RICH LITTLE'S CHRISTMAS CAROL (TV)
Summary
In this special, impressionist/comedian Rich Little performs all the principal roles in Dickens's "A Christmas Carol." The program opens as carolers sing of "The Merriest Christmas Yet" as Ebenezer Scrooge (Little as W.C. Fields) heads to work at his "boat in bottle" business. There, he speaks with employee Bob Cratchit (Little as Paul Lynde) before "emptying" a bottle. Then, Scrooge's nephew Fred (Little as Johnny Carson) arrives at the shop, inviting his uncle to Christmas dinner before doing a Carnac the Magnificent comedy bit. Next, two solicitors (Little as Stan Laurel and Little as Oliver Hardy) arrive at the shop to try -- with no success -- for a charitable donation from Scrooge. Afterward, Cratchit tries to get Christmas day off and Scrooge begrudgingly grants it. Returning home to 225 Miserable Lane that night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley (Little as Richard Nixon) who warns the miser about making mistakes -- like his missing eighteen-and-a-half minute tape recording -- and telling him that he will be visited during the night by three spirits. Scrooge thinks the whole thing is hogwash and heads to bed. Soon, Scrooge is awakened by the Ghost of Christmas Past (Little as Humphrey Bogart's Rick Blaine character). He takes Scrooge back in time to the annual Christmas party at his old job at the boat-in-bottle warehouse owned by jolly boss Fezziwig (Little as Groucho Marx). There, he sees himself as a young man, along with his longtime chum Dick Wilkins (Little as James Stewart). They sing "It's a Typical Office Party." Wilkins questions Scrooge on why he doesn't help the less fortunate, telling him in song that "It's Better to Give Than Receive." Later that night, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present (Little as Peter Falk's Columbo character) who crawls into bed with him. Afterward, the ghost takes Scrooge to see the Cratchits preparing for the holiday dinner. Mrs. Cratchit (Little as Jean Stapleton's Edith Bunker character) figures out how to make the meager amount of food look bigger. Scrooge notices that the family is in a bad way. Then, Cratchit returns home with his crippled son Tiny Tim (Little as Truman Capote). During the meal, the Cratchits discuss Scrooge. Scrooge wonders to the ghost whether Tiny Tim will live and the spirit reveals that he will most likely die. Next, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come (Little as Peter Sellers's Inspector Clouseau character) who frazzles the miser and causes him to flee after accidentally setting his bed afire. The bumbling ghost takes Scrooge to see some business associates (Little as James Mason, Little as George Burns, and Little as John Wayne) who discuss the death of a despised citizen, calling it "a public improvement." Scrooge claims to have seen enough, but the ghost takes him to visit his own gravesite, making Scrooge realize that the gentlemen were discussing his own demise. Now, Scrooge is ready to try and change things. The ghost first has to be assured that Scrooge has changed; he indeed agrees to never touch booze again. By Christmas morning, Scrooge awakens a happy man. He orders a youth (Scrooge as Jack Benny) to go to the butcher shop to grab a prize turkey for him, which he wishes to give to the Cratchits. Later, Scrooge gives out money on the street, singing "That's What I Like About Christmas." He then makes a surprise appearance at Fred's Christmas dinner, delighting all as they reprise "The Merriest Christmas Yet." The next morning, Scrooge arrives at the office early, trying to catch Cratchit arriving late. When Cratchit finally shows, Scrooge reveals that he wishes to make him a partner and help out his family, especially Tiny Tim in his quest to become a novelist. Finally, Scrooge tells Cratchit that he's going to hire a new clerk to "empty" their booze bottles (Little as Dean Martin). Afterward, Little offers some final words, thanking the stars that "lent" him their personalities. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: December 9, 1982 Thursday 10:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:45
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:09586
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1982
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Norman Sedawie … Producer
- Gayle Gibson Sedawie … Producer
- Trevor Evans … Director
- Rich Little … Writer
- Charles Dickens … Based on "A Christmas Carol" by
- Saul Ilson … Music by
- Kevin Carlisle … Choreographer
- James Hibbard … Choreographer
- Rich Little … Cast, W.C. Fields, Paul Lynde, Johnny Carson, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Richard Nixon, Humphrey Bogart, Groucho Marx, James Stewart, Peter Falk, Jean Stapleton, Truman Capote, Peter Sellers, James Mason, George Burns, John Wayne, Jack Benny, Dean Martin