December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.
Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.
It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.
While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.
The Flintstones get into the Christmas spirit by hanging up decorations while awaiting the arrival of their daughter Pebbles, her husband Bamm-Bamm and their twin children, Roxy and Chip. While waiting for their arrival flight from Hollyrock, Fred and Barney leave to get a turkeysaurus for dinner. However, on the way back home they are mugged by a fake Santa, who takes Fred's watch & wallet and orders Barney to give him the bird. Barney's tossing the turkeysaurus causes the Santa (two children) to "break" in half. Seizing the opportunity, the two run away from the muggers.
At the police station, the family identifies one mugger, who turns out to be an abandoned child named Stoney. A social worker tells them of Stoney's history of stealing from various orphanages and foster homes. Feeling sympathy for Stoney, Wilma decides to take him in as a ward, despite Fred's initial reluctance. They try to show Stoney their trust and attempt to teach him that stealing is wrong. However, things get slightly bleaker when Pebbles and her family get stuck in an airport due to a blizzard. The Rubbles and the Flintstones go Christmas tree shopping, but cannot afford a large one. Stoney attempts to help raise cash for the tree by running a scammed shell game. When a man loses, he chases Stoney and tells Fred of the boy's scam. Fred asks if this is true, Stoney replies 'no'. Fred reiterates this claim, only to get hit in the head with a tree by the man.
Fred is sent to the hospital, where Mr. Slate informs him that he cannot attend the Christmas parade as Santa (Fred's favourite Christmas tradition) due to his injuries. To make it up to Fred, Stoney poses as Slate's driver and locks him up in the Flintstone's bathroom, so Fred can participate. Instead, Fred saves his boss and ends up in jail, where he eventually bonds with Stoney, telling him that cutting corners to get what you want is not the solution. After the two are bailed, the social worker attempts to take Stoney to a juvenile facility, but Fred escapes with Stoney in his parade sleigh.
Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm and the grandchildren manage to arrive on Christmas Eve. Fred says that the new addition to the family gets to put the star on the Christmas tree, meaning that Stoney is now an officially adopted Flintstone. The now extended Flintstone & Rubble family proceed to enjoy the holiday.
The Flintstones added a kid! Granted, a bit late in their storied cartoon careers. It's not the best the band from Bedrock have offered up for Christmas, but it still hits all the necessary holiday special notes.
Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:
- Frosty Returns, the CBS sequel to the Rankin / Bass classic, Frosty the Snowman
- Santa, Baby!, the 2001, and final Rankin / Bass classic
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