eared Christmas Donkey,” which we had viewed previously.
He has since been sent to boarding school.
Photo Credit: Bill White/CliqueClack TV
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Clacked by Bill White
on Dec 16, 2008 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
Some time back, I wrote a piece where I spoke of my dread of the new ABC Family Christmas special, A Miser Brothers’ Christmas, based on the beloved characters from The Year Without a Santa Claus. Based on what I had seen of it, I predicted it would be dreadful. I also promised that if I was wrong and enjoyed it, I would write a glowing review.
Well, I admit I sat down to watch this special as well. Curiosity got the better of me. I wasn’t able to watch the whole show as I got called away with taxi duty for my daughter.
The problem with any remake of a special is that people who remember the original (us old folks) can’t or refuse to accept the changes. My son liked it enough and will probably watch it again next year.
I didn’t like the North Wind character–the show seemed to be centralized around him more than the Miser brothers. You’re right, Bill.. he did resemble Jay Leno.. :-)
Your drawings are always humorous! Thanks.
I, too, was disappointed. Santa, Mrs. Claus and Mother Nature all looked nothing like their originals. I know the same animation techniques weren’t used, but are they honestly telling us they couldn’t find an artist good enough to re-create them in their true forms?
I wouldn’t have minded the addition of “Bob” and Tinsel, had Jingle & Jangle been in the picture too. Or at least mentioned…maybe have Tinsel be one of their daughters? They did make a mention that “Tinsel’s father would be so proud” but the picture was not Jingle or Jangle. Also, the new elves also weren’t re-created in the same fashion that Jingle & Jangle originally were.
I had high expectations for the special, as the Miser Brothers have always been my favorite part of The Year Without A Santa Claus. I should’ve known it wouldn’t live up to them.
Ashley,
Actually, they did use the same stop-motion technique that they used in the original special, and it was pretty smooth. Probably the only good thing about the whole mess. You are right, though. As I mentioned, the character designs were awful. It looks like they were going for a retro-Rudolph look or something.
It didn’t work.
I enjoyed the special myself. But they could have done a better job on remaking the charaters. Why couldn’t they make the Characters like they did in the seventies? I called my friend up after it and she agreed. The North Wind Character Made no sense. But I liked how his house spun around.