Laughing All the Way: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of "Elf"

 

by Michael Lyons    

 

Over the past two decades, Elf has probably become one of the most quoted films, Christmas or otherwise. Lines like...

"Son of a nutcracker!"

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

And, of course, "SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!"

...have not only been uttered throughout the holiday season by fans, but they've also found their way onto T-shirts, coffee mugs, Christmas ornaments, and other pieces of merchandise.

Since its debut on November 7, 2003, audiences just can't get enough of Elf; not only has the movie been translated into a Broadway musical and an animated special, but the film seemingly runs on a non-stop loop during the season that once seemed reserved for movies like It's a Wonderful Life (TBS just ran 24 hours of Elf over Thanksgiving weekend).

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Elf is everywhere and loved by everyone, with an appreciation growing each holiday season. And, you know what? Elf deserves it.

Like the main character of Buddy himself, this is a movie that just wants to please, just wants us to like it, and just wants to make us laugh. And, time and time again, it accomplishes all of this.

Anyone whose heart isn't two sizes too small knows the story of Elf by now - Buddy (Will Ferrell), a human who, as an orphan baby, stows away in Santa's (Ed Asner) sack and is adopted by the North Pole elves, and raised by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart).

Eventually learning he is human, he travels to New York City to reunite with his birth father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). In "our world," Buddy falls in love with Jovie (Zooey Deschanel), a Gimbel employee he met during his brief stint.

Buddy also discovers that the Christmas spirit is dwindling and realizes he needs to do something about it.

Director Jon Favreau does a brilliant job in Elf of blending two "Christmas worlds" that seem both familiar and new: the fantasy version of the North Pole, inspired by the stop-motion, classic TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Christmas in our "real world" of New York City, which seems like a fantasy world at Christmastime.

Ferrell's performance is one for the ages. Buddy could have come across as foolish and cartoony, but in his capable hands, the giant elf immediately becomes a character we want to befriend. It's no wonder Buddy has become a pop-culture Christmas icon.

The supporting cast in Elf is also perfect. From Caan's subtle slow burns to Asner's world-weary Santa, everyone in the film crafts fully realized characters that Ferrell could have easily overshadowed.

In the two decades since its debut, Elf has rightly earned its spot among classic Christmas movies like Miracle on 34th Street and Home Alone  - and as one of my wife Michelle's all-time favorite films.

Not only does it deliver those oh-so-quotable lines ("You sit on a throne of lies!"), but Elf is also a story about positivity overcoming cynicism, the power of kindness, and the strength of our beliefs - which we all need more of, not just at Christmas but all year long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruffling Some Feathers: Looking Back at WKRP's "Turkeys Away," on its 45th Anniversary

 

by Michael Lyons 

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"

Just say that to any fan of classic sitcoms, and you will be met with a laugh. It is the ending line of dialogue from the 1978 Thanksgiving episode of the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. 

In 1997, it was voted one of the 100 TV episodes of all time, and for good reason - it's hysterical! 

Set at a struggling radio station in Cincinnati, Travis (Gary Sandy), the new Station Manager,  learns that Arthur, a/k/a “The Big Guy” (Gordon Jump), the clueless General Manager, has come up with a Thanksgiving promotional idea, but only involves two other members of WKRP, newsman Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) and sales manager Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner), in on the secret. 

 

The other members of the cast - Travis, DJ Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hessemen), Venus Fly Trap (Tim Reid), and reporter Bailey Quarters (Jan Smithers), find out what the big promo is, as it is being broadcast live. And it is..

 

SPOILER ALERT!

 

...Mr. Carlson and Herb drop live turkeys out of a helicopter, flying above a shopping mall, as Les reports below. The turkeys come crashing to earth (off-screen) and with all of the drama of the Hindenburg disaster (even shouting, "Oh, the humanity!"), Les provides play-by-play.

 

When Mr. Carlson returns to the station, where everyone is waiting, including secretary Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson), he utters the aforementioned "As God is my witness..." line.

 Rightly so, "Turkeys Away" has become a classic and required Thanksgiving season viewing for so many. It is also credited with helping to save WKRP in Cincinnati and pulling the show out of its ratings slump. 

 

In 2018, for the episode's 40th anniversary, Screen Saver provided a traditional look back (Look for it in November 2018 in the Archives to the right). Five years later, here are thoughts, celebrating "Turkeys Away" from others, including writers, fans and those who worked on the show:

 

“…among those of a certain age or those possessing a certain amount of Thanksgiving pop culture knowledge, it remains A touchstone. That's partly because the jokes still hold up and partly because it ends with a perfectly quotable mic drop of a last line... “ - Jen Chaney, Vulture.com, 

 

"The opportunity to see Les Nessman recount the falling of the turkeys in the style of the Hindenburg was just tears to your eyes.  I mean, who takes on the Hindenburg and does a comedy?  Takes one of the great tragedies in this country and puts it in a comedy show?  We went there." - Actor Tim Reid (Venus Fly Trap), "Turkeys Away An Oral History," The Classic TV History Blog.

 

"Back when there were three networks and no cable, almost every weekly sitcom had a holiday show, usually at Christmas, usually ham-fisted, usually outright hammy. You'd change the channel, but you'd still be watching a holiday show on another channel. This episode was different." - IMDb user AlsExGal

 

"Not one show ever generated the amount of mail, the amount of interest, as a show we did our very first season."  - Actor Gary Sandy (Travis), introducing "Turkeys Away" during a taped segment when it aired during a rerun.

 

"I know that referring to this episode as the best episode ever of any show ever might be a bold statement, but going to stick with it. Over 40 years since this episode came out, and after I personally have watched this particular episode dozens of times, I still laugh until I cry every single time I watch it." - IMDb user okalhomasooners.

 

"I meet people for the first time, and if we get to talking and it somehow comes up that I created WKRP, they immediately start saying, “As God is my witness, I didn’t know turkeys could fly.”  It’s rather amazing that the line itself is [legendary].  I’m just thrilled and tickled to death by it." - WKRP in Cincinnati creator, writer, and producer Hugh Wilson "Turkeys Away An Oral History," The Classic TV History Blog.

 

Wishing everyone a Happy and High-Flying Thanksgiving!

Author Michael Lyons and his wife, Michelle,

meet Loni Anderson in 2017.

 

Sources: 

 

Classictvhistory.wordpress.com

 

IMDb.com

 

Vulture.com

Looking for a perfect gift this Holiday Season? Words From Lyons has you covered. Visit the site's merchandise shop for shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases and more featuring artwork inspired by retro TV shows and movies. And, there will be a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale at the Words From Lyons online bookstore: from November 22nd through November 28th enter promo code BOOK15, and receive 15% off your purchase of a signed and personalized copy of my book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance!

 

Let's Start the Family Feud!: Thanksgiving with "Everybody Loves Raymond"

by Michael Lyons

The tension, the anxiety, the unspoken words that might as well be spoken. Thanksgiving dinner with family. It has all the traits of a well-crafted reality show.

Family can drive us crazy...but they're family. Every moment of frustration is followed by a moment of love. 

And this all seems to culminate at Thanksgiving dinner. No show has captured the love/hate and hate/love dynamic of a family like Everybody Loves Raymond, particularly in their impressive eight different Thanksgiving episodes: 

 "Turkey or Fish" (Season 1, Episode 10)

In this funny first-season outing, Debra (Patricia Heaton) has Thanksgiving at her and Ray's (Ray Romano). She decides to start a new tradition of having fish instead of turkey, which has disastrous results.

Fish and turkey are served, Frank (Peter Boyle) winds up choking, and Robert (Brad Garrett) has to administer the Heimlich. They discover that the fish is what flies out of his mouth (Ray walks over to the food on the floor and says, "Let's go to the field for the play").

This episode solidifies the family dynamic, including the hilariously tense relationship between Marie (Doris Roberts) and Debra.

 

"No Fat" (Season 3, Episode 10)

In this episode, it's back to Marie and Frank's house for Thanksgiving. After attending a senior health fair, Marie decides to make a healthier Thanksgiving dinner and decides to make tofu turkey, which doesn't come out as planned in its unappetizing, gelatinous state. 

Behind everyone's back, Ray orders a Thanksgiving dinner to be delivered, which arrives at the most inopportune time, hurting Marie's feelings.

The pinnacle of humor in this episode is the perfect physical comedy by each cast member as they attempt to eat Marie's tofu turkey, choking it down with every hysterical bite.

 

"No Thanks" (Season 4, Episode 9)

Debra attempts to strengthen her relationship with Marie by cooking Thanksgiving dinner with her mother-in-law and letting Marie's snide little comments roll off of her back.  It's tough, however, when Marie is devastatingly critical, slipping her comments subtly, sometimes with a smile.

This is one of Doris Roberts' best episodes, and her performance as Marie has never been more cutting than it is here, as evidenced by lines like: "Debra, I don't know why your rolls are left. I liked them. The burnt part gave them some flavor."

 

"Fighting In-Laws" (Season 5, Episode 9)

In what would be a three-part "Thanksgiving saga," that would continue over multiple Thanksgivings over the next several years, came this Everybody Loves Raymond episode, where Debra's seemingly perfect parents, Warren and Lois (Robert Culp and Katherine Helmond), stay at the house for the holiday.

On Thanksgiving day, they reveal that they are going to marriage counseling, which becomes the topic of conversation for the dinner.

With a focus on another family, this episode is entertaining because Marie, Frank, and the other Barones are interested in others as dysfunctional as they are.

Culp and Helmond also fire off some well-crafted lines, such as when she writes in a notebook, "Warren is very, very good at being controlling," Warren replies: "Controlling has two L's."  

There's also Patricia Heaton's brilliant scene, where Debra drops the turkey and it proceeds to slide all over the floor before being flung back into the oven.

 "Older Woman" (Season 6, Episode 9)

Part two of the story from last season's Thanksgiving show. Debra's parents are now divorced this holiday, and they are both coming for Thanksgiving. Her father, Warren, is bringing his girlfriend to make matters more awkward.

Everyone assumes it's a younger woman, but in a twist, it turns out it's an older woman, and the reactions and quips from everyone else are some of the series funniest moments. One includes when Warren has to slowly walk his date upstairs so she can take a nap. After they take their time climbing the stairs, Frank looks at his watch and announces, "Happy New Year!"  

 

"Marie's Vision" (Season 7, Episode 10)

 

In this episode, Thanksgiving happens in the background, while concerns over Marie's vision take the forefront. She decides to go out and get glasses, but her newfound sight allows her to be even more critical in her observations, leading everyone to make changes. Robert even gets Botox injections, and Brad Garrett does terrific physical comedy with his face so rigid that he can't speak.

 "The Bird" (Season 8, Episode 9)

This episode's a clash of families, as the Barones go to Robert’s in-laws, Amy's (Monica Horan) parents Hank and Pat (Fred Willard and Georgia Engel) for Thanksgiving. They are welcomed warmly, even by Amy's offbeat brother, Peter (Chris Elliot) but after a bird is injured by hitting the house, Pat puts the bird out of its misery, and the Barones are shocked.

The tension bubbles over, culminating in both families having to participate in a Thanksgiving play for the kids, with its hysterical parallels about two other groups who eventually had to get along.

 

"Debra's Parents" (Season 9, Episode 7)

The series saved the best for last in this final installment, focusing on the ongoing divorce of Debra's parents. They are once again invited over for Thanksgiving, and it turns out they aren't reconciling, but they are sleeping together.

When Debra catches them in the act, the two run downstairs, wearing nothing, but blankets, trying to explain. Just then, the conservative Hank and Pat walk in, see what's happening, and immediately turn around and walk out in one of Everybody Loves Raymond's funniest, quicker cameos.

 

Each of these episodes reveals in it’s cleverist way, what makes families and Thanksgiving go so well together, or as Ray himself said to Debra in their very first Thanksgiving episode, “Turkey or Fish”:

“You cook, and I'll watch football with my pants open all day.”

For more of my articles, podcasts and to learn more about my book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance, head over to my website: Words From Lyons !